Part Time Forensic Psychology Services, El Paso Psychiatric Center

The Health and Human Services Commission of Texas is seeking qualified contractors to provide part-time forensic psychology services at the El Paso Psychiatric Center, with the primary functions being evaluations of referred forensic patients for competency to stand trial and for risk of future violence. Contracts awarded under this solicitation, identified as HHS0017629, will commence on September 1, 2026, and extend through August 31, 2029, with an option for the agency to extend the term by up to one additional year. Services must be delivered Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Mountain Time, either on-site at 4615 Alameda Ave., El Paso, TX 79905, or via telemedicine. Evaluations must adhere to strict clinical standards, using the Clinical Method to identify risk and protective factors, and may include approved assessment tools such as the PCL-R, HCR-20, VRAG-R, and SVR-20, with all reports submitted in the required formats for court and the Avatar CWS system. Peer reviews of competency evaluations are conducted at least twice annually, and all work must meet or exceed standards set by state policies, The Joint Commission, and CMS. Bidders must submit a complete electronic response via USB drive, with no hard copies accepted, and must include mandatory documents such as the completed and signed Exhibit A (HHS Solicitation Affirmations), Exhibit C (Pricing Sheet), and Exhibit D (Bidder Reference and Contractor Qualifications Form). Responses must be received by 10:30 a.m. Central Time on August 21, 2026, and must be submitted either through the HHS Online Bid Room, via email to pcsbids@hhs.texas.gov, or delivered in person or via express mail to the designated Austin address. All pricing must be provided on Exhibit C and is considered all-inclusive, covering labor, equipment, materials, and all associated expenses. Contractors must maintain professional liability insurance of at least $1 million, commercial general liability coverage of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million general aggregate, workers’ compensation as required by Texas law, and umbrella liability insurance of $1 million, with a waiver of subrogation in favor of HHSC. Additional requirements include compliance with Texas cybersecurity training laws, ethical standards under TAC Chapter 391, prohibition of conflicts of interest, disclosure of any artificial intelligence tools used