Contracted Early Intervention SpecialistService Coordinator - Community Action of South Texas : Job Details

COMMUNITY ACTION CORPORATION OF SOUTH TEXAS

EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERVENTION PROJECT NIÑOS

INVITATION TO BID

POSITIONS: Early Intervention Specialist/Service Coordinator

ISSUING DEPARTMENT: Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) Program

PUBLICATION DATE: July 28, 2025

CLOSING DATE & TIME: 5PM CST – August 8, 2025

OVERVIEW

Community Action Corporation of South Texas (CACOST) intends to obtain proposals from qualified Early Intervention Specialist/Service Coordinators for contractual positions within our Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) program.

CACOST ECI is a statewide program that strives to ensure that all eligible children under age three and their families receive quality early intervention services, resources and support needed to reach their developmental goals. Services are provided in partnerships with families within community contexts. CACOST will implement an early childhood intervention (ECI) program to include child find, eligibility determination, follow-along services, and for all eligible children, comprehensive services in Contractor's approved service area. CACOST provides services to the following eleven counties: Aransas, Brooks, Duval, Kenedy, Kleberg, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Nueces, San Patricio, Webb and Zapata counties.

SCOPE OF WORK

The contractor will be required to support Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) services as part of an interdisciplinary team. Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

Assisting with the implementation and delivery of services as outlined in the IFSP.

Conduct developmental evaluations and assessments assigned.

Develop Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) with families and interdisciplinary team

Provide Specialized Skills Training (SST) in natural environments.

Provide Targeted Case Management by assisting families in gaining access to services.

Reviewing existing IFSPs to ensure service alignment with child and family needs.

Communicating and coordinating with service providers to support ongoing service delivery.

It is important to note that not all duties listed above are required for every case. The contractor's level of participation may vary depending on individual referrals, team assignments, and the specific needs of the ECI program at any given time.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

All Submissions must be sent to the following address:

CACOST ECI Invitation to Bid ATTN: Hector Rios 204 E. First St Alice, Texas 78332 OR via email to [email protected]

CACOST will not accept any Proposals submitted after Monday August 8th, 2025.

Tentative Award Date: September 1, 2025

Term of Contract: September 1st, 2025, to August 31st, 2026.

Note: This is a contracted vendor opportunity issued through a formal Invitation to Bid (ITB). It is not an employment position with CACOST.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

To qualify as contractor for contractual work, the following must be met:

General Experience Contractor must have at least 2 years of experience working with children and infants' birth to three and families. Include in your Proposal a brief description of the population age you served, the name of the company you provided these services for, the setting for services (home vs clinic), the services you provided and the length of time you administered these duties.

Certifications Contractor must also hold a current certification as an Early Intervention Specialist and must have record of their continuing education, as required by HHSC ECI. Must meet requirements related to ethics for Early Intervention Specialist and meet all established rules of conduct as required by the applicable board. Must hold a current certification in first aid, including emergency care of seizures and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, for children and infants, and have a current TB test in order to work directly with children and their families. Copies of all current certificates must be provided for review and to file.

Insurance Contractor must provide proof of current Professional Liability/Errors & Omissions coverage. No bid will be approved by CACOST ECI Project Niños until all insurance requirements have been cleared by CACOST ECI Project Niños. Proof of current insurance for all employees of the provider will also be required before working with our children and families.

Criminal Background Check Contractor must provide a copy of clearance of a fingerprint-based criminal background check before working with children and their families. This is also required for all employees of the provider who will provide direct services to our children and families.

Vendor Availability Contractors shall provide CACOST ECI Project Niños with competent staff that is readily available to answer all questions CACOST ECI Project Niños may have regarding submitted bid; and post award be able to answer all questions regarding awarded contract.

Pricing Please provide quotes for the type of services you are bidding for. If the type of service you are bidding for is not included, please select “other” and specify type of service(s):

CONTRACT SPECIFICATIONS (IF CONTRACTOR IS SELECTED):

In the agreement between CACOST ECI Project Niños and the Contractor, the Contractor shall perform the following tasks and provide the required information incidental to the delivery of services:

Provide Prior Written Notice of Screenings/Assessments/Evaluations, Eligibility Determination, Service Implementation and Discontinuation of Services at the time of re-evaluation to parents, which must include a copy of the Procedural Safeguards Related to Prior Written Notice and Consent at all times. CACOST ECI Project Niños must receive copies of the notices.

Notify disciplinary team of the need for changes in frequency and intensity of services. No changes to services (increases, decreases, or discontinuation) can be made until the IFSP is amended by the Service Coordinator with the family's approval.

Provide Specialized Skills Training according to timelines on IFSP. Services provided past the timelines (IFSP end date) will not be paid. The start and end dates must be closely tracked by Contractor.

Provide brief consultation to the interdisciplinary team, as needed either in person or over the telephone.

Permit observation of specialized skills training or case management service sessions by members of the interdisciplinary team responsible for the development of the IFSP.

Complete progress notes (must include the actual time in/out of service, including documentation of no shows, cancellations, and phone calls concerning the child) on each child receiving an evaluation, and/or direct services.

Submit progress notes within 48 hours of completion and invoices weekly to the ECI office. Invoices submitted must only include the following information; date of service, patient first name letter initial, last name, date of birth, type of service provided (treatment, evaluation or re-evaluations); length of service provided and rates. All invoices submitted must be dated with the month that services were rendered.

Request prior approval for allowable cost items needed for services. Communication must be made to the office manager.

Progress notes must describe Family Centered Services. A family–centered progress note describes how the family or other caretakers were involved and how the session focused on functional skills within regularly occurring family and child routines. Progress notes will not be written in jargon.

Review and sign the Individual Family Service Plans (IFSP). This includes revisions and other reviews on a weekly basis.

Provide new planned services within the first 28 days of the Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP).

When canceling a session, the Contractor will be expected to make up the session within the same month unless other arrangements are made with the parent. These changes must be clearly documented in progress notes.

Complete state ECI requirements for initial and annual contractor orientation training to include: CPR, First Aid, Universal Precautions, and Procedural Safeguards including Confidentiality. Before providing services, proof of training must be on file at the ECI office.

Obtain TB test annually and provide a copy of results to ECI program.

Provide all necessary information in order for ECI to bill Medicaid for therapy. Fill out required forms for Medicaid, CHIP and Private insurance.

Provide and maintain a current copy of professional liability insurance.

Follow ECI model and philosophy for serving children under age three and their families, to include, but not limited to (contractor is responsible for reviewing the following with the assistants):

Interdisciplinary approach

Family Centered Services

Services in natural environments

Routines-Based assessment and intervention strategies

Relationship-based intervention: enhancing parent-child relationships and parent-professional relationships.

GENERAL TERMS & CONDITIONS

Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity No person shall, on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, handicap, political affiliation, or belief, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, be subjected to discrimination under, or be denied employment in the administration of, or in connection with, any program or activity funded in whole or in part, with funds made available under this contract.

PROCUREMENT COMPLIANCE This procurement is conducted in accordance with 2 CFR §§ 200.317–200.327 and all applicable federal, state, and local procurement requirements.

Prohibited Substances in the Workplace

The contractor is considered a representative of CACOST while carrying out the duties of the contract. CACOST has a policy that prohibits the possession and/or use of alcohol or illegal drugs when conducting CACOST business. If the contractor is observed engaging in this type of behavior while performing any aspect of the contract, termination of the contract will occur.

Stevens Amendment This project is supported by the Early Childhood Intervention Program and Human Service Commission (HHSC) of the U.S. Department of Education as part of an award totaling $14,131,454 with 57 percent financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HHSC, U.S. Department of Education, or the U.S. Government.

Historically Underutilized Businesses It is CACOST policy to encourage participation of small and historically underutilized businesses (HUBs), as defined in Government Code, Chapter 2161.

Certification Regarding Debarment By submitting a bid, the contractor certifies that neither the organization nor any of its principals are debarred, suspended, or excluded from participation in federal programs under Executive Orders 12549 and 12689.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure Contractors must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest. Failure to disclose may result in bid disqualification.

Reservation of Rights CACOST reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive any informalities or irregularities in the procurement process.

Civil Rights Compliance and Enforcement In accordance with Federal Law this institution does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.