Emerging Adults RFP FY2028.docx

MPS Diversion Pilot Grant: Juveniles and Emerging Adults (Ages 18 to 25) from Criminal Justice

The Massachusetts Probation Service A Department of the Massachusetts Trial Court

GRANT OPPORTUNITY

Pilot Grant: Innovative Services for Emerging Adults in the Criminal Justice System FY 2028

Entity:

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Address:

One Ashburton Place Room 405 Boston, MA 02108

RFR File Name/Title:

Continuation of a Transitional Youth Early Intervention Probation Program

BID # BD-27-1107-TCOCP-TCOCP-132686

Primary Contact Person:

Michael Coelho, Deputy Commissioner for Program Services 617-839-6806

Purpose: The Massachusetts Fiscal Year 2027 Budget provides the following in line 0330-0613: “For the implementation of the recommendations set forth by the Council of State Governments Justice Center - Massachusetts Criminal Justice Review . . . provided further, that not less than $2,300,000 shall be expended for a transitional youth early intervention probation pilot program to be administered by the office of the commissioner of probation;”. Consistent with previous authorizations, $2.3 million is available for a transitional youth early intervention probation program, targeting 18-25 year old high risk youth.

This funding has been provided to directly address recommendations included in the Council on State Government’s Justice Reinvestment Policy Framework, February 2017 (https://csgjusticecenter.org/jr/massachusetts/publications/justice-reinvestment-in-massachusetts-policy-framework/)

The analysis of Massachusetts data outlined the scope of the problem, and a recommended solution:

Of people released in 2011 from HOCs and DOC facilities, 18- to 25-year-olds had the highest recidivism rates of all age groups; 76 percent of 18- to 25-year-olds released from HOCs in 2011 were re-arraigned within three years of release. People in this age range also have the longest length of stay in HOCs and thus are responsible for the highest incarceration costs in those facilities. For people released from HOCs in 2014, the average length of stay was 6.8 months overall, compared to 7.2 months for 18- to 25-year-olds.

The Office of the Commissioner of Probation and the Trial Court will work together to develop strategies to reduce recidivism among young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 who are at the highest risk of reoffending. Participation in the pilot program may occur as a court-ordered condition of probation, as an intermediate sanction prior to incarceration, or as a voluntary referral for services by a probation officer. Participants will receive specialized recidivism-reduction programming as well as education and employment services.

The Massachusetts Probation Service is seeking proposals from direct service providers with expertise and experience in working with 18-25 year old males and females involved in the criminal justice system, to provide programming to reduce recidivism, as well as education and employment services. This proposal is to provide services for FY 2028 starting July1, 2027.

This solicitation is focused on services delivered to clients. Services that are evidence-based or considered a promising practice and delivered in innovative ways will be the critical factor in successful grant applications and in possible future renewals of funding.

As with all state funding, future rounds will be subject to appropriation of funds.

Target population(s): The pilot is intended to strengthen outcomes for 18-25 year old young adults on probation, who are at the highest risk of reoffending. The Massachusetts Probation Service will provide information on the target population, using its Ohio Risk Assessment Tool to identify appropriate participants, the level of risk and universe of needs.

Eligible Applicant(s): Massachusetts non-profit service providers with demonstrated expertise and experience in working with this population.

General Project Description: The MPS announces a competitive grant program to be administered by the Office of the Commissioner of Probation to direct service providers to serve 18-25 year old young adults on probation who are at the highest risk of reoffending. The Massachusetts Probation Service is looking for proposals that will use evidence-based or promising practices to engage this target population in a comprehensive set of services that will reduce the risks of re-offending and address the needs of this specialized group.

Award limits: Massachusetts Probation Service anticipates making one award for $2.3 million for this initiative, effective start date 7/1/2027 for FY 2028. Entities that receive a grant will be eligible to apply for continuation or expansion if funding is available.

Anticipated Duration of the Contract (Including Renewal Options) a.) Initial Term. The total anticipated duration of the contract is for one (1) year.

The duration of the resulting contract is subject to available funding for each year of the contract.

b.) Renewal Options The contract will also have four (4) additional optional contract renewal periods of up to one (1) year each. The optional renewal periods will be activated and exercised at the sole discretion of the MPS. Any optional contract renewal periods shall be activated by written correspondence sent by the MPS to the contracted vendor, informing the vendor that the MPS is exercising the option to renew the contract for the time frame stated in the correspondence. As part of any possible renewal, the vendor agrees to completed and execute any additional documents necessary for the renewed agreement.

c.) Total Maximum Contract Duration The total maximum contract duration for this project, inclusive of possible renewal options, is five (5) years.

Anticipated Contract Compensation a.) Initial Term Compensation Vendor Pricing Proposals must contain completed pricing for the initial contract term of one (1) year b.) Renewal Options Compensation Vendor Pricing Proposals must contain completed pricing for all four (4) optional contract renewal periods

Time Table: The following schedule of events for this RFR identifies the key events and deadlines for this process, some of which are set forth in more detail in the sections that follow:

DATE EVENT

8/20/2026 Request for Proposals (RFP) Issued

8/31/2026 Deadline for Submission of Vendor Questions

9/7/2026 MPS Response Date to Vendor Questions (Estimated)

10/02/2026 Proposal Due Date Bid Submission Deadline is 3:00 p.m. (EST)

10/16/2026 Vendor Presentations if requested

11/06/26 Vendor Selection Date (Estimated)

*The MPS reserves the right to amend or delay any of the dates or times reflected above as well as any other timeframes or deadlines referenced throughout this solicitation, if such a change is in the best interests of the MPS and the Trial Court.

Correspondence: All correspondence including Vendor Inquiries and Vendor Proposals related to this RFR should be submitted through the Bid Q&A Tool on COMMBUYS Selection Criteria: The Office of the Commissioner of Probation shall give preference to applications that:

(i) clearly outline a comprehensive plan for the provider to collaborate with probation, law enforcement, criminal justice agencies, schools, other community-based organizations and other government agencies to address the risks and needs of 18-25 year old young adults in the criminal justice system;

(ii) A thorough understanding of the challenges of working with young adults involved in the criminal justice system;

(iii) Established expertise and experience working with this population in one or more communities in Massachusetts;

(iv) include written commitments of any municipalities, law enforcement agencies, criminal justice agencies, schools, community-based organizations and government agencies that may collaborate on the proposed initiative;

(v) utilize evidence-based or promising practices in their approach.

(vi) Provide a grant application that clearly identifies:

Statement of Problem- Applicant should utilize data from Council on State Government Policy Framework, probation data, community data, data tracked by applicant on population it currently serves, other sources applicant deems supportive.

Proposed Evidence Based or Promising Practice- Provide supporting evidence of success to date, whether national data or local data from own operations.

Target population(s) to be impacted

Effort/activities - Project Design and Implementation

Evidence of performance/ Capabilities – Establishment of expertise and experience, Quality of effort undertaken by applicant

Goals, Objectives, and Outcome(s) - products or results of identified effort, including outputs and outcomes.

Milestone mapping - progress toward expected impact(s) expressed in clear, realistic milestones, and

Expected impact(s) - on the target population(s) identified with baseline and expected change to be achieved within the timeframe of the project scope.

Application process:

Official Publication Solicitation and Related Documents:

The Commonwealth Procurement and Solicitation System (“COMMBUYS”) – http://www.commBUYS.com is the Commonwealth’s sole online procurement record site. All clarifications, notifications, addenda or other document or information related to this solicitation are officially published through the COMMBUYS website. Hardcopy communications from MPS to any vendor is provided as a courtesy. Vendors should access the COMMBUYS website frequently for official communications related to this solicitation from the MPS.

***BID SUBMISSION DEADLINE***

October 2, 2026 3 pm Electronic Notification for Grant Award Decisions

The Massachusetts Probation Service will establish a grants application review committee to make the final selection(s) based on the applications deemed to provide the strongest response to the preferred selection criteria (above). All decisions are final. All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application. The MPS reserves the right to make no award, one award or more awards based on the strengths of the applications received.

If your application is successful, the MPS will notify you via an electronic Grant Award Notification e-mail with directions on next steps. The email will be sent to the email you provide as that of the project director. It is crucial that your application include correct email addresses for the project director.

Applications must include the following:

1.) Cover letter 2.) Cover Sheet 3.) Application Narrative (10-15 pages) 4.) Budget Summary Page 5.) Budget Narrative 6.) Commitments of active partnership and participation 7.) Support Letters 8.) Appendices:

· Any supportive materials directly related to the project and referenced in the Application Narrative.

Additional mandatory documents per application:

· Commonwealth Terms and Conditions

· Contractor Authorized Signatory “CASL” form Mandatory documents submitted through Commbuys to complete the application must be done a 1 (one), or single upload.

Application process (continued)

A Department of the Massachusetts Trial Court Pilot Grant: Diverting Juveniles and Emerging Adults from Criminal Justice System Involvement

GRANT APPLICATION COVER SHEET

Project Title:

Date Submitted:

Applicant Contact Information:

Authorizing Individual’s Name:

Prefix First Middle Initial Last Title:

Email: Telephone Number:

Mailing Address:

Office Address 1 Address 2 City/Town State Zip

Fiscal Agent of Applicant Contact Information:

Individual’s Name:

Prefix First Middle Initial Last Title:

Email: Telephone Number:

Mailing Address:

Office Address 1 Address 2 City/Town State Zip

Project Director Name:

Prefix First Middle Initial Last Title:

Email: Telephone Number:

Mailing Address:

Municipality/Agency (Municipal or Non Profit) Affiliation Address 1 Address 2 City/Town State Zip Any Other Active Project Partner Individual(s)/Community Based Organization(s) That May Be Funded Through This Grant

Partner 1 Agency/Individual Name Contact Name:

Prefix First Middle Initial Last Title:

Email: Telephone Number:

Mailing Address:

Municipality/Agency (Municipal or Non Profit) Affiliation Address 1 Address 2 City/Town State Zip

Partner 2 Agency/Individual Name Contact Name:

Prefix First Middle Initial Last Title:

Email: Telephone Number:

Mailing Address:

Municipality/Agency (Municipal or Non Profit) Affiliation Address 1 Address 2 City/Town State Zip Partner 3 Agency/Individual Name Contact Name:

Prefix First Middle Initial Last Title:

Email: Telephone Number:

Mailing Address:

Municipality/Agency (Municipal or Non Profit) Affiliation Address 1 Address 2 City/Town State Zip

Total Amount Requested

APPLICATION NARRATIVE

Must Include:

Statement of Problem- Utilize data from Council on State Government Policy Framework, probation data, community data, data tracked by applicant on population it currently serves, other sources applicant deems supportive.

Proposed Evidence Based or Promising Practice- Provide supporting evidence of success to date, whether national data or local data from own operations.

Target population(s) to be impacted

Effort/activities - Project Design and Implementation

Evidence of performance/ Capabilities - Quality of effort undertaken by applicant

Goals, Objectives, and Outcome(s) - products or results of identified effort, including outputs and outcomes.

Milestone mapping - progress toward expected impact(s) expressed in clear, realistic milestones, and

Expected impact(s) - on the target population(s) identified with baseline and expected change to be achieved within the timeframe of the project scope.

BUDGET SUMMARY PAGE:

1. Personnel – Total (Itemize in budget narrative)

2. Fringe Benefits

3. Travel – in-state mileage only at State rate - .55/mile

4. Supplies - Total (Itemize in budget narrative)

5. Contractual - Total (Itemize in budget narrative)

6. Other - Total (Itemize in budget narrative)

7. Total Direct Costs

8. Allowable 5 % administrative costs (.05 X Total Direct Costs)

9. Total Application Amount Requested (Item 7 + Item 8 not to exceed $50,000)

BUDGET NARRATIVE

Note: include description of matched and in-kind contributions.