Rescue Partner Incentive Program (Canine and Feline Rescue Contracts)

Location:	Texas
Posted:	Aug 8, 2026
Due:	Aug 25, 2026
Agency:	City of San Antonio
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	42 - Fire Fighting, Rescue, and Safety Equipment
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

The City of San Antonio, Animal Care Services (ACS) Department is soliciting applications from qualified 501(c)(3) certified animal rescue organizations for the purpose of providing compensation for pulling dogs and cats from the Animal Care Services city shelter for life-saving purposes.

Date Issued: July 14, 2026

Due Date & Time: August 25, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., Central Time

TO REGISTER: You will need to complete the vendor registration by accessing the SAePS Vendor Registration at https://www.sa.gov/Directory/Departments/Finance/About/Divisions/Procurement/Become-a-Vendor

Document	Type	Size
Request for Application - Rescue Partner Incentive	PDF	369.73 KB

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City of San Antonio

July 14, 2026

Due Date August 25, 2026

REQUEST FOR APPLICATION

RESCUE PARTNER INCENTIVE PROGRAM

(CANINE AND FELINE RESCUE CONTRACTS)

_______________________________________

To All Interested Parties:

The City of San Antonio is soliciting applications from qualified 501(c)(3) certified animal rescue

organizations for the purpose of providing compensation for pulling dogs and cats from the Animal Care

Services city shelter for life-saving purposes.

I BACKGROUND

The City of San Antonio Animal Care Services (ACS) is the largest, open-admission animal shelter in South

Texas. Serving San Antonio residents, the department’s mission is to encourage responsible pet ownership

by promoting and protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the residents and pets of San Antonio through

education, enforcement, and community partnership.

Animal Care Services operates 7 days a week, responding to over 90,000 call-for-service requests annually

and impounding approximately 30,000 animals, including wildlife, as ACS is the rabies control authority

for the City of San Antonio. Since 2012, ACS has operated two rescue incentive programs – the Rescue

Partner Incentive Program and the High-Volume Pet Partnership. These two programs greatly contributed

to the increase in the Live Release rate and the quality placement of pets.

ACS contract rescue partners will provide the shelter with rescue services for thousands of dogs and cats

entering the shelter in a year. Each rescue will provide the pet with placement or hospice care, with

adoptions being their preferred disposition.

Animal Care Services Department

4710 State Highway 151  San Antonio, TX 78227

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II SCOPE OF SERVICE

2 Obligations of Contractor.

2.1 Must obtain and keep a 501(c)(3) animal rescue designation in good standing and report any

suspensions or revocations to ACS immediately. Any third-party partner organizations that

Contractor transfers animals to must also obtain a 501(c)(3) designation and remain in good

standing. Contractor must also report any suspension or revocations of third-party partner

organizations to ACS immediately.

2.2 Must select animals the contractor has the ability and intention of providing humane transport,

housing and care for placement in permanent, loving homes.

2.3 Must have the ability to establish and adequately oversee humane housing, including boarding

facilities and private foster homes, transportation, and standard of care as defined Section 5-6

of the San Antonio Municipal Code, for all animals pulled under this contract.

2.4 Ensure that all animals transferred to another rescue partner meet the same criteria for standard

of care as outlined in Section 5-6 of the San Antonio Municipal Code,

2.5 Abide by the ACS rescue and patron code of conduct policies for all staff, volunteers, and

board. All staff, volunteers, and transporters will professionally conduct themselves and

escalate any concerns through the proper channels, starting with the Placement Manager.

2.6 Must have a representative local to the area who has the authority to act on behalf of the

contractor should the principal contractor be located out of the San Antonio area and able to

meet with ACS in person. This representative shall provide financial, medical, transport, and

logistical support for the animals while they remain in the care and custody of the rescue.

2.7 Provide own behavioral assessment of ACS pets being considered to pull by Contractor using

Contractor staff or volunteers.

2.8 Must have a licensed veterinarian on staff or have a current client relationship with a licensed

veterinarian for all animals pulled under this contract while they remain in the care and custody

of the contractor.

2.9 Pull the contracted number of pets in need of placement with the intention of adoption or

hospice care, focusing selection on the shelter pets at ACS who have not been selected for

adoption.

2.10 Provide the pet with the needed medical care should ACS not be able to provide within a

reasonable time due to limited resources. The medical care should include rabies, vaccines,

initial vaccines, booster vaccines, microchip and sterilization surgery unless underage or

medically unable to be sterilized, as decided by a licensed veterinarian. This includes while

the animal is in the contractor’s care or before the final placement of the animal.

2.11 Provide ACS with proof of medical services for pets that ACS indicates are in grave medical

condition and require immediate medical care at a licensed veterinarian. ACS will inform

Contractor in writing with a NOV (Notice of Violation) that will contain the medical required

and the timeline that it must be obtained. Failure to provide proof when an NOV has been

issued shall result in the Contractor’s ability to pull animals to be suspended or revoked.

Animal Care Services Department

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4710 State Highway 151  San Antonio, TX 78227

2.12 Inform ACS of any disease outbreaks from animals rescued at ACS or at Contractor facilities.

2.13 Follow all required reporting and observational quarantine of the local rabies authority, in the

jurisdiction where the bite occurred, should a bite/scratch occur.

2.14 Understand that San Antonio Animal Care Services is the rabies authority and requires an ACS

campus or a veterinarian quarantine. Contractor shall be responsible for all applicable fees for

any animal quarantined at ACS.

2.15 Ensure that no feline pulled under this contract is returned to the wild or to a solely outdoor

caretaker home such as a traditional TNR (trap-neuter-release) or Barn Cat program.

2.16 Shall maintain records and documentation pertaining to the disposition of all animals rescued

by Contractor under this Agreement. Information to be maintained by Contractor shall include,

but is not limited to, whether the animals were adopted out or transferred to rescue

groups/organizations, adopter/rescue organization information and sterilization

documentation. The scope of this Agreement does not encompass internal Contractor

communications or other Rescue animals not covered under this Agreement.

2.17 Provide ACS, upon request, with a monthly report on the status of animals that were not

sterilized upon release to Contractor. This report should include the date that the animal was

sterilized, the date that the animal is scheduled to be sterilized, or if the animal remains

unsterilized and why. Proof of sterilization will be required as determined by ACS.

2.18 Provide ACS an annual report with information including but not limited to: animal ID,

outcome type (indicated below in this section), and zip code location of outcome. Contractor

shall keep records that categorize the outcome type for all animals under this Agreement, as

either: currently in Contractor’s care and whether in main shelter, foster or boarding facility

adopted;

a. transferred to other rescue organization;

b. returned to ACS; or

c. lost in Contractor’s care; or

d. died/euthanized in Contractor’s care.

2.19 Agree that all Rescue animals obtained under this Agreement shall be ineligible for return by

Contractor to ACS, unless for public safety concerns as solely determined by Director. If

Director approves the return by Contractor of an animal previously obtained pursuant to this

Agreement, Contractor shall forfeit incentive compensation for that animal and ACS will

determine the outcome of the animal.

2.20 Contractor shall immediately accept the return and shall transfer to Contractor’s facility(ies)

without additional incentive compensation any animal obtained under this Agreement that is

under Contractor’s ownership, which is returned to ACS for any reason including but not

limited to loss, theft, straying while in Contractor’s care at Contractor’s facility(ies), at an

adoption event, while boarding or during foster care.

2.21 Contractor may reclaim from ACS without additional incentive compensation any animal

previously obtained by Contractor pursuant to this Agreement and dispositioned to another

Animal Care Services Department

4710 State Highway 151  San Antonio, TX 78227

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party that is returned to ACS as a stray or through owner surrender within twelve (12) months

of the date the animal was originally obtained by Contractor from ACS, only upon Director’s

determination that such animal is eligible for placement.

2.22 Contractor may reclaim ownership from ACS of any animal previously obtained by Contractor

pursuant to this Agreement and dispositioned to another party that is returned to ACS as a stray

or through owner surrender, which Director determines unavailable for Live Release

placement, only upon Contractor’s payment of any and all applicable fees.

Contractor must register with the City and receive their SAePS number before submitting this

application. Registration is available through the following link:

https://www.sa.gov/Directory/Departments/Finance/About/Divisions/Procurement/Become-

a-Vendor.

2.23 Abide by the vendor guidelines for correct, accurate and timely billing for this contract.

III COMPENSATION

3 In consideration of Contractor's performance in a satisfactory and efficient manner of all services and

activities set forth in this Agreement, City agrees to pay Contractor up to a total amount as awarded by

ACS based on the following rates:

3.1 Rate: Contractor shall be paid at a rate of $200 per qualifying animal.

3.2 Contractor may be compensated for additional services related to the pulling of animals from

ACS, as those opportunities become available. Funding may be from a third party or paid

directly from ACS at an agreed upon amount, depending upon the services.

3.3 Contractor shall invoice City on a monthly basis, in a form acceptable and with documentation

as required by City. City shall pay said invoices within 30 days of receipt and approval by City.

Invoices shall be submitted in .pdf format either electronically to

accounts.payable@sanantonio.gov with a copy to ACS Contract Coordinator or mail to: City

of San Antonio, Accounts Payable, P.O. Box 839976, San Antonio, Texas 78283-3976, with a

copy to City of San Antonio, Animal Care Services Department 4710 State Highway 151, San

Antonio, Texas 78227.

3.4 Final acceptance of work products and services require written approval by City. The official

approval shall be Director or his designee. Payment will be made to Contractor following

written approval of the final work products and services by ACS Contract Coordinator. City

shall not be obligated or liable under this Agreement to any party, other than Contractor, for

the payment of any monies or the provision of any goods or services.

IV INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

The CONTRACTOR shall maintain insurance for liability claims and causes of action to meet their

statutory obligations. The CONTRACTOR agrees to not hold the CITY liable for any claims that result

from this contract and accepts liability on behalf of staff and volunteers.

Animal Care Services Department

4710 State Highway 151  San Antonio, TX 78227

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V INDEMNIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

If selected, Contractor will be required to comply with the indemnification provisions shown below:

CONTRACTOR covenants and agrees to FULLY INDEMNIFY, DEFEND and HOLD HARMLESS,

the CITY and the elected officials, employees, officers, directors, volunteers and representatives of

the CITY, individually and collectively, from and against any and all costs, claims, liens, damages,

losses, expenses, fees, fines, penalties, proceedings, actions, demands, causes of action, liability and

suits of any kind and nature, including but not limited to, personal or bodily injury, death and

property damage, made upon the CITY directly or indirectly arising out of, resulting from or related

to CONTRACTOR’S activities under this Agreement, including any acts or omissions of

CONTRACTOR, any agent, officer, director, representative, employee, consultant or subcontractor

of CONTRACTOR, and their respective officers, agents employees, directors and representatives

while in the exercise of the rights or performance of the duties under this Agreement. The indemnity

provided for in this paragraph shall not apply to any liability resulting from the negligence of CITY,

its officers or employees, in instances where such negligence causes personal injury, death, or

property damage. IN THE EVENT CONTRACTOR AND CITY ARE FOUND JOINTLY LIABLE

BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION, LIABILITY SHALL BE APPORTIONED

COMPARATIVELY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS,

WITHOUT, HOWEVER, WAIVING ANY GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY AVAILABLE TO

THE

CITY UNDER TEXAS LAW AND WITHOUT WAIVING ANY DEFENSES OF THE PARTIES

UNDER TEXAS LAW.

The provisions of this INDEMNITY are solely for the benefit of the parties hereto and not intended to

create or grant any rights, contractual or otherwise, to any other person or entity. CONTRACTOR shall

advise the CITY in writing within 24 hours of any claim or demand against the CITY or CONTRACTOR

known to CONTRACTOR related to or arising out of CONTRACTOR’S activities under this

AGREEMENT and shall see to the investigation and defense of such claim or demand at CONTRACTOR’s

cost. The CITY shall have the right, at its option and at its own expense, to participate in such defense

without relieving CONTRACTOR of any of its obligations under this paragraph.

Defense Counsel - CITY shall have the right to select or to approve defense counsel to be retained by

CONTRACTOR in fulfilling its obligation hereunder to defend and indemnify CITY, unless such right is

expressly waived by CITY in writing. CONTRACTOR shall retain CITY approved defense counsel within

seven (7) business days of CITY’S written notice that CITY is invoking its right to indemnification under

this Contract. If CONTRACTOR fails to retain Counsel within such time period, CITY shall have the right

to retain defense counsel on its own behalf, and CONTRACTOR shall be liable for all costs incurred by

CITY. CITY shall also have the right, at its option, to be represented by advisory counsel of its own

selection and at its own expense, without waiving the foregoing.

Employee Litigation - In any and all claims against any party indemnified hereunder by any employee of

CONTRACTOR, any subcontractor, anyone directly or indirectly employed by any of them or anyone for

whose acts any of them may be liable, the indemnification obligation herein provided shall not be limited

in any way by any limitation on the amount or type of damages, compensation or benefits payable by or for

CONTRACTOR or any subcontractor under worker’s compensation or other employee benefit acts.

Animal Care Services Department

4710 State Highway 151  San Antonio, TX 78227

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Rescue Partner Incentive Program (Canine and Feline Rescue Contracts)

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