RFP 202607117 - Evaluation of Maine⿿s Family First Prevention Services_Final.docx

DOCX document 511 KB Posted

Attached to
Evaluation of Maine's Family First Prevention Services
Solicitation number
RFP - 10A - 202607117
Issued by
Maine

About this file

RFP 202607117 - Evaluation of Maine's Family First Prevention Services Summary

This is a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued by the State of Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child and Family Services, seeking evaluation services for Maine's Family First Prevention Services (FFPS) program. The Department is requesting a comprehensive five-year outcome evaluation plan for FFPS implemented under the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA), with evaluation services including analysis of service types, costs, placement status, re-entry into foster care, demographics of served populations, and fidelity and outcome measure data. The RFP anticipates one award resulting from this procurement. Questions from interested bidders must be submitted by July 29, 2026, no later than 4:00 p.m., local time, with proposals due August 21, 2026, by 4:00 p.m., local time, via the Vendor Self Service (VSS) system. The initial contract period runs from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2028, with two optional renewal periods: October 1, 2028, through September 30, 2030, and October 1, 2030, through September 30, 2031. The Department will evaluate proposals on a 100-point scale, with Organization Qualifications and Experience weighted at 30 points, Proposed Services at 35 points, and Cost Proposal at 35 points.

Bidders must submit a cost proposal on a fixed-price basis covering the initial period and all renewal periods. The lowest submitted cost proposal will receive the maximum 35 points, with other proposals receiving proportionally fewer points calculated against the lowest bid. The Department anticipates making payments on a net 30 basis upon receipt of accurate invoices. All bidders must maintain active Vendor Codes (VC or VS) with the State of Maine to contract with the Department. Bidders are required to comply with State of Maine IT-Service Contract provisions, including obtaining appropriate insurance coverage and implementing risk assessment and vulnerability scanning policies for handling sensitive information. The RFP specifies that no best and final offers will be sought; bidders must provide their best value pricing with initial proposal submission. Any appeals to award decisions must be filed within 15 calendar days of notification and directed to the Director of the Bureau of General Services. Contract execution requires approval by the State Procurement Review Committee, and the contract cannot be effective until at least 14 calendar days after award notification.

View the file

Other files

File Type Posted
RFP 202607117 Q —
RFP 202607117 Eval FFPS Response Form.docx DOCX document
RFP 202607117 Eval Family First Prev Srvs Cost Form.xlsx XLSX spreadsheet

On GovTribe

Work with this file

  • Download the original file
  • Contacts named in this file
  • Similar government files
  • Ask GovTribe AI about this file

Text version

STATE OF MAINE

Department of Health and Human Services Office of Child and Family Services

RFP# 202607117

Evaluation of Maine’s Family First Prevention Services

RFP Coordinator
NAME:
Casandra Manson
TITLE:
Procurement Administrator
EMAIL:
Casandra.R.Manson@Maine.Gov
Submitted Questions Due Date
July 29, 2026,

no later than 4:00 p.m., local time

Proposal Submission Deadline
DATE:
August 21, 2026,

no later than 4:00 p.m., local time

TO:
Vendor Self Service System

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

PUBLIC NOTICE
3
RFP DEFINITIONS/ACRONYMS
4
PART I INTRODUCTION
5

A. PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND

B. GENERAL PROVISIONS

C. CONTRACT TERM

D. NUMBER OF AWARDS

PART II SCOPE OF SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED
8
PART III KEY RFP EVENTS
10

A. VENDOR SELF SERVICE SYSTEM (VSS)

B. QUESTIONS

C. AMENDMENTS

D. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

PART IV PROPOSAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
12
PART V PROPOSAL EVALUATION AND SELECTION
15

A. EVALUATION PROCESS – GENERAL INFORMATION

B. SCORING WEIGHTS AND PROCESS

C. NEGOTIATIONS

D. SELECTION AND AWARD

E. APPEAL OF CONTRACT AWARDS

PART VI CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION AND CONDITIONS
17

A. CONTRACT DOCUMENT

B. STANDARD STATE CONTRACT PROVISIONS

PART VII RFP APPENDICES AND RELATED DOCUMENTS
19

APPENDIX A – PROPOSAL COVER PAGE

APPENDIX B – RESPONSIBLE BIDDER CERTIFICATION

APPENDIX C – QUALIFICATIONS and EXPERIENCE FORM

APPENDIX D – SUBCONTRACTORS FORM

APPENDIX E – LITIGATION FORM

APPENDIX F – PROPOSED SERVICES RESPONSE FORM

APPENDIX G – COST PROPOSAL FORM

APPENDIX H – FFPSA LOGIC MODEL

APPENDIX I – FFPSA EVALUATION PLAN

PUBLIC NOTICE

State of Maine Department of Health and Human Services

RFP# 202607117

Evaluation of Maine’s Family First Prevention Services

The State of Maine is seeking proposals for the evaluation of Maine’s Family First Prevention Services.

A copy of the RFP and all related documents can be obtained through Vendor Self Service (VSS): https://mevss.hostams.com/PRDVSS1X1/AltSelfService

Proposals must be submitted to the Office of State Procurement Services, via Vendor Self Service (VSS). Proposal submissions must be received no later than 4:00 p.m., local time, on August 21, 2026. Proposals will be opened the following business day.

RFP TERMS/ACRONYMS with DEFINITIONS

The following terms and acronyms, as referenced in the RFP, have the meanings indicated below:

Term/Acronym
Definition
Department
Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services
Evaluation Services
Data-informed results regarding the programmatic benefits of the Department-identified Family First Prevention Services (FFPS).
Evidence-based Practices
Interventions and treatment that have been established as effective. In this context, Evidence-based Practices refers to programs listed as promising, supported, and well supported by the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse.
Family First Prevention Services (FFPS)
Department-identified services implemented through the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) and subject to a comprehensive evaluation.
Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA)
Legislation passed in 2018, that permits the use of Title IV-E funds to provide preventative services aimed at safely keeping children with their families, thereby reducing the number of children in foster care. Placement needed outside of the home is prioritized to kinship care and ensures requirements for residential facilities to be certified as qualified residential treatment programs.
FFPSA Logic Model
A graphic depiction that presents the shared relationships among the resources, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impact for the FFPSA in the State, refer to Appendix H.
RFP
Request for Proposals
State
State of Maine
Vendor Self Service System (VSS)
The State’s web portal that provides vendors with a single-entry point to register, identify the commodities/services that their company provides, look for business opportunities, and respond to solicitations.

State of Maine Department of Health and Human Services Office of Child and Family Services

RFP# 202607117

Evaluation of Maine’s Family First Prevention Services

PART I INTRODUCTION

A. Purpose and Background

The Department of Health and Human Services (Department) is seeking Evaluation Services for its Family First Prevention Services (FFPS) as defined in this Request for Proposals (RFP) document. This document provides instructions for submitting proposals, the procedure and criteria by which the awarded Bidder will be selected, and the contractual terms which will govern the relationship between the State of Maine (State) and the awarded Bidder.

The Department is dedicated to promoting health, safety, resiliency, and opportunity to all Maine Residents. The Department’s Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) assists the Department in achieving its goals for families in alignment with its strategic plan and through its Divisions: Early Care and Education, Children’s Licensing and Investigation Services, Background Check Unit, Child Welfare Services, and Operations. The Divisions work together to support families to ensure the Safety, Permanency, and Wellbeing of Children.

In 2018, federal legislation enacted the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) of 2017. As part of implementing FFPSA in the State, the Department aims to allow children to remain safely in their homes, by fiscally supporting Family First Prevention Services (FFPS) thus decreasing the need for children to be placed in foster care. When out-of-home placements are necessary, kinship placements will be prioritized. In addition, children’s residential programs will be required to demonstrate meeting the FFPSA Qualified Residential Treatment Program requirements.

Through this RFP, the Department intends to ensure effective services are provided to families by conducting an evaluation on Department-identified FFPS and program outcomes with the goal of ensuring the safety, permanency, and well-being of children at imminent risk of entry into foster care.

B. General Provisions

1. From the time the RFP is issued until award notification is made, all contact with the State regarding the RFP must be made through the RFP Coordinator. No other person/ State employee is empowered to make binding statements regarding the RFP. Violation of this provision may lead to disqualification from the bidding process, at the State’s discretion.

2. Issuance of the RFP does not commit the Department to issue an award or to pay expenses incurred by a Bidder in the preparation of a response to the RFP. This includes attendance at personal interviews or other meetings and software or system demonstrations, where applicable.

3. All proposals must adhere to the instructions and format requirements outlined in the RFP and all written supplements and amendments (such as the Summary of Questions and Answers), issued by the Department. Proposals must follow the format and respond to all questions and instructions specified below in the “Proposal Submission Requirements” section of the RFP.

4. Bidders will take careful note that in evaluating a proposal submitted in response to the RFP, the Department will consider materials provided in the proposal, information obtained through interviews/presentations (if any), and internal Departmental information of previous contract history with the Bidder (if any). The Department also reserves the right to consider other reliable references and publicly available information in evaluating a Bidder’s experience and capabilities.

5. The proposal must be signed by a person authorized to legally bind the Bidder and must contain a statement that the proposal and the pricing contained therein will remain valid and binding for a period of 180 days from the date and time of the bid opening.

6. The RFP and the awarded Bidder’s proposal, including all appendices or attachments, will be the basis for the final contract, as determined by the Department.

7. Following announcement of an award decision, all records and documents regarding this RFP, including bid submissions, will be public records, available for public inspection pursuant to 5 M.R.S. §1825 B (6 &15) and the State of Maine Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) (1 M.R.S. § 401 et seq.). State contracts and information related to contracts, including all records, documents, supporting documents, and bid submissions, are public records unless otherwise excepted by statute (Id).

8. Subject to the above and pursuant to applicable law, in the event that a Bidder believes any information that it submits in response to this RFP is confidential, it must mark that information accordingly, and include citation to legal authority in support of the Bidder’s claim of confidentiality. In the event that the Department receives a FOAA request that includes submissions marked as confidential, the Department shall evaluate the information and any legal authority from the Bidder to determine whether the information is an exception to FOAA’s definition of public record. If the Department determines to release information that a Bidder has marked confidential, it shall provide advance notice to the Bidder to allow for them to seek legal relief.

9. The Department, at its sole discretion, reserves the right to recognize and waive minor informalities and irregularities found in proposals received in response to the RFP.

10. If awarded a contract resulting from this RFP, vendors shall be required to disclose, in writing and in accordance with applicable Maine law, any actual or potential conflicts of interest. Such disclosure must include any financial, professional, or personal relationships that could give rise to a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest. Failure to disclose a known conflict or appearance of conflict may result in disqualification, contract termination, or other remedies as provided by law.

11. All applicable laws, whether or not herein contained, are included by this reference. It is the Bidder’s responsibility to determine the applicability and requirements of any such laws and to abide by them.

C. Contract Term

The Department is seeking cost-efficient proposals to provide services, as defined in this RFP, for the anticipated contract period defined in the table below. The dates below are estimated and may be adjusted, as necessary, in order to comply with all procedural requirements associated with the RFP and the contracting process. The actual contract start date will be established by a completed and approved contract.

Contract Renewal: Following the initial term of the contract, the Department may opt to renew the contract for two (2) renewal periods, as shown in the table below, and subject to continued availability of funding and satisfactory performance.

The term of the anticipated contract, resulting from the RFP, is defined as follows:

Period
Start Date
End Date
Initial Period of Performance
10/1/2026
9/30/2028
Renewal Period #1
10/1/2028
9/30/2030
Renewal Period #2
10/1/2030
9/30/2031

D. Number of Awards

The Department anticipates making one (1) award as a result of this RFP process.

PART II SCOPE OF SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED

Specific instructions for the Bidder to provide a narrative response to the Scope of Services may be found in Part IV, Section III, Proposed Services.

1. Evaluation of Family First Prevention Services (FFPS)

0. Develop and implement a Department-approved five (5) year outcome evaluation plan of Department-identified FFPS in alignment with the Department’s FFPSA Evaluation Plan (Appendix I), including:

0. The type of FFPS, including Evidence-based Practices, being provided to the child/family;

0. The cost and duration of services;

0. The placement status of the child twelve (12) months after the start of the prevention plan start date;

0. Re-entry into foster care within two (2) years from the prevention plan start date;

0. Pregnant and/or parenting youth;

0. Demographics pertinent to populations in the State being served; and

0. Fidelity and outcome measure data on the implementation and effectiveness of services.

1. General Requirements

0. Ensure administrative staff are available to the Department during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., local time excluding State holidays and administrative closings.

0. Provide technical assistance to Department staff and its partners.

1. Reply to all requests for technical assistance within two (2) business days.

0. Meet with the Department monthly, as mutually agreed upon, to discuss:

2. Contract management;

2. Administration; and

2. Specific evaluation deliverables.

0. Provide data analysis, information extraction, and/or information findings upon Department request.

1. Communication

1. Communicate via telephone, email, at in-person meetings, and any other mutually agreed-upon format related to Evaluation Services.

2. Respond to the Department within two (2) business days.

3. Ensure the Department is included in all communications related to the Evaluation Services including but not limited to:

a. Other Department contracted individuals or organization;

b. Community partners; or

c. Other related parties.

1. Confidentiality Requirements

1. Obtain and maintain insurance as outlined in the current State of Maine IT-Service Contract (IT-SC), Rider B-IT, Section 19. Insurance Requirements. The current IT-SC may be obtained on the Office of State Procurement Services Forms & Templates webpage.

2. Implement risk assessment and vulnerability scanning policies and procedures for collecting sensitive information electronically (PII, PHI, and/or other confidential data) as part of the services provided as a result of the contract awarded under this RFP, at minimum to be equivalent to current MaineIT Policies & Standards for:

a. Risk Assessment Policy & Procedures; and

b. Vulnerability Scanning Procedure.

3. Comply with all current State and Federal laws regarding the protection of confidential and/or sensitive information that is collected or maintained by the awarded Bidder, including, as applicable, notification to individuals in the event of unauthorized access or disclosure.

4. The State will not consume (use) any awarded Bidder application, nor will the awarded Bidder consume (use) any State application.

E. Reports

1. Track and record all data/information necessary to complete the required reports listed in Table 1:

Table 1 – Required Reports

Name of Report
Description
a.
Quarterly Status Report
A Department approved, comprehensive report detailing:

i. The progress towards the implementation workplan and timeline;

ii. A synopsis of common technical assistance issues and resolutions;

iii. Summary of all monthly meetings with the Department, including any follow-up communication and next steps needed;

iv. The extent in which FFPS are being implemented with fidelity;

v. Findings; and

vi. Any barriers or achievements to meeting deliverables.

2. Submit all the required reports to the Department in accordance with the timelines established in Table 2:

Table 2 – Required Reports Timelines

Name of Report
Period Captured by Report
Due Date
a.
Quarterly Status Report
Each quarter
Thirty (30) calendar days after the end of each quarter

PART III KEY RFP EVENTS

A. Vendor Self Service System (VSS)

1. The Office of State Procurement Services Vendor Self Service System website is found at: https://www.maine.gov/dafs/bbm/procurementservices/vendors/vendor-self-service-system

2. A copy of the RFP and all associated documents will be published in VSS.

3. Only documents published in VSS will be considered binding.

4. Any interested party may view open solicitations in VSS using the Public Access feature.

5. Vendors must have an active User ID and password in VSS to submit questions and respond to solicitations, including this RFP.

a. Vendor registration instructions and User Guide may be found at the link above, which include steps for searching for an existing account/User ID, or registering for a new account/User ID.

b. Vendors interested in responding to a solicitation are encouraged to obtain a User ID and password for VSS as soon as possible.

6. Vendors must have an active Vendor Code (VC or VS) to contract with the Department.

B. Questions

1. General Instructions: It is the responsibility of all Bidders and other interested parties to examine the entire RFP and to seek clarification, in writing, if they do not understand any information or instructions.

a. Questions must be submitted in VSS as soon as possible but no later than the date and time published in VSS.

b. Questions should be clearly stated and reference the applicable section and/or page number of the RFP.

c. The Department assumes no liability for assuring accurate/complete/on time transmission and receipt.

2. Question & Answer Summary: Responses to all questions will be compiled in writing and published in VSS no later than seven (7) calendar days prior to the Proposal Submission Deadline. It is the responsibility of all interested parties to go to VSS to obtain a copy of the Question & Answer Summary. Only those answers issued in writing in VSS will be considered binding.

C. Amendments

All amendments released in regard to the RFP will be published in VSS. It is the responsibility of all interested parties to go to VSS to obtain amendments. Only those amendments published in VSS are considered binding.

D. Proposal Submission

1. Proposals Due

a. Proposals must be received no later than the Proposal Submission Deadline (closing date) published in VSS.

b. Any proposal submissions or any additional or revised proposal files received after the Proposal Submission Deadline will be rejected without exception.

2. Delivery Instructions

a. Proposal submissions must be submitted to the Office of State Procurement Services via VSS.

b. Only proposal submissions received via VSS will be considered. The Department assumes no liability for assuring accurate/complete receipt.

c. Submissions containing links to file sharing sites or online file repositories will not be accepted as submissions. Only proposal submissions that have the actual requested files attached will be accepted.

d. Encrypted submissions received which require opening attachments and logging into a proprietary system will not be accepted. Bidders should work with their Information Technology team to ensure that the proposal submission will not be encrypted due to any security settings.

e. File size limits are 15MB per file. Bidders may separate the submissions into multiple files, as necessary, due to file size concerns.

3. Submission Format

a. Bidders must submit multiple files, with each file named and containing the required information as defined below.

File 1 [Bidder’s Name] – Preliminary Information PDF format preferred, and must include:

· Appendix A (Proposal Cover Page)

· Appendix B (Responsible Bidder Certification)

File 2 [Bidder’s Name] – Organization Qualifications and Experience PDF format preferred, and must include:

· Appendix C (Organization Qualifications and Experience Form)

· Appendix D (Subcontractors Form)

· Appendix E (Litigation Form)

· All required information and attachments stated in PART IV, Section II.

File 3 [Bidder’s Name] – Proposed Services PDF format preferred, and must include:

· Appendix F (Proposed Services Response Form)

· All required information and attachments stated in PART IV, Section III.

File 4 [Bidder’s Name] – Cost Proposal Excel format preferred, and must include:

· Appendix G (Cost Proposal Form)

· All required information and attachments stated in PART IV, Section IV.

PART IV PROPOSAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

This section contains instructions for Bidders to use in preparing their proposals. The Department seeks detailed yet succinct responses that demonstrate the Bidder’s qualifications, experience, and ability to perform the requirements specified throughout the RFP.

Bidders’ proposals must follow the outline used below, including the numbering, section, and sub-section headings. Failure to use the outline specified in PART IV, or failure to respond to all questions and instructions throughout the RFP, may result in the proposal being disqualified as non-responsive or receiving a reduced score. The Department, and its evaluation team, has sole discretion to determine whether a variance from the RFP specifications will result either in disqualification or reduction in scoring of a proposal. Rephrasing of the content provided in the RFP will, at best, be considered minimally responsive.

Bidders are not to provide additional attachments beyond those specified in the RFP for the purpose of extending their response. Additional materials not requested will not be considered part of the proposal and will not be evaluated. Bidders must include any forms provided in the submission package or reproduce those forms as closely as possible. All information must be presented in the same order and format as described in the RFP.

Proposal Format and Contents

Section I Preliminary Information (File #1)

1. Proposal Cover Page Bidders must complete Appendix A (Proposal Cover Page). It is critical that the cover page show the specific information requested, including Bidder address(es) and other details listed. The Proposal Cover Page must be dated and signed by a person authorized to enter into contracts on behalf of the Bidder.

2. Responsible Bidder Certification Bidders must complete Appendix B (Responsible Bidder Certification). The Responsible Bidder Certification must be dated and signed by a person authorized to enter into contracts on behalf of the Bidder.

Section II Organization Qualifications and Experience (File #2)

1. Overview of the Organization Bidders must complete Appendix C (Qualifications and Experience Form) describing their qualifications and skills to provide the requested services in the RFP. Bidders must include three (3) examples of projects, which occurred within the last five (5) years, demonstrating their experience and expertise in performing these services, as well as highlighting the Bidder’s stated qualifications and skills.

2. Subcontractors Bidders must complete Appendix D (Subcontractors Form) to provide a list that specifies the name, address, phone number, contact person, and a brief description of the organizational capacity and qualifications for any subcontractor to be used. If no subcontractors will be used, indicate such on the form.

3. Project Team Organizational Chart Bidders must provide a legible organizational chart of the project team including to whom the project team reports. Note: individual project team positions are to be identified in the job description and staffing plan.

4. Litigation Bidders must complete Appendix E (Litigation Form) providing a list of all current litigation in which the Bidder is named and a list of all closed cases that have closed within the past five (5) years in which the Bidder paid the claimant either as part of a settlement or by decree. For each, list the entity bringing suit, the complaint, the accusation, amount, and outcome. If no litigation has occurred, indicate such on the form.

5. Financial Viability Bidders must provide the following information for each of the past three (3) tax years:

a. Balance Sheets

b. Income (Profit/Loss) Statements

Section III Proposed Services (File #3)

1. Services to be Provided Bidders must complete Appendix F (Proposed Services Form) to discuss the Scope of Services referenced above in Part II of the RFP and what the Bidder will offer, including a description of the methods and resources the Bidder will use and how each task involved will be accomplished. Bidders must also describe how the expectations and/or desired outcomes as a result of these services will be achieved. If subcontractors are involved, Bidders must clearly identify the work each will perform..

2. Bidders must provide:

a. Job descriptions detailing the primary responsibilities, duties, and required qualifications for specific job positions (do not include individual resumes) for all project staff including the project lead.

b. A description of how subcontractors/consultants, if any, will interact with the Bidder’s organization, (i.e., oversight and management of subcontractors.)

c. A staffing plan that describes the minimum staffing (position titles and time allocation) necessary to meet the requirements in Part II of the RFP.

3. Implementation - Work Plan Bidders must provide a realistic work plan for the implementation of the program through the first contract period. The work plan must be displayed in a timeline chart, and concisely describe each program development and implementation task, the month it will be carried out, and the person or position responsible for each task. If applicable, Bidders must identify all tasks to be delegated to subcontractors.

Section IV Cost Proposal (File #4)

1. Cost Proposal Form Bidders must complete Appendix G (Cost Proposal Form).

2. General Instructions

a. The cost proposal must include the costs necessary for the Bidder to fully comply with the contract terms, conditions, and RFP requirements.

b. No costs related to the preparation of the proposal for the RFP, or to the negotiation of the contract with the Department, may be included in the proposal. Only costs to be incurred after the contract effective date that are specifically related to the implementation or operation of contracted services may be included.

PART V PROPOSAL EVALUATION AND SELECTION

Evaluation of the submitted proposals will be accomplished as follows:

A. Evaluation Process – General Information

1. An evaluation team, composed of qualified reviewers, will judge the merits of the proposals received in accordance with the criteria defined in the RFP.

2. Officials responsible for making decisions on the award selection will ensure that the selection process accords equal opportunity and appropriate consideration to all who are capable of meeting the specifications. The goals of the evaluation process are to ensure fairness and objectivity in review of the proposals and to ensure that the contract is awarded to the Bidder whose proposal provides the best value to the State of Maine.

3. The Department reserves the right to communicate and/or schedule interviews/presentations with Bidders, if needed, to obtain clarification of information contained in the proposals received. The Department may revise the scores assigned in the initial evaluation to reflect those communications and/or interviews/presentations.

4. Changes to proposals, including updating or adding information, will not be permitted during any portion of the evaluation process. Therefore, Bidders must submit proposals that present their rates and other requested information as clearly and completely as possible.

B. Scoring Weights and Process

1. Scoring Weights: Proposal scores will be based on a 100-point scale and will measure the degree to which each proposal meets the following criteria. The proposal materials that will be evaluated under each section below are identified in Part IV of the RFP.

Section I.
Preliminary Information
No Points
Section II.
Organization Qualifications and Experience
30
Section III.
Proposed Services
35
Section IV.
Cost Proposal
35
Total
100

2. Scoring Process: The evaluation team will use a consensus approach to evaluate and score Sections II & III above. Members of the evaluation team will not score those sections individually but, instead, will arrive at a consensus as to assignment of points for each of those sections. Section IV, the Cost Proposal, will be scored as described below.

3. Scoring the Cost Proposal: The total cost proposed for conducting all the functions specified in the RFP will be assigned a score according to a mathematical formula. The lowest bid will be awarded 35 points. Proposals with higher bid values will be awarded proportionately fewer points calculated in comparison with the lowest bid.

The scoring formula is:

(Lowest submitted cost proposal / Cost of proposal being scored) x 35 = pro-rated score

No Best and Final Offers: The State of Maine will not seek or accept a best and final offer (BAFO) from any Bidder in this procurement process. All Bidders are expected to provide their best value pricing with the submission of their proposal.

A. Negotiations

1. The Department reserves the right to negotiate with the awarded Bidder(s) to finalize a contract. Such negotiations may not significantly vary the content, nature or requirements of the proposal or the Department’s Request for Proposal to an extent that may affect the price of goods or services requested.

2. The Department reserves the right to terminate contract negotiations with an awarded Bidder who submits a proposed contract significantly different from the proposal they submitted in response to the advertised RFP.

3. In the event that an acceptable contract cannot be negotiated with the highest ranked Bidder, the Department may withdraw its award and negotiate with the next-highest ranked Bidder, and so on, until an acceptable contract has been finalized. Alternatively, the Department may cancel the RFP, at its sole discretion.

B. Selection and Award

1. The final decision regarding the award of the contract will be made by representatives of the Department subject to approval by the State Procurement Review Committee.

2. Notification of conditional award selection or non-selection will be made in writing by the Department.

3. Issuance of the RFP in no way constitutes a commitment by the State of Maine to award a contract, to pay costs incurred in the preparation of a response to the RFP, or to pay costs incurred in procuring or contracting for services, supplies, physical space, personnel or any other costs incurred by the Bidder.

4. The Department reserves the right to reject any and all proposals or to make multiple awards.

C. Appeal of Contract Awards

Any person aggrieved by the award decision that results from the RFP may appeal the decision to the Director of the Bureau of General Services in the manner prescribed in 5 M.R.S.A. § 1825-E and 18-554 Code of Maine Rules Chapter 120. The appeal must be in writing and filed with the Director of the Bureau of General Services, 9 State House Station, Augusta, Maine, 04333-0009 within fifteen (15) calendar days of receipt of notification of conditional contract award.

PART VI CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION AND CONDITIONS

A. Contract Document

1. The awarded Bidder will be required to execute a State of Maine Service Contract with appropriate riders as determined by the issuing department.

The State of Maine Service Contract will include insurance requirements as identified in the State of Maine IT-Service Contract (IT-SC), Rider B-IT, Section 19. The current IT-SC may be obtained on the Office of State Procurement Services Forms & Templates webpage.

All exceptions will be negotiated between the awarded Bidder(s) and the State. The State will not accept any proposed exceptions as part of this RFP process. The State is not obligated to accept, negotiate, or compromise of any proposed exceptions.

The complete set of standard State of Maine Service Contract documents, along with other forms and contract documents commonly used by the State, may be found on the Office of State Procurement Services website.

Forms and contract documents commonly used by the Department can be found on the Department’s Division of Contract Management website.

The awarded Bidder will be required to provide a certificate of insurance on a standard ACORD form (or the equivalent) evidencing its general liability, professional liability, and any other relevant liability insurance policies that might be associated with the services provided as part of the contract resulting from this RFP.

2. Allocation of funds is final upon successful negotiation and execution of the contract, subject to the review and approval of the State Procurement Review Committee. Contracts are not considered fully executed and valid until approved by the State Procurement Review Committee and funds are encumbered. No contract will be approved based on an RFP which has an effective date less than fourteen (14) calendar days after award notification to Bidders. (Referenced in the regulations of the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Chapter 110, § 3(B)(i).)

This provision means that a contract cannot be effective until at least fourteen (14) calendar days after award notification.

3. The State recognizes that the actual contract effective date depends upon completion of the RFP process, date of formal award notification, length of contract negotiation, and preparation and approval by the State Procurement Review Committee. Any appeals to the Department’s award decision(s) may further postpone the actual contract effective date, depending upon the outcome. The contract effective date listed in the RFP may need to be adjusted, if necessary, to comply with mandated requirements.

4. In providing services and performing under the contract, the awarded Bidder must act as an independent contractor and not as an agent of the State of Maine.

B. Standard State Contract Provisions

1. Contract Administration Following the award, a Contract Administrator from the Department will be appointed to assist with the development and administration of the contract and to act as administrator during the entire contract period. Department staff will be available after the award to consult with the awarded Bidder in the finalization of the contract.

2. Payments and Other Provisions The State anticipates paying the awarded Bidder on the basis of net 30 payment terms, upon the receipt of an accurate and acceptable invoice. An invoice will be considered accurate and acceptable if it contains a reference to the State of Maine contract number, contains correct pricing information relative to the contract, and provides any required supporting documents, as applicable, and any other specific and agreed-upon requirements listed within the contract that results from the RFP.

PART VII LIST OF RFP APPENDICES AND RELATED DOCUMENTS

Appendix A – Proposal Cover Page

Appendix B – Responsible Bidder Certification

Appendix C – Qualifications and Experience Form

Appendix D – Subcontractors Form

Appendix E – Litigation Form

Appendix F – Proposed Services Response Form

Appendix G – Cost Proposal Form

Appendix H – FFPSA Logic Model

Appendix I – FFPSA Evaluation Plan

APPENDIX A

Department of Health and Human Services Office of Child and Family Services

PROPOSAL COVER PAGE

RFP# 202607117

Bidder Name:

Vendor Customer Code (for current State of Maine vendors):

VC

Chief Executive - Name/Title:

Tel:

E-mail:

Headquarters Street Address:

Headquarters City/State/Zip:

(Provide information requested below if different from above)

Lead Point of Contact for Proposal - Name/Title:

Tel:

E-mail:

Street Address:

City/State/Zip:

· This proposal and the pricing structure contained herein will remain firm for a period of 180 days from the date and time of the bid opening.

· No personnel currently employed by the Department participated, either directly or indirectly, in any activities relating to the preparation of the Bidder’s proposal.

· No attempt has been made, or will be made, by the Bidder to induce any other person or firm to submit or not to submit a proposal.

· The above-named organization is the legal entity entering into the resulting contract with the Department if they are awarded the contract.

· The undersigned is authorized to enter contractual obligations on behalf of the above-named organization.

To the best of my knowledge, all information provided in the enclosed proposal, both programmatic and financial, is complete and accurate at the time of submission.

Name (Print):
Title:
Authorized Signature:
Date:

State of Maine RFP# 202607117 Rev. 4/17/2026 – DAFS/Office of State Procurement Services (DHHS Rev. 4/21/2026 – State Services)

APPENDIX B

State of Maine Department of Health and Human Services Office of Child and Family Services

RESPONSIBLE BIDDER CERTIFICATION

RFP# 2026070117

Bidder Name:

By signing this document, I certify to the best of my knowledge and belief that the aforementioned organization, its principals and any subcontractors named in this proposal:

a. Are not presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, and declared ineligible or voluntarily excluded from bidding or working on contracts issued by any governmental agency.

b. Have not within three years of submitting the proposal for this contract been convicted of or had a civil judgment rendered against them for:

i. Fraud or a criminal offense in connection with obtaining, attempting to obtain, or performing a federal, state, or local government transaction or contract.

ii. Violating Federal or State antitrust statutes or committing embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, making false statements, or receiving stolen property.

c. Are not presently indicted for or otherwise criminally or civilly charged by a governmental entity (Federal, State or Local) with commission of any of the offenses enumerated in paragraph (b) of this certification.

d. Have not within a three (3) year period preceding this proposal had one or more federal, state, or local government transactions terminated for cause or default.

e. Have not entered into a prior understanding, agreement, or connection with any corporation, firm, or person submitting a response for the same materials, supplies, equipment, or services and this proposal is in all respects fair and without collusion or fraud. The above-mentioned entities understand and agree that collusive bidding is a violation of state and federal law and can result in fines, prison sentences, and civil damage awards.

f. Is not a foreign adversary business entity (https://www.maine.gov/oit/prohibited-technologies).

g. Is not on the list of prohibited companies (https://www.maine.gov/oit/prohibited-technologies) or does not obtain or purchase any information or communications technology or services included on the list of prohibited information and communications technology and services https://www.maine.gov/oit/prohibited-technologies (Title 5 §2030-B).

Name (Print):

Title:

Authorized Signature:

Date:

APPENDIX C

Department of Health and Human Services Office of Child and Family Services QUALIFICATIONS and EXPERIENCE FORM

RFP# 202607117

Bidder Name:

Present a brief statement of qualifications, and describe the history of the Bidder’s organization, especially regarding skills pertinent to the specific work required by the RFP and any special or unique characteristics of the organization which would make it especially qualified to perform the required work activities. Expand this form and use additional pages to provide this information.

Provide a description of three (3) projects which occurred within the past five (5) years and reflect experience and expertise needed in performing the functions described in Part II – Scope of Services to be Provided of the RFP.

If the Bidder has not provided similar services, note this, and describe experience with projects that highlight the Bidder’s general capabilities.

Project One

Business Reference Name:

Reference Contact Person:

Telephone:

E-Mail:

Project Start Date

Project End Date

Include a detailed description of the project below:

Project Two

Business Reference Name:

Reference Contact Person:

Telephone:

E-Mail:

Project Start Date

Project End Date

Include a detailed description of the project below:

Project Three

Business Reference Name:

Reference Contact Person:

Telephone:

E-Mail:

Project Start Date

Project End Date

Include a detailed description of the project below:

APPENDIX D

Department of Health and Human Services Office of Child and Family Services

SUBCONTRACTORS FORM

RFP# 202607117

Bidder Name:

If subcontractors, including consultants, are to be used, provide each individual subcontractor’s business or consultant’s name, contact person, address, phone number, and a brief description of the subcontractor’s organizational or consultant’s capacity and qualifications. Bidders may add additional Subcontractors/Consultants as needed. If no subcontractors will be used, indicate such on this form.

Subcontractor/Consultant

Subcontractor Business or Consultant’s Name:

Contact Person:

Address:

Phone Number:

E-Mail:

Subcontractor/consultant organizational capacity and qualifications

Subcontractor/Consultant

Subcontractor Business or Consultant’s Name:

Contact Person:

Address:

Phone Number:

E-Mail:

Subcontractor/consultant organizational capacity and qualifications

APPENDIX E

Department of Health and Human Services Office of Child and Family Services

LITIGATION FORM

RFP# 202607117

Bidder Name:

Provide a list of all current litigation in which the Bidder is named and a list of all closed cases that have closed within the past five (5) years in which the Bidder paid the claimant either as part of a settlement or by decree. For each, list the entity bringing suit, the complaint, the accusation, amount, and outcome. If no litigation has occurred, indicate such on this form.

Case #

Entity Filing Suit:

Complaint/Accusation:

Amount:

Outcome

Case #

Entity Filing Suit:

Complaint/Accusation:

Amount:

Outcome

Case #

Entity Filing Suit:

Complaint/Accusation:

Amount:

Outcome

APPENDIX F

Department of Health and Human Services Office of Child and Family Services

PROPOSED SERVICES RESPONSE FORM

RFP# 202607117

Evaluation of Maine’s Family First Prevention Services

Special Instructions

Bidders must submit all information describe in Part IV, Section III of the RFP.

1. Bidders may obtain the Proposed Services Response Form in VSS.

2. For staffing, Bidders must submit:

a. Job descriptions;

b. A description of the Bidder’s interactions with subcontractors, if any; and

c. A Staffing plan.

3. Bidders must provide a realistic work plan for the implementation of the program through the initial period of performance.

APPENDIX G

Department of Health and Human Services Office of Child and Family Services

COST PROPOSAL FORM

RFP# 202607117

Bidder Name:

Proposed Cost:
$

Special Instructions

1. Bidders may obtain the Cost Proposal Form in VSS.

2. Bidders must submit a cost proposal that covers the Initial Period of Performance and all Renewal Periods as defined in Part I of the RFP.

3. The Total Cost is considered the Proposed Cost and will be used to score the cost proposal as defined in Part V, B.3. of the RFP.

4. The Proposed Cost must be presented as a fixed amount.

APPENDIX H

Department of Health and Human Services Office of Child and Family Services

FFPSA LOGIC MODEL

APPENDIX I

Department of Health and Human Services Office of Child and Family Services

FFPSA EVALUATION PLAN

Maine Office of Child and Family Services Family First Prevention Services Evaluation Plan

OCFS Evaluation Plan for Well-Supported Evidenced Based Practices The Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) will be procuring services through an evaluation contract to specifically evaluate fidelity and outcome measures of three IV-E funded programs to be implemented as part of the Family First Prevention Services (FFPS) 5-year initiative.

Intervention
Parents as Teachers
Homebuilders
Intercept
Target Population
Families with children birth to age 5.
Families with children birth to age 18.
Families with children birth to age 18.

Fidelity Measures (This includes but is not limited to what is listed in this chart.)

-# of referrals -# of in-home visits -# of hours services are provided -# of annual family center needs assessments completed using a PAT approved tool.

-# of milestone assessments completed on children within the case.

-# of parenting skills assessments completed -Participant feedback on service delivery.

-Additional Parents as Teachers fidelity measures can be found here.

-# of referrals -Staff are available/accessible 24 hours per day/7 days per week.

-Sessions occur within the family home or natural setting.

-Therapists meet with the family 3-4 times per week and provides 40 hours of face to face service.

-Services are provided for a minimum of 4 weeks, max 6 weeks.

-Staff one to one consultation and teams utilizing the Homebuilders Consultation Guidelines.

-Participant feedback on service delivery.

-Additional Homebuilders fidelity measures can be found here.

-# of therapists with a bachelor’s degree and at least one year of experience, or a master’s degree without experience -# of pre-service assessments completed -# of cases per therapist at a given time -# of cases in which an initial treatment plan is completed within 24 hours of service start -# of cases with all completed required assessments on time -# of cases with an average of 3, 60 minute sessions per week -# of cases with a service duration of 4-9 months

Outcome Measures (This includes but is not limited to what is listed in this chart.)

-# of referrals from OCFS.

-# of families served.

-Length of time between referral and service delivery.

-Length of service delivery.

-Entry and/or re-entry into foster care at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months post intervention.

-# of subsequent child welfare investigations post case closure.

-Demonstrated improvement in family functioning as evidenced by milestone and parenting skill assessment outcomes.

-PAT Annual Performance Report.

-# of referrals from OCFS.

-# of families served.

-Length of time between referral and service delivery.

-Length of service delivery.

-Entry and/or re-entry into foster care at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months post intervention.

-Demonstrated improvement in family functioning and reduction in risk factors.

-# of subsequent child welfare investigations post case closure.

-Types and number of referrals made to other programs (i.e., mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence, basic needs, child development).

-# of referrals -# of families served -Length of time between referral and service delivery -Entry and/or re-entry into foster care at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months post-intervention.

-# of subsequent child welfare investigations post case closure -Demonstrated improvement in family functioning and reduction in risk factors

Data Collection
-Child Welfare Information System

-Electronic Records and Information Network System (ERIN) -Participant surveys (during/after survey delivery) -Other data collection to be determined by the FFPS evaluator.

-Child Welfare Information System -Implementing agency (TBD) data system -Participant surveys (during/after service delivery) -Other data collection measures to be determined by the FFPS evaluator.

-Katahdin Child Welfare Information System -Implementing agency’s data system -Participant surveys -Interviews and surveys with service recipients, provider agency staff, and OCFS staff -Other relevant documentation image1.jpeg image2.png

File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .