The purpose of this RFP is to solicit proposals for a Contractor to provide a breastfeeding hotline to callers, free of charge, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Contractor must staff the hotline with trained lactation professionals who must be available to answer live, incoming calls. The Contractor must ensure hotline services are available to all callers free of charge, including mothers, their families, and expectant parents and healthcare providers. Breastfeeding is widely accepted as an effective strategy to promote positive health outcomes for both mothers and their babies. Breastfeeding has many known health benefits for mother and baby and is recognized as the optimal source of nutrition for infants. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent Breastfeeding Report Card (dated 2021), 82.7% of babies born in Ohio were breastfed, but by the time the baby was six months old, only 60.7% were still being breastfed. The rate of exclusive breastfeeding at six months is even lower, at 27.9%. These statistics motivated Ohio to set new goals that align with Healthy People 2030, to increase exclusive breastfeeding at six months of age to 42.4%.
