The Contractor shall provide syphilis testing in non-traditional settings throughout San Diego County, with a primary focus on individuals who are pregnant or capable of becoming pregnant. The overarching goal of this project is to prevent congenital syphilis (CS). For the purposes of this project, non-traditional settings are defined as settings that serve people who are vulnerable to syphilis but are not primary care or prenatal care clinics. Services must include syphilis screening, follow-up of screening test results, and coordination with the local health department to ensure timely linkage to clinical evaluation and treatment for individuals with confirmed cases. This program aims to reduce the incidence of syphilis and CS in San Diego County, which has experienced a significant rise in recent years. Non-traditional settings including but not limited to mobile clinics, community-based outreach, emergency departments, substance use treatment centers, and harm reduction programs—often serve individuals who face barriers to accessing traditional healthcare and may not otherwise receive timely prenatal care or STI screening. Syphilis screening in these settings offers a critical opportunity to identify infections that might otherwise go undetected until delivery, thereby helping to prevent the serious and preventable outcomes associated with CS.
