On June 21st, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) released a Concept Paper outlining a planned Request for Proposals (RFP) for the provision of:
- On-site testing/specimen collection; and/or
- Immunization services in a variety of settings to prevent, detect, or mitigate communicable and vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks.
The awarded contractor(s) would be expected to maintain a citywide network of appropriate on-call personnel to deploy services at locations across the five boroughs at DOHMH’s request. Onsite specimen collection and vaccination service locations may include community settings and congregate and non-congregate residential settings, among others.
DOHMH will allocate up to $120 million in total funding, to be awarded to up to four contractors over the six-year program period. Contractor(s) must provide:
- All supervision of planning and operations;
- Personnel, including clinical and support staff (e.g., administrative and data);
- Equipment, including personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks and gowns;
- Necessary materials and supplies to perform on-site specimen collection and vaccination services;
- Transportation of staff and supplies; and
- Waste disposal.
Each contractor must have a New York State-licensed physician to oversee planning and operations. Staff entering individuals’ homes or facilities and performing specimen collection must, at minimum, be a Medical Assistant or Certified Nursing Assistant with at least one year of relevant experience.
The Concept Paper is available in the PASSPort system here by searching “81622Y0193.” SPG’s summary of the opportunity is available here. Questions and comments may be submitted to rfp@health.nyc.gov with “Onsite Specimen Collection and Vaccination Services” in the subject line through August 5th.
DOHMH anticipates issuing the RFP in late fall 2022, with award decisions made by late winter 2023.