Imperial County, California - Last Tuesday, the Imperial County Board of Supervisors authorized the Imperial County Area Agency on Aging (AAA) to release two Requests for Proposals (RFP) in January for the competitive selection of providers for the Senior Congregate Nutrition Service Program and the Home Delivered Meals Service Program. Current contracts will expire June 30, 2016; therefore the AAA is seeking proposals for both senior meal programs to begin July 1, 2016.
“The senior meal programs are vital services for our senior community,” said District 5 Supervisor Raymond Castillo, who is also a member of the AAA Advisory Council. “For some seniors, this is the only meal they might receive in a day, particularly at the end of the month when funds run low. It is important to maintain the programs and continue to advocate for sufficient funding.”
The Senior Congregate Nutrition Program serves meals and related nutrition services in a group setting to individuals who are age 60 or over, and in some cases, their caregivers, spouses and/or persons with disabilities. In addition to serving healthy meals, the program presents individuals with the greatest economic and/or social need with opportunities to socialize, form new relationships and create formal support networks. The Imperial County AAA is seeking third-party service providers for the procurement, preparation, transportation and serving of meals at the ten meal sites located throughout Imperial County.
The Home Delivered Meals Service Program provides healthy meals daily and related nutrition services to individuals who are age 60 or over and homebound due to illness, disability or isolation. The Program is designed to meet the needs of individuals who have no support system in place to assist them in shopping for or preparing meals. Eligible individuals may also include a spouse of the homebound senior or an individual with a disability who resides with the homebound senior. Imperial County AAA is seeking third-party service providers for the procurement, preparation, transportation and delivery of meals to homebound seniors throughout Imperial County.
“These nutrition programs are among the most valuable services we provide,” stated Norma Saikhon, Public Administrator and Director of the Imperial County AAA. “We look forward to selecting a provider who can maximize the number of nutritious meals. This is especially important as program funding is not keeping pace with demand so we must be innovative in serving meals to our seniors.”
The Imperial County AAA is a division of the County of Imperial under the direction of Norma Saikhon and managed by Cheryl Viegas-Walker. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for seniors by enabling individuals to live with maximum independence and dignity in their homes and communities through the development of comprehensive and coordinated systems of home and community care, including providing healthy meals in their home or in a group. The AAA is the regional focal point of services to older adults. It administers federal, state, and county funds.
Funding for both programs is contingent upon receipt of federal and state monies, and approval of the Area Plan by the Imperial County Board of Supervisors and the California Department of Aging. A comparable level of funding from the previous fiscal year is anticipated to be available for the forthcoming contract years. Agreements with the agencies or organizations selected for funding will be a one-year agreement from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017, with three additional annual contracts awarded contingent upon funding availability.
For more information about the two RFPs, please visit the Imperial County AAA Website. The RFPs will be available for review on January 6, 2016 by 8:00 a.m. Proposals are due by February 17, 2016.
