RFP 202603063 Answer Vendor Question _FINAL.xlsx

This file contains vendor question responses for RFP #202603063 issued by the Maine Department of Corrections Division of Juvenile Services for community-based mentoring services for justice-involved youth. The RFP seeks qualified vendors to provide peer, near-peer, and lived experience mentoring services across all three juvenile regions in Maine for youth ages 11-21. Services must begin a minimum of 90 days before release from Long Creek Youth Development Center and continue in community settings. Vendors must identify their programming as evidence-based, evidence-based practice, or promising practice per the Model Programs Guide or cite an alternative clearinghouse. All mentors must complete required training, attend team meetings and court hearings, support education and vocational opportunities, and engage personnel with lived experience. Questions were due by April 17, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. local time, with proposals due May 8, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. via the Vendor Self Service system. The initial contract period runs from January 1, 2027 through June 30, 2028, with two optional renewal periods extending through June 30, 2031. In-person participation is preferred for meetings, court hearings, and quarterly meetings, though virtual accommodations are allowable for providers outside their designated region.

The funding structure provides $830,000 for the first 18 months, followed by $600,000 annually thereafter. The contract is structured as expense-reimbursed fee-for-service design rather than per-visit or unit-based billing. Currently, Youth Advocate Programs is the sole contract provider with a yearly contract amount of $740,000 and served 28 new referrals in FY25. There is no set amount designated per region, as the Department reserves discretion to award one or multiple bidders based on best value. Eligible bidders must maintain current 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, and background checks must be conducted on all personnel with costs identified in the proposal. Bidders may submit proposals for one or more counties within a region, though preference is given to those serving entire regions. The anticipated service length and youth referral numbers are determined by program capacity and the chosen evidence-based model, with the Department providing discretion to the winning bidder and allowing flexibility in mentor roles during the critical 30-90 day post-release period.