RFP 2026-010 Laboratory Testing Services

Location:	Texas
Posted:	Mar 3, 2026
Due:	Mar 12, 2026
Agency:	The Center for Health Care Service
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	Q - Medical Services
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

(“RFP”)

(RFP-2026-010)

for

Laboratory Testing Services

Release Date: 01/13/2026

Proposals Due: 03/12/2026 at 12:00 P.M. Central Standard Time

Revised: 03/03/2026

* Proposals not received by deadline will be rejected and returned unopened.

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002 - TABLE OF CONTENTS

002 - TABLE OF CONTENTS................................................................................................................................................. 2

003 - BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................................................. 3

004 - SCOPE OF SERVICES ................................................................................................................................................. 4

005 - ASSURANCES ............................................................................................................................................................ 10

006 - TERM OF CONTRACT................................................................................................................................................ 11

007 - PRE-SUBMITTAL CONFERENCE .............................................................................................................................. 11

008 - PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................................................... 11

009 - SUBMISSION OF PROPOSAL ................................................................................................................................... 12

010 - RESTRICTIONS ON COMMUNICATION ................................................................................................................... 13

011 - EVALUATION OF CRITERIA ...................................................................................................................................... 13

012 - AWARD OF CONTRACT AND RESERVATION OF RIGHTS .................................................................................... 14

013 - SCHEDULE OF EVENTS ............................................................................................................................................ 15

014 - INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS.................................................................................................................................. 15

015 - RFP ATTACHMENTS .................................................................................................................................................. 18

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003 - BACKGROUND

The Bexar County Board of Trustees for Mental Health Mental Retardation Services d/b/a The Center for Health Care

Services (“CENTER”) is a multi-facility community mental health and intellectual disability center created under the

authority of Section 534.001 of the Texas Health and Safety Code by its sponsoring agencies, Bexar County and the

Bexar County Hospital District d/b/a University Health. The CENTER has been providing services to Bexar County

residents experiencing mental health, intellectual developmental disabilities and/or substance use issues for over fifty-five

years and is the Texas Health and Human Services Commission-designated Local Mental Health Authority for Bexar

County, Texas. The CENTER is considered a governmental entity, a political subdivision of the state of Texas, but is not a

Texas state agency. The CENTER’S administrative offices are located at 6800 Park Ten Blvd. Suite 200-S, San Antonio,

Texas 78213.

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004 - SCOPE OF SERVICES

The Center for Health Care Services (“CHCS”, “CENTER”) is seeking proposals from qualified and experienced laboratory

testing companies (“RESPONDENT”) to provide comprehensive testing that meets the needs of the CENTER, as further

defined in this Request for Proposals (“RFP”).

A. General Requirements and Responsibilities

RESPONDENT shall:

1. Provide Laboratory Testing Services for CENTER in accordance with prescriber orders by persons authorized

under state or federal law to order laboratory tests.

2. Perform “STAT” and “URGENT” lab testing services when ordered by a prescriber as follows:

a. STAT – performed immediately due to a consumer’s critical condition, with results typically available and

reported within one (1) hour or less.

b. URGENT – performed when prompt diagnosis or treatment is needed to prevent worsening of

consumer’s condition and reported within two (2) to four (4) hours.

3. Provide comprehensive in-service training for appropriate personnel on an as-needed basis, to be arranged by

CENTER.

4. Supply all collection materials and any other related supplies per draw site, as necessary, for the collection of the

test, to include centrifuges and lockboxes, at no charge.

5. Provide phlebotomist (technical services) at agreed upon times to collect, and process samples at no additional

cost for up to three (3) CENTER locations:

a. Paul Elizondo Clinic: 928 W. Commerce Street, San Antonio, TX 78207 – Current technical services

provided

b. Two (2) additional undetermined locations are designated for potential expansion of services.

6. Provide courier services to pick up specimens from CENTER to be tested by RESPONDENT.

7. Set up and provide electronic submission of laboratory results per draw site when test is completed at no

additional cost.

8. Supply testing supplies necessary for obtaining, collecting, and transporting specimens in full within twenty-four

(24) hours of request.

9. Provide one (1) Master Price List for lab testing that applies universally to all CENTER Programs/Clinic locations.

10. Submit an itemized monthly statement of services, under a “Parent” or “Master” account, that includes the

following information for each individual unit:

a. CENTER location and unit number;

b. Date of services;

c. Consumer name or identification number;

d. Ordering physician;

e. Test performed;

f. Test code; and

g. Net cost.

11. Maintain separate records for each of the CENTER’S locations served by unit number, so as to provide a monthly

analysis of tests performed by test code and name, as well as cumulative summary reflecting usage at all

CENTER locations.

12. Provide direct billing for services to all payers of claims, other than the CENTER, for all consumers served by the

CENTER when the required billing information is supplied on the requisition form. Payment received from third

party payers will be considered payment in full for the services rendered.

13. Provide next-day reporting for all tests listed. (No later than 24 hours turn-around).

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14. Report Critical/Urgent lab values within one (1) hour per agreed upon mechanism to requesting location.

15. Have a defined financial hardship system available to consumers who qualify.

16. Comply with all requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Health

Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, as applicable.

B. Technical Specifications

1. Have Health Level Seven (HL7) standards or similar systems/mechanisms to interface with CENTER’S Software

System (Netsmart - OrderConnect).

2. Demonstrate ability to interface with CENTER’S Electronic Health Record (EHR) which is currently utilizing the

MyAvatar product.

3. Demonstrate ability to work with and through an EHR intermediary between CENTER and RESPONDENT for

data transfer related to prescriber orders, lab test resulting and posting processes, data reports, and billing as

necessary. Current vendor intermediary is Change Health.

C. Laboratory Standards

RESPONDENT shall:

1. Be licensed by all state and federal agencies having jurisdiction in such matters and shall submit documentation

of such licenses with the RFP, and provide proof of renewal upon expiration dates of licenses including, but not

limited to:

a. Medicare License

b. Medicaid License

c. College of American Pathologists accredited

d. CLIA certification

e. Texas Health and Human Services, Health Facility Compliance Unit

2. Provide to the CENTER with such information upon request to demonstrate to the CENTER’S satisfaction that

each of the following items is complied with:

a. Participation in external proficiency testing programs;

b. Automatic telephoning of Critical/Urgent values for any test;

c. Automatic repeat of grossly abnormal results for confirmation;

d. Internal blind re-submission of previously tested samples;

e. Periodic review of cumulative consumer means;

f. Corporate review of external proficiency testing results;

g. Weekly compliance inspections;

h. Monthly corporate-wide internal proficiency program;

i. Monthly corporate review of performance statistics for each method;

j. Quarterly on-site internal inspection program;

k. Pathologist review of abnormal cytology;

l. Quarterly proficiency testing of cytotechnologist; and

m. Quarterly on-site cytology inspection.

D. Lab Categories and Tests

RESPONDENT’S laboratory services will include the following core categories of testing services offered. In addition, the

following lab tests are examples from each of the categories listed and are not intended to be representative of all

potential tests within each category. A RESPONDENT may provide a comprehensive listing of tests provided per category

for consideration in their scope of services.

1. Chemistry

a. Basic Metabolic Profile

b. Comprehensive Metabolic Profile

c. Electrolyte Profile

d. Lipid Profile

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

RFP 2026-010 Laboratory Testing Services

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