Competitive Solicitation RFQ # 27-DCYF-PPS-009 Page 1 of 31

COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

RFQ NO. 27-DCYF-PPS-009

Project Title: Family Resource Center Case Closure Pilot

Estimated Contract

Performance Period: January 1, 2027 through June 30, 2027. Amendments extending the period of performance, if any, shall be at the sole discretion of Department of Children, Youth &

Families (DCYF).

Response Due Date: All responses must be received in their entirety by Pacific

Time set forth in Section C.1 of this Solicitation Document unless an Amendment is issued modifying the Solicitation

Schedule.

Submit Response To: Responses must be submitted to:

Kris Gorgas, Solicitation Coordinator

Email: dcyf.contracts@dcyf.wa.gov

Solicitation and Amendments

Will Be Posted on WEBS: WEBS Website: https://fortress.wa.gov/ga/webs/

Applicable WEBS

Commodity Codes: 952-43 Family and Social Services (Including Shopping and Buying Services

952-67 Parenting Intervention

952-74 Referral Services

952-85 Support Services

Additional Resource: Washington APEX Accelerator (formerly Washington

PTAC) website: www.washingtonapex.org

* Contract start date is subject to change https://fortress.wa.gov/ga/webs/ http://www.washingtonapex.org/

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. OVERVIEW, BIDDER QUALIFICATIONS, AND CONTRACT TERM

1. PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND

2. OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE

3. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

4. PERIOD OF CONTRACT PERFORMANCE

5. FUNDING

B. DEFINITIONS

C. EXPLANATION OF SOLICITATION PROCESS

1. SOLICITATION SCHEDULE

2. SOLICITATION COORDINATOR

3. POSTING OF SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS

4. AMENDMENT, CANCELLATION AND REISSUANCE OF SOLICITATION

5. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

6. COMPLAINTS

7. SMALL AND DIVERSE BUSINESSES

8. PROCUREMENT PRIORITIES AND PREFERENCES

9. COST TO PREPARE RESPONSE

10. JOINT PROPOSALS

11. WITHDRAWAL OF RESPONSES

12. WAGE THEFT PREVENTION

13. WAGE VIOLATIONS

14. PAY EQUALITY

15. WORKER’S RIGHTS

16. NONDISCRIMINATION

17. MOST FAVORABLE TERMS

18. ANNOUNCEMENT OF SUCCESSFUL BIDDER(S)

19. ETHICS, POLICIES AND LAW

D. PROPOSAL CONTENT, FORMAT AND SUBMISSION

1. ATTACHMENT B - CERTIFICATIONS AND ASSURANCES (REQUIRED/PASS-FAIL)

2. ATTACHMENT C - BIDDER RESPONSE FORMS (REQUIRED/PORTIONS SCORED)

3. ATTACHMENT D - SMALL AND DIVERSE BUSINESS INCLUSION PLAN – SUBCONTRACTORS

4. KEY PERSONNEL

5. PRE-BID CONFERENCE

6. PROPRIETARY INFORMATION/PUBLIC DISCLOSURE

7. SUBMISSION OF RESPONSES

8. ACCEPTABLE ELECTRONIC FORMATS FOR SUBMISSION OF RESPONSES

E. EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS

1. BID RESPONSIVENESS; ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW

2. ERRORS IN BIDDER RESPONSE

3. EVALUATION CRITERIA AND SCORING OF RESPONSES

4. WRITTEN EVALUATION PROCEDURE

5. ORAL PRESENTATIONS MAY BE REQUIRED

6. SELECTION OF APPARENT SUCCESSFUL BIDDER

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F. DEBRIEFING AND PROTEST PROCEDURE

1. DEBRIEFING CONFERENCES

2. PROTEST PROCEDURE

G. CONTRACTING PROCEDURES

1. CONTRACT EXECUTION

2. BIDDER ISSUES, CONCERNS, EXCEPTIONS OR OBJECTIONS

3. INSURANCE

4. NON-ENDORSEMENT

5. BACKGROUND CHECKS

6. ELECTRONIC PAYMENT

Competitive Solicitation RFQ # 27-DCYF-PPS-009 Page 4 of 31

A. OVERVIEW, BIDDER QUALIFICATIONS, AND CONTRACT TERM

1. Purpose and Background

This Competitive Solicitation is issued to assist the Washington State Department of

Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) in seeking qualified Contractor(s) to provide voluntary, community-based prevention and support services that help families stay safe, stable, and connected to community supports as they exit Child Welfare involvement, reducing the risk of future Child Welfare involvement and critical incidents.

DCYF, in accordance with Washington law, encourages small and diverse businesses to compete for and participate in DCYF procurements as contractors and as subcontractors to awarded Bidders. See, e.g., RCW 39.19 (OMWBE certified businesses); RCW

43.60A.200 (DVA certified veteran-owned businesses); and RCW 39.26.005

(Washington Small Businesses).

In support of the state’s economic goals and to support a diverse supplier pool, DCYF has established the following voluntary numerical goals for DCYF Competitive Solicitations:

▪ Ten percent (10%) Office of Minority and Woman-Owned Businesses;

▪ One percent (1%) Veteran-Owned Businesses; and

▪ Twenty percent (20%) Washington Small Businesses.

Achievement of these goals is encouraged whether directly or through subcontractors.

2. Objective and Scope

DCYF will refer eligible families to contracted Family Resource Center’s (FRC) at the time of child welfare case closure through the approved Community-Based Pathway

Referral Process. Contracted FRCs will engage families, assess their strengths and needs, and provide service navigation and connections to community and public services for long-term support.

Families are eligible to receive services when they:

• Have a child over three years of age in the home;

• Reside in one of the high-need communities identified by DCYF;

• Are referred by DCYF at the time of case closure.

DCYF estimates approximately 1,170 families may participate in services annually across the identified communities, based on an estimated 25% participation rate.

Eligible child welfare cases may include Child Protective Services (CPS) investigations, Family Assessment Response (FAR), Family Voluntary Services (FVS), Family

Reconciliation Services (FRS), Child and Family Welfare Services (CFWS), or Tribal

Payment Only (TPO).

https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=39.19 https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=43.60A.200 https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=43.60A.200 https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=39.26.005

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Contracted FRCs will be expected to provide the following services:

• Receive referrals from DCYF through the approved Community-Based Pathway

Referral Process.

• Contact and engage referred families in a welcoming, voluntary, and family-driven manner.

• Complete an intake and Family Strengths and Needs Assessment.

• Help families identify their strengths, needs, priorities, and goals.

• Provide service navigation, referrals, warm handoffs, and connections to community and public services.

• Connect families with supports such as housing, food, transportation, health care, childcare, public benefits, substance use treatment and recovery supports, and other services based on identified needs.

• Provide direct services and supports when available.

• Provide culturally and linguistically responsive services.

• Connect families with Tribal, Tribal-serving, culturally specific, faith-based, and other community supports when appropriate and consistent with family choice.

• Follow up with families and service providers to determine whether families successfully connected to referred services.

• Document family participation, services provided, referrals, progress, outcomes, and case closure.

• Participate in required reporting, monthly meetings, technical assistance, training, and continuous quality improvement activities.

Required caseload per priority community

Caseload Benton King Snohomish Spokane Thurston Whatcom

18 16 17 18 17 17

3. Minimum Qualifications

All Bidders must meet the following minimum qualifications:

Bidders submitting a proposal must complete and submit Bidder Response forms C.1 and C.2 for evaluation purposes. Bidder must respond to each requirement as noted in the instructions below.

• Mandatory Pass/Fail (M): Minimum requirement; Bidder that does not meet this requirement will not be considered any further.

• Mandatory Scored (MS): Critical requirement; Bidders will score based on the degree to which Bidder's response meets the requirements.

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• Desirable Scored (DS): Desirable requirement; evaluators will score based on the degree to which Bidder's response meets the requirement.

a. Mandatory Pass/Fail (M):

(1) Must be licensed to do business in the State of Washington or provide a commitment that it will become licenses in Washington within thirty (30) days of being selected as the Apparent Successful Bidder (ASB).

(2) Bidder must certify that they have not been debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation in transactions by any federal department or agency. Bidders failing to demonstrate in their Bids that they meet these minimum qualifications will be considered non-responsive and will therefore be disqualified from further consideration.

(3) Must be able to offer services in one or more of the communities that were identified through an assessment of DCYF child welfare offices with high-moderate to high referral rates, birth to age three screened intakes, and the number of substance exposed infants:

a. Spokane County

b. South King County

c. Tumwater and Southern Thurston County

d. Snohomish County

e. West King County

f. Tri-Cities

g. Bellingham

h. Pierce County

i. Tribal Communities in King County

b. Mandatory Scored (MS):

(1) Must have an understanding of providing voluntary, family-driven, strengths-based services, including family engagement, strengths and needs assessments, service navigation, warm handoffs, follow-up, service transitions, and outcome tracking

(2) Must have experience providing services and supports to families with children over age three within at least one of the priority communities identified in this RFQ.

c. Desirable Scored (DS):

(1) Experience in providing culturally and linguistically responsive services and collaborating with local Tribes, Tribal programs, Tribal-serving organizations, culturally specific organizations, and community-based providers.

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(2) Professional experience in implementing or managing family-support programs, including supervising qualified staff, coordinating referrals, providing basic-needs support, using Motivational Interviewing, tracking outcomes, and using data and family feedback to improve services.

Bidders failing to demonstrate in their Bids that they meet these minimum qualifications will be considered non-responsive and will therefore be disqualified from further consideration.

4. Period of Contract Performance

a. DCYF intends to award up to five (5) Contract(s) to provide the services described in this RFQ.

b. The initial term of the Contract(s) will be for 6 months commencing upon the start date January 1, 2027 or execution date, whichever is later. The term of the Contract may be extended by Amendment up to five (5) times for up to one (1) year per

Amendment and will not exceed the date of June 30, 2032

c. Additional services that are appropriate to the scope of this RFQ, as determined by

DCYF, may be added to the resulting Contract(s) by a written Amendment mutually agreed to and executed by both parties.

5. Funding

a. DCYF initial total amount for the Contract(s) shall not to exceed $37,600.00 each. In the event additional funding becomes available, Contract awarded may be renegotiated to provide for additional related services.

b. DCYF will payment the following rates per community.

Billable Service Benton King Snohomish Spokane Thurston Whatcom

Capacity $2,841.74 $2,843.97 $2,791.92 $2,822.82 $2,831.31 $2,799.15

Per Referral $13.23 $13.24 $12.99 $13.14 $13.18 $13.03

Per case rate per month $182.80 $204.47 $189.58 $181.58 $192.25 $190.07

(1) Capacity Rates

DCYF will pay the Contractor a monthly rate or a prorated amount per Family Advocate (FTE) they have on staff for that month according to the DCYF Fee table.

(2) Referral Rate DCYF will pay the Contractor a Referral rate for each accepted referral

(3) Case Rate DCYF will pay the Contractor a case rate for delivering all services

(4) Ramp Up

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Ramp-Up costs are intended to support Contractor for six (6) months to continue a heightened effort of program promotion and initial service of Family Resource Center Referral and Support Services to DCYF referred clients.

The Contractor will be eligible for Ramp Up costs for the first six (6) months after execution of the contract associated with getting staff onboarded and trained to deliver services within the Contract.

Benton King Snohomish Spokane Thurston Whatcom

Percent Ramp-up Funding

Month 1 $6,132 $6,115 $6,015 $6,091 $6,100 $6,030 100%

Month 2 $6,132 $6,115 $6,015 $6,091 $6,100 $6,030 100%

Month 3 $6,132 $6,115 $6,015 $6,091 $6,100 $6,030 100%

Month 4 $4,599 $4,587 $4,511 $4,569 $4,575 $4,523 75%

Month 5 $3,066 $3,058 $3,007 $3,046 $3,050 $3,015 50%

Month 6 $1,533 $1,529 $1,504 $1,523 $1,525 $1,508 25%

Month 7 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 0%

c. Any Contract(s) awarded because of this Solicitation is contingent upon the availability of funding.

6. Auxiliary Aids and Services for American with Disabilities Act (ADA)

DCYF will provide access to this Solicitation Document to individuals with disabilities.

Please contact the Solicitation Coordinator to request auxiliary aids and services.

If an individual believes that the Department has discriminated based on a disability, please contact the DCYF Solicitation Coordinator.

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B. DEFINITIONS

Additional definitions for Contract-specific terms are found in the Sample Contract set forth as Attachment A to this Solicitation and shall apply to those terms as they are used in this

Solicitation. The following terms have the meanings set forth below:

1. DCYF – The Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families.

2. Amendment – A unilateral change to the Solicitation that is issued by DCYF at its sole discretion and posted on WEBS.

3. Apparent Successful Bidder or ASB – The Bidder selected as the entity to perform the anticipated services, subject to completion of Contract negotiations and execution of a written Contract.

4. Authorized Representative – An individual designated by the Bidder to act on its behalf who has the authority to legally bind the Bidder concerning the terms and conditions set forth in this Solicitation and related documents.

5. Bid - An offer, proposal or quote for goods or services and all related materials prepared and submitted by a Bidder in response to this Solicitation. The terms Bid, quotation, response, and proposal are all intended to mean the same thing.

6. Bidder– An individual or entity who submits a Bid, quotation, or proposal in response to a Solicitation issued for such goods or services by DCYF per RCW 39.26.010(3).

7. Complaint – Is a process that may be followed by a Bidder prior to the deadline for Bid submission to alert DCYF of certain types of asserted deficiencies in the Solicitation per

RCW 39.26.170.

8. Complex Contract - Written agreements between two or more parties that are legally binding with the added complexity of competing priorities such as financial targets, support capabilities, and delivery schedules.

9. Community-Based Pathway Referral Process: A consistent referral process developed based upon House Bill 1237 (2025) that outlines who can be referred, how referrals are made, what information is needed, how partners communicate, and how families are connected to services. The process helps coordinate referrals and support between DCYF, Help Me Grow Washington, Washington State Family Network, Family

Resource Centers, and community service providers.

10. Contract – A written agreement entered between an Apparent Successful Bidder and

DCYF as a result of this Solicitation.

11. Contractor – An individual or entity whose Bid has been accepted by the DCYF and is awarded a fully executed, written Contract.

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12. Coordinator or Solicitation Coordinator – An individual or designee who is employed by DCYF within the DCYF Contracts Unit Office and who is responsible for conducting this Solicitation.

13. Critical Incident: maltreatment related child fatalities or near fatalities when a family has had an open child welfare case within 12 months of the incident.

14. DCYF CQI Reporting System: The DCYF-approved system FRCs use to report family referrals, services, and outcomes.

15. Debriefing – a short meeting an Unsuccessful Bidder may request with the Solicitation

Coordinator following the announcement of the ASB for the purpose of receiving information regarding the review and evaluation of that Bidder’s Response.

16. Evaluator – Is a person designated by DCYF to evaluate proposals received in response to a Competitive Solicitation Document.

17. Family: the birth parent(s), relative caregiver (kinship care), foster parent(s), and/or adoptive parent(s) who act(s) as caregiver(s) for a child.

18. Family Advocate (Resource Navigator): Recommend state and local basic needs resources to clients based on their goals, providing support with referrals, applications, eligibility qualifications, and appointment scheduling as needed. Consistent with the requirements of SB 1297, Family Advocates will screen and assess each family's strengths and needs.

19. Family Resource Center (FRC): organization that provides a single, unified point of entry to a range of services, as described in RCW 43.216.010 (15). FRCs means a unified single point of entry where families, individuals, children, and youth can obtain information, assessment of needs, referral to, or direct delivery of family services in a welcoming and strength-based manner

20. Family Strength and Needs Assessment: A DCYF-approved assessment used with families to identify their strengths, needs, goals, and supports.

21. Help Me Grow Washington (HMG): a free service that connects parents and caregivers to resources in their communities, operated by WithinReach HMG operates the statewide hub for screened-out child welfare intake referrals that connects substance-using pregnant people to voluntary prevention services and other resources; also known as community pathway for the Plan of Safe Care.

22. Non-Responsive Bidder - A Bidder who has submitted a bid, which does not conform to all requirements of the solicitation documents.

23. Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE) Certified

Business – Means business or the status of a business that has been examined by the

Washington State Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE) and deemed to be a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), a Women’s Business Enterprise

(WBE), a Minority Women’s Business Enterprise (MWBE), a Combination Business https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=43.216.010

Competitive Solicitation RFQ # 27-DCYF-PPS-009 Page 11 of 31

Enterprise (CBE), or a Socially and Economically Disadvantage Business Enterprise

(SEDBE) per chapter 39.19 RCW.

OMWBE Certification. The Bidder must have provided certification documentation to the

OMWBE and be certified by OMWBE and listed as such on OMWBE’s website

(OMWBE’s Directory of Certified Businesses).

24. Protest – A process that may be followed by a Bidder after the announcement of the

ASB to alert DCYF to certain types of alleged errors in the evaluation of the Solicitation.

25. RCW – The Revised Code of Washington. All references to RCW chapters or sections shall include any successor, amended, or replacement statute.

26. RFQ – The Request for Qualification set forth in this Solicitation document.

27. Solicitation or Competitive Solicitation – A formal process providing and equal and open opportunity for Bidders culminating in a selection based upon predetermined criteria. A Competitive Solicitation requests the submission of Bids, quotations, or proposals for the consideration of DCYF in contracting to meet its needs. This RFQ is a

Solicitation.

28. Solicitation Document – Is a document that outlines the requirements and process for submitting a proposal or bid to acquire services or goods that DCYF desires, and is released to prospective Bidders or other interested persons. Competitive Solicitation documents include Request for Proposal (RFP’s), Request for Qualifications and

Quotation (RFQQs), Request for Qualifications (RFQs), Request of Quotation(s) (RFQs), and Request for Applications (RFAs).

29. Statement of Work – The detailed description services to be performed by the

Contractor and set forth in the Contract.

30. Services: Are labor, work, analysis, or similar activities provided by a Contractor to accomplish a specific Statement of Work per RCW 39.26.010 (21).

31. Social Service Specialist: the assigned DCYF worker.

32. Subcontractor – An individual or other entity contracted by Bidder to perform part of the services or to provide goods under the Contract resulting from this Solicitation.

Subcontractors, if allowed, are subject to the advance approval of DCYF.

33. Unsuccessful Bidder (USB) - A supplier of goods or services that submits a quotation or request for proposal but is not selected once the evaluation decision has been made.

34. Veteran-Owned Business – means businesses certified by the Department of Veterans

Affairs (DVA) as a Certified Veteran-Owned Business. See RCW 43.60A.010(7) & RCW

43.60A.190. Such firms must meet three requirements:

a. 51% Ownership. The firm must be at least fifty-one percent (51%) owned and controlled by:

https://omwbe.wa.gov/directory-certified-businesses

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(1) A veteran as defined as every person who at the time he or she seeks certification has received a discharge with an honorable characterization or received a discharge for medical reasons with an honorable record, where applicable, and who has served in at least one of the capacities listed in RCW

41.04.007;

(2) A person who is in receipt of disability compensation or pension from the department of veterans’ affairs; or

(3) An active or reserve member in any branch of the armed forces of the United

States, including the national guard, coast guard, and armed forces reserves.

b. Washington Incorporation/Location. The firm must be either an entity that is incorporated in the State of Washington as a Washington domestic corporation or, if not incorporated, an entity whose principal place of business is located within the

State of Washington.

DVA Certification. The firm must have provided certification documentation to the DVA and be certified by DVA and listed as such on DVA’s website (WDVA – Veteran-Owned

Businesses).

35. Washington APEX Accelerator - formerly Washington Procurement Technical

Assistance Center (PTAC) – Works to give businesses the opportunity to thrive in the government-contracting marketplace. Their website can be found at www.washingtonapex.org

36. Washington Electronic Business Solution or WEBS – Washington’s Electronic

Business Solution, the Bidder notification system found at https://fortress.wa.gov/ga/webs/ and maintained by the Washington State Department of

Enterprise Services.

37. Washington Small Business - An in-state business, including a sole proprietorship, corporation, partnership, or other legal entity, that: (a) certifies, under penalty of perjury, that it is owned and operated independently from all other businesses and has either: (i) fifty (50) or fewer employees; or (ii) a gross revenue of less than seven (7) million dollars annually as reported on its federal income tax return or its return filed with the

Department of Revenue over the previous three (3) consecutive years.

Small Business Self-Certification. The Bidder must provide a signed Attachment B.1

Small Business Self-Certification as part of their proposal.

38. Washington Family Support Network (WFSN): network of over 120 FRCs throughout the state of Washington managed by Akin. The WFSN is designated by the National

Family Support Network as Washington State’s sole statewide FRC network.

http://www.washingtonapex.org/

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C. EXPLANATION OF SOLICITATION PROCESS

1. Solicitation Schedule

The Solicitation Schedule set forth below outlines the tentative schedule for important events relating to this Solicitation. Except as modified in an Amendment issued by the

Solicitation Coordinator, the dates and times listed through the date of response submission are mandatory deadlines. The remaining dates are estimates and may change without the posting of an Amendment. It is the Bidder’s sole responsibility to periodically check WEBS at https://fortress.wa.gov/ga/webs/ for RFQ amendments.

Failure to meet the response deadline will result in Bidder disqualification.

Action Date

Posts Competitive Solicitation 10/28/26

Pre-Bid Conference – 11:00 a.m. 11/5/26

Bidder may submit written questions until 5:00 p.m.

Pacific Time.

11/16/26

DCYF will post responses to written questions as an Amendment.

11/19/26

Bidders may submit written Complaints by 5:00 p.m.

Pacific Time

11/23/26

Issue any additional Amendment(s) to RFQ (if applicable)

12/4/26

Bidder must submit Response by 5:00 p.m.

Pacific Time

12/4/26

Evaluation of written Responses 12/7/26-12/11/26

Announce ASB(s) and notify unsuccessful Bidders 12/14/26

Unsuccessful Bidders may request a Debriefing conference

12/17/26

Holds Debriefing conferences, if requested 12/22/26

Bidder Protests 12/23/26

Negotiate Contract

12/15/26-12/23/26

Estimated Contract start date (DCYF will postpone signing a Contract with the ASB until all Protests have been resolved.)

1/1/27 or upon Execution

2. Solicitation Coordinator

a. The Solicitation Coordinator is the sole point of contact for DCYF for this Solicitation.

All communications concerning this Solicitation must be directed to the Solicitation

Coordinator listed on the cover page and below of this subsection of this Solicitation

Document.

Kris Gorgas, Solicitation Coordinator

Email: dcyf.contracts@dcyf.wa.gov mailto:XXXXXXXXXX@dcyf.wa.gov

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b. DCYF considers all oral communications unofficial and non-binding. Bidders are to rely only on written statements issued by the Solicitation Coordinator.

c. Any communications directed to parties other than the Solicitation Coordinator may result in disqualification of the Bidder.

3. Posting of Solicitation Documents

a. DCYF shall post this Solicitation, and all Amendments and announcements relating to this Solicitation, on WEBS. WEBS can be accessed at https://fortress.wa.gov/ga/webs/.

b. All Bidders must register as a vendor on WEBS, using an appropriate commodities code listed on the front page of this Solicitation, and must download this Solicitation from WEBS. This should be done as soon as possible for the Bidder to receive notifications automatically generated on WEBS, but no later than the date set forth on Section C.1., Solicitation Schedule for Announcement of the Apparent Successful

Bidder(s).

4. Amendment, Cancellation and Reissuance of Solicitation

a. DCYF may amend or cancel or reissue this Solicitation at any time, in whole or in part, prior to execution of a Contract.

b. DCYF may reject all Bids and cancel or rebid this Solicitation. In the event it becomes necessary to revise any part of this Solicitation, Amendment(s) shall be posted on WEBS.

c. In the event of a conflict between Amendments or between an Amendment and this

Solicitation Document, the document issued latest shall control.

5. Questions and Answers

a. Bidders may send written questions concerning this Solicitation to the Solicitation

Coordinator by the date and time set forth on the Solicitation Schedule in Section

C.1. for submission of Questions. Questions should be sent via email and should include the number and title of this Solicitation in the subject line.

b. DCYF will document all questions received in writing by posting an Amendment to the Solicitation on WEBS. Only Bidders who have properly registered and downloaded the original Solicitation directly via the WEBS system at https://fortress.wa.gov/ga/webs/ will receive notification of Amendments and other correspondence pertaining to this Solicitation.

6. Complaints

a. DCYF provides prospective Bidders a period of time to voice Complaints about this

Solicitation in order to promote a transparent, fair, and competitive process.

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Prospective Bidder must provide the Solicitation Coordinator the Complaint in written form no later than five (5) business days prior to when the Bids are due. The

Complaint must clearly articulate the basis for the Complaint and should include a proposed remedy. Complaint topics are inclusive of:

(1) Unnecessary restricts competition;

(2) Contains an unfair or flawed evaluation/scoring process; or

(3) Inadequate or insufficient requirements so a response is difficult to prepare.

b. Complaint raised in communication with the Solicitation Coordinator will be documented and responded to in written form. A copy of the Complaint and response will be posted on WEBS. The DCYF decision regarding a Complaint is final and no further administrative appeal is available. The Complaint may not be raised again during the Protest period.

7. Small and Diverse Businesses

DCYF in accordance with Washington law, encourages small and diverse businesses to compete for and participate in state procurements as contractors and as subcontractors to awarded bidders. See, e.g., RCW 39.19 (OMWBE certified businesses); RCW

43.60A.200 (WDVA certified veteran-owned businesses); and RCW 39.26.005

(Washington small businesses). In support of the state’s economic goals and to support a diverse supplier pool.

a. Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE) Participation

Bidders may contact the Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises

(OMWBE) at http://omwbe.wa.gov/ to obtain information on certified firms for potential subcontracting arrangements or for information on how to become certified.

Nothing in this section is intended to prevent or discourage participation from non-

MWBE businesses.

b. Washington State Small Business Participation

In accordance with the legislative findings and policies set forth in Chapter 39.26

RCW, the State of Washington encourages participation in all of its Contracts by

Bidders defined as a Small Business. Participation may be either on a direct basis in response to this Solicitation or on a Subcontractor basis.

Bidder is a Washington Small Business as defined in RCW 39.26.010. To qualify as a Washington Small Business, Bidder must meet both of the following requirements:

Location. Bidder’s principal office/place of business must be located in and identified as being in the State of Washington. A principal office or principal place of business is a firm’s headquarters where business decisions are made and the location for the firm’s books and records as well as the firm’s senior management personnel.

http://omwbe.wa.gov/

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Size. Bidder must be owned and operated independently from all other businesses and have either: (a) fifty (50) or fewer employees; or (b) gross revenue of less than seven million dollars ($7,000,000) annually as reported on Bidder’s federal income tax return or its return filed with the Washington State Department of Revenue over the previous three consecutive years.

c. Certified Veteran-Owned Business Participation

In accordance with the legislative findings and policies set forth in Chapter

43.60A.200 RCW, the State of Washington encourages participation in all of its

Contracts by firms certified by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA).

Bidder is a Certified Veteran-Owned Business under RCW 43.60A.190. To qualify as a Certified Veteran-Owned Business, Bidder must meet four (4) requirements:

51% Ownership. Bidder must be at least fifty-one percent (51%) owned and controlled by:

A veteran as defined as every person who at the time he or she seeks certification has received a discharge with an honorable characterization or received a discharge for medical reasons with an honorable record, where applicable, and who has served in at least one of the capacities listed in RCW

41.04.007;

A person who is in receipt of disability compensation or pension from the

Department of Veterans Affairs; or

An active or reserve member in any branch of the armed forces of the United

States, including the national guard, coast guard, and armed forces reserves.

Bidder must have provided certification documentation to the Washington

Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) and be certified by WDVA and listed as such on WDVA’s website (WDVA – Veteran-Owned Businesses).

8. Procurement Priorities and Preferences.

DCYF will apply the following Priorities and Preferences, as set forth in this RFQ.

a. Evaluation for Executive Order 18-03 (Contractors without Mandatory

Individual Arbitration for Employees)

Pursuant to RCW 39.26.160(3) (best value criteria) and consistent with Executive

Order 18-03 – Supporting Workers’ Rights to Effectively Address Workplace

Violations (dated June 12, 2018), DCYF will evaluate bids for best value and provide a bid preference in the amount of Five percent (5%) to any bidder who certifies, pursuant to the certification attached as Attachment B – Bidder Certification and

Assurances, that their firm does NOT require its employees, as a condition of

Competitive Solicitation RFQ # 27-DCYF-PPS-009 Page 17 of 31 employment, to sign or agree to mandatory individual arbitration clauses or class or collective action waiver.

b. Washington Small Business

DCYF will evaluate bids for best value and will provide a bid preference in the amount of ten percent (10%) to any Bidder who certifies, pursuant to Attachment C.1 and Attachment B.1 – Bidder’s Washington Small Business Certification, that Bidder qualifies as a ‘Washington Small Business’ as set forth in Section C.7.b.

c. Certified Veteran-Owned Business

DCYF will evaluate bids for best value and will provide a bid preference in the amount of ten percent (10%) to any Bidder who certifies, pursuant to Attachment C.1

– Bidder’s Response, that Bidder qualifies as a ‘Veteran-Owned Business as set forth in Section C.7.c. Bidder must provide certification documentation to the

Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) and be certified by DVA and listed as such on DVA’s website (WDVA – Veteran-Owned Businesses)

9. Cost to Prepare Response

DCYF will not be liable for any costs incurred by the Bidder in preparing of a Bid submitted in response to this Solicitation, conducting a site assessment and/or presentation, any other activities related to responding to this Solicitation, and/or submitting a response to this Solicitation.

10. Joint Proposals

If Bidders submit a joint response with one or more other persons or entities, these persons or entities must designate a prime Bidder. The prime Bidder will be DCYF sole point of contact through the Solicitation process. If selected as the ASB, the prime

Bidder shall sign the Contract and any Amendments and will be liable and responsible to

DCYF for all performance under the Contract.

11. Withdrawal of Responses

After a response has been submitted, Bidders may withdraw their response at any time up to the response due date and time as specified in Section C.1, Solicitation Schedule.

A written request to withdraw the response, signed by an Authorized Representative of the Bidder, must be submitted to the Solicitation Coordinator. After withdrawing a response, the Bidder may submit another response at any time up to the response submission date and time.

12. Wage Theft Prevention

Bidder certifies that Bidder has not, within the three (3) year period immediately preceding the date of release of this Competitive Solicitation, been determined by a final and binding citation and notice of assessment issued by the State of Washington

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Department of Labor and Industries or through a civil judgment to have willfully violated state minimum wage laws (RCW 49.38.082; Chapters 49.46 RCW, 49.48 RCW, or 49.52

RCW). Bidder attests under penalty of perjury that the foregoing statement is true and correct. Bidder must submit Attachment B, attached hereto and incorporated herein as though set forth in full.

13. Wage Violations

Contractor represents and warrants that, during the term of this Contract and the three

(3) year period immediately preceding the effective date of this Contract, it is not determined, by a final and binding citation and notice of assessment issued by the

Washington Department of Labor and Industries or through a civil judgment entered by a court of limited or general jurisdiction, to be in willful violation of any provision of

Washington State wage laws set forth in RCW Chapters 49.46, 49.48, or 49.52. For purposes of this Section 13 and pursuant to RCW 49.48.082 as now or hereafter amended, “willful” shall mean a knowing and intentional action that is neither accidental nor the result of a bona fide dispute, as evaluated under the standards applicable to wage payment violations under RCW 49.52.050(2).

14. Pay Equality

Contractor represents and warrants that, as required by Washington State law (Laws of

2019,Chap. 415, §225(4)(f)), during the term of this Contract the Contractor agrees to equality among its workers by ensuring similarly employed individuals are compensated as equals.

a. For purposes of this Section 14, employees are similarly employed if the individuals work for the same employer, the performance of the job requires comparable skill, effort, and responsibility, and the jobs are performed under similar working conditions. Job titles alone are not determinative of whether employees are similarly employed.

b. For purposes of this Section 14, the Contractor may allow differentials in compensation for its workers based in good faith on any of the following: a seniority system; a merit system; a system that measures earnings by quantity or quality of production; a bona fide job-related factor or factors; or a bona fide regional difference in compensation levels.

(1) A bona fide job-related factor or factors may include, but not be limited to, education, training, or experience, that is: consistent with business necessity; not based on or derived from a gender-based differential; and accounts for the entire differential.

(2) A bona fide regional difference in compensation level must be consistent with business necessity; not based on or derived from a gender-based differential;

and account for the entire differential.

15. Worker’s Rights

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Pursuant to the Washington State Governor’s Executive Order 18-03 (dated June 12, 2018), DCYF is seeking to contract with qualified entities and business owners who certify that their employees are not, as a condition of employment, subject to mandatory individual arbitration clauses and class or collective action waivers.

16. Nondiscrimination

a. Nondiscrimination Requirement. During the term of this Contract, Contractor, including any subcontractor, shall not discriminate on the bases enumerated at RCW 49.60.530(3). In addition, Contractor, including any subcontractor, shall give written notice of this nondiscrimination requirement to any labor organizations with which Contractor, or subcontractor, has a collective bargaining or other agreement.

b. Obligation to Cooperate. Contractor, including any subcontractor, shall cooperate and comply with any Washington State agency investigation regarding any allegation that Contractor, including any subcontractor, has engaged in discrimination prohibited by this Contract pursuant to RCW 49.60.530(3).

c. Default. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, DCYF may suspend Contractor, including any subcontractor, upon notice of a failure to participate and cooperate with any state agency investigation into alleged discrimination prohibited by this Contract, pursuant to RCW 49.60.530(3). Any such suspension will remain in place until DCYF receives notification that Contractor, including any subcontractor, is cooperating with the investigating state agency. In the event Contractor, or subcontractor, is determined to have engaged in discrimination identified at RCW 49.60.530(3), DCYF may terminate this Contract in whole or in part, and Contractor, subcontractor, or both, may be referred for debarment as provided in RCW 39.26.200. Contractor or subcontractor may be given a reasonable time in which to cure this noncompliance, including implementing conditions consistent with any court-ordered injunctive relief or settlement agreement.

d. Remedies for Breach. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, in the event of Contract termination or suspension for engaging in discrimination, Contractor, subcontractor, or both, shall be liable for contract damages as authorized by law including, but not limited to, any cost difference between the original contract and the replacement or cover contract and all administrative costs directly related to the replacement contract, which damages are distinct from any penalties imposed under Chapter 49.60, RCW. DCYF shall have the right to deduct from any monies due to Contractor or subcontractor, or that thereafter become due, an amount for damages Contractor or subcontractor will owe DCYF for default under this provision.

17. Most Favorable Terms

DCYF reserves the right to make an award without further discussion of the Bid submitted. Therefore, the Bid should be submitted initially on the most favorable terms which the Bidder can propose. DCYF does reserve the right to contact a Bidder for clarification of its Bid.

The Bidder should be prepared to accept this RFQ for incorporation into a Contract resulting from this RFQ. Contract negotiations may incorporate some or all of the

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Bidder’s Bid. It is understood that the Bid will become a part of the official Solicitation file on this matter without obligation to DCYF.

18. Announcement of Successful Bidder(s)

DCYF shall announce the ASB(s) via WEBS on the date indicated in Section C.1., Solicitation Schedule. All announcements of ASB(s) are subject to the negotiation of a

Contract satisfactory to DCYF.

19. Ethics, Policies and Law

This Solicitation, the evaluation of responses, and any resulting Contract will be made in conformance with applicable Washington State laws and policies.

Specific restrictions apply to contracting with current or former state employees pursuant to RCW 42.52. Bidders should familiarize themselves with the requirements prior to submitting a Response. Bidders must include information regarding any current or former state employees who are employed by, or subcontracted with Bidder in

Attachment C-1, Administrative Requirements Response.

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D. PROPOSAL CONTENT, FORMAT AND SUBMISSION

Bidders shall submit their responses utilizing the forms set forth on Attachments B, B-1, C-1, C-2 and D to this Competitive Solicitation. Each attachment represents a separate section of the response. Failure to complete and submit all Required attachments, and to sign them, if applicable, may result in Bidder disqualification. Responses should be neatly typed in 12-point font, using proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and should be submitted in the following order with each section of the response clearly labeled.

1. Attachment B - Certifications and Assurances (Required/Pass-Fail)

All Bidders must submit a completed Certifications and Assurances in the form and with the minimum contents set forth on Attachment B, which must include all the required acknowledgments and information. The Certifications and Assurances must be signed by an individual authorized to bind the Bidder contractually.

Attachment B-1 Bidder Small Business Self Certification (Required to Receive

Preference Points as a Small Business)

2. Attachment C - Bidder Response Forms (Required/Portions Scored)

Using Attachment C-1 and C-2, Bidders must provide answers to the questions set forth on the Bidder Response Forms to demonstrate satisfaction of administrative requirements and, as applicable to this Solicitation, their qualifications, approach, and proposed pricing to provide the services as outlined in this Solicitation, including the sample Contract set forth on Attachment A.

Attachment C-1, Administrative Requirements Response (Required/Pass-Fail)

Attachment C-2 Bidder Response Form (Required/Scored)

The Bidder Response Form is posted separately from this Solicitation Document in

Microsoft Word format. Except for limits that are noted on the Bidder Response Form, Bidders may utilize as much space as is reasonably required to respond to each question, provided all questions are repeated and remain numbered and ordered as set forth in Attachment C-2. Bidders should not submit product brochures, white papers, and customer testimonials, cut sheets, or other pre-prepared materials in response to any of the questions.

Use of Attachment C-2 assures that Bidders respond to specific questions in space immediately below those questions and helps to avoid confusion among Evaluators about the question that is being responded to. Failure to use the form set forth on

Attachment C-2, and failure to respond to all questions and/or failure to submit any documents requested in the Bidder Response Forms may result in Bidder’s disqualification.

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Bidders must submit complete, well-organized explanatory answers that address all of the specific questions asked in the Bidder Response Form. Bidders should not assume that Evaluators will be familiar with their businesses before conducting the evaluation.

If Bidder is awarded a Contract, DCYF may require the Bidder Response Form C-2 to be incorporated, in whole, into the Contract by reference.

3. Attachment D - Small and Diverse Business Inclusion Plan – Subcontractors

a. Bidders who, if awarded a Contract, intend to use subcontractors, must complete

Bidder Response Attachment D – Small and Diverse Business Inclusion Plan –

Subcontractors in the form set forth herein. Awarded bidders who do not submit a

Diverse Business Inclusion Plan will be precluded from utilizing subcontractors to perform the Contract.

b. As part of the Diverse Business Inclusion Plan – Subcontractors, Bidder is encouraged to include an anticipated list of small/diverse subcontractors who may assist Bidder in fulfilling Bidder’s contractual obligations, if bidder is awarded a

Contract pursuant to this Competitive Solicitation. This list should identify any subcontractors who are small/diverse businesses as defined above.

c. If awarded, the Bidder’s Diverse Business Inclusion Plan – Subcontractor will be incorporated into the terms and conditions of the resulting Contract and bidder will report performance and progress to DCYF as set forth in the Contract.

d. Bidders must describe their efforts in engaging and reducing any barriers to participation by small/diverse businesses, including outreach, education/mentorship, and process changes designed to increase small/diverse business participation.

e. The small/diverse business goals set forth herein are voluntary. Bidders will not be considered non-responsive if the Diverse Business Inclusion Plan – Subcontractors has a zero small/diverse business participation amount. DCYF, however, encourages bidders to be proactive in engaging small/diverse business participation.

No preference will be included in the evaluation of bids based on the Diverse

Business Inclusion Plan – Subcontractors. No minimum level of small/diverse business participation is required as a condition for receiving a Contract award.

4. Key Personnel

Bidder shall identify the key personnel it shall utilize in performing this Contract, and their experience and qualifications, as part of its proposal. If awarded a Contract, Bidder shall not make changes to such key personnel during the term of the Contract except as requested or approved by DCYF.

5. Pre-bid Conference

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A virtual pre-bid conference is scheduled to be held on November 5, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., Pacific Daylight Time, Washington. Bidder should participate; however, participation is not mandatory.

Microsoft Teams link:

https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/2807311421634806?p=B9uVZGWbG6KXKbld5h

Meeting ID: 280 731 142 163 480 6

Passcode: NY9ej6SR

DCYF will be bound only to DCYF’S written answers to questions. Questions arising at the pre-bid conference or in subsequent communication with the Solicitation Coordinator will be documented and answered in written form. A copy of the questions and answers will be posted in WEBS.

6. Proprietary Information/Public Disclosure

Materials submitted in response to this Solicitation shall be deemed public records as defined by RCW 42.56. All responses and accompanying documentation shall become the property of DCYF upon receipt and will not be returned.

The Bidder’s response must include, on Attachment C, a statement identifying the pages of its response, if any, which contain information the Bidder considers proprietary. Each page claimed to be proprietary must be clearly marked by stating the word

“Proprietary” printed on the lower right-hand corner of the page. Bidders must be reasonable in designating information as proprietary or confidential. Bidders may not mark their entire Response proprietary. Doing so will not be honored and will disqualify your Response from further consideration.

If DCYF receives a request to view or copy a Bidder’s response, DCYF will respond according to applicable law and DCYF’s policy governing public disclosure. DCYF will not disclose any information marked “Proprietary” in a response without giving the

Bidder ten (10) calendar days’ notice to seek relief in superior court per RCW 42.56.540.

Bid submissions and Bid evaluations are exempt from disclosure until DCYF announces the ASB.

a. DCYF will consider a Bidder’s request for exemption from disclosure; however, DCYF will decide predicated upon Chapter 42.17 RCW and Chapter 136-06 of the

Washington Administrative Code. Marking the entire Bid exempt from disclosure will not be honored. The Bidder must be reasonable in designating information as confidential.