The Strong Start DC Early Intervention Program must solicit vendors under a blanket purchase agreement for services identical to those provided under the direct service human care agreement. Due to nation-wide shortage of speech-language pathologists, and physical therapists. The current set of HCA-contracted vendors has had difficulty backfilling vacancies and expanding their capacity to take on direct service new cases. The increase in vacancies has jeopardized the early intervention program’s ability to meet federally mandated timelines for service delivery. Without this solicitation to supplement the existing HCA, the early intervention program risks non-compliance with federal targets and a downgrade in our federal performance rating.
