Vaccine Book Titled: The Shots Book

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) have issued an Invitation for Bids (IFB) for the procurement of a vaccine educational book titled "The Shots Book" by Ethan Posard. The solicitation seeks to purchase 10,000 English copies and 2,500 Spanish copies of the book for public distribution. The contract will run from December 10, 2024, through June 30, 2025, with a potential one-year extension option. Key deliverables include books that meet specific publication requirements, with delivery scheduled between January and February 2025. Bidders must submit pricing using the provided Pricing Sheet, with pricing to remain firm and fixed for the contract term, subject to potential Consumer Price Index adjustments. The evaluation criteria will focus on the bidder's ability to meet specifications, delivery performance capability, and price, with the contract to be awarded to the bidder providing the best value to the state. Questions were due by November 25, 2024, with responses posted by November 26, 2024, and the final bid response deadline is December 9, 2024, at 10:30 AM.

The solicitation includes a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) utilization goal of 21.1% for the "Commodities" procurement category, with all respondents required to submit a detailed Historically Underutilized Business Subcontracting Plan (HSP). Vendors must either commit to using only HUB subcontractors, utilize the state's Mentor-Protege program, meet or exceed the HUB goal, or demonstrate good faith efforts to engage HUB subcontractors. Historical spend for similar goods or services has been between $50,000 and $90,000 for fiscal period 2024, though the exact budget or award value is not explicitly specified in the solicitation documents. There are no mentions of specific set-asides or incumbent vendors. The solicitation is open to all qualified vendors who can meet the specified requirements, with additional compliance obligations including various state and federal regulatory certifications. Potential respondents must navigate complex contractual requirements, including provisions related to public information compliance, cybersecurity training, and various state procurement regulations.