Southwest Colorado Healthcare Coalition (SWCHCC) Readiness and Response Coordinator

The Southwest Colorado Healthcare Coalition (SWCHCC) is a regional collaborative network of healthcare organizations and their respective public and private sector response partners. Together, we aim to enhance regional preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities related to health and medical disaster operations across the Southwest Colorado region.

The mission of SWCHCC is to strengthen cross-jurisdictional and cross-disciplinary coordination in health and medical incident preparedness, response, and recovery. This is achieved through communication, planning, training, and collaboration with coalition partners and key stakeholders.

SWCHCC, with support from the Archuleta County Department of Public Health as the fiscal agent, is seeking to fill the position of Readiness and Response Coordinator. This individual will play a critical role in developing and executing emergency preparedness plans and ensuring a coordinated response during emergencies and disasters.

Proposed Scope of Work

The Readiness and Response Coordinator will be responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating emergency preparedness plans, procedures, and protocols in coordination with local, regional, and state partners.

This position will collaborate closely with hospitals, EMS agencies, local and state public health agencies, emergency management, and other key stakeholders to strengthen healthcare system preparedness. Typical projects may include plan development, training and exercises, after-action reviews, and program evaluations.

The Coordinator will serve as an independent contractor for the Archuleta County Department of Public Health and will operate in a hybrid-remote capacity, with primary focus on serving communities in Southwest Colorado.

The Coordinator will facilitate completion of all contract deliverables for the Southwest Colorado Healthcare Coalition (SWCHCC). Responsibilities include:

• Leading and coordinating planning, training, and exercises for the coalition.
• Supporting operational readiness, financial sustainability, and program evaluation.
• Facilitating the coalition’s ongoing development and improvement.
• Leading, participating in, or supporting response activities as directed by the SWCHCC Steering Committee.
• Coordinating regional planning efforts in collaboration with the Steering Committee and Clinical Advisor.
• Building and maintaining partnerships with hospitals, long-term care facilities, home health agencies, dialysis centers, and other healthcare partners.
• Working closely with local and state public health entities, emergency management, and other response agencies to align efforts regionally and statewide.

Position Summary

The Readiness and Response Coordinator will assist in the coordination of all-hazards emergency preparedness projects for SWCHCC. The coordinator will report to the steering committee and collaborate with various teams and external partners to support the emergency planning and response efforts. This position will require frequent travel across the Southwest Colorado region. The independent contractor shall maintain confidentiality of all sensitive information obtained in the course of work and comply with all applicable privacy and data protection laws, including HIPAA, where applicable.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Planning and Coordination
   • Develop, maintain, and update emergency preparedness and response plans in alignment with state and federal guidance.
   • Facilitate coordination among coalition members, including hospitals, EMS agencies, long-term care facilities, home health agencies, dialysis centers, and other healthcare partners.
   • Coordinate with local and state public health, emergency management, and other response partners to ensure integration of healthcare preparedness efforts.
   • Serve as the primary point of contact for the Southwest Region regarding all SWCHCC activities and scope of work.
   • Communicate and coordinate activities related to planning, training, and exercises as directed by the SWCHCC Steering Committee.
2. Training, Exercises, and Meetings
   • Plan, organize, and facilitate coalition trainings, exercises, and workshops.
   • Facilitate SWCHCC meetings, training events, exercises, workshops, and conferences as requested by the Steering Committee.
   • Ensure exercises and AAR/IPs follow the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) framework.
   • Support the Steering Committee in identifying annual training and exercise priorities.
3. Administration and Communications
   • Perform administrative and logistical support for SWCHCC activities, including:
     • Scheduling and facilitating meetings for the steering committee and general membership
     • Preparing and distributing agendas and meeting minutes
     • Maintaining membership lists and contact databases
     • Coordinating meeting logistics and correspondence
     • Publishing and distributing a monthly coalition newsletter
     • Maintaining and updating the SWCHCC website and online resources
   • Ensure that all coalition communications reflect current information and priorities.
4. Grant Management and Reporting
   • Coordinate completion of the annual Work Plan and grant deliverables in alignment with CDPHE requirements.
   • Prepare and submit required reports, documentation, and performance tracking materials.
   • Ensure reimbursement requests are complete, accurate, and submitted in a timely manner.
   • Assist the fiscal agent with responding to monitoring, auditing, or compliance inquiries as needed.
   • Comply with all requirements established in the CDPHE Statement of Work and associated grant guidance.
5. Response and Operational Readiness
   • Support or lead regional coordination during real-world incidents, per direction of the Steering Committee.
   • Maintain situational awareness of regional healthcare capacity, resources, and emerging threats.
   • Ensure coalition response procedures are current, accessible, and practiced among partners.
6. Program Evaluation and Sustainability
   • Track progress toward coalition goals and measurable outcomes.
   • Assist with financial sustainability planning and identification of new funding opportunities.
   • Conduct an annual program evaluation and present findings to the Steering Committee and CDPHE.

Contract Details

• Contract Term: 12/01/2025 – 06/30/2026, with potential for renewal based on funding and performance.
• Contract Type: Independent Contractor (1099).
• Compensation: $54,000 – $58,000 for the contract term, commensurate with qualifications and experience.
• Hours: Approximately 32-40 hours per week, flexible schedule with some after-hours and weekend work as needed.
• Location: Hybrid-remote, with required travel throughout Southwest Colorado.
• Travel: The Independent Contractor is responsible for reliable transportation. Mileage reimbursement at the current federal rate for travel required to fulfill coordinator responsibilities.

All materials, reports, plans, and documents produced under this contract shall be the property of the Archuleta County Department of Public Health and the Southwest Colorado Healthcare Coalition.

The following schedule outlines the overall time frame for the RFP process:

Event                                                               Date

RFP Released                                                  October 27, 2025

Proposals Due                                                  November 19, 2025 (or until filled)

Review of Submissions                                     November 20, 2025

Selection of Finalists                                         November 21, 2025

Announcement of Coordinator                           November 24, 2025

Contract Start                                                  December 1, 2025

The selected consultant will be required to enter into a written contract with Archuleta County Public Health to provide the services required in the RFP. The Independent Contractor must have a valid Colorado Driver’s License and pass a background check.

Deliverables

Submission Requirements

To simplify evaluation and ensure comparability, all proposals must be organized in the following format:

1. Executive Summary
   Describe your understanding of the work to be performed and your ability to perform the work.
2. Qualifications
   Identify the specific requirements and preferred qualifications you possess. Provide examples of relevant experience related to the requested services.
3. System Concept and Solution
   Describe your approach to the proposed services, areas of primary emphasis, and the type of assistance expected from coalition members. Discuss the communication process used to address issues with management and the Steering Committee.
4. Fees
   Provide an all-inclusive price for services, broken down by category (e.g., planning, training, exercise facilitation, reporting, etc.).
5. References
   Include at least three (3) recent, relevant work references with contact information (name, organization, phone, and/or email).
6. Additional Information
   Include any additional information you believe would be useful in evaluating your proposal.

Submission Instructions:

Responses must be submitted electronically as a PDF to:
lcapre@archuletacounty.gov

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in emergency management, public health, communications, or a related field.
• Experience: At least 3 years of relevant work experience in emergency management, healthcare coordination, or a similar role. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.
• Preferred Experience: Background in disaster preparedness and coalition-based work.
• Certification: Successful completion or ability to complete FEMA 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, & 800 courses within 12 months of hire.

Skills and Abilities

• Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to deliver presentations and write plans and reports.
• Emergency Preparedness: Knowledge of principles and best practices in emergency preparedness, response, and recovery.
• Interpersonal Skills: Ability to build and maintain professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Project Management: Experience with project management, grant writing, and evaluation processes.
• Technology: Proficiency in word processing, database management, and research via the Internet.

Special Qualifications

• Travel: Must have reliable transportation and be able to travel frequently across the Southwest Colorado region.
• On-Call Rotation: Must be available for after-hours emergency response calls.
• Residency: Candidate must reside in or be willing to relocate to the Southwest Colorado region by the date of hire.

Organization Description

The SWCHCC was established to build a strong collaborative of healthcare responders, receivers, and providers who are enabled to effectively respond as a team to a disaster or significant crisis having an impact on the health and medical needs of the SW Region which includes Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma, and San Juan Counties, and the Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute Indian Tribes.

The Steering Committee provides oversight over the entire coalition, working to set goals and objectives. The Chair and Vice Chair would potentially have ultimate authority for disbursement of funds for various SWCHCC projects.

Reporting and Supervision

The Readiness and Response Coordinator reports to and works under the strategic direction of the SWCHCC Steering Committee.