The City of Austin has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking applications from qualified social service providers to offer logistical support services for residents seeking abortion care where legally permissible. The RFP, titled "SSAU-2025-001 Reproductive Healthcare Logistics," emphasizes that Austin Public Health does not fund primary medical or detox services.
Potential Offerors must not be abortion providers or affiliates as defined by Texas law, specifically under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 245 and Texas Government Code Chapter 2272. They are advised to consult legal counsel to ensure compliance with these regulations. The City reserves the right to reject any proposal based on ineligibility under these codes.
"All Offerors must acknowledge and represent that they have read and understood Texas Government Code Chapter 2272 (Prohibited Transactions) and that the Offeror is not and will not become an abortion provider or an affiliate of an abortion provider during the term of any agreement with the City," states the RFP. Should an Offeror become an abortion provider or affiliate during the agreement's term, it will terminate automatically.
The timeline for this RFP includes several key dates: proposals are due by February 20, 2025, with contracts anticipated to start on May 15, 2025. Questions regarding the RFP should be submitted by February 18, 2025, while technical assistance requests are due by February 19, 2025.
Helen Howell, Social Services Funding Specialist Senior at Austin Public Health, is designated as the authorized contact person for inquiries related to this RFP.
Applications must be submitted through PartnerGrants, a web-based system used by APH for processing proposals. Interested parties need to register both as a vendor with the City of Austin and as a user in PartnerGrants.
An optional pre-bid meeting is scheduled for February 6, 2025, followed by office hours on February 11, 2025. Further details and registration options are available online.