Interoffice Memorandum
DATE: April 8, 2026
TO: Mayor Jerry L. Demings and County Commissioners
FROM: Carrie Mathes, FNIGP, CFCM, FNIGP-CPP, CPPO, C.P.M., Manager II, Procurement Division
CONTACT: Claudia Yabrudy, Manager, Fiscal and Operational Support Division, Health Services Department
PHONE: 407-836-6583 Fis
SUBJECT: Selection of Firm, Request for Proposals Y26-139-AV, Needle Exchange/Infectious Disease Elimination Program
RECOMMENDATION:
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Selection of one firm and an alternate to provide Needle Exchange/Infectious Disease Elimination Program, Request for Proposals Y26-139-AV, from the following firms listed alphabetically:
Hope and Help Center of Central Florida, Inc.
Specialized Treatment, Education and Prevention Services, Inc.
Further request Board authorization for the Procurement Division to negotiate and execute a contract at no cost to the County for a five-year term.
Further request Board authorization to the Procurement Division to formally terminate negotiations with the top ranked firm, if we are unable to come to favorable negotiated agreement, and commence negotiations with the next ranked alternate, until a successful negotiation is reached. ([Health Services Department Fiscal and Operational Support Division] Procurement Division)
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PROCUREMENT:
This contract will provide needle and syringe exchange services in Orange County to reduce the transmission of HIV, viral hepatitis, and other blood-borne diseases.
FUNDING:
Funding is not provided by Orange County.
DISCUSSION:
Four proposals were received in response to this Request for Proposals (RFP) and were evaluated in accordance with the criteria set forth in the RFP.
The authorized firm will be permitted to operate a sterile needle and syringe exchange program within Orange County for the purpose of reducing blood-borne disease transmission. This authorization is granted in accordance with Section 381.0038(4), Florida Statutes, and Orange County Code 20 Article VIII. As indicated under Section 381.0038(4)(f), Florida Statutes, State, County, and Municipal funds may not be used to operate the Exchange Program, and the authorized vendor must secure independent funding sources to support its operations.
On Call Phlebotomy was deemed non-responsive for gross deficiencies in their submittal. The proposal submitted by Florida Harm Reduction Collective Inc scored too low for Board consideration.
The Procurement Committee evaluated the responsive proposals on April 1, 2026. The Commissioner assigned to the procurement committee was Maribel Gomez Cordero.
The consensus scores of the Procurement Committee are attached.