TX-UNPS Access for Child Nutrition Programs

The Texas Department of Agriculture is seeking a vendor to provide a comprehensive web-based solution for managing twelve USDA federal nutrition programs through the TX-UNPS system, a critical application for processing applications, claims, compliance tracking, and reporting. The contract requires ongoing hosting, maintenance, data encryption, ad hoc reporting, system enhancements, and project management support, with strict adherence to federal USDA regulations and Texas state standards, including Level 2 certification under the Texas Risk and Authorization Management Program and annual unqualified SOC 2 Type 2 audits. The solution must ensure full accessibility under Texas Government Code Chapter 2054 and WCAG 2.0 AA guidelines, and must integrate secure data transmission mechanisms such as VPN, SFTPS, or FTPS, with encrypted backups and a mandatory 24-hour breach notification protocol to designated TDA officials. All performance is subject to rigorous acceptance criteria defined by the TDA Project Manager, with payments contingent upon successful delivery and compliance with all contractual specifications, including quarterly management reports and weekly status updates. The solicitation mandates strict administrative compliance, requiring respondents to submit a complete set of fourteen exhibits including cost proposals, subcontracting plans, financial capacity documentation, data security certifications, insurance certificates, debarment certifications, lobbying disclosures, and diversity equity and inclusion statements. Responses must be received by September 8, 2026, at 3:00 PM CT via email to bidroom@texasagriculture.gov, and must include both an original and a redacted public copy, all formatted in Microsoft Office or PDF formats with signed documents in PDF or DocuSign. Offers are evaluated under a best value standard using a pass-fail administrative review followed by weighted scoring, with cost accounting for 40%, experience and qualifications at 30%, work plan at 20%, and staffing plan at 10%. The initial contract term runs through December 31, 2027, with potential for three one-year renewals extending through 2030. Contractors must not have disqualified personnel or recent convictions related to fraud or ethical violations, must disclose all conflicts of interest, maintain required insurance, and indemnify the State of Texas against intellectual property claims. The state retains audit authority under Texas Government Code Section 2262.154 and may award to a single or multiple vendors, with no obligation to accept the lowest bid.