Full RFP: RFP 2015 County Youth Services
NOTICE OF RFP
The County of Mercer is soliciting proposals through the competitive contracting process in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4.1, et seq.
Notice is hereby given that on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 at 12:00 NOON, (Prevailing time), sealed proposals must be received by the Mercer County Department of Human Services Contract Unit, Room 224 in the Mercer County McDade Administration Building at which time and place proposal applications will be opened and read in public for:
COUNTY-FUNDED YOUTH SERVICES
Specifications and instructions to bidders may be obtained at the Mercer County Division of Youth Services Office or on the County website at www.mercercounty.org. Proposals shall be delivered in sealed envelopes and addressed to Mercer County Department of Human Services Contract Unit, Room 224, 640 South Broad Street, P.O. Box 8068, Trenton, NJ 08650-0068. All proposals should be clearly marked on the outside:
COUNTY-FUNDED
YOUTH SERVICES
DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES
This designation must also appear on the outside of Express envelopes/packages, if sent by express mail. Proposals may be rejected if not submitted within time, date and place designated, and if not accompanied by any of the required documents. In addition, if the respondent’s proposal exceeds the County allocation as per the RPF it shall be rejected.
With the exception of the United States Postal Service, express mail shall be delivered to Mercer County Department of Human Services Contract Unit, Room 224, 640 S. Broad Street, PO Box 8068, Trenton, New Jersey 08650-0068.
Addenda will be issued on the website; therefore, all interested respondents shall check the website from now through the proposal opening. It is the sole responsibility of the respondent to be knowledgeable of all addenda related to this procurement.
Respondents shall comply with the requirements of P.L. 1975 C127 (N.J.A.C. 17:27 et seq.).
SCOPE OF SERVICES
A total of approximately $2,800,000.00 ($1,400,000.00 01/01/15–12/31/15 & $1,400,000.00 01/01/16–12/31/16) is available for all categories, to cover the 2-year (twenty-four month) period – January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2016. Although the services to be delivered under each priority area are listed discretely, applicants are encouraged to create comprehensive programs. Interagency collaboration in addressing one or more priority areas is encouraged as well. In the preparation of your budget(s) please note that the county reserves the right to make partial awards under each priority area. If the occasion arises, and there is funding left over in any priority area it will be reallocated at the discretion of the County.
The Mercer County Department of Human Services (MCDHS) has moved toward evidence-based, outcome-driven practices. The use of research-based curricula or therapeutic methods is a highly valued approach to program design. An example of such programs can be found on the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) website and are listed as their “Blueprint Programs.” The Department is looking to fund programs that can demonstrate proven approaches. MCDHS is looking for funded agencies to demonstrate that new or existing youth programs are effective in improving outcomes for youth. The applicants must have the ability to identify the youth to be targeted, have the capability to address specific needs of minority youth, and the program should be geographically accessible to high-risk populations. Agencies are expected to identify clear, achievable performance outcomes in their proposals and contracts, and create internal procedures to track whether goals are being met.
Mercer County Department of Human Services, in collaboration with the Mercer County One-Stop Career Center, are currently in discussions to create a youth one-stop. Agencies that contract with the MCDHS may be asked to allow funded positions or programs to provide services at locations, yet to be named.
Each applicant must document in their RFP submission their plan to insure that transportation is not a barrier for participants of your program.
The Mercer County Division of Youth Services and the Youth Services Commission (YSC) through their annual plan update process has decided to implement a youth and family survey tool. Participation for all funded agencies and program participants is mandatory. The tool will be provided to funded agencies upon contract approval.
PRIMARY PREVENTION: Total funds approximately – $200,000.00 (annual amount)
Many initiatives target youth at a young age to deter them from getting involved in at-risk behavior. Primary prevention focuses on the entire population at risk and the identification of those conditions (personal, social, environmental) that promote criminal behavior. Under the auspices of primary prevention there are two main priority areas. Proposals submitted under each must target children 5 to 11 years of age. The priority areas are listed below:
1. Afterschool Programming/School Year Recreation Activities – Data indicates that our youth are most vulnerable between the hours of 3pm and 6pm. Recreational and support activities should consist of exercise and fitness, homework, tutoring [individual and small group tutoring in all academic subjects], and cultural/social experiences. Other initiatives may include but are not limited to sports leagues, music, arts and crafts, expression in drama, as well as clubs (i.e.: Girls’ Circle).
Expand and develop pro-social supervised activities which occur during the school year within a school setting or another designated building/area. These activities will be accessible immediately following school hours or on the weekends.
Summer months leave our youth vulnerable as well. The County will consider proposals that offer summer camp programming for the above mentioned target population. The expectation is that the camp experience offers a wide variety of activities and exposes campers to new experiences.
2. Mentoring – It has been proven that a large component of primary prevention is the provision of mentoring opportunities. The expectation is the applicant will recruit and provide caring, positive, adult volunteer mentors for lower-intensity (face-to-face) mentoring.These one-on-one or small group mentoring sessions will be provided for no less than 5 hours per month exemplifying a commitment to learning, positive values [such as integrity, responsibility, and honesty], decision-making, resistance and peaceful conflict resolution skills. In addition, mentors should provide guidance in accessing community resources that are customized for the youth’s needs. The mentor/mentee relationship must continue for a minimum of 6 months to 1 year; this time frame will allow relationship building and trust, assisting the youth in identifying pro-social activities of interest, as well as appropriate peer contact. Critical components of the mentoring program should include an effective recruitment strategy, which includes screening, orientation, training and an on-going support system for mentors. Applicants must demonstrate how they will incorporate parental involvement, as well as what resources (including the faith-based community) will be in place for mentors and families, should a need(s) be identified.
SECONDARY PREVENTION: Total funds approximately – $190,000.00 (annual amount)
Secondary prevention is directed at those youth who have been identified as being at greater risk and are demonstrating at-risk behaviors such as possible gang involvement, truancy, addiction or other associated problems. Under the auspices of secondary prevention there are two main priority areas. Proposals submitted under each must target children 12 to 18 years of age. The priority areas are listed below:
1. Afterschool Programming/School Year Recreation Activities – Data indicates that our youth are most vulnerable between the hours of 3pm and 6pm. Recreational and support activities should consist of exercise and fitness, homework, tutoring [individual and small group tutoring in all academic subjects], and cultural/social experiences. Other initiatives may include but are not limited to sports leagues, music, arts and crafts, expression in drama, as well as clubs (i.e.: Girls’ Circle).
Expand and develop pro-social supervised activities which occur during the school year within a school setting or another designated building/area. These activities will be accessible immediately following school hours or on the weekends.
Summer months leave our youth vulnerable as well. The County will consider proposals that offer summer camp programming for the above mentioned target population. The expectation is that the camp experience offers a wide variety of activities and exposes campers to new experiences.
2. Mentoring
It has been proven that a large component of secondary prevention is the provision of mentoring opportunities. This high-intensity mentoring is often provided by paid adult mentors whose purpose is to be a positive role model. Mentoring at this level should meet the immediate need of the youth referred and continue to meet the fluctuating needs of the youth. High-intensity services are anticipated to be most critically needed during the first 12 weeks of serviceexemplifying a commitment to learning, positive values [such as integrity, responsibility, and honesty], decision-making, resistance and peaceful conflict resolution skills. In addition, mentors should provide guidance in accessing community resources that are customized for the youth’s needs. The mentor/mentee relationship must continue for a minimum of 6 months to 1 year; this time frame will allow for interventions such as relationship building and trust, assisting the youth in identifying pro-social activities of interest as well as appropriate peer contact. Critical components of the mentoring program should include an effective recruitment strategy, which includes screening, orientation, training and an on-going support system for mentors. Applicants must demonstrate how they will incorporate parental involvement, as well as what resources (including the faith-based community) will be in place for mentors and families, should a need(s) be identified.
To complement a traditional mentoring program the utilization of additional components are encouraged; such as school-based (providing guidance and meeting at school or in the community once a week) and electronic mentoring (provides a flexible communication environment in a more efficient manner while producing results).
TREATMENT: Total funds approximately – $1,010,000.00 (annual amount)
Treatment refers to the care and resources given or action taken to improve a situation. Under the auspices of treatment are three main priority areas that are:
1. Child Victim Support Services approximately $80,000.00 (Short-term and/or Long Term) –The family court process for children can be very stressful and initiatives that encompass court advocates who are knowledgeable about the process can aide in reducing that stress level. The County is interested in intervention and support services that target our court impacted children.
2. Child Victims of Sexual Abuse approximately $130,000.00 (Short-term and/or Long Term) – The County will entertain proposals designed to provide short-term crisis intervention, and long-term individual, family, and group outpatient treatment for youth who are victims of sexual, physical or emotional mistreatment due to violence or delinquent acts, including sexual and/or other inappropriate behaviors. Assist the youth in finding ways to heal thereby increasing their self-esteem and lowering the risk to themselves and to the community.
Priority will be given to proposals with the following criteria:
- Provide immediate outpatient treatment for child victims of sexual abuse (and family members as needed)
- Mental health counseling is a priority
- Prompt admission if it is an emergent case
- Bi-lingual capacity
- Transportation access
3. Shelter Beds – Specifically, there is approximately $750,000.00 in funding available for a program that provides shelter beds and supervision for court-involved youth in Mercer House. Applicants must meet all licensing standards and requirements for such a facility, as contained in the Division of Youth and Family Services- Manual of Standards for Children’s Shelter Facilities and Homes, and any statutory or regulatory modifications thereto. Applicants must possess the expertise to work with multi-system youth who, beyond involvement in the juvenile justice system, may also be involved in Family Court, DYFS, the children’s behavioral health system or the Departments of Probation/Parole. Applicants also must work with the Family Crisis Intervention Unit (FCIU) and Mobile Response and Stabilization Service (MRSS). The Mercer House building in which the contracted program will operate is owned by Mercer County.
In addition to the signed contract for beds and services, the funded agency will be required to sign a lease agreement that will be drawn up by the County’s legal department.
4. Shelter Services approximately $50,000.00 – This programming will address the crisis aspects of an abusive, neglectful or dysfunctional family situation; and provide immediate but temporary shelter to runaways, displaced youth or youth who are unable to contact a guardian. Other related services directed at shelter youth include, but are not limited to: community outreach; secondary prevention for abuse or neglect, aging-out services, and medical care.
Full RFP (PDF): RFP 2015 County Youth Services
Full RFP (Word): RFP 2015 County Youth Services