NOTICE TO BIDDERS

SEALED PROPOSALS ARE HEREBY SOLICITED FOR THE PREPARATION OF MEALS TITLE III-C NUTRITION PROGRAM, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SPECIFICATIONS.

PROPOSALS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN TRIPLICATE, INCLUDE One ELECTRONIC VERSIONAND ENCLOSED IN A SEALED ENVELOPE MARKED “SEALED BID” AND ADDRESSED TO:

A Bidders conference will be held on June 11, 2013 at the offices of Ethos, 555 Amory Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 at 2:00 pm.

The purpose of this conference is to give equal opportunity for clarification of specifications to all potential bidders.   If you have any questions regarding these specifications, reserve them for that occasion.

Sealed bids will be accepted up to July 17, 2013 at 12:00 noon. Bids that are mailed must be postmarked no later than July 17, 2013. Bids received after that date endorsed or signed will be rejected.

FACTORS IN SELECTING THE PROVIDER

a)         Meal Cost Analysis.

b)         Type of service offered.

c)         Experience and reputation of bidder.

d)         Financial stability of bidder.

e)         Degree of staff supervision/staff support.

f)         Location and Food Production Facility.

g)         Ability to perform according to the requirements set forth.

h)         Ability to use USDA Commodity Foods and Purchasing program

i)          SOMWBA status

THE BOSTON CONSORTIUM RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY AND ALL PROPOSALS IF IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO DO SO.

DOWNLOADS

1. 2013 Bid Specifications - Boston Consortium
2. Standards and Policies for the MA Elderly Nutrition Program
3. Sample Non-Homemaker Agreement
4. Meals Bid Checklist
5. Home Delivered Meals Totals - BSHC
6. Home Delivered Meals Service Specific Survey
7. Bidder Questions

Boston, MA (May 6, 2013) – May is National Older Americans Month and that means it’s time for Ethos’ annual SeniorPalooza celebration. This year, seniors from all over Boston will gather for events aimed at celebrating the healthy, active and independent lifestyles that Ethos helps bring many of our most experienced citizens.

As it has done for the past nine years, Ethos is honoring the contributions of all older Americans with a community-wide celebration, SeniorPalooza, complete with parties, educational programs, physical activities and entertainment throughout the month. SeniorPalooza is more than just fun events, it is also an opportunity to engage the community in working to improve the health and well-being of older adults and promote healthy aging activities.

The highlight of SeniorPalooza is the annual Senior Prom which is being held on Thursday, May 30, from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, at the Irish Social Club of Boston, 119 Park Street in West Roxbury. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Boston.”

“Boston’s seniors come from such diverse backgrounds and lend so much strength to the fabric that holds this great city together,” said Dale Mitchell, executive director of Ethos, the Jamaica Plain-based elder services non-profit. “This year’s SeniorPalooza and Senior Prom will pay tribute to Boston and to the seniors which have contributed so much our communities.”

All ages and backgrounds are invited to participate in any of the SeniorPalooza activities to celebrate Older Americans Month. Events are open to the public and most of the events are free to attend. Many require a reservation as space is limited. SeniorPalooza 2013 events include:

• SeniorPalooza Senior Prom - Thursday, May 30 - 11:30 am to 2:30 pm - Irish Social Club of Boston - Join Ethos in celebrating Older Americans Month at our Annual Senior Prom featuring lunch, dancing and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Boston” so show your hometown spirit with your red, white, and blue! Space is limited. Reserve your seat today! To RSVP, call 617-477-6724 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ." data-mce-href="mailto: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ."> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

• Hyde Park Senior Luncheon - Friday, May 10 - 11:30 am to 2:00 pm - Hyde Park Community Center - Join Ethos, State Representative Angelo Scaccia, Boston City Councilor Rob Consalvo, the Boston Centers for Youth and Familes-Hyde Park, Boston Police Department, and other members of the Hyde Park community for this event, featuring music by Tony Cibotti and a Karate demonstration by One Step Beyond and the Blake Estate Breakers. Space is limited. To RSVP, please call Robert Hickey at 617-635-5178 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

• Senior Open House at the Hyde Park YMCA - Thursday, May 16 - 9:00 am to 12:00 pm - Hyde Park YMCA - Tour the YMCA’s new building and learn about programs and discounts just for you. Bring your bathing suit and swim in the indoor, heated pool or take a steam. Sample a Water Exercise class or our Fit Over Fifty class. Contact Courtney Harrness at 617-361-2300 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

• Coffee with the Cops - Friday, May 17 - 10:30 am to 11:30 am - Blake Estates - Join Ethos and the Community Service Officers of the Boston Police Department E-18 for an important discussion about safety for seniors as well as, elder abuse and financial exploitation prevention. Please contact Officer Peter Moscaritolo at 617-343-5611 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to reserve your space.

• Tai Chi in the Park - Sunday, May 19 - 2:00 pm - Sophia Snow Place -Join Tai Chi Instructor, Lois Baho, and local seniors for an afternoon of Tai Chi. Learn how this ancient exercise can help improve balance and overall health. Give it a try and sign up for the next round of classes. Light refreshments will be served.

• Seniorsize at the YMCA - Tuesday, May 21 - 10:05-11:00 am - West Roxbury YMCA - Join West Roxbury Y Health and Wellness staff for a great exercise class designed with seniors in mind. Flexibility, strength training, and cardiovascular conditioning are all included and set to music in a group setting. Take the class, then take a tour of the West Roxbury Y. You don’t have to be a YMCA member to participate. Contact Sean Toland at 617-323-3200 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more details.

• AgeWell Café - Tuesday, May 21 - 12:00 to 1:30 pm - Spring St. Apartments -Join Ethos staff for our monthly community cafe. Tracy Sylven from Faulkner Hospital will be our guest speaker. Pre-registration is required. Contact Ann at 617-477-6616 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to reserve your seat.

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• Environmental Accessibility Adaptations
• Adult Day Health
• Behavioral Health Services
• Bill Payer/Representative Payee
• Chore
• Companion
• Competency Evaluation
• Alzheimer’s Day Program
• Financial Consultation
• Fiscal Intermediary
• Grocery Shopping and Delivery Service
• Habilitation Therapy (Alzheimer’s coaching)
• Home Health Services (Skilled Nursing care,
• Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy and Home Health Aide)
• Emergency Shelter
• Laundry
• Legal Services
• Medication Dispensing System
• Nutritional Assessment
• Personal Emergency Response System and
• Enhanced PERS
• On-Call
• Respite Care
• Supportive Day Program
• Transitional Assistance
• Translation/Interpretation
• Transportation
• Vision Rehabilitation
• Wanderer Locater Service

Respondents may bid to provide services to any or all of the Consortium members; successful bidders will enter into separate contracts with each Consortium member.

The duration of the contracts will be for three years, beginning October 1, 2013 and terminating on September 30, 2016. Contracts may be amended at any time during the contract period to reflect rate or service changes negotiated between the Consortium or any of its members and the Provider. Certain rates established by the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy, EOEA, or other regulatory bodies, cannot be amended by Consortium members (please see Attachment D to this RFP for details).

For the purpose of purchasing services for ASAP clients, EOEA issues standard contract forms (the Non-Homemaker Provider Agreement), and EOEA reserves the right to amend the contract forms. In submitting a response to this RFP, the bidder affirms that it is not under federal or state debarment and acknowledges it has read the relevant contract forms for the service(s) it proposes to provide, and agrees to comply with all of the terms contained therein. Contract forms are provided as attachments to the RFP for informational purposes only. Their inclusion does not constitute the award of a contract. Bidders should not submit the contract form with their proposal response.

Bid specifications for the RFR must be downloaded from the website: http://bostonseniorhomecare.info/providers/. Bidders are solely responsible for obtaining and completing the required bid documents and any attachments referenced, and for checking http://bostonseniorhomecare.info/providers/on a regular basis for any addenda or modifications that are subsequently made to this RFP or attachments. The Consortium accepts no liability and will provide no accommodation to bidders who fail to check for amended RFP’s and submit inadequate or incorrect responses. Bidders may not alter (manually or electronically) the RFP language or any RFP component files. Modifications to the body of the RFP, specifications, terms and conditions, or which change the intent of the RFP are prohibited and may disqualify a response.

Bidders with a disability or hardship may seek reasonable accommodation, which may include the receipt of the RFP information in an alternative format. Bidders must communicate such requests in writing to Karen Seck, Contracts Manager, at Boston Senior Home Care. Requests for accommodation will be addressed on a case by case basis. A bidder requesting accommodation must submit a written statement that describes the bidder’s disability and the requested accommodation to Karen Seck. The Consortium reserves the right to reject unreasonable requests.

Proposals are due no later than July 15, 2013 AT 5:00 P.M.

Proposals must be typed with numbered pages, and submitted in 3-hole punch binders. Bidders must submit an original along with two copies, enclosed in a sealed package marked “Sealed Bid” and addressed to:

A Bidders’ Conference will be held on May 22, 2013 from 1p-3p at Central Boston Elder Services, 2315 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02119. Attendance is limited to one representative per bidder. The purpose of this conference is to provide an overview of the RFP and the services the Consortium members are seeking to purchase, and give equal opportunity for clarification of specifications to all potential bidders. If you have any questions regarding these specifications, you may reserve them for that occasion, or questions may be submitted in writing to Karen Seck at Boston Senior Home Care ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) prior to the Bidders’ Conference. Questions submitted in writing will be answered at the Bidders’ Conference, and a copy of the responses will be posted on the BSHC website. Please note, attendance at the Bidder’s Conference is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged. Attendees must R.S.V.P Lisa Hamilton at CBES at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by Wednesday, May 15, 2013.

The Consortium reserves the right to reject any and all proposals if it is determined that such refusal is in the public interest. We also reserve the right to amend or withdraw all or any part of the RFP and/or services sought by the RFP. This RFP does not commit the Consortium to any of its members to award a contract, to pay any costs incurred in the preparation of this application, or to produce any services.

Boston Senior Home Care, Central Boston Elder Services, and Ethos are Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity (AA/EEO) agencies. The Consortium strongly encourages minority, and women owned businesses to respond to this RFP. Bidders who wish to be considered as women and/or minority businesses must be certified as such through the Commonwealth’s Supplier Diversity Office, and provide a copy of their certification with their application. To learn about certification, visit the Commonwealth’s Supplier Diversity Office at http://www.somwba.state.ma.us/default.aspx.

BOSTON, February 5, 2013 – Today, Ethos, the Jamaica Plain-based elder services nonprofit announced that Bill Allan and Ronia Stewart have been elected to the organization’s board of directors.

"We are thrilled to have two new members join our board who have extensive experience working in the community and advocating for those who are often overlooked (the disabled and the elderly),” said Phoebe O’Mara, president of Ethos’ board of directors. “They are each highly respected members of the community and we are confident their leadership and positive direction will be valuable additions to our organization.”

William F. Allan brings 35 years of experience in human services and community development as a community organizer, both in volunteer and paid positions. He has experience in the private sector where he worked as a software engineer for over 20 years. Mr. Allan has worked both on the local level in his community, creating the Hyde Square Task Force that now supports over a thousand young people and their families as well as creating the Mission Hill Health Movement that monitors health care policy in that neighborhood.

Allan currently serves as the Director of Policy and Advocacy for the Disability Policy Consortium, an organization that educates, connects, and organizes people with disabilities to participate in the electoral and legislative processes, to become active in their communities, and to advocate for justice and equality. Prior to that, he was the organization’s Executive Director for nine years.

Bill Allan holds a Master of Arts in Political Science from Northeastern University, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Gordon College, and two certificates in computer programming.

Ronia Stewart is a seasoned leader and manager with more than 20 years of corporate experience. A committed professional, she has dedicated her talents and skills to improving the financial well-being of the citizens of the greater Boston area.

Ms. Steward is the Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager of Eastern Bank’s Dedham branch. Ms. Stewart is responsible for the overall management of a of the branch’s operations.

Boston, MA (January 29, 2013) – Ethos, southwest Boston’s principal elder care resource, today called on Governor Patrick and the state Legislature to end the waitlist for almost 1,000 frail, homebound elders seeking help to remain in their own homes.

“For some seniors, waiting for Home Care is like dialing 911 and getting a busy signal,” said Dale Mitchell, Ethos Executive Director. He pointed to Lester Kenner, a 101 year-old West Roxbury resident, as a prime example of this injustice. Mr. Kenner lives with his daughter Carole, his main caregiver. However, she must work full-time and leave Mr. Kenner alone during the day. Because he has a history of falls and recently underwent triple bypass surgery, this lapse in care has become a source of great anxiety for both him and his daughter. “This is not the way we treat 101 year olds,” stated Mr. Mitchell.

Mitchell noted that, under the rules of the state Home Care program, Mr. Kenner would be eligible for a variety of services like trips to the doctor so Carole doesn’t have to take off from work, home delivered lunches for when Carole is at work and a weekend companion so that Carole can run errands without worrying Lester has fallen. However, because of inadequate program funding, Mr. Kenner is unable to actually receive these services. “Unfortunately, we cannot even tell Mr. Kenner how long his wait will be,” Mitchell added, noting that the Governor’s recently released FY14 budget proposal offered no relief for his plight.  

Mitchell said that Carole, Mr. Kenner’s daughter, is reflective of millions of Americans who provide unpaid assistance to help disabled loved ones remain in their own homes. “They provide a benefit for all of us, because they are preventing an otherwise expensive, taxpayer-funded nursing home stay.” However, he noted that the burden of caregiving can be heavy. “It’s work people need a break from. Otherwise, they burn out.” Unfortunately, he said, inadequate state funding for Home Care is preventing Carole, as well as her father, from getting what she needs.  

Mitchell noted that Mr. Kenner’s story is not unique. “Waiting lists have become a chronic condition in the elderly Home Care program,” said Mitchell. “I hope the Legislature steps up to the plate and does what the Governor wouldn’t. Please end the wait list for Home Care!”

ABOUT ETHOS

Ethos is a private, non-profit organization established in 1973 that is dedicated to promoting independence, dignity and well-being among the elderly and disabled through quality, affordable and culturally-appropriate home and community-based care As a state-authorized Aging Services Access Point (ASAP), Ethos administers the Elder Protective Services and Money Management Programs for the entire city of Boston and also coordinates all the non-institutional home and community-based services for elderly and disabled residents of the southwest Boston neighborhoods of West Roxbury, Hyde Park, Roslindale, Jamaica Plain, and Mattapan. For more information, visit www.ethocare.org.  

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Boston, MA (September 19, 2012) – National Falls Prevention Day is Monday, September 24th. Ethos, the Jamaica Plain-based elder services non-profit, announced today that its AgeWell West Roxbury program will be available on that day to give out information about Falls Prevention. Representatives and volunteers will have a table set up next to the U.S. Post Office at 1834 Centre Street in West Roxbury from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There will be a demonstration of Ethos’ “Tai Chi: Moving For Better Balance” program at 11:30 a.m. The community is encouraged to come and learn about Ethos AgeWell West Roxbury Programs to help elders prevent falls.

Falls are common; each year, one in three adults over 65 suffers a fall. For the elderly these falls can be devastating or even deadly; one in 10 falls results in serious injury; and in 2004, falls were responsible for nearly 15,000 deaths.

The financial toll due to falls is also quite significant. According to the Centers for Disease Control, direct medical costs for fall-related injuries totaled $19 billion (in 2000) and it is expected to reach $54.9 billion by the year 2020. In Massachusetts alone, those costs totaled $500 million (in 2006). In a study of people age 72 and older, published in a journal by the American Public Health Association, the average health care cost of a fall injury totaled $19,440, which included hospital, nursing home, emergency room, and home health care, but not doctors’ services.

Ethos’ AgeWell West Roxbury Program supports the well-being of elderly and disabled with the goal of helping seniors "age in place" by offering free or low-cost educational workshops focused on preventing falls, managing their health, checking or delaying chronic conditions, and decreasing social isolation.

In particular, AgeWell West Roxbury offers two evidence-based workshops focused on improving balance and reducing falls: “Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance” and; “A Matter of Balance.” Research evidence from scientifically controlled studies has clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of Tai Chi exercise in improving balance and reducing the frequency of falls among older adults. “A Matter of Balance” is designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels among older adults.

To learn more about Ethos AgeWell West Roxbury Falls Prevention programs, please visit www.ethocare.org or call 617-522-6700.