Long-horizon Texas pediatric behavioral-health contracting opportunity. Texas HHSC, on behalf of the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), Child Protective Services, is accepting qualified contractors for Intensive Peer Support Services (IPSS) for high-acuity foster youth with complex mental and behavioral-health needs.
Contract structure: this is an open-enrollment service contract rather than a fixed grant. DFPS does not guarantee a minimum number of referrals or funding level. Payment is fee-for-service at $65 per hour, billed in 15-minute increments, for authorized in-person direct services, virtual engagement, and required administrative tasks.
Deadline: the current official opportunity page lists August 31, 2031 at 5:00 PM CDT. DFPS may adjust or reopen enrollment by region or service-delivery area, so applicants should continue checking the official HHS posting for amendments.
Who can apply: applicants must submit the required IPSS application/forms, not be debarred, be legally authorized and active to do business in Texas, accept the solicitation requirements, identify the counties/DFPS regions they will serve, and satisfy the required insurance, staffing, training, transportation, documentation, and service-delivery requirements. Multiple contracts are contemplated in DFPS Regions 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, and 11.
Program model: the six-month relationship-based peer-support program serves foster youth ages 16–17 who are in DFPS conservatorship and currently in congregate care/CWOP or at risk of entering CWOP. Services emphasize self-esteem, communication, mental and emotional well-being, independent-living skills, workforce development, academic support, and coordination with schools, postsecondary institutions, vocational programs, and adult education.
Virtual-service limitation: the model prioritizes face-to-face engagement. Peer Support Staff must provide at least six hours per week of direct in-person interaction. Virtual peer support is limited to a maximum of three hours per week by video or phone and generally cannot replace in-person services without DFPS pre-approval for safety, health, or exceptional circumstances.
Addendum 1: DFPS revised several implementation requirements, including cybersecurity-training documentation, clarification that qualifying lived experience must be personal lived experience, automobile-insurance language, and other training/operational provisions. Applicants should use the amended materials rather than relying on the original package alone.
Atlas Opportunity Score: 86/100. This is a durable statewide/regional pediatric behavioral-health and foster-youth services contracting pathway with a clear reimbursable service rate and meaningful school/workforce coordination requirements.
N9+ Direct Vendor Fit: 8/100. The procurement is fundamentally for human peer-support and mentorship services, not clinical telehealth or technology acquisition. Limited video/phone engagement is permitted only as part of the peer-support model, so no defensible N9+ direct-vendor capture should be forced.
Official source: Texas HHS Open Enrollment HHS0017169.