1. (a) Issuing office. The RFA is issued by the Texas Department of Health, Emergency Medical Services Division, and applicants should submit applications to: Chief, Bureau of Emergency Management, Attn: Program Specialist, Texas Department of Health, 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, Texas 78756-3199.
2. (b) Purpose. The RFA provides the applicants with essential information to enable them to prepare and submit proposals to assist in providing sexual assault services.

3. (c) Summary work statement. The applicant will be responsible for planning and implementing a program relating to sexual assault which will be designed to provide one or more of the following services:

   1. (1) direct crisis intervention to victims of sexual assault;
   2. (2) support services to victims of sexual assault by trained volunteers during the hospital examination, police investigation, and court proceedings;
   3. (3) referral of victims of sexual assault to public and private agencies offering the services desired by the victims;
   4. (4) the establishment of volunteer counseling groups for the victims of sexual assault;
   5. (5) the development of training programs and the standardization of procedures for law enforcement, hospital, legal and social service personnel to enable them to respond appropriately to the needs of the victims;
   6. (6) the coordination of services which are being provided by existing agencies;
   7. (7) education of the public about the nature and scope of sexual assault and the services which are available;
   8. (8) development of services to meet the needs of special populations; for example, the child, racial minorities, the mentally or physically disabled, and the elderly.

4. (d) Project funding.

   1. (1) This program will be financed with funds made available through the preventive health and health services block grant and/or State Appropriations as designated for rape crisis centers. The majority of these funds will be utilized to fund centers eligible for continuation of rape crisis funds based on population and need, and for those developing rape crisis centers based on population and need.
   2. (2) Successful applicants will be expected to abide by the policies and procedures of the Texas Department of Health including evaluation requirements in §62.6 of this title (relating to Evaluation Requirements of the Program); Texas Department of Health audit and requirements of an affirmative action program as required by the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant (Title VI of Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 United States Code 2000d et. seq.) and its implementing regulation, 45 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 80 (prohibiting discrimination in federally assisted programs on the grounds of race, color, or national origin), §504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 United States Code 794) and its implementing regulation, 45 CFR, Part 80 (prohibiting discrimination in federally assisted programs on the grounds or race, color, or national origin), §504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 United States Code 794) and its implementing regulation, 45 CFR, Part 84 (prohibiting discrimination in federally assisted programs on the basis of handicap)).
5. (e) Eligibility. Rape crisis centers are eligible for funds based on population and need and developing rape crisis centers based on population and need.
6. (f) Response date. Completed application must arrive at the department's Emergency Medical Services Division within 60 days notice of grant cycle. Those mailing applications should allow ample mail delivery time to insure timely receipt of their applications.
7. (g) Incurring costs. The department is not liable for costs incurred by applicants prior to issuance of a contract.
8. (h) Application assistance. All interested applicants may call the issuing office for more details at (512) 465-2601.
9. (i) Application submission. To be considered, applicants must submit a brief but complete response to this RFA, using the format provided. Each application should be submitted in three copies to the issuing office. All applications received in response to this RFA will be retained.
10. (j) Economy of preparation. Proposals should be prepared simply and economically providing a straightforward, concise description of the contractor's ability to meet the requirements of the RFA. Emphasis should be placed on completeness and clarity of content.
11. (k) Rejection of proposals. This RFA is made for information and planning purposes only. The department does not intend to award a contract solely on the basis of any response made to this request or pay for information solicited or obtained.
12. (l) Acceptance of proposal content. Applications will be subject to a review process. The contents of the proposal made by the successful bidder may become contractual obligations, if a contract ensues.
13. (m) Contract term. The term of the contract shall be for approximately 12 months (beginning October 1 of each year) but will be determined during any negotiations resulting from this RFA.
14. (n) Special conditions. The department will include in the grant agreement special conditions relating to hiring of staff, other sources of funds, and any other aspect of the applicant's proposal deemed necessary to successfully implement the project as required by the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant.

Source Note:The provisions of this §62.4 adopted to be effective July 13, 1982, 7 TexReg 1982; amended to be effective October 15, 1987, 12 TexReg 3550; transferred effective September 1, 1997, as published in the Texas Register September 19, 1997, 22 TexReg 9469.