Contracted Physical Therapist

COMMUNITY ACTION CORPORATION OF SOUTH TEXAS

EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERVENTION PROJECT NINOS

INVITATION TO BID

POSITIONS: Physical Therapist

ISSUING DEPARTMENT: Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) Program

PUBLICATION DATE: July 28, 2025

CLOSING DATE & TIME: 5PM CST August 8, 202

OVERVIEW

Community Action Corporation of South Texas (CACOST) intends to obtain proposals from qualified Physical Therapists for contractual positions within our Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) program.

CACOST ECI is a statewide program that strives to ensure that all eligible children under age three and their families receive quality early intervention services, resources and support needed to reach their developmental goals. Services are provided in partnerships with families within community contexts. CACOST will implement an early childhood intervention (ECI) program to include child find, eligibility determination, follow-along services, and for all eligible children, comprehensive services in Contractors approved service area. CACOST provides services to the following eleven counties: Aransas, Brooks, Duval, Kenedy, Kleberg, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Nueces, San Patricio, Webb and Zapata counties.

SCOPE OF WORK

The contractor will be required to support Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) services as part of an interdisciplinary team. Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Participating in the comprehensive evaluation of children from birth to age three who are referred to ECI.
• Assisting in determining eligibility for ECI services.
• Participating in the development of Individual Family Service Plans (IFSP) for eligible children.
• Assisting with the implementation and delivery of services as outlined in the IFSP.
• Reviewing existing IFSPs to ensure service alignment with child and family needs.
• Communicating and coordinating with service coordinators to support ongoing service delivery.
• Supervision of Physical Therapist Assistants if needed.

It is important to note that not all duties listed above are required for every case. The contractors level of participation may vary depending on individual referrals, team assignments, and the specific needs of the ECI program at any given time.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

All Submissions must be sent to the following address:

CACOST ECI Invitation to Bid
ATTN: Hector Rios
204 E. First St
Alice, Texas 78332
OR via email to ...

CACOST will not accept any Proposals submitted after Monday August 8th 2025.

Tentative Award Date: September 1, 2025

Term of Contract: September 1st, 2025 to August 31st, 2026.

Note: This is a contracted vendor opportunity issued through a formal Invitation to Bid (ITB). It is not an employment position with CACOST.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

To qualify as contractor for contractual work, the following must be met:

General Experience
Contractor must have at least 2 years of experience working with children and infants' birth to three and families. Include in your Proposal a brief description of the population age you served, the name of the company you provided these services for, the setting for services (home vs clinic), the services you provided and the length of time you administered these duties.

Certifications
Contractor must hold a current license in good standing in his or her discipline and practice within the scope of his or her specific state licensure laws and regulations. Must have a record of their continuing education, as required by the applicable licensing board; comply with all established licensing board requirements for receiving or providing clinical supervision. Must meet requirements related to ethics for licensed professionals and meet all established rules of conduct as required by the applicable board. Must hold a current certification in first-aid, including emergency care of seizures and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, for children and infants, and have a current TB test in order to work directly with children and their families. Copies of all current certificates must be provided for review and to file

Insurance
Contractor must provide proof of current Professional Liability/Errors & Omissions coverage. No bid will be approved by CACOST ECI Project Ninos until all insurance requirements have been cleared by CACOST ECI Project Ninos. Proof of current insurance for all employees of the provider will also be required before working with our children and families.

Criminal Background Check
Contractor must provide a copy of clearance of a fingerprint-based criminal background check before working with children and their families. This is also required for all employees of the provider who will provide direct services to our children and families.

Vendor Availability
Contractors shall provide CACOST ECI Project Ninos with competent staff that is readily available to answer all questions CACOST ECI Project Ninos may have regarding submitted bid; and post award be able to answer all questions regarding awarded contract.

Pricing
Please provide quotes for the type of services you are bidding for. If the type of service you are bidding for is not included, please select other and specify type of service(s):
CONTRACT SPECIFICATIONS (IF CONTRACTOR IS SELECTED):

In the agreement between CACOST ECI Project Ninos and the Contractor, the Contractor shall perform the following tasks and provide the required information incidental to the delivery of services: 1) Provide a written independent evaluation report, either formal or informal, on each child to the ECI Program when requested for utilization by the interdisciplinary team in developing an Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP). 2) Provide the written independent evaluation report within 1 week after conducting the evaluation. 3) Provide Prior Written Notice of Screenings/Assessments/Evaluations, Eligibility Determination, Service Implementation and Discontinuation of Services at the time of re-evaluation to parents, which must include a copy of the Procedural Safeguards Related to Prior Written Notice and Consent at all times. CACOST ECI Project Ninos must receive copies of the notices. 4) Notify Service Coordinators of the need for changes in frequency and intensity of services. No changes to services (increases, decreases, or discontinuation) can be made until the IFSP is amended by the Service Coordinator with the familys approval. 5) Provide therapy according to timelines on IFSP. Services provided past the timelines (IFSP end date) will not be paid. The start and end dates must be closely tracked by Contractor. 6) Provide brief consultation to the interdisciplinary team, specifically the service coordinator, as needed either in person or over the telephone. 7) Permit observation of some therapy or other direct service sessions by members of the interdisciplinary team responsible for the development of the IFSP. 8) Complete progress notes (must include the actual time in/out of service, including documentation of no shows, cancellations, and phone calls concerning the child) on each child receiving an evaluation, and/or direct services. 9) Submit progress notes and invoices weekly to the ECI office. Invoices submitted must only include the following information; date of service, patient first name letter initial, last name, date of birth, type of service provided (treatment, evaluation or re-evaluations); length of service provided and rates. All invoices submitted must be dated with the month that services were rendered. 10) Request prior approval for allowable cost items needed for services. Communication must be made to the office manager. 11) Progress notes must describe Family Centered Services. A familycentered progress note describes how the family or other caretakers were involved and how the session focused on functional skills within regularly occurring family and child routines. Progress notes will not be written in jargon. 12) Review and sign the Individual Family Service Plans (IFSP). This includes revisions and other reviews on a weekly basis. 13) Provide new planned services within the first 28 days of the Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP). 14) When canceling a therapy session for any reason, notify the childs ECI Service Coordinator or the ECI office as well as the family. The Contractor will be expected to make up the session within the same month unless other arrangements are made with the parent. These changes must be clearly documented in progress notes. 15) Order and/or construct adaptive equipment/assistive technology as deemed appropriate by the interdisciplinary team. 16) Complete state ECI requirements for initial and annual contractor orientation training to include: CPR, First Aid, Universal Precautions, and Procedural Safeguards including Confidentiality. Before providing services, proof of training must be on file at the ECI office. 17) Obtain TB test annually and provide a copy of results to ECI program. 18) Provide all necessary information in order for ECI to bill Medicaid for therapy. Fill out required forms for Medicaid, CHIP and Private insurance. 19) Contractors assigned to supervise will provide oversight including documented consultation, record review, and observations to comply with State regulations. In addition, Contractor must provide 3 hours of supervision quarterly to their assistants and submit documentation to the Administrative Assistant by the 10th of the following month. 20) Provide and maintain a current copy of professional liability insurance. 21) Follow ECI model and philosophy for serving children under age three and their families, to include, but not limited to (contractor is responsible for reviewing the following with the assistants):

• Interdisciplinary approach
• Family Centered Services
• Services in natural environments
• Routines-Based assessment and intervention strategies
• Relationship-based intervention: enhancing parent-child relationships and parent-professional relationships.

GENERAL TERMS & CONDITIONS

Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity
No person shall, on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, handicap, political affiliation, or belief, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, be subjected to discrimination under, or be denied employment in the administration of, or in connection with, any program or activity funded in whole or in part, with funds made available under this contract.

PROCUREMENT COMPLIANCE
This procurement is conducted in accordance with 2 CFR 200.317200.327 and all applicable federal, state, and local procurement requirements.

Prohibited Substances in the Workplace The contractor is considered a representative of CACOST while carrying out the duties of the contract. CACOST has a policy that prohibits the possession and/or use of alcohol or illegal drugs when conducting CACOST business. If the contractor is observed engaging in this type of behavior while performing any aspect of the contract, termination of the contract will occur.
Stevens Amendment This project is supported by the Early Childhood Intervention Program and Human Service Commission (HHSC) of the U.S. Department of Education as part of an award totaling $14,131,454 with 57 percent financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HHSC, U.S. Department of Education, or the U.S. Government. Historically Underutilized Businesses
It is CACOST policy to encourage participation of small and historically underutilized businesses (HUBs), as defined in Government Code, Chapter 2161.
Certification Regarding Debarment
By submitting a bid, the contractor certifies that neither the organization nor any of its principals are debarred, suspended, or excluded from participation in federal programs under Executive Orders 12549 and 12689.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure
Contractors must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest. Failure to disclose may result in bid disqualification.

Reservation of Rights
CACOST reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive any informalities or irregularities in the procurement process.

Civil Rights Compliance and Enforcement
In accordance with Federal Law this institution does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

Welcome to Community Action Corporation of South Texas (CACOST)!

CACOST is a private non-profit organization established in 1971 and funded through federal, state and local grants. CACOST currently serves 16 counties via a wide variety of community programs and services. CACOST lives its mission each day, which is to continuously improve the lives of South Texans by providing high quality health care, education, housing and economic opportunities to reduce poverty through services and partnerships.

CACOST is looking for employees who are interested in accomplishing our mission, which can be both rewarding and challenging. We count on our employees to contribute directly to the growth and success of our agency. Because the quality of our staff is the key to our success, we carefully select our new employees. Apply today to join our CACOST family and take pride in being a member of our team.