RFP: Doula Care Services Program

Location:	Missouri
Posted:	Sep 2, 2026
Due:	Sep 29, 2026
Agency:	City of St. Louis
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	Q - Medical Services
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

AND

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

DOULA CARE SERVICES PROGRAM

MATERNAL & CHILD HEALTH / BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROJECT

ISSUANCE DATE: September 2, 2026

APPLICATION DUE DATE: September 29, 2026

City of St. Louis Department of Health

1520 Market Street, Suite 4051

St. Louis, MO 63103

Note: If this RFP was downloaded from the City of St. Louis Website each applicant must provide contact information to the RFP

contact person to be notified of any changes in this RFP document.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Purpose and Intent

II. Contact Person & Questions

III. Submission & Deadline

IV. Required Qualifications & Certifications

V. Scope of Services & Project Objectives

VI. Method of Compensation

VII. Required Proposal Contents

VIII. Program Narrative

IX. Proposal Evaluation

X. Living Wage

XI. Insurance Requirements

XII. Service Contract Prevailing Wage

XIII. Earnings Tax Requirements

XIV. Additional RFP Terms and Conditions

A. Indemnification

B. Amendments

C. Right to Withdraw Proposal

D. Revisions to this RFP

E. Contents of Proposals

F. Respondents Responsibility

G. Termination

XV. Terms to be Required in Contracts

A. Recordkeeping & Audits

B. Non-Discrimination Policy

C. Public Records Law

D. Unauthorized Aliens Affidavit

E. Anti-Discrimination Against Israel Certification

F. Indemnification

G. Subject to Appropriation of Funds

H. Prohibition on Limitation of Liability Clauses

I. Termination

XVI. Governing Law and Venue

ESTIMATED SCHEDULE (SUBJECT TO CHANGE):

Date

September 1, 2026

September 22, 2026

September 29, 2026

November 2, 2026

November 9, 2026

October 31, 2027

Activity/Time

Request for Proposals Availability Released

Deadline for Bidder’s Pre-Application Questions

Due Date of Application- NO EXCEPTIONS 5:00 PM (CDT)

Selection by Selection Committee

Tentative Contract Start Date

Tentative 1 year completion of the Project Period, plus four 1-

year renewal options (subject to funding availability)

I. Purpose and Intent

The City of St. Louis Department of Health seeks proposals for Doula Care Services Maternal &

Child Health/ Behavioral Health Project.

Doulas are nonmedical providers who support the mother, baby, and family from the beginning of

pregnancy, during the birth, and through one year postpartum. Doulas are closely trusted by the

clients they serve, leading doulas to be particularly effective advocates during the birthing journey

and liaisons to additional healthcare and social services. Doulas help families achieve healthy birth

outcomes and experiences, providing:

•

24/7 on-call services at the time of birth •

Community Resource Navigation

•

Prenatal & Postpartum home visits

•

Early Parenthood Education

•

Birth planning preparation

•

Health Screening Assessments

•

Mental and Emotional Health support

•

Bonding Support

•

Lactation Support

Recent results from our pilot project for funding doula care services found that mothers who have

received doula care funded by St. Louis Department of Health saw a 78% reduction in the rate of

preterm birth. Preterm birth is closely associated with infant death, high healthcare costs,

neurodevelopmental issues, and chronic health conditions. St. Louis City has one of the highest

rates of preterm birth in the United States (12.8% of live births), leading to an F grade in the 2025

March of Dimes Report Card.

Through this RFP, the City of St. Louis Department of Health is seeking to increase the availability

of doula care services and doula workforce infrastructure.

The purpose of this RFP is to promote and ensure the fairest, most efficient means to obtain the

benefits of the most qualified, responsive, and responsible proposal. Hereinafter, organizations

interested in submitting a proposal in response to this RFP shall be referred to as “Respondents.”

Issuing an RFP does not obligate the City of St. Louis to award a contract to any provider, nor is

the City of St. Louis liable for any costs incurred by the organizations in the preparation of

proposals. Nothing in this RFP nor in any proposal in response to this RFP is intended to be, nor

should anything be construed, as an offer of engagement. Nor shall the selection of a Respondent

be construed as an offer of engagement unless and until a contract is fully negotiated and fully

executed by all parties. The City retains the right to award parts of the contract to several bidders,

not to select any bidders, and/or to re-solicit proposals.

The City reserves the right to reject any and all proposals submitted and to waive any and/or all

non-material irregularities pertaining to the submission of the proposal. Additionally, any and all

RFP projects elements, requirements and schedules are subject to change and modification. The

City also reserves the right to modify, suspend, or terminate at its sole discretion any and all

aspect(s) of the RFP process to obtain further information from any and all respondents, and to

waive any defects as to form or content of the RFP or any responses by any organization/business.

All submitted materials will become the property of the City, may become public documents at

any time during the selection process, and will become public documents at the conclusion of the

selection process. Any and all documents submitted by the Respondent may become public if and

when they are submitted to any advisory or legislative public body, or pursuant to the Missouri

Sunshine Law. By submitting a response to this RFP, each Respondent acknowledges having read

this RFP in its entirety and agrees to all terms and conditions set out in this RFP.

II. Contact Person & Questions

Please direct all communications regarding this RFP with a clearly marked subject heading of

“DOULA CARE SERVICES PROGRAM MATERNAL & CHILD HEALTH /

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROJECT” to:

Ethan Bradley at the following email address: bradleye@stlouis-mo.gov

copying Bobie Williams at the following email address: williamsbo@stlouis-mo.gov

No contact with other City employees or personnel is permitted.

Questions must be submitted no later than September 22, 2026, unless the Department of Health

provides an addendum to this RFP as part of rolling acceptance of applications to expend all

funding. The Department of Health will maintain a list of all organizations or individuals

requesting copies of this RFP and will ensure that copies of all questions and responses shall be

made available in writing to each organization on such list, when requested. Answers will also

be publicly posted at https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/procurement/index.cfm#RFP .

Questions should be asked in consecutive order, from beginning to end, following the

organization of this RFP. Each question should begin by referencing the RFP page number and

section number to which it relates. All contacts and questions must be submitted in writing to the

designated contact person by sending an e-mail with a clearly marked subject heading of “RFP

DOULA CARE SERVICES PROGRAM MATERNAL & CHILD HEALTH /

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROJECT”.

Respondents should not otherwise contact the City directly, in person, by telephone, facsimile, or

by e-mail, concerning this RFP.

Contact with the City after the submission of an application is limited to status inquiries only and

such inquiries are to be directed only to the above-named individual by email with a clearly

marked subject heading of “DOULA CARE SERVICES PROGRAM MATERNAL & CHILD

HEALTH / BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROJECT”. Any further unsolicited contact or

information about the RFP to the City or any of its personnel will be considered an impermissible

supplementation of the Respondent’s application.

III. Submission & Deadline

Respondents must submit an application via one email to bradleye@stlouis-mo.gov (copy to

williamsbo@stlouis-mo.gov) with a clearly marked subject heading of “DOULA CARE

SERVICES PROGRAM MATERNAL & CHILD HEALTH / BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

PROJECT” electronically timestamped no later than 5:00 p.m. (CDT) on September 29, 2026

and only in standard (8 x 11-inch letter sized) in both word and PDF formats. Late or

incomplete proposals will not be accepted. Applicants must adhere to the following:

● Must be in the English language.

● Page number limits as set forth below in VII. Required Proposal Contents

● Double spaced with one-inch margins.

● Use 12-point Times New Roman or Calibri font.

● Number each page at the bottom, except for the cover page.

● Use 8.5 inch by 11-inch page size that can be photocopied

Do not assume that the reader knows your organization or program. Issuing a RFP does not

obligate the City of St. Louis Department of Health to award a contract to any provider, nor is the

City of St. Louis Department of Health liable for any costs incurred by the organizations in the

preparation of proposals.

The City of St. Louis Department of Health retains the right to award parts of the contract to

several bidders, not to select any bidders, and/or to re-solicit proposals.

IV. Required Qualifications & Certifications

Respondent must demonstrate:

1. The organization and lead staff assigned to this project have at least two (2) years of

experience in delivering Doula services of the nature identified in this RFP.

2. Doula care Services must be provided by doulas certified through a training organization

approved by MO HealthNet for reimbursement.

3. The organization has experience working in partnership and maintaining fundamental

relationships with other nonprofits, resident leaders, faith leaders, youth, justice partners,

law enforcement, city agencies and/or neighborhood-based community institutions to

provide evidence informed doula services/activities.

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

RFP: Doula Care Services Program

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See also