Primary Department: Purchasing
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Kimberly J. Williams, JD
Secondary Department: Public Health Services
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: Leah Barton
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Contract - Termination
Project ID (if applicable): 240190
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Houston Area Women's Center, Inc.
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): 0%
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: 0% - Specialized, Technical, or Unique in Nature
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable):
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Choose an item.
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request for approval to terminate a contract with Houston Area Women's Center, Inc. for domestic violence system coordination & support services for Public Health Services effective June 30, 2026, in connection with a contract renewal approved by Commissioners Court on October 30, 2025 (240190), Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: 0% - Specialized, Technical, or Unique in Nature.
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Background and Discussion:
On December 10, 2024, Commissioners Court approved an agreement with Houston Area Women's Center (HAWC) pursuant to RFP 24/0190, Domestic Violence System Coordination and Support Services, to implement the Harris County Domestic Violence Support System Initiative. The initiative was established to strengthen the countywide response to domestic violence through coordinated systems planning, cross-sector collaboration, organizational capacity building, strategic funding development, public awareness efforts, and evaluation to improve outcomes for survivors.
Following contract execution, implementation was substantially delayed due to organizational leadership transitions and operational changes within HAWC, resulting in a startup period exceeding one year. These delays significantly reduced the available implementation period to complete the scope of work. As a result, the initiative's ability to establish and fully operationalize the collaborative governance structure, implement planned activities, and achieve the intended countywide systems-level outcomes was substantially affected.
Throughout the contract period, Harris County Public Health (HCPH), through the Community Health and Violence Prevention Services (CHVPS) Division, provided ongoing contract administration, performance monitoring, technical assistance, and regular coordination with HAWC and project consultants to support implementation. HCPH worked collaboratively with HAWC to monitor project progress, modify work plans where appropriate, and identify opportunities to advance the remaining deliverables, per the approved corrective action plan. Despite these efforts, implementation continued to be impacted by the delayed startup, organizational transitions, evolving project priorities, and the nuances of coordinating a countywide initiative involving numerous independent stakeholders.
Although the initiative generated meaningful stakeholder and DV partners’ engagement and identified opportunities to strengthen future domestic violence systems coordination, the remaining scope of work could not reasonably be completed within the existing project timeline. Accordingly, HAWC and HCPH have mutually agreed that concluding the agreement is in the best interest of both parties given the remaining scope of work and implementation timeline. The final date of service under the agreement was June 30, 2026.
Expected Impact:
Approval of this request will formally close the agreement and complete all remaining administrative closeout activities. This action is administrative in nature, does not affect the availability of direct domestic violence services provided through existing County-funded efforts and community partners, and allows HCPH to incorporate lessons learned into future countywide systems coordination initiatives.
Alternative Options:
N/A
County Strategic Plan Goal: N/A
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Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
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06/25/2024 |
272 |
Request for approval of a project scheduled for advertisement |
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12/10/2024 |
15 |
Request for approval of an award on the basis of best proposal meeting requirements |
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08/07/2025 |
522 |
Request to execute a first amendment to an agreement |
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10/30/2025 |
159 |
Renewal No. 1 of 3 |
Location: N/A
Address (if applicable): N/A
Precinct(s): Countywide
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Anticipated Court Date: 8/6/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 6/30/2026
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Dr. Larry Brown, Associate Director for Community Health and Violence Prevention Services, Public Health Services; Jessica Barelas, Contract Manager, Purchasing
Attachments (if applicable): Letter