RFI Community Based Residential Program 2027 (FINAL).pdf

KATHY HOCHUL

Governor

DANIEL F. MARTUSCELLO III

Commissioner

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

RFI # 2026-08

Community Based Residential Program (CBRP)

Issued: 9/03/2026

Responses Due: 10/08/2026 by 2:00 PM ET

Purpose

The New York State (NYS) Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) is seeking information and collecting input from interested parties regarding the Community Based Residential Program (CBRP), a housing initiative that assists releasees under DOCCS’ jurisdiction with attaining stability in the community. Note that “releasee” as referenced in this RFI and all attachments incorporates and includes “parolees” as well as incarcerated individuals transitioned to residential treatment outcount prior to an approved release date. In addition to housing, CBRP's provide food, individual case management to include substance use disorder treatment, mental health treatment, educational/vocational training, and social services to residents, either directly or through referral to credentialed providers. (Note: a CBRP is not to be confused with Substance Use Residential Treatment Programs).

The goals of this RFI are to:

• Ascertain vendor interest in running one or more CBRPs.

• Prompt input from vendors related to the application process to receive funding for a CBRP.

• Identify potential challenges and/or roadblocks related to implementing a supportive housing initiative, in compliance with NYS statute, designed to meet the unique needs of DOCCS.

• Identify improvements to the CBRP grantmaking process while maintaining consideration of geographical distribution/areas of highest need.

• Obtain information on methods of evaluating the success of a CBRP’s through qualitative and quantitative performance measures.

• Obtain information regarding costs of running a CBRP.

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes - it does not constitute a Request for Applications (RFA), Request for Proposals (RFP), or an Invitation for Bids (IFB), or a promise to issue an RFA, RFP, or IFB. This RFI does not commit DOCCS to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Vendors are advised that DOCCS will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFA, RFP, or IFB, if any are issued.

NYS DOCCS RFI 2026-08 Community Based Residential Programs

The Harriman State Campus, 1220 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12226-2050 │ (518) 457-8126 │ www.doccs.ny.gov

Project Background

DOCCS is a NYS criminal justice agency responsible for continuum of care from the moment an offender enters the correctional system until the offender successfully completes the required period of community supervision. The DOCCS mission is to improve public safety by providing a continuity of appropriate treatment services in safe and secure facilities where all incarcerated individuals' needs are addressed and they are prepared for release, followed by supportive services for all parolees [releasees] under community supervision to facilitate a successful completion of their sentence.

Release from incarceration may occur by discretionary action of the Parole Board, by statutory release based on “good time” credit (conditional release), or, in the case of determinate sentences, release to post-release supervision. Many releasees entering a CBRP have histories of chemical dependency, mental illness, unemployment, health concerns, and substandard housing. They are released from state or local incarceration after convictions for offenses for which they continue to serve a sentence imposed by a local County Court, generally returning to the communities where they were residing at the time of their arrest.

CBRP’s provide a structured setting and services for a period of up to 120 days, with extensions available upon approval of DOCCS’ Re-Entry Contract Manager, to prescribed client groups and are located in designated catchment areas within NYS. In the past, vendors have been permitted to apply for more than one catchment area but needed to submit a separate application for each physical location they were proposing.

Current client groups are as follows:

• Client Group A o Newly released persons from state or local correctional facilities who do not have an approvable residence.

• Client Group B o Releasees who require increased supervision and structure in order to change behavior patterns which, given case-specific circumstances, may otherwise lead to re-incarceration; and/or require removal from their current living environment due to crisis situations or need for temporary housing.

• Client Group C o Releasees with mental health, physical, and/or medical concerns.

• Client Group D o Releasees who have a history of sex offense(s) and/or arson.

The Harriman State Campus, 1220 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12226-2050 │ (518) 457-8126 │ www.doccs.ny.gov

Below is an example of CBRP Catchment Areas that have been established by DOCCS:

The Harriman State Campus, 1220 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12226-2050 │ (518) 457-8126 │ www.doccs.ny.gov

Vendors who run CBRP(s) must adopt and comply with applicable ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards including providing compliant facilities, equipment, and personnel to provide for the safekeeping, care, and assistance for persons residing in the CBRP’s.

CBRP’s must be able to provide the following at no cost to residents:

• 24/7 onsite staff coverage for safety and control

• Provisions must be made to ensure that three well-balanced and nutritious meals are prepared and provided daily to residents onsite with reasonable convenience, including accommodation for dietary, religious and work/program related needs (i.e. bagged meals).

• Personal and feminine hygiene products (Including but not limited to deodorant, soap/bodywash, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, and toothpaste)

• Cleaning supplies

• Laundry supplies (Including but not limited to detergent, fabric softener, bleach)

• Furnishings that include beds with bed bug mattress covers. Bed bug mattress covers are to be replaced as required/necessary to ensure that they are undamaged and protective. Beds are to include a frame, mattress and bedbug cover.

• Bed linens and 3 towels supplied at least weekly, to each resident.

• The Grantee must arrange for Medicaid coverage or other third-party reimbursement for residents if required. Residents that are employed and not eligible for Medicaid or Medicare are responsible for their own health care costs.

CBRP housing requirements include:

Each CBRP must have safe and adequate facilities to carry out its program. The program must comply with all New York State Fire Code, New York State Property Maintenance Code, NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, along with any other applicable local, state, or federal laws, or ordinances, and rules. This includes providing a current certificate of occupancy. Current COO or equivalent must be posted prominently in the facility. Additionally, the Community-Based Residential Program must adhere to the following minimum space requirements as appropriate to the services provided:

• Sleeping area: 80 square feet per resident for single beds, 60 square feet per resident for two-deck bunks. Maximum dormitory capacity is 24.

• The CBRP must have on site dedicated office space to include a location to secure all resident/releasee files and provide a space to meet with resident/releasee.

• The CBRP must provide a locked, secure location to store residents prescribed medication that is accessible only by authorized program staff. Carry on person (COP) medications and emergency response medications are not required to be secured by Grantee. Please note: the Grantee is not responsible for administering medications the residents will be responsible for self- administering.

• There must be a minimum of one toilet and one sink per each 10 residents and a minimum of one tub or shower per each 10 residents. All facilities must provide sufficient lavatory facilities to ensure the privacy and security of all residents. Transgender and intersex residents shall be

The Harriman State Campus, 1220 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12226-2050 │ (518) 457-8126 │ www.doccs.ny.gov given the opportunity to shower separately from other residents.

• To safeguard residents’ valuables, and to minimize risk of theft, each resident must be provided with an individual locker/individual storage cabinet, with the ability to be locked by key only. (No combinations locks allowed.) Each locker/storage cabinet should be clearly labeled with the individual resident’s name

When facilities serve both males and females, sleeping areas shall be separated by gender. If services are provided in a multi-agency service facility, the Grantee must provide a plan for approval by the DOCCS Contract Manager to separate releasee residents from other program residents.

In addition, in deciding whether to assign a transgender or intersex resident to a facility or sleeping area for male or female residents, and in making other housing and programming assignments, the agency shall consider on a case-by-case basis whether a placement would ensure the resident’s health and safety and whether the placement would present management or security problems. A transgender or intersex resident’s own views with respect to his or her own safety shall be given serious consideration.

Requested Information

Please provide the following information electronically. DOCCS’ preference is for this information to be formatted in a prepared response document rather than the body of an email.

1. Contact Information:

a. Name of individual responding

b. Name of agency/organization

c. Mailing address

d. Email address

e. Phone number

f. Select one: _____ For-profit _____ Not-for-Profit

2. Please provide a brief history of your background and experience providing similar programs to the DOCCS’ CBRP described above. Please provide dates of development and/or implementation.

3. What is your experience in delivering services, specifically providing food, counseling, and other services such as substance abuse treatment, educational/vocational training, mental health and social services to residents either directly or through referral to credentialed providers? Please focus on any experience regarding releasees and/or parolees.

4. Describe your proposed ideas for successfully running a CBRP

5. Please provide a cost estimate for developing and operating a CBRP in the catchment area(s) you would be interested in. If you are interested in multiple catchment areas, please provide a cost estimate per catchment area.

6. What are your thoughts regarding this request for information, and the level of complexity needed? Do you find the requirements to be too restrictive? If so, what would you recommend in order to accomplish this RFIs goal?

7. Would you be interested in applying to a RFA to provide one or more CBRP’s? If not, what is stopping you from applying? Or what is stopping you from applying for multiple?

8. If applicable, please describe why you would not apply for certain catchment areas that are within your geographic area.

The Harriman State Campus, 1220 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12226-2050 │ (518) 457-8126 │ www.doccs.ny.gov

Questions

Questions regarding this RFI should be submitted via email to the DOCCS Contract Procurement Unit at DOCCSContracts@doccs.ny.gov prior to the due date and time noted above. Please submit your questions with adequate time for response; DOCCS recommends allowing at least five (5) business days. Be sure to put “RFI Community Based Residential Program (CBRP)” in the subject line of your email.

Deadline for Responses

All respondents should respond to this RFI with the information requested in the section entitled “Requested Information” no later than the deadline indicated on the first page of this announcement.

Responses to this RFI must be made via email.

Method Send to Subject Line Email DOCCSContract@doccs.ny.gov RFI Community Based Residential Program (CBRP)

Guidance to Respondents

DOCCS may use information obtained from responses to this RFI to make programmatic decisions and/or to develop a competitive procurement.

Any content that is proprietary and/or confidential must be clearly marked as such in your response.

Failure to mark content as proprietary and/or confidential may result in its disclosure in the event a response is the subject of a Freedom of Information request under Public Officers Law Section 87. In any event, DOCCS will determine, in its sole discretion, appropriate FOIL disclosure in accordance with Public Officers Law Section 87. All materials submitted by a respondent shall become the property of DOCCS and may or may not be returned to the respondent, at the sole discretion of

DOCCS.

DOCCS may issue announcements amending this RFI in response to questions. Any revisions to the RFI will be posted to the New York State Contract Reporter website (http:///www.nyscr.ny.gov) and to DOCCS’ public website, on the funding opportunities page (https://doccs.ny.gov/procurement-opportunities).

DOCCS may communicate with any and all third parties, about this RFI or otherwise, during the pendency of this RFI and/or following the receipt and consideration of RFI responses. This may be through email exchanges, phone discussions, meetings, demonstrations, and/or correspondence, and may be with an individual respondent, a subset of respondents, or all respondents. As RFI responses are reviewed, DOCCS reserves the right to send follow-up clarification questions to respondents.

mailto:DOCCSContracts@doccs.ny.gov mailto:DOCCSContract@doccs.ny.gov http://www.nyscr.ny.gov https://doccs.ny.gov/procurement-opportunities https://doccs.ny.gov/procurement-opportunities