Public Health Prevention Activities: Communicable Disease and Substance Use Prevention Services

The purpose of this Request for Qualifications for Public Health Services is to establish a list of qualified community-based organizations (CBOs), individuals, other government agencies, non-profits, stakeholders, faith-based organizations, and other qualified providers with interest and experience in the prevention of communicable diseases and substance use.

Solano County Health and Social Services, Public Health Division, hereinafter referred to as the County or H&SS, seeks vendors with a public interest in one or both of the following:

1. Reducing the spread and impact of communicable diseases and sexually transmitted diseases (CD/STD), including Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), within Solano County.

1. Reducing rates of use of alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, fentanyl, and other controlled substances among youth and other communities with high rates of substance use and related health outcomes.

Solano County reserves the right to retain a “pool” of vendors on contract. Each vendor in the pool shall be determined through this RFQ process. As project needs arise or are identified by Solano County, vendors in the pool will be contacted and asked to provide services for each engagement. The County reserves the right to issue other solicitations for similar services during the term of the agreement.

Note: A community-based organization (CBO) is defined as a “private entity that is a nonprofit corporation [Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)] operating at the local level.” Entities that are under the fiscal sponsorship of an IRS 501(c)(3) entity are also determined to be a CBO within this definition.

The mission of Solano County Health & Social Services is to promote healthy, safe and stable lives. Proposed vendors are invited to present proposals for reducing the morbidity and spread of Title 17, California Code of Regulations §2500 diseases and substance use that reflect the strategic goals detailed in the Scope of Service(s)/Project and Solano Public Health’s strategic plan and value goals as detailed within.

Solano County is located in the northern region of California, halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento and is one of the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties. Solano has a total population of 447,218 residents (2023) and has seven incorporated cities including Fairfield (the County seat), Benicia, Vallejo, Vacaville, Suisun, Rio Vista, and Dixon. Solano’s diverse population consists of (2023) of 33.4% White, 30.1% Hispanic, 17.6% Asian, 14.2% African American, 7.6% two or more races, and 2.5% identified as other ethnicities. Solano’s residents include 21% under 18 years of age, 8% between 18 and 24 years of age, 28% between 25 and 44 years of age, 24% between 45 and 64 years of age and an increasing senior population 65 years and older consisting of 18% of county residents. While considered a medium-sized county that is uniquely situated between two metropolitan cities, Solano’s farming communities and suburban communities distinguish it from the more urban Bay Area. This has added complex barriers and challenges that a multifaceted geography and community composition can generate.

Communicable Disease (especially Hepatitis C Virus)

Hepatitis C is an infection caused by the hepatitis C virus and is a leading cause of liver disease and liver cancer in the United States. In California, African Americans, American Indians/Alaska Natives, and Whites are disproportionately affected by HCV when compared with the general population. Rates of newly reported chronic hepatitis C infections in California are highest in persons 50 years of age and older and have been increasing in recent years among young person's ages 18-39, including among people who can become pregnant. Nearly two-thirds of new hepatitis C infections are associated with sharing of injection drug use equipment and people who inject drugs (PWID) are disproportionately affected by hepatitis C infection. People with HIV are at higher risk for accelerated development of liver disease due to comorbid hepatitis C infection.

In July 2019, the California State legislature allocated $5 million in state General Funds to LHJs for hepatitis C activities. California Health and Safety Code (H&SC) Section 122440, which outlines how these state General Funds must be used, requires that 50 percent of the funds be allocated to CBOs “provided that there are CBOs in the jurisdiction that are able to provide these activities and demonstrate expertise, history, and credibility working successfully in engaging the most vulnerable and underserved individuals living with, or at high risk for, HCV infection.” The information submitted by applicants in response to this RFQ will be used to assess whether applicant CBOs “are able to provide these activities and demonstrate expertise, history, and credibility working successfully in engaging the most vulnerable and underserved individuals living with, or at high risk for, HCV infection.”

Substance Use Prevention

Solano County experiences multiple social and health consequences because of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use among youth and adult populations. Various factors in the environment contribute to substance use among youth, including community norms favorable toward use as well as access and availability. At the same time, protective factors fostered through parents and other trusted adults, local coalitions, community-based organizations, schools and social service providers help to mitigate the impact of substances among youth and the general community.

The County Substance Abuse Prevention Program’s mission is to reduce community and individual problems related to alcohol abuse, tobacco use, and other drug abuse including fentanyl/opioids, especially in youth. This RFQ focuses on environmental, and systems change, youth development, education and community mobilization strategies to accomplish the Solano Substance Abuse Prevention Program’s mission.