Phlebotomy and Courier Services for El Paso SSLC

The Health and Human Services Commission of Texas is soliciting phlebotomy and courier services for the El Paso State Supported Living Center under solicitation number HHS0017810, with responses due by August 12, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. Central Time. The contract, with a proposed start date of September 1, 2026, and an end date of August 31, 2027, includes an optional one-year extension subject to funding and operational need, and requires performance exclusively at designated facilities within the El Paso region. All work must comply with industry standards, CLSI guidelines, and federal and state regulations including the Occupational Safety and Health Act, with performance metrics tied to specimen rejection rates, patient identification accuracy, and blood culture contamination levels. The contractor must provide qualified personnel who wear uniforms and identification badges, maintain 24/7 contact availability, pass criminal history checks, and are verified through E-Verify, while strictly prohibiting intoxicant or drug use and smoking during service delivery. The solicitation does not specify a contract type or estimated value due to missing pricing data in Exhibit C, but award will be based on best value using a trade-off method that evaluates technical compliance, past performance through the Vendor Performance Tracking System, and price reasonableness—not necessarily the lowest bid. All proposals must include Exhibit A (Solicitation Affirmations), Exhibit C (Pricing Sheet), Exhibit D (Bidder Reference and Qualifications), and Exhibit F (Texas Identification Number Application), submitted either electronically via email to pcsbids@hhs.texas.gov or through the HHS Online Bid Room, or physically via a sealed USB drive delivered to the HHSC procurement office in Austin. Electronic submissions are limited to 25 MB per attachment and must be in .docx, .xlsx, or .pdf formats; hard copies are not accepted. Bidders must hold a valid UEI from SAM.gov, certify compliance with Texas Public Information Act requirements, disclose any felony convictions, prior governmental proceedings, or state employment relationships, and affirm their status as a Texas bidder or eligible socioeconomic entity if claiming preferences. Invoices must reference the contract number and include the Texas Identification Number, and will be processed under the Texas Prompt Payment Act. The contractor is responsible for all transportation, packaging, and delivery logistics without designated FOB terms, and must allow unrestricted government access for inspections. No formal COR, COTR, or PCO contact is