19-RFP-1630841105-HMM-DPS - Family Functional Therapy Services V2.docx

Proposal Number: [25-RFP # ] Vendor: __________________________________________

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

Request for Proposal #: 19-RFP-1630841105-HMM Functional Family Therapy Services V2 Date of Issue: July 2, 2025

Proposal Opening Date: July 15, 2025 At 2:00 pm et

Direct all inquiries concerning this RFP to:

Heather Melton Procurement Specialist II Email: heather.m.melton@ncdps.gov

Request for Proposal # 19-RFP-1630841105-HMM

For internal State agency processing, including tabulation of proposals, provide your company’s eVP (Electronic Vendor Portal) Number. Pursuant to G.S. 132-1.10(b) this identification number shall not be released to the public. This page will be removed and shredded, or otherwise kept confidential, before the procurement file is made available for public inspection.

This page shall be filled out and returned with your proposal.

Failure to do so may subject your proposal to rejection.

Vendor Name Vendor eVP# Note: For your proposal to be considered, your company (you) must be a North Carolina registered Vendor in good standing. You must enter the Vendor number assigned through eVP (Electronic Vendor Portal). If you do not have a Vendor number, register at https://vendor.ncgov.com/vendor/login

Department of Public Safety

Refer ALL Inquiries regarding this RFP to the procurement lead through the Message Board in the Sourcing Tool. See section 2.5 for details:

Request for Proposal #: 19-RFP-1630841105-HMM

Proposals will be publicly opened: July 15, 2025 @2:00 pm et

Requisition No.: RQ194581

EXECUTION

In compliance with this Request for Proposals (RFP), and subject to all the conditions herein, the undersigned Vendor offers and agrees to furnish and deliver any or all items upon which prices are bid, at the prices set opposite each item within the time specified herein.

By executing this proposal, the undersigned Vendor understands that false certification is a Class I felony and certifies that:

· this proposal is submitted competitively and without collusion (G.S. 143-54),

· none of its officers, directors, or owners of an unincorporated business entity has been convicted of any violations of Chapter 78A of the General Statutes, the Securities Act of 1933, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (G.S. 143-59.2), and

· it is not an ineligible Vendor as set forth in G.S. 143-59.1.

Furthermore, by executing this proposal, the undersigned certifies to the best of Vendor’s knowledge and belief, that:

· it and its principals are not presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible or voluntarily excluded from covered transactions by any Federal or State department or agency.

As required by G.S. 143-48.5, the undersigned Vendor certifies that it, and each of its sub-Contractors for any Contract awarded as a result of this RFP, complies with the requirements of Article 2 of Chapter 64 of the NC General Statutes, including the requirement for each employer with more than 25 employees in North Carolina to verify the work authorization of its employees through the federal E-Verify system.

As required by Executive Order 24 (2017), the undersigned vendor certifies will comply with all Federal and State requirements concerning fair employment and that it does not and will not discriminate, harass, or retaliate against any employee in connection with performance of any Contract arising from this solicitation. G.S. 133-32 and Executive Order 24 (2009) prohibit the offer to, or acceptance by, any State Employee associated with the preparing plans, specifications, estimates for public contracts; or awarding or administering public contracts; or inspecting or supervising delivery of the public contract of any gift from anyone with a contract with the State, or from any person seeking to do business with the State. By execution of this response to the RFP, the undersigned certifies, for Vendor’s entire organization and its employees or agents, that Vendor is not aware that any such gift has been offered, accepted, or promised by any employees of your organization.

By executing this proposal, Vendor certifies that it has read and agreed to the INSTRUCTIONS TO VENDORS and the NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS incorporated herein. These documents can be accessed from the Ariba Sourcing Tool.

Failure to execute/sign proposal prior to submittal may render proposal invalid and it MAY BE REJECTED. Late proposals shall not be accepted.

COMPLETE/FORMAL NAME OF VENDOR:

PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS ADDRESS IF DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE (SEE INSTRUCTIONS TO VENDORS ITEM #21):

VALIDITY PERIOD

Offer shall be valid for at least one hundred twenty (120) days from date of bid opening, unless otherwise stated here: ______ days, or if extended by mutual agreement of the parties in writing. Any withdrawal of this offer shall be made in writing, effective upon receipt by the agency issuing this RFP.

ACCEPTANCE OF PROPOSAL

If your proposal is accepted, all provisions of this RFP, along with the written results of any negotiations, shall constitute the written agreement between the parties (“Contract”). The NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS are incorporated herein and shall apply. Depending upon the Goods or Services being offered, other terms and conditions may apply, as mutually agreed.

FOR STATE USE ONLY: Offer accepted and Contract awarded this________ day of __________, 20____, as indicated on The attached certification, by _____________________________________________________________ (Authorized Representative of Department of Public Safety)

Contents

1.0 PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND

A. Purpose The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to seek competitive proposals from qualified vendors to establish an Agency Contract to provide services for Functional Family Therapy (FFT) to the target population of high-risk juveniles, ages 10-21, under the supervision of the Division of Juvenile Justice throughout North Carolina.

This is a short-term, family-based prevention and intervention program for high-risk youth that addresses complex and multidimensional problems through clinical practice that is flexibly structured and culturally sensitive. The FFT clinical model concentrates on decreasing risk factors and on increasing protective factors that directly affect adolescents, with a particular emphasis on familial factors. Targeted youth generally are at risk for delinquency, violence, substance use, gang involvement, or other behavioral problems such as Conduct Disorder or Oppositional Defiant Disorder.

Youth referred to receive FFT are adjudicated as Level II juveniles, post-release juveniles (Level III) returning to their communities, and some high-risk Level I juveniles. These youth along with their primary caregiver(s) and identified individuals essential to the well-being of the juvenile are also referred to receive FFT. Youth on a diversion contract may also be referred to receive FFT services, as a Level I exception, with the appropriate review by the Community Programs Section.

This solicitation will establish an agency specific contract, pursuant to 01 NCAC 05 B.1101, for an indefinite quantity contract between a Vendor and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Juvenile Community Programs Section (hereafter referred to as the Department). The quantity of goods or services is undetermined. An estimated quantity based on past history, or other means, may be used as a guide, but shall not be a representation by the Department of any anticipated purchase volume under any contract made pursuant to this solicitation.

The Department is seeking to obtain a single, qualified Vendor to deliver FFT to the entire state within the four regions (Central, Eastern, Piedmont, and Western Regions). The Vendor shall be required to provide all services described herein as FFT.

The objective of this RFP is to solicit proposals from Vendors who will provide FFT as a strength-focused, evidence-based, community-delivered, intermediate sanction that will fill gaps in the Department’s current continuum of care in the aforementioned areas. It will address the risk and needs factors that led the identified youth to become involved with the State’s juvenile justice system. The goal of this RFP is to reduce further court involvement by these identified youths, to reduce deeper penetration into the juvenile justice system, and to promote stronger families.

B. Background The Department works to provide the State of North Carolina with a comprehensive strategy that helps prevent and reduce juvenile crime and delinquency. This strategy is focused on strengthening families, promoting delinquency prevention, supporting core social institutions, intervening immediately and effectively when delinquent behavior occurs, gang prevention, and identifying and controlling the small group of serious, violent, and chronic juvenile offenders in the least restrictive environment.

The goals of the Juvenile Community Programs Section are:

· To promote public safety as the cornerstone of North Carolina's juvenile justice system.

· To promote juvenile delinquency prevention, intervention, and treatment at the state and community levels so that juvenile crime and delinquency are reduced.

· To establish and maintain a seamless, comprehensive juvenile justice system.

The intent of this solicitation is to award an Agency Contract.

1.1 CONTRACT TERM

A contract awarded pursuant to this RFP shall have an effective date as provided in the Purchase Order. Upon receiving the Purchase Order, all services shall begin within 120 days. The Vendor is encouraged to begin services immediately upon having qualified staff and location within the service areas contracted. The term shall be for a period of three (3) years and will expire upon the anniversary date of the effective date unless otherwise stated in the Notice of Award, or unless terminated earlier.

The Department retains the option to extend this contract for two (2) additional one (1) year periods at its sole discretion. Prior to renewal, the Department reserves the right to verify the licensure of all applicable staff.

Proposals shall be submitted in accordance with the terms and conditions of this RFP and any addenda issued hereto.

2.0 GENERAL INFORMATION

2.1 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DOCUMENT

This RFP is comprised of the base RFP document, any attachments, and any addenda released before Contract award, which are incorporated herein by reference.

2.2 E-PROCUREMENT FEE

ATTENTION: This is an NC eProcurement solicitation facilitated by the Ariba Network. The E-Procurement fee may apply to this solicitation. See the paragraph entitled ELECTRONIC PROCUREMENT of the North Carolina General Terms and Conditions.

General information on the E-Procurement Services can be found at: http://eprocurement.nc.gov/.

What is the Ariba Network?

The Ariba Network is a web-based platform that serves as a connection point for buyers and vendors. Vendors can log in to the Ariba Network to view purchase orders, respond to electronic requests for quotes, participate in Sourcing Events, and collaborate with buyers on contract documents. For training on how to use the Sourcing Tool to view solicitations, submit questions, develop responses, upload documents, and submit offers to the State, Vendors should go to the following site: http://eprocurement.nc.gov/training/vendor-training

2.3 NOTICE TO VENDORS REGARDING RFP TERMS AND CONDITIONS

It shall be the Vendor’s responsibility to read the Instructions to Vendors, the North Carolina General Terms and Conditions, all relevant exhibits and attachments, and any other components made a part of this RFP and comply with all requirements and specifications herein. Vendors are also responsible for obtaining and complying with all Addenda and other changes that may be issued in connection with this RFP. If Vendors have questions, issues, regarding any component of this RFP, those must be submitted as questions in accordance with the instructions in the PROPOSAL QUESTIONS Section. If the State determines that any changes will be made as a result of the questions asked, then such decisions will be communicated in the form of an RFP addendum. The State may also elect to leave open the possibility for later negotiation of specific provisions of the Contract that have been addressed during the question-and-answer period, prior to contract award.

Other than through the process of negotiation under 01 NCAC 05B.0503, the State rejects and will not be required to evaluate or consider any additional or modified terms and conditions submitted with Vendor’s proposal or otherwise. This applies to any language appearing in or attached to the document as part of the Vendor’s proposal that purports to vary any terms and conditions or Vendors’ instructions herein or to render the proposal non-binding or subject to further negotiation. Vendor’s proposal shall constitute a firm offer that shall be held open for the period required herein (“Validity Period” above). The State may exercise in its discretion to consider Vendor proposed modifications. By execution and delivery of this RFP Response, the Vendor agrees that any additional or modified terms and conditions, whether submitted purposely or inadvertently, shall have no force or effect, and will be disregarded unless expressly agreed upon through negotiations and incorporated by way of a Best and Final Offer (BAFO). Noncompliance with, or any attempt to alter or delete, this paragraph shall constitute sufficient grounds to reject Vendor’s proposal as nonresponsive.

2.4 RFP SCHEDULE

The table below shows the intended schedule for this RFP. The State will make every effort to adhere to this schedule.

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2.5 PROPOSAL QUESTIONS

Upon review of the RFP documents, Vendors may have questions to clarify or interpret the RFP to submit the best proposal possible. To accommodate the Proposal Questions process, Vendors shall submit any such questions by the “Submit Written Questions” date and time provided in the RFP SCHEDULE Section above, unless modified by Addendum.

Questions related to the content of the solicitation or the procurement process should be directed to the person on the title page of this document via the Sourcing Tool's message board by the date and time specified in the RFP SCHEDULE Section of this RFP. Vendors will enter “19-RFP-1630841105-HMM– Questions” as the subject of the message. Question submittals should include a reference to the applicable RFP section. This is the only manner in which questions will be received.

Questions or issues related to using the Sourcing Tool itself can be directed to the North Carolina eProcurement Help Desk at 888-211-7440, Option 2. Help Desk representatives are available Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM ET to 5:00 PM ET.

Questions received prior to the submission deadline date, the State’s response, and any additional terms deemed necessary by the State will be posted in the Sourcing Tool in the form of an addendum and shall become an Addendum to this RFP. No information, instruction or advice provided orally or informally by any State personnel, whether made in response to a question or otherwise in connection with this RFP, shall be considered authoritative or binding. Vendors shall rely only on written material contained in the RFP and an addendum to this RFP.

2.6 PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is an absolute requirement. Late bids, regardless of cause, will not be opened or considered, and will be automatically disqualified from further consideration. Vendor shall bear the sole risk of late submission due to unintended or unanticipated delay. It is the Vendor’s sole responsibility to ensure its proposal has been received as described in this RFP by the specified time and date of opening. Failure to submit a proposal in strict accordance with instructions provided shall constitute sufficient cause to reject a Vendor’s proposal(s). Solicitation responses are subject to Sealed Bidding requirements.

Vendor’s proposals for this procurement must be submitted through the Sourcing Tool. For training on how to use the Sourcing Tool to view solicitations, submit questions, develop responses, upload documents, and submit offers to the State, Vendors should go to the following site: https://eprocurement.nc.gov/training/vendor-training

Questions or issues related to using the Sourcing Tool itself can be directed to the North Carolina eProcurement Help Desk at 888-211-7440, Option 2. Help Desk representatives are available Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST.

Tips for Using the Sourcing Tool

1. Vendors should review available training and confirm that they are able to access the Sourcing Event, enter responses, and upload files well in advance of the date and time response are due to allow sufficient time to seek assistance from the North Carolina eProcurement Help Desk.

2. Vendors may submit their responses early to make sure there are no issues, and then submit a revised response any time prior to the response due date and time. The State will only review the most recent response.

3. Vendors should respond to all relevant sections of the Sourcing Event. Certain questions or items are required in order to submit a response and are denoted with an asterisk. The Sourcing Tool will not allow a response to be submitted unless all required items are completed. The Sourcing Tool will provide error messages to help identify any required information that is missing when response is submitted.

4. Simply saving your response in the Sourcing Tool is not the same as submitting your response to the State. Vendors should make sure they complete the submission process and receive a message that their response was successfully submitted.

5. Only Proposals submitted through the Content Section of the Ariba Sourcing Event will be considered. Proposals submitted through the Message Board will not be accepted or considered for award.

If confidential and proprietary information is included in the proposal, also submit one (1) signed, REDACTED copy of the proposal. Such information may include trade secrets defined by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 66-152 and other information exempted from the Public Records Act pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. §132- 1.2. Vendor may designate information, Products, Services, or appropriate portions of its response as confidential, consistent with and to the extent permitted under the statutes and rules set forth above. By so redacting any page, or portion of a page, the Vendor warrants that it has formed a good faith opinion, having received such necessary or proper review by counsel and other knowledgeable advisors, that the portions determined to be confidential and proprietary and redacted as such, meet the requirements of the Rules and Statutes set forth above. However, under no circumstances shall price information be designated as confidential.

If the Vendor does not provide a redacted version of the proposal with its proposal submission, the Department may release an unredacted version if a record request is received.

2.7 PROPOSAL CONTENTS

Vendors shall provide responses to all questions and complete all attachments for this RFP that require the Vendor to provide information and upload them to the Sourcing Event in the Sourcing Tool. Vendor may not be able to submit its response in the Sourcing Tool unless all required items are addressed. Vendors shall provide authorized signatures where requested. Failure to provide all required items, or Vendor’s submission of incomplete items, may result in the State rejecting Vendor’s proposal, in the State’s sole discretion.

Vendor shall include the following items and attachments in the Sourcing Tool:

a) Title Page: Include the company name, address, phone number and authorized representative along with the Proposal Number.

b) Completed and signed version of all EXECUTION PAGES, along with the body of the RFP.

c) Signed receipt pages of any addenda released in conjunction with this RFP, if required to be returned.

d) Vendor’s Proposal addressing all Specifications of this RFP.

e) Completed version of ATTACHMENT A: COST PROPOSAL

f) Completed and signed version of ATTACHMENT D: HUB SUPPLEMENTAL VENDOR INFORMATION

g) Completed and signed version of ATTACHMENT E: CUSTOMER REFERENCE FORM

h) Completed and signed version of ATTACHMENT F: LOCATION OF WORKERS UTILIZED BY VENDOR

i) Completed and signed version of ATTACHMENT G: CERTIFICATION OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

j) Completed and signed version of ATTACHMENT H: CERTIFICATE FOR CONTRACTS, GRANTS, LOANS, AND COOPERTIVE AGREEMENTS

k) Completed and signed version of ATTACHMENT I: ALCOHOL, DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE POLICY

l) Completed and signed version of ATTACHMENT J: CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE

m) Completed and signed version of ATTACHMENT K: CONTRACT ADMINISTRATOR

n) Completed and signed version of ATTACHMENT L: LINE-ITEM BUDGET NARRATIVE

o) ATTACHMENT M: NC JUVENILE DISTRICT MAP

p) ATTACHMENT N: PREA

2.8 DEFINITIONS, ACRONYMS, AND ABBREVIATIONS

Relevant definitions for this RFP are provided in 01 NCAC 05A .0112 and in the Instructions to Vendors found in the Sourcing Tool, which are incorporated herein by this reference. The following definitions, acronyms, and abbreviations are also relevant to this RFP:

Adjudicated: Juvenile Court formal judgment or decision related to a delinquent offense one that would be considered criminal if charged as an adult.

Conviction: A formal declaration that someone is guilty of a criminal offense. In North Carolina, conviction is only used in reference to an adult offense.

Evidence-Based Therapy: Treatment that is backed by scientific evidence.

Juvenile Court Counselors: Individuals who work directly with youth and their families providing oversight as ordered by a juvenile court. Juvenile Court Counselors monitor youth while on juvenile probation, provide referral to appropriate services, counseling, and serve as the primary point of contact while a juvenile is involved in the juvenile justice system.

Juvenile Court Services: Provides intake and supervision services for undisciplined and delinquent juveniles within a continuum of services that provides care and control.

Local Management Entities and Managed Care Organizations: Healthcare organizations that assist individuals in their covering counties with finding needed resources for health, emotional and behavioral care.

MCO: Managed care Organization Network. MCOs decide which doctors, hospitals, and other providers are part of their network, and members generally need to see providers within that network to have their care covered. MCOs have control over how services are delivered, including whether they require authorization or referral.

NCALLIES: An online database where DPS houses both demographic and service-related client information and contractual information for programs funded by the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC). NCALLIES is also used by state contracted vendors to hold demographic and service-related client information for juveniles served.

Recidivism: The act of reoffending following prior involvement in the justice system. Definitions differ in the criminal justice system and juvenile justice system. Some define as a subsequent conviction or adjudication of a charge following prior criminal or juvenile justice involvement. Other definitions are much more stringent which define recidivism as a subsequent arrest following prior juvenile or criminal justice involvement.

Related Family: A group of persons united by the ties of marriage, blood, or adoption.

Standardized Program Evaluation Protocol (SPEP): A validated, data-driven, rating system to determine how well a program matches what research tells us is effective for that program in reducing the recidivism of juvenile offenders.

Youth Development Center: A secure, long-term facility that serves Level III committed juveniles by court order provides treatment, education, and rehabilitative services for juveniles.

3.0 METHOD OF AWARD AND PROPOSAL EVALUATION PROCESS

3.1 METHOD OF AWARD

North Carolina G.S. 143-52 provides a general list of criteria the State shall use to award contracts, as supplemented by the additional criteria herein. The Goods or Services being procured shall dictate the application and order of criteria; however, all award decisions shall be in the State’s best interest. All qualified proposals will be evaluated, and awards will be made to the Vendor(s) meeting the specific RFP Specifications and achieving the highest and best final evaluation, based on the criteria described below.

While this RFP intends to award a Contract(s) to a single Vendor, the State reserves the right to make separate awards to different Vendors for one or more line-items, to not award one or more line-items or to cancel this RFP in its entirety without awarding a Contract, if it is considered to be most advantageous to the State to do so. The State reserves the right to waive any minor informality or technicality in proposals received.

3.2 CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROHIBITED COMMUNICATIONS DURING EVALUATION

While this RFP is under evaluation, the responding Vendor, including any subcontractors and suppliers, is prohibited from engaging in conversations intended to influence the outcome of the evaluation. See Paragraph 29 of the Instructions to Vendors entitled COMMUNICTIONS BY VENDORS.

Each Vendor submitting a proposal to this RFP, including its employees, agents, subcontractors, suppliers, subsidiaries and affiliates, is prohibited from having any communications with any person inside or outside the using agency; issuing agency; other government agency office or body (including the purchaser named above, any department secretary, agency head, members of the General Assembly and Governor’s office); or private entity, if the communication refers to the content of Vendor’s proposal or qualifications, the content of another Vendor’s proposal, another Vendor’s qualifications or ability to perform a resulting contract, and/or the transmittal of any other communication of information that could be reasonably considered to have the effect of directly or indirectly influencing the evaluation of proposals, the award of a contract, or both.

Any Vendor not in compliance with this provision shall be disqualified from evaluation and award. A Vendor’s proposal may be disqualified if its subcontractor and/or supplier engage in any of the foregoing communications during the time that the procurement is active (i.e., the issuance date of the procurement until the date of contract award or cancellation of the procurement). Only those discussions, communications or transmittals of information authorized or initiated by the issuing agency for this RFP or inquiries directed to the purchaser named in this RFP regarding requirements of the RFP (prior to proposal submission) or the status of the award (after submission) are excepted from this provision.

3.3 PROPOSAL EVALUATION PROCESS

Only responsive submissions will be evaluated.

The State will conduct a One-Step evaluation of Proposals:

Proposals will be received according to the method stated in the Proposal Submittal Section above.

All proposals must be received by the issuing agency not later than the date and time specified in the RFP SCHEDULE Section above, unless modified by Addendum. Vendors are cautioned that this is a request for offers, not an offer or request to contract, and the State reserves the unqualified right to reject any and all offers at any time if such rejection is deemed to be in the best interest of the State.

At the date and time provided in the RFP SCHEDULE Section above, unless modified by Addendum, the proposal from each responding Vendor will be opened publicly and all offers (except those that have been previously withdrawn, or voided bids) will be tabulated. The tabulation shall be made public at the time it is created. When negotiations after receipt of bids are authorized pursuant to G.S. 143-49 and 01 NCAC 05B.0503, only the names of offerors and the Goods and Services offered shall be tabulated at the time of opening. If negotiation is anticipated, cost and price shall become available for public inspection at the time of the award. Interested parties are cautioned that these costs and their components are subject to further evaluation for completeness and correctness and therefore may not be an exact indicator of a Vendor’s pricing position.

At their option, the evaluators may request oral presentations or discussions with any or all Vendors for clarification or to amplify the materials presented in any part of the proposal. Vendors are cautioned, however, that the evaluators are not required to request presentations or other clarification—and often do not. Therefore, all proposals should be complete and reflect the most favorable terms available from the Vendor.

3.4 EVALUATION CRITERIA

In addition to the general criteria in G.S. 143-52 which may or may not be relevant to this RFP, all qualified proposals will be evaluated, and award made based on considering the following criteria listed in descending order of importance, to result in an award most advantageous to the State:

BEST VALUE: "Best Value" procurement methods are authorized by N.C.G.S. §§143-135.9 and 143B-1350(h). The award decision is made based on multiple factors, including: total cost of ownership, meaning the cost of acquiring, operating, maintaining, and supporting a product or service over its projected lifetime; the evaluated technical merit of the Vendor's offer; the Vendor's past performance; and the evaluated probability of performing the specifications stated in the solicitation on time, with high quality, and in a manner that accomplishes the stated business objectives and maintains industry standards compliance. The intent of "Best Value" procurement is to enable Vendors to offer and the Agency to select the most appropriate solution to meet the business objectives defined in the solicitation and to keep all parties focused on the desired outcome of a procurement.

A ranking method of source selection will be utilized in this procurement using evaluation criteria listed in order of importance in the Evaluation Criteria section below to allow the State to award this RFP to the Vendor(s) providing the Best Value and recognizing that Best Value may result in award other than the lowest price or highest technically qualified offer. By using this method, the overall ranking may be adjusted up or down when considered with, or traded-off against, other non-price factors.

EVALUTION METHOD: Narrative and by consensus of the evaluating committee, explaining the strengths and weaknesses of each proposal and why the recommended awardee(s) provide the best value to the State.

RFP Section

3.5 PERFORMANCE OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES

Vendor shall complete ATTACHMENT F: LOCATION OF WORKERS UTILIZED BY VENDOR. In addition to any other evaluation criteria identified in this RFP, the State may also consider, for purposes of evaluating proposed or actual contract performance outside of the United States, how that performance may affect the following factors to ensure that any award will be in the best interest of the State:

a) Total cost to the State

b) Level of quality provided by the Vendor

c) Process and performance capability across multiple jurisdictions

d) Protection of the State’s information and intellectual property

e) Availability of pertinent skills

f) Ability to understand the State’s business requirements and internal operational culture

g) Particular risk factors such as the security of the State’s information technology

h) Relations with citizens and employees

i) Contract enforcement jurisdictional issues

3.6 INTERPRETATION OF TERMS AND PHRASES

This RFP serves two functions: (1) to advise potential Vendors of the parameters of the solution being sought by the State; and (2) to provide (together with other specified documents) the terms of the Contract resulting from this procurement. The use of phrases such as “shall,” “must,” and “requirements” are intended to create enforceable contract conditions. In determining whether proposals should be evaluated or rejected, the State will take into consideration the degree to which Vendors have proposed or failed to propose solutions that will satisfy the State’s needs as described in the RFP. Except as specifically stated in the RFP, no one requirement shall automatically disqualify a Vendor from consideration. However, failure to comply with any single requirement may result in the State exercising its discretion to reject a proposal in its entirety.

4.0 REQUIREMENTS

This Section lists the requirements related to this RFP. By submitting a proposal, the Vendor agrees to meet all stated requirements in this Section as well as any other specifications, requirements, and terms and conditions stated in this RFP. If a Vendor is unclear about a requirement or specification or believes a change to a requirement would allow for the State to receive a better proposal, the Vendor is urged to submit these items in the form of a question during the question-and-answer period in accordance with the Proposal Questions Section above.

4.1 PRICING

Proposal price shall constitute the total cost to the State for complete performance in accordance with the requirements and specifications herein, including all applicable charges for handling, transportation, administrative and other similar fees. Complete ATTACHMENT A: COST PROPOSAL and include in your proposal response that is uploaded in the Sourcing Tool. The pricing provided in ATTACHMENT A, or resulting from any negotiations, is incorporated herein and shall become part of any resulting Contract.

4.2 INVOICES

Vendor shall invoice the Purchasing Agency. The standard format for invoicing shall be Single Invoices meaning that the Vendor shall provide the Purchasing Agency with an invoice for each order. Invoices shall include detailed information to allow Purchasing Agency to verify pricing at point of receipt matches the correct price from the original date of order. The following fields shall be included on all invoices, as relevant:

Vendor’s Billing Address, Customer Account Number, NC Contract Number, Order Date, Buyer’s Order Number, Item Descriptions, Price, Quantity.

INVOICES MAY NOT BE PAID UNTIL AN INSPECTION HAS OCCURRED AND THE GOODS OR SERVICES ACCEPTED.

4.3 FINANCIAL STABILITY

As a condition of contract award, the Vendor must certify that it has the financial capacity to perform and to continue to perform its obligations under the Contract; that Vendor has no constructive or actual knowledge of an actual or potential legal proceeding being brought against Vendor that could materially adversely affect performance of this Contract; and that entering into this Contract is not prohibited by any contract, or order by any court of competent jurisdiction.

Each Vendor shall certify it is financially stable by completing ATTACHMENT G: CERTIFICATION OF FINANCIAL CONDITION. The State is requiring this certification to minimize potential issues from contracting with a Vendor that is financially unstable. From the date of the Certification to the expiration of the Contract, the Vendor shall notify the State within thirty (30) days of any occurrence or condition that materially alters the truth of any statement made in this Certification. The Contract Manager may require annual recertification of the Vendor’s financial stability.

4.4 HUB PARTICIPATION

Pursuant to North Carolina General Statute G.S. 143-48, it is State policy to encourage and promote the use of small, minority, physically handicapped, and women contractors in purchasing Goods and Services. As such, this RFP will serve to identify those Vendors that are minority owned or have a strategic plan to support the State’s Historically Underutilized Business program by meeting or exceeding the goal of 10% utilization of diverse firms as 1st or 2nd tier subcontractors. Vendor shall complete ATTACHMENT D: HUB SUPPLEMENTAL VENDOR INFORMATION.

4.5 VENDOR EXPERIENCE

In its Proposal, Vendor shall demonstrate experience with public and/or private sector clients with similar or greater size and complexity to the State. Vendor shall provide information as to the qualifications and experience of all executives, managerial, legal, and professional personnel to be assigned to this project, including resumes citing experience with similar projects and the responsibilities to be assigned to each person.

4.6 REFERENCES

Vendor shall upload to the Sourcing Tool at least three (3) references, using ATTACHMENT E: CUSTOMER REFERENCE FORM, for which it has provided Services of similar size and scope to those proposed herein. The State may contact these users to determine whether the Services provided are substantially similar in scope to those proposed herein and whether Vendor’s performance has been satisfactory. The information obtained may be considered in the evaluation of the Proposal.

4.7 BACKGROUND CHECKS

The Vendor and its personnel are required to provide or undergo background checks at Vendor’s expense prior to beginning work with the State. As part of Vendor background, the following details must be provided to the State:

a) Any criminal felony conviction, or conviction of any crime involving moral turpitude, including, but not limited to fraud, misappropriation, or deception, by Vendor, its officers or directors, or any of its employees or other personnel to provide Services on this project, of which Vendor has knowledge, or provide a statement that Vendor is aware of none;

b) Any criminal investigation for any offense involving moral turpitude, including, but not limited to fraud, misappropriation, falsification, or deception pending against Vendor of which it has knowledge, or provide a statement Vendor is aware of none;

c) Any regulatory sanctions levied against Vendor or any of its officers, directors or its professional employees expected to provide Services on this project by any state or federal regulatory agencies within the past three years or a statement that there are none. As used herein, the term “regulatory sanctions” includes the revocation or suspension of any license or certification, the levying of any monetary penalties or fines, and the issuance of any written warnings;

d) Any regulatory investigations pending against Vendor or any of its officers, directors or its professional employees expected to provide Services on this project by any state or federal regulatory agencies of which Vendor has knowledge or a statement that there are none.

e) Any civil litigation, arbitration, proceeding, or judgments pending against Vendor during the three (3) years preceding submission of its proposal herein or a statement that there is none.

Vendor’s response to these requests shall be considered a continuing representation, and Vendor’s failure to notify the State within thirty (30) days of any criminal litigation, investigation or proceeding involving Vendor or its then current officers, directors or persons providing Services under this Contract during its term shall constitute a material breach of contract. The provisions of this paragraph shall also apply to any subcontractor utilized by Vendor to perform Services under this Contract.

4.8 PERSONNEL

Vendor warrants that qualified personnel shall provide Services under this Contract in a professional manner. “Professional manner” means that the personnel performing the Services will possess the skill and competence consistent with the prevailing business standards in the industry. Vendor will serve as the prime contractor under this Contract and shall be responsible for the performance and payment of all subcontractors(s) that may be approved by the State. Names of any third-party Vendors or subcontractors of Vendor may appear for purposes of convenience in Contract documents; and shall not limit Vendor’s obligations hereunder. Vendor will retain executive representation for functional and technical expertise as needed in order to incorporate any work by third party subcontractor(s).

Should the Vendor’s proposal result in an award, the Vendor shall be required to agree that it will not substitute key personnel assigned to the performance of the Contract without prior written approval by the Contract Lead. Vendor shall further agree that it will notify the Contract Lead of any desired substitution, including the name(s) and references of Vendor’s recommended substitute personnel. The State will approve or disapprove the requested substitution in a timely manner. The State may, in its sole discretion, terminate the Services of any person providing Services under this Contract. Upon such termination, the State may request acceptable substitute personnel or terminate the contract Services provided by such personnel.

4.9 VENDOR’S REPRESENTATIONS

If Vendor’s Proposal results in an award, Vendor agrees that it will not enter any agreement with a third party that may abridge any rights of the State under the Contract. If any Services, deliverables, functions, or responsibilities not specifically described in this solicitation are required for Vendor’s proper performance, provision and delivery of the Service and deliverables under a resulting Contract, or are an inherent part of or necessary sub-task included within such Service, they will be deemed to be implied by and included within the scope of the Contract to the same extent and in the same manner as if specifically described in the Contract. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, Vendor will furnish all of its own necessary management, supervision, labor, facilities, furniture, computer and telecommunications equipment, software, supplies and materials necessary for the Vendor to provide and deliver the Services and/or other Deliverables.

4.10 AGENCY INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS MODIFICATION

A. Default Insurance Coverage from the General Terms and Conditions applicable to this Solicitation:

☒ Contract value in excess of $1,000,000.00

5.0 SPECFICATIONS AND SCOPE OF WORK

5.1 GENERAL

The Department seeks to obtain a single, qualified Vendor to deliver Functional Family Therapy (FFT) to the entire state of North Carolina within the four (4) juvenile judicial districts (Central, Eastern, Piedmont, and Western) regions as outlined in Attachment M.

The awarded Vendor shall provide FFT as a strength-focused, evidence-based, community-delivered service that will fill gaps in the Department's continuum of care. The Vendor shall address the risks and needs factors that led the identified youth to become involved with the state’s juvenile justice system. The goal of FFT is to reduce further court involvement for the identified youths, to reduce deeper penetration into the juvenile justice system, and to promote stronger families.

Through analysis of risks and needs data of youth receiving Level II Dispositions and in collaboration with our Court Services Section, the Department has identified FFT as the most appropriate intervention model for meeting the needs described in this RFP.

5.2 TECHNICAL APPROACH

Through analysis of risk and needs data of youth receiving Level II dispositions and in collaboration with our Court Services Section, the Department has identified FFT as the most appropriate intervention model for meeting the needs described herein.

A. Evidence-Based Approach: Program Requirements Functional Family Therapy (FFT) is a short term, strength based, highly effective model for rendering services to at-risk youth and their families. It is built on a foundation of acceptance and respect; at its core is a focus on assessment and intervention to address risk and protective factors within and outside of the family that impact the adolescent and his or her adaptive development[footnoteRef:1]. The Vendor shall describe the evidence-based clinical approach of the model, the empirically supported principles of the model, the expected length of stay that the model supports to effect youth served and the Vendor’s monitoring strategy to ensure the fidelity of the model. [1: http://www.fftllc.com/about-fft-training/clinical-model.html]

B. Staffing Plan and Requirements The delivery of FFT shall be achieved through a qualified Vendor that is organized and structured to deliver effective, professional services to all referred youth, their primary caregivers, and identified individuals essential to the well-being of the juvenile. Vendors shall provide a detailed description of their staffing plan including their ability to attract and retain bilingual staff to accommodate bilingual clients and families. The Vendor shall have at least one (1) bilingual (fluent in Spanish and English) staff member.

The Vendor shall provide a detailed description of its staffing hierarchy, including Director of Operations and site management personnel, credentialing, numbers of staff per established offices, numbers of youth served per therapist caseload, and support staff per site office. It is requested that at minimum the Vendor develop a plan for working with the local/regional mental health service management entities (LME-MCO's) to connect and refer youth with critical services as needed. It is desired that the Vendor eventually become a clinical provider in the MCO network in the coverage areas for which it provides services. The Vendor shall also develop a plan for educating Juvenile Court Services to enhance consistent referrals for FFT services from all 100 counties.

The Vendor shall provide its plan to deliver FFT to youth referred, adjudicated, Level II juvenile offenders, post-release supervision (PRS) juvenile offenders (Level III) returning to their communities, some high-risk Level I juvenile offenders, and juveniles on diversion contracts. The plan shall identify each site management office’s proposed physical address, and all other requirements needed to meet the specifications, as identified in this section. Personnel information submitted with the proposal response shall include the person’s identity, position title (with job description) and applicable license/certifications of each staff member to meet the staffing requirements for the model solicited within this RFP. If the identity of all personnel is not known at proposal submission, the Vendor shall include a staffing plan. The staffing plan shall include a position title (with job description) of each staff member with the applicable certifications required for each position. The quantity of each position needed to meet the requirements specified in this RFP shall be listed.

Upon contract award, Vendor(s) will have ninety (90) calendar days from the date of award to submit the identity and applicable certifications for each staff member proposed in their proposal submission response. Failure to provide staff information within this timeframe may subject the contract to immediate termination. In doing so, the state reserves the option to extend the contract award to the next qualified Vendor.