Project Information

Bid Title

Dietitian Consultation

Issuing Agency

State Government of Iowa

Location

Iowa

Published Date

Jan 15, 2026

Closing Date

Feb 23, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Ref. #

SOPSCHK27001

Original Source

Join to Access Full Details

Bid Inquiries

Join to Access Full Details

Bid Documents

Join to Access Full Details

Project Description

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

katelyn.meyers@hhs.iowa.gov

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

SOPSCHK27001 Dietitian Consultation RFP

1/13/2026 1:44:05 PM

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

Commodity Codes

• NAICS 541611Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

* Disclaimer: Government BidHub provides information on bids, RFPs (Requests for Proposals), and RFQs (Requests for Qualifications) solely for convenience and informational purposes. This site is not an official public notice board. For official details, responses, or inquiries, please contact the relevant government agency directly.