Dietitian Consultation
| Location: | Iowa |
|---|---|
| Posted: | Jan 15, 2026 |
| Due: | Feb 23, 2026 |
| Agency: | State Government of Iowa |
| Type of Government: | State & Local |
| Category: |
|
| Solicitation No: | SOPSCHK27001 |
| Publication URL: | To access bid details, please log in. |
Bid Information
Bid Number
SOPSCHK27001
Solicitation
Dietitian Consultation
Solicitation Type
Request for Proposals
County
Cherokee
Description
Description
The purpose of this RFP is to solicit proposals that will enable the Department of Health and Human Services (Agency) to select the most qualified contractor to provide dietitian consultation services to provide patients with healthy, balanced diets that meet individualized care plans, taking dietary restrictions and allergies into consideration.
Agency Information
Number
401
Name
Department of Health and Human Services
Address 1
1251 WEST CEDAR LOOP
Address 2
City/State/Zip
CHEROKEE, IA 51012
Contact Information
Contact Name
Katelyn Meyers
Contact Title
Procurement Specialist 2
Contact Email
Contact Phone Number
(712) 225-6950
Contact Phone Extension
Contact Other Number
Contact Fax Number
Valid Dates
From
1/15/2026 2:36:00 PM
Until
2/23/2026 2:00:00 PM
Documents/Attachments
Attachment Preview
SOPSCHK27001
Dietitian Consultant
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)
Dietitian Consultant
SOPSCHK27001
Page 1 of 37
Katelyn Meyers
1251 West Cedar Loop
Cherokee, Iowa 51012
Phone: 712-225-6950
katelyn.meyers@hhs.iowa.gov
SOPSCHK27001
Dietitian Consultant
RFP Purpose.
The purpose of this RFP is to solicit proposals that will enable the Department of Health and Human
Services (Agency) to select the most qualified contractor to provide dietitian consultation services to
provide patients with healthy, balanced diets that meet individualized care plans, taking dietary
restrictions and allergies into consideration.
Duration of Contract.
The Agency anticipates executing a contract that will have an initial 1-year contract term with the ability
to extend the contract for 5 additional 1-year terms. The Agency will have the sole discretion to extend
the contract.
Bidder Eligibility Requirements.
The Agency will only consider proposals for contract award from Bidders who are certified Registered
Dietitians (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) in the state of Iowa.
Procurement Timetable
There are no exceptions to any deadlines for the Bidder; however, the Agency reserves the right to
change the dates. Times provided are in Central Time.
Event
Agency Issues RFP Notice to Targeted Small Business Website (48
hours):
Agency Issues RFP to Bid Opportunities Website
Bidder Letter of Intent to Bid Due By
Bidder Written Questions Due By
Agency Responses to Questions Issued By
Bidder Proposals and any Amendments to Proposals Due By
Agency Announces Apparent Successful Bidder/Notice of Intent to
Award
Contract Negotiations and Execution of the Contract Completed
Date
January 13, 2026
January 15, 2026
January 26, 2026
2:00 p.m.
February 2, 2026
2:00 p.m.
February 9, 2026
February 23, 2026
2:00 p.m.
March 16, 2026
June 30, 2026
Anticipated Start Date for the Provision of Services
July 1, 2026
Page 2 of 37
SOPSCHK27001
Dietitian Consultant
Section 1 Background and Scope of Work
1.1 Background.
The Agency's Cherokee Mental Health Institute (CMHI) in Cherokee, Iowa is a state-operated acute
psychiatric hospital in the Division of State-Operated Specialty Care serving persons with mental illness
including specialized treatment and security for adults ordered by the court into the custody of the state
for the purposes of competency restoration, adults who have been acquitted of a crime by reason of
insanity, and similarly situated adults at a mental health institute. The facility is accredited by The Joint
Commission, certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and licensed by the
Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) to provide acute specialty hospital
care. The average daily census of the CMHI is 36 patients.
The Agency's Civil Commitment Unit for Sexual Offenders (CCUSO) in Cherokee, Iowa is a state-
operated facility in the Division of State-Operated Specialty Care serving sexually violent predators for
the entire state of Iowa. The CCUSO program was created by the 1998 Sexually Violent Predators Act
of Iowa to provide secure, inpatient treatment for sexual offenders who are believed to be a high risk for
sexually re-offending. The average daily census of the CCUSO program is approximately 170 patients
and expected to gradually increase.
The Dietary department is comprised of approximately twenty (20) employees serving patients of both
CMHI and CCUSO, as well as an additional fifteen (15) tenants and approximately seventy (70)
employee meals per day. In addition to these meals, the Dietary department prepares snacks and
specialty orders, stocks vending machines, and operates a café for employee consumption.
Historically the contracted dietitian has provided 16-20 hours of consultation services monthly, with one
day per month being on-site and the remainder of services performed remotely.
1.2 RFP General Definitions.
When appearing as capitalized terms in this RFP, including attachments, the following quoted terms
(and the plural thereof, when appropriate) have the meanings set forth in this section.
“Agency” means the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.
“Bid Proposal” or “Proposal” means the Bidder’s proposal submitted in response to the RFP.
“Bidder” means the entity that submits a Bid Proposal in response to this RFP.
“Contractor” means the Bidder who enters into a Contract as a result of this Solicitation.
“Deliverables” means all of the services, goods, products, work, work product, data (including data
collected on behalf of the Agency), items, materials and property to be created, developed, produced,
delivered, performed, or provided by or on behalf of, or made available through, the Contractor (or any
agent, contractor or subcontractor of the Contractor) in connection with any contract resulting from this
RFP.
“Invoice” means a Contractor’s claim for payment. At the Agency’s discretion, claims may be
submitted on an original invoice from the Contractor or may be submitted on a claim form accepted by
the Agency, such as a General Accounting Expenditure (GAX) form.
Page 3 of 37
SOPSCHK27001
Dietitian Consultant
1.3 Scope of Work.
1.3.1 Deliverables.
The Contractor shall provide the following deliverables. Services are expected to be provided remotely,
with the exception of a required monthly on-site visit. The Bidder’s approach to fulfilling these
deliverables must include the use of Agency-approved virtual meeting platforms that support video
functionality, with contracted staff participating with video enabled.
1.3.1.1 Patient Nutrition.
1. Review and approve patient menus and nutritional supplements ensuring compliance with
current Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) and the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI)
established by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council.
2. Provide dietary counseling to patients, families, and caretakers upon request, in collaboration
with the Therapeutic Technician.
3. Perform and document nutritional assessments and evaluate patient tolerances to therapeutic
diets when appropriate.
4. Review drug interactions, dietary notes in patient records, and patient’s special diets as required
by Agency standards and policies.
5. Provide general oversight, approval, and consultation, if indicated, of assessments performed
by the Therapeutic Technician regarding patients’ nutritional needs for individuals on modified
diets.
1.3.1.2 Agency Consultation.
1. Conduct one (1) monthly on-site visit, with a minimum presence of eight (8) hours in a single
day.
2. Develop educational training specific to the Dietary department, as requested by the Agency.
3. Review and revise Dietary department policies and procedures, operating plans, and manuals
at least annually or upon request.
4. Collaborate with Agency workgroups and committees to plan and implement patient care
strategies that meet nutritional needs.
5. Evaluate the quality and performance of services provided by fellow HHS facility dietitians. This
may include, but is not limited to, a review of approved menus, flow sheets, nutritional risk
assessments and reviews of other dietetic activities.
6. Respond to requests and communications from the Agency within the following timeframes:
a. Email: within twenty four (24) hours
b. Text message: within two (2) hours
c. Telephone: within twenty four (24) hours
1.3.1.3 Agency Education.
1. Prepare a monthly newsletter to be distributed by the tenth (10th) of the each month. The
newsletter shall not exceed two (2) pages and must include, at a minimum:
a. A Recipe of the Month,
b. A highlighted seasonal food, dietary trend, or nutrient along with tips for incorporating it
into meals.
2. Prepare a monthly lesson plan and accompanying activity for the Psychiatric Rehabilitation
Program by the tenth (10th) of each month. The lesson plan must include educational instruction
for Agency use, and the activity should not require more than fifty dollars ($50.00) in supplies.
1.3.1.4 Dietary Performance Monitoring.
The Contractor shall perform routine performance monitoring activities as outlined below and report all
findings to the Agency’s Food Service Director. Observations that are not in compliance with
established best practices must be reported immediately upon identification. All other findings shall be
Page 4 of 37
SOPSCHK27001
Dietitian Consultant
documented and submitted to the Food Service Director within fourteen (14) calendar days of
observation.
1. Maintain ServSafe Proctor certification and administer exams to Agency employees as needed.
2. Conduct informal inspections of the kitchen and Dietary Department storage areas to assess
cleanliness, proper food storage and rotation, expiration date management, and handwashing
protocol compliance.
3. Observe employees working in the Diet Line to ensure compliance with proper food handling
procedures.
1.3.1.5 Licensing and Agency Compliance.
1. The Contractor shall maintain the following qualifications throughout the duration of the contract,
including any renewals or extensions, and provide evidence of such to the Agency:
a. Licensure in the State of Iowa through the Iowa Board of Dietetics
b. Membership in the American Dietetic Association
2. In the event that the Dietitian is unavailable for a period of fourteen (14) consecutive days or
longer, a substitute Dietitian with equivalent credentials must be provided.
3. Ensure that all personnel performing services under any contract awarded will comply with the
Agency’s health, safety, and infection control policies and procedures to the extent deemed
necessary by the Agency, including, but not limited to, vaccination and immunization
requirements set forth in HHS policies MED-220 and 22-06 C, incorporated herein by reference,
as amended. Compliance shall be a condition of performing services.
4. Ensure all personnel remain in compliance with standard confidentiality requirements and
Agency policies and procedures, including any training deemed relevant by the Agency.
1.3.2 Performance Measures.
1. Perform services related to Section 1.3.1.1 Patient Nutrition within three (3) business days 98%
of the time.
2. Attend 95% of scheduled workgroup or committee meetings relevant to nutrition care.
3. Respond to communications within the designated timeframes as stated in Deliverables 98% of
the time.
4. Proctor ServSafe exams to Agency employees within thirty (30) days of request 98% of the
time.
5. Prepare educational materials as described in Section 1.3.1.3 Agency Education on or before
the tenth (10th) of each month 98% of the time.
6. Maintain 100% compliance with Section 1.3.1.5 Licensing and Agency Compliance.
1.3.3 Agency Responsibilities.
The Agency shall provide the Contractor with a secured laptop computer, login credentials, and access
to all applications necessary to perform the services outlined in this RFP. The Contractor shall use the
provided equipment solely for the purpose of fulfilling contractual obligations. Upon conclusion of
services, the Contractor shall return the laptop computer and any other Agency-issued equipment in
good working condition.
1.3.4 Contract Payment Methodology.
The Contractor shall be paid at an hourly rate for services provided. In the event the Contractor fails to
meet one or more of the performance measures as outlined in Section 1.3.2, the Agency reserves the
right to implement a corrective action plan and apply a ten percent (10%) deduction to the affected
service period(s).
Page 5 of 37
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