Tribal Preparedness

The South Dakota Department of Health (SDDOH) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) #26-0901005-005 seeking a partner to enhance tribal public health preparedness and response capabilities within South Dakota's tribal communities. The procurement aims to identify a vendor with established tribal relationships and experience delivering resources and services to reservations. Key objectives include strengthening local preparedness efforts, facilitating tribal partnerships, improving emergency management readiness, and supporting tribal participation in preparedness conferences and workshops. The contract period is anticipated to run from December 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026, with potential annual extensions for up to three years contingent on funding. Prospective offerors must submit comprehensive proposals including an executive summary, detailed response, cost proposal, and documentation of past performance and personnel qualifications. The evaluation process will subjectively assess specialized expertise, technical competence, resources, past performance, availability, local familiarity, and project management techniques. Inquiries regarding the RFP must be emailed to Lesley-Ann Pont at Lesley-ann.pont@state.sd.us by the specified deadline, with all questions and responses to be posted on the state's e-procurement system.

The RFP does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions limiting proposal submissions to specific types of organizations or disadvantaged enterprises. While the document emphasizes the importance of existing tribal relationships, it does not mandate vendor qualifications based on minority or small business status. The state reserves the right to negotiate with the highest-ranked offeror and may continue negotiations through successive offerors if an initial agreement cannot be reached. Although specific budget ranges are not explicitly detailed, the proposal requirements indicate that vendors must submit a comprehensive budget covering all costs associated with providing the required services. The procurement appears focused on selecting a vendor with demonstrated capability to support tribal preparedness rather than constraining the competitive field through restrictive qualifications. Proposals will be evaluated holistically, with cost proposals assessed independently from technical proposals to ensure a comprehensive and fair selection process.