DCF RFI 2324 050 DV Services for Marion Cty.pdf

Request for Information Template

(PMT-07-2021)

Effective June 24, 2021

STATE OF FLORIDA

DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

OFFICE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES FOR MARION COUNTY

DCF RFI 2324 050

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION 1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Purpose of an RFI

1.3 Contact Person

1.4 RFI Questions and Contact

SECTION 2. BACKGROUND

SECTION 3. RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS

3.1 Submission Layout

3.2 Requested Information

3.2.1 Tab 1: Introduction

3.2.2 Tab 2: Details

3.2.3 Tab 3: Additional Information

3.3 Submission Format

3.4 Trade Secret, Confidential, or Proprietary Information

3.5 Presentations

SECTION 4. Timeline

SECTION 5. CAVEATS

5.1 Vendor Costs

5.2 Special Accommodations

SECTION 1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction

The Department of Children and Families (Department), Office of Domestic Violence is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) seeking information from interested Vendor’s who can provide domestic violence services, as outlined in Section 39.905, Florida Statutes, resources and services related to primary prevention, and working with families involved in the dependency process.

The goal of this RFI is to identify eligible entities willing and able to administer domestic violence services in Marion County.

This is an RFI as defined in ss. 287.012(22), Florida Statutes (F.S.), for planning and informational purposes. This is not a solicitation for offers. Please monitor the Vendor Information Portal (VIP) for any changes or notices prior to submitting a response.

1.2 Purpose of an RFI

Rule 60A-1.042, Florida Administrative Code, provides that an agency may request information by issuing a written RFI. Agencies are authorized to use an RFI in circumstances including, but not limited to, determining whether or not to competitively procure a commodity or contractual services, determining what solicitation process to use for a particular need, or researching general, special, and/or technical specifications. A Vendor’s response to an RFI is not an offer and the agency may not use the Vendor’s submission to justify a contract with that Vendor without otherwise complying with Chapter 287, Florida Statutes (F.S.) and Rule 60A-1.042, F.A.C. Vendors submitting a response to an agency’s RFI are not prohibited from responding to any related subsequent solicitation.

Any future purchase of the services will be conducted in accordance with Chapter 287, F.S. The Commission may use responses to this RFI to prepare one or more competitive solicitations and as the basis for any subsequent Vendor meetings. Any request for cost information is for budgetary purposes only.

1.3 Contact Person

The sole contact point for communication (which will only be accepted in writing) regarding this RFI is:

Sallly Johns, Solicitation Adminstrator The only permitted means of contact:

By Email:

Sally.Johns@myflfamilies.com, CC hqw.procurement.team.activities@myflfamilies.com

**ALL EMAILS TO THE CONTACT PERSON SHALL CONTAIN THE RFI NUMBER IN THE

SUBJECT LINE OF THE EMAIL.**

1.4 RFI Questions and Contact

Respondents shall address all questions regarding this RFI in writing to the Point of Contact identified in Section 1.3. The Department will post answers to questions on MyFloridaMarketPlace (MFMP) Vendor Information Portal (VIP) located at: https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com as noted in Section Section 4.

mailto:Sally.Johns@myflfamilies.com mailto:hqw.procurement.team.activities@myflfamilies.com https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/

SECTION 2. BACKGROUND

2.1 Section 39.903(7) authorizes the Department to contract with an entity or entities for the delivery and management of services of Florida’s domestic violence programs, if the Department determines that doing so is in the best interest of the state.

2.2 The certified domestic violence center in Marion County ceased its provision of services effective August 1, 2023, and the Department seeks to restore emergency and supportive services for survivors of domestic violence.

2.3 Domestic violence centers certified under Section 39.905, F.S., must:

2.3.1 Provide a facility which will serve as a domestic violence center to receive and house persons who are victims of domestic violence. For the purpose of this part, minor children and other dependents of a victim, when such dependents are partly or wholly dependent on the victim for support or services, may be sheltered with the victim in a domestic violence center.

2.3.2 Receive annual written endorsement of local law enforcement agencies.

2.3.3 Provide minimum services that include, but are not limited to:

2.3.3.1 information and referral services,

2.3.3.2 counseling and case management services,

2.3.3.3 temporary emergency shelter for more than 24 hours,

2.3.3.4 a 24-hour hotline, nonresidential outreach services, training for law enforcement personnel,

2.3.3.5 assessment and appropriate referral of resident children,

2.3.3.6 and educational services for community awareness relative to the incidence of domestic violence,

2.3.3.7 the prevention of such violence, and

2.3.3.8 the services available for persons engaged in or subject to domestic violence.

2.3.3.9 If a 24-hour hotline, professional training, or community education is already provided by a certified domestic violence center within its designated service area, the Department may exempt such certification requirements for a new domestic violence center serving the same service area in order to avoid duplication of services.

2.3.4 Participate in the provision of orientation and training programs developed for law enforcement officers, social workers, and other professionals and paraprofessionals who https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2022/0039.903 https://m.flsenate.gov/Statutes/39.905 work with domestic violence victims to better enable such persons to deal effectively with incidents of domestic violence.

2.3.5 Establish and maintain a board of directors composed of at least three citizens, one of whom must be a member of a local, municipal, or county law enforcement agency.

2.3.6 Comply with rules adopted under this part (Section 39.905, F.S.).

2.3.7 File with the Department a list of the names of the domestic violence advocates who are employed or who volunteer at the domestic violence center who may claim a privilege under

s. 90.5036 to refuse to disclose a confidential communication between a victim of domestic violence and the advocate regarding the domestic violence inflicted upon the victim. The list must include the title of the position held by the advocate whose name is listed and a description of the duties of that position. A domestic violence center must file amendments to this list as necessary.

2.3.8 Demonstrate local need and ability to sustain operations through a history of 18 consecutive months’ operation as a domestic violence center, including 12 months’ operation of an emergency shelter as provided in paragraph (c), and a business plan which addresses future operations and funding of future operations.

2.3.9 If its center is a new center applying for certification, demonstrate that the services provided address a need identified in the most current statewide needs assessment approved by the Department. If the domestic violence center applying for initial certification proposes providing services in an area that has an existing certified domestic violence center, the domestic violence center applying for initial certification must demonstrate the unmet need in that service area and describe its efforts to avoid duplication of services.

SECTION 3. RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS

3.1 Submission Layout

Please organize your responses to this RFI as follows

TAB 1 Introduction TAB 2 Details TAB 3 Additional Information

3.2 Requested Information

3.2.1 Tab 1: Introduction

Please provide a cover letter with the name of the Vendor and the primary point of contact. The cover sheet must reference the RFI number. Include a brief summary of your organization, its history and experience with information requested in this RFI.

3.2.2 Tab 2: Details

3.2.2.1 The Department is requesting that interested organizations respond to this RFI. Eligible organizations to apply include existing certified domestic violence centers in good standing with the Department, or not-for-profit corporations that prioritize services to survivors of domestic violence, as detailed in Rule 65H-1, Florida Administrative Code, and Section 39.905, Florida Statutes.

3.2.2.2 The Department requests that organizations review and familiarize themselves with the provided Standard Contract Part 1 and Standard Contract Part 2, as this contains information regarding the anticipated services to be provided. Organizations not currently providing the services contained therein are still eligible to respond to this solicitation with the anticipation of being able to provide all services in the event they plan to respond to a subsequent formal solicitation.

3.2.2.3 The Department requests the following from existing certified domestic violence centers (This section is only applicable to currently certified domestic violence centers, non-certified entities can follow the request outlined in Section 3.2.2.4 and do not have to provide a response to Section 3.2.2.3 unless you choose to):

3.2.2.3.1 Describe your organization’s proposed approach to expanding certification into Marion County.

3.2.2.3.2 Describe your organization’s needs to ensure successful expansion into Marion County, a suggested transition budget.

3.2.2.3.3 Explain your organization’s plan to garner local community support.

3.2.2.4 The Department requests the following from not-for-profit, non-certified entity organizations whose sole service provision is dedicated to survivors of domestic violence:

3.2.2.4.1 Provide the Mission, Goals, Objectives, and History of the organization

3.2.2.4.2 Provide a description of operation and provision of domestic violence services, including operation of an emergency shelter.

3.2.2.4.3 Describe your organization’s proposed approach to

transitioning services in Marion County.

3.2.2.4.4 Explain your organization’s plan to garner local community support.

3.2.3 Tab 3: Additional Information

3.2.3.1 Vendor should provide any additional information in their response about their organization/Center and/or services relevant to this RFI for Department consideration.

3.2.3.2 Pricing: Please do not provide any specific cost or pricing information at this time; this is not a solicitation for an offer. However, general pricing information may be provided (e.g., price ranges and variable factors that impact the price).

3.3 Submission Format

Respondents may submit submissions via email using the contact information found in Section 1.3.

3.4 Trade Secret, Confidential, or Proprietary Information

If Vendor considers any portion of the documents, data or records submitted in response to this RFI to be trade secret, as defined in Section 812.081(1)(c), F.S., confidential, proprietary, or otherwise not subject to disclosure pursuant to Chapter 119, F.S., the Florida Constitution or other authority, Vendor must mark the document as “Confidential” and simultaneously provide the Department with a separate redacted copy of its response and briefly describe in writing the grounds for claiming exemption from the public records law, including the specific statutory citation for such exemption.

This redacted copy shall contain the Department’s RFI name, number, and the name of the Vendor on the cover, and shall be clearly titled “Redacted Copy.” The Redacted Copy should only redact those portions of material that the Vendor claims are confidential, proprietary, trade secret or otherwise not subject to disclosure.

In the event of a request for public records pursuant to Chapter 119, F.S., the Florida Constitution or other authority, to which documents that are marked as confidential are responsive, the Department will provide the Redacted Copy to the requestor. If a requestor asserts a right to the Confidential Information, the Department will notify the Vendor such an assertion has been made. It is the Vendor’s responsibility to assert that the information in question is exempt from disclosure under chapter 119 or other applicable law. If the Department becomes subject to a demand for discovery or disclosure of the Confidential Information of the Vendor in a legal proceeding, the Department shall give the Vendor prompt notice of the demand prior to releasing the information, unless otherwise prohibited by applicable law. The Vendor shall be responsible for defending its determination that the redacted portions of its response are confidential, proprietary, trade secret, or otherwise not subject to disclosure.

By submitting a reply, the Vendor agrees to protect, defend, and indemnify the Department for any and all claims arising from or relating to the Vendor’s determination that the redacted portions of its reply are confidential, proprietary, trade secret, or otherwise not subject to disclosure. If Vendor fails to submit a redacted copy of information it claims is confidential, the Department is authorized to produce the entire documents, data, or records submitted to the Department in answer to a public records request for these records.

3.5 Presentations

After the Department receives responses to this RFI, and at the sole discretion of the Department, one (1) or more Vendor’s may be selected to demonstrate to the Department the Vendor’s products and services relating to the information submitted in the RFI response. The purpose is to learn about the most current solutions available. This economy of presentation will be applied to all verbal discussions as well. The meeting moderator will be polite but direct to keep discussions on topic and will not allow the meetings to take on a sales tone. Vendors are encouraged to bring technical and legal representatives to the presentation meetings.

SECTION 4. Timeline

Date Time Eastern

Event Section Reference

08/10/2023 N/A Release of RFI

11/30/2023 11:00 AM Deadline to submit responses 1.3

TBD TBD Presentations 3.5

SECTION 5. CAVEATS

5.1 Vendor Costs

Vendors are responsible for all costs associated with the preparation, submission, and any potential meeting to discuss this RFI. The Department will not be responsible for any Vendor related costs associated with responding to this request.

5.2 Special Accommodations

Any person with a disability requiring special accommodations to participate in the RFI shall contact the Department sole point of contact at the email provided in Section 1.3. at least five (5) working days prior to the event. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact this office by using the Florida Relay Services which can be reached at 1 (800) 955-8771 (TDD). Certified Business Enterprises are encouraged to participate in the RFI process.