Part of my job involves evaluating contracting opportunities for my company. This process involves many automated searches that turn up all kinds of information--most of which are not really related to the searches I create. This one from North Dakota came up on my search this morning. If the state is not supposed to be funding abortions, then funding anti-abortion efforts should be off limits as well. Not in North Dakota. Here's the link: Alternative to Abortion.
RFP stands for "Request for Proposal." You can click on the link in the intro to get the RFP--it's a Word Document. Here's the basic Scope of Work they are asking for:
Successful offeror shall:
1) promote alternative to abortion services;
2) inform the public about the Alternative to Abortion Program;
3) provide a dedicated toll free 1-800 number to provide available Agencies and locations for individuals needing the services;
4) contract with existing Agencies and future Agencies throughout the state that provide services other than abortion;
5) maintain a list of Agencies ;
6) determine the 15-minute service unit rate paid to Agencies for professionals and paraprofessionals;
7) receive billing based on the 15-minute service units and 15-minute service unit rates from Agencies;
8) make payments to Agencies based billing;
9) collect data from Agencies for outcome measures;
10) develop and identify how positive outcomes will be measured from data collected;
11) maintain and provide access to a website with alternative-to-abortion information;
12) identify strategies for continued engagement of women seeking services throughout their pregnancy;
13) identify how services are preventing women from aborting;
14) report monthly data to Purchasing Agency to include at a minimum the following:
a) number served
b) services provided
c) follow-up provided
d) identify how services
e) Outcomes
i) Kept baby
ii) Foster care
iii) Adoption
iv) Aborted (voluntarily or involuntarily); and
15) communicate and receive approval for any changes to the services provided
What exactly would an "involuntary" abortion be, and how would that determination be made by a contractor?
This certainly boils my blood. What can be done about it? Does anyone live in a state where similar work is contracted by the government? Any ideas on how to deal with this kind of stuff?