DHW SSA Request Justification 5-12-2025.pdf

IDHW Sole Source Justification for Risk Stratification Model Procurement for ESPI

Purpose

This justification outlines the rationale for the single-source procurement of a risk stratification and supervision tool for our Child Welfare Information System (CWIS) named Ensuring Safety and Permanency in Idaho (ESPI). This request is based on the need to address specific operational goals within our Child Welfare System effectively and efficiently, with a focus on promoting child safety and systemic quality assurance.

To support our Wildly Important Goal (to reduce the amount of youth being removed from their home for safety reasons thru prevention efforts) and legislative requirements, IDHW requires a risk stratification and supervision tool tailored specifically to ESPI. This tool, rooted in a predictive risk model developed with local data, is integral to advancing goals of the child welfare system and our WIG.

Following an RFI, conversations with another potential vendor (see below) and staff conversations, Social Data Analytics LLC emerged as the only vendor capable of meeting our requirements. having previously demonstrated success within multiple child welfare agencies across the country.

Market Research

A search was conducted to identify vendors capable of delivering a predictive risk modeling tool aligned with ESPI’s CWIS infrastructure. Given the specialized nature of CWIS, vendors needed to demonstrate compatibility with such infrastructure and the ability to leverage local data. In our research, the following essential criteria were prioritized:

• Data Compatibility: The tool must utilize existing CWIS data without additional data entry from caseworkers or expensive transfer to cloud based alternatives

• Predictive Capability: It must use predictive risk modeling based on State child welfare data to stratify cases by risk.

• Demonstrated implementations: Previously demonstrated success within multiple child welfare agencies.

• Supervisory Interface: A supervisor interface should offer context-rich case data, aiding in interpreting risk scores and facilitating effective supervision.

• CWIS Integration: The tool should be able to integrate with the existing CWIS user interface to enable seamless access by end users.

Through our market analysis, Social Data Analytics LLC was found to be the only vendor that met these criteria comprehensively. Other vendors, such as IBM (see RFI response) and Augintel (whom we met with for a demo in April 2025) , did not fulfill these requirements due to limitations in CWIS compatibility, data source constraints, and the need for manual data entry, all of which would require costly adaptations and extensive reconfiguration for their cloud delivered solutions requiring expensive API’s to be developed.

Rationale for Single-Source Procurement

1. Proven Track Record and Expertise:

Social Data Analytics LLC has a documented history of success with risk stratification in child welfare systems, particularly in California, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. This experience provides ESPI with a solution that has been validated across the country, which limits the amount of customization required and therefore makes it more cost effective.

2. Specialized Expertise and Unique Compatibility:

The team at Social Data Analytics LLC, led by experts Dr. Emily Putnam-Hornstein and Dr. Rhema Vaithianathan, has extensive experience developing risk stratification tools using CWIS data. Their work demonstrates their expertise in implementing tools for CWIS systems, which would reduce the risk of project delays and implementation challenges for ESPI.

3. Cost and Efficiency Considerations:

Given that Social Data Analytics LLC has already mapped their tool to CWIS systems across the country, there will be lower upfront integration costs for ESPI. This readiness allows us to avoid significant costs related to system reconfiguration and eliminates the potential for delays due to misalignment with existing systems. Choosing an alternative provider would not only result in substantial reconfiguration expenses but could also delay the implementation of safety measures and risk stratification - critical to achieving the objectives for our Child Welfare System.

4. Compliance with Procurement Policy

Pursuant to IDAPA 38.05.01.045, a single-source procurement is appropriate when a single vendor uniquely satisfies the needs outlined in the scope of work. Social Data Analytics LLC’s singular qualifications, technical compatibility, and proven performance within CWIS infrastructure confirm this justification.

Conclusion

For these reasons, Social Data Analytics LLC stands as the sole provider capable of fulfilling ESPI‘s specialized requirements for a risk stratification and supervision tool compatible with CWIS. Their tool offers a proven, low-risk path to achieving IDHW’s child welfare goals without costly reconfiguration or delays. Engaging this vendor under a single-source procurement will ensure continuity, cost-efficiency, and alignment with the agency’s commitment to child safety, quality assurance and assisting IDHW in meeting our WIG and legislative reporting requirements.

IDHW Sole Source Justification for Risk Stratification Model Procurement for ESPI