Iowa Disaster Case Advocacy Program

Location:	Iowa
Posted:	Jan 14, 2026
Due:	Feb 20, 2026
Agency:	State Government of Iowa
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	76 - Books, Maps, and Other Publications 99 - Miscellaneous
Solicitation No:	005-RFP-2381-2026
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

RFP COVER SHEET

Administrative Information

RFP Number 005-RFP-2381-2026 Title of RFP Iowa Disaster Case Advocacy Program

Agency

Iowa Department of Administrative Services (DAS) on behalf of the Department of

Homeland Security and Emergency Management

State Issuing Officer:

Katelyn Howells

Phone: 515-721-7856

E-mail: Katelyn.Howells@iowa.gov

PROCUREMENT TIMETABLE—Event or Action

Date/Time (Central Time)

State Posts Notice of RFP on the TSB website

State Issues RFP

RFP written questions, requests for clarification, and suggested changes

from Respondents due (no questions accepted or responded to after this

date)

Proposals Due

Relevant Websites

January 12, 2026

January 14, 2026

January 28, 2026 at

4:00PM

February 20, 2026 at

2:00PM

Internet website where the Addenda to this RFP will be posted http://bidopportunities.iowa.gov and

IMPACS Electronic Procurement System.

Internet website where contract terms and conditions are posted

https://das.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/procurement/pdf/050116%20terms%20services.pdf

https://das.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/procurement/pdf/Terms%20and%20Conditions%20for%20Fed

eral%20Compliance.pdf

Firm Proposal Terms

The minimum number of days following the deadline for submitting proposals that the Respondent

guarantees all proposal terms, including price, will remain firm is 120 Days.

SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION

1.1. Purpose

The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to solicit proposals from Responsible

Respondents to provide the goods and/or services identified on the RFP cover sheet. The Agency

intends to award a Contract(s) for the initial period identified on the RFP cover sheet, and the

Agency, in its sole discretion, may extend the Contract(s) for up to the number of annual

extensions identified on the RFP cover sheet.

1.2. Definitions

For the purposes of this RFP and the resulting contract, the following terms shall mean:

“Agency” means the agency identified on the RFP cover sheet that is issuing the RFP and any other

agency that purchases from the Contract.

“Contract” means the contract(s) entered into with the successful Respondent(s) as described in

Section 6.1.

“Contractor” means the awarded business/person to provide the contractual services agreed

upon.

“Deliverable” means the completion of a milestone or accomplishment of a task.

“General Terms and Conditions” means the General Terms and Conditions for Services Contracts

as referenced on the RFP cover page.

“Proposal” means the Respondent’s proposal submitted in response to the RFP.

“Respondent” means the company, organization or other business entity submitting a proposal

in response to this RFP.

“Responsible Respondent” means a Respondent that has the capability in all material respects to

perform the scope of work and specifications of the Contract. In determining whether a

Respondent is a Responsible Respondent, the Agency may consider various factors including, but

not limited to, the Respondent’s competence and qualifications to provide the goods or services

requested, the Respondent’s integrity and reliability, the past performance of the Respondent

and the best interest of the Agency and the State.

“Responsive Proposal” means a Proposal that complies with the material provisions of this RFP.

“RFP” means this Request for Proposals and any attachments, exhibits, schedules or addenda

hereto.

“State” means the State of Iowa, the Agency, and all state agencies, boards, and commissions,

and any political subdivisions making purchases from the Contract as permitted by this RFP.

1.3. Overview of the RFP Process

This RFP is designed to provide Respondents with the information necessary for the preparation

of competitive Proposals. The RFP process is for the Agency’s benefit and is intended to provide

the Agency with competitive information to assist in the selection process. It is not intended to

be comprehensive. Each Respondent is responsible for determining all factors necessary for the

submission of a comprehensive Proposal.

Respondent should review Request for Confidentiality, for more information if its Proposal

contains confidential information. Any Proposal marked “Confidential” or “Proprietary” on

every page may be disqualified.

It is the Agency’s intention to evaluate Proposals from all Respondents that submit timely

Responsive Proposals, and award the Contract(s) in accordance with the evaluation and selection

criteria provided in this RFP.

1.4. Background

The Iowa Disaster Case Advocacy (IDCA) program as authorized by Iowa Code. 29C.20B and Iowa

Admin Code ch 605-11. establish a state program of case management to meet disaster-related

serious needs of individuals or families who are adversely affected by a state-declared disaster

emergency. Disaster Case Advocacy is a supportive program involving a partnership between a

disaster-impacted household and a disaster case advocate. Disaster case advocates serve as a

primary point of contact assisting households in coordinating necessary services and resources to

address the household’s complex disaster recovery needs. In this partnership, advocates and

households assess the family’s disaster-related unmet needs, build a recovery plan, and access

available resources.

Disaster-related unmet needs are those things households need to recover from the disaster.

Examples may include navigating through insurance, financial resources, and application

processes; locating housing options, advocating and supporting through the rebuild process; may

also include basic and immediate needs such as food, clothing, shelter or first aid, and long term

needs such as financial, physical, emotional or spiritual well-being.

The IDCA program is administered by the Agency. The Agency’s priority is to achieve coverage in

all ninety-nine (99) Iowa counties. Toward this goal, the Agency may contract with one or more

local administrative entities to perform the administrative functions necessary to carry out duties

associated with the program.

The program’s claims history has been limited to claims arising from declared disasters. Bidders

should bid assuming that data presented is the history of this program. Bidders should note claims

vary widely based on state-declared disaster emergencies and should consider this variance for

the future path of the program. Should there be a change in law through judicial ruling or

legislative action that changes the scope of coverage afforded by current law, the Agency will

either renegotiate or terminate the contract.

The following chart provides claim history from the past seven state fiscal years (7/1/2020 to

12/23/25*):

SFY Year

# of Disasters # of People Served

2020

173

2021

2022

286

2023

616

2024

2025

642

2026*

920

* SFY 2026 is partial as the disaster application period is still open as of the issuance of this RFP.

When the contract(s) is executed, all open cases will be transferred to the new provider. This

transfer will be coordinated with all parties.

1.5. Objectives

The purpose of this RFP is to solicit proposals that will enable the Department of Homeland

Security and Emergency Management (Agency) to select the most qualified contractor to meet

the obligations of the Iowa Disaster Case Advocacy (IDCA) program as authorized by Iowa Code

29C.20B and Iowa Admin. Code ch 605-11. Services shall include:

● Case management responsibilities,

● Fiscal agent duties, and

● Associated administrative supports.

The State reserves the right to award multiple Agreements following this RFP.

SECTION 2 SPECIFICATIONS

Overview

The successful Respondent shall provide the goods and/or services to the State in accordance with the

specifications and technical specifications as provided in this Section. The Respondent shall address each

specification in this Section and indicate whether or not it will comply with the specification. If the context

requires more than a yes or no answer or the section specifically indicates, Respondent shall explain how

it will comply with the specification. Proposals must address each specification. Merely repeating the

specifications may be considered non-responsive and may disqualify the Respondent. Proposals must

identify any deviations from the specifications of this RFP or specifications the Respondent cannot satisfy.

If the Respondent deviates from or cannot satisfy the specification (s) of this section, the Agency may

reject the Proposal.

All items listed in this section are Mandatory Specifications. Respondents must indicate either “yes” or

“no” to each specification in their Proposals and provide an explanation as to how the specification is met.

By indicating “yes” a Respondent agrees that it shall comply with that specification throughout the full

term of the Contract, if the Respondent is successful. In addition, if specified by the specifications or if the

context otherwise requires, the Respondent shall provide references and/or supportive materials to verify

the Respondent’s compliance with the specification. The Agency shall have the right to determine

whether the supportive information and materials submitted by the Respondent demonstrate that the

Respondent will be able to comply with the Mandatory Specifications. If the Agency determines the

responses and supportive materials do not demonstrate the Supplier will be able to comply with the

Mandatory Specifications, the Agency may reject the Proposal.

2.1. General Obligations for All Services

2.1.1. The Contractor’s staff providing IDCA services shall have the following minimum

qualifications:

2.1.1.1. Direct Staff: 1-3 months’ experience and/or training, with preference of high

school diploma or equivalent.

2.1.1.2. Supervisory Staff: 1-2 years’ experience and/or training, with preference of high

school diploma or equivalent.

2.1.2. The Contractor shall only provide services in counties and for timeframes established by

administrative rules.

2.1.3.

The Contractor shall establish formal relationships with community partners (e.g.,

county emergency managers) across the state to ensure the capacity to provide local

services in their service area.

2.1.4.

The Contractor shall develop a risk management plan designed to reduce claim liability

subject to approval of the Agency, submitted within 45 calendar days of contract

execution. A final plan, incorporating any changes requested by the Agency, shall be

submitted to the Agency within 10 calendar days after the Agency provides feedback on

the draft plan. The Contractor shall execute and adhere to the Agency-approved plan.

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

Iowa Disaster Case Advocacy Program

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See also