rfp-nhjb-2026-02.pdf

State of New Hampshire Judicial Branch

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) NHJB-2026-02

FOR

PARTICIPANT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR

DRUG, MENTAL HEALTH AND FAMILY

TREATMENT COURTS

MAY 15, 2026

NEW HAMPSHIRE JUDICIAL BRANCH

RFP-NHJB-2026-02- PARTICIPANT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR DRUG, MENTAL HEALTH, AND FAMILY

TABLE OF CONTENT

Table of Contents

SECTION I. OVERVIEW AND SCHEDULE

A. Introduction

B. Schedule

C. Purpose and Background

D. Contract Term

SECTION II. SCOPE OF SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED

A. Overview

B. Historical Usage and Anticipated Service Volume

C. Minimum Requirements:

D. Minimum Qualifications for Vendors

a. Automobile Insurance

b. Valid Driver’s Licenses

c. Substance Use Policy

d. Hands-Free / Distracted Driving Policy

SECTION III. RFP PROCESS

A. Agency Point of Contact/Restriction of Contact with Agency Employees

B. Vendor Inquiries

C. RFP Addendum

D. Property of the NHJB

E. Confidentiality of a Proposal

F. Public Disclosure

G. Ethical Requirements

H. Non-Commitment

I. Compliance

J. Proposal Cost

SECTION IV. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

A. Proposal Submission, Deadline, and Location Instructions

B. Validity of Proposal

C. Proposal Format

SECTION V. EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS

A. Criteria for Evaluation and Scoring

B. Oral Interviews and Product Demonstrations

C. Cost Proposal Scoring

D. Negotiations and Selection

SECTION VI. CONTRACT DOCUMENT

APPENDIX A PROPOSAL COVER PAGE

APPENDIX B DEBARMENT AND NON-COLLUSION CERTIFICATION

APPENDIX C BIDDER RESPONSE TEMPLATE

1. Vendor Profile/Overview

2. Vendor Qualifications

3. Vendor’s Detailed Explanation of Proposed Solution

4. Cost Proposal

5. Proposal Formatting Requirement For Appendix C

Appendix D

Appendix E

Appendix F

SECTION I. OVERVIEW AND SCHEDULE

A. Introduction

The New Hampshire Judicial Branch (“NHJB”), through the Administrative Office of the Courts (“AOC”), is issuing this Request for Proposals (“RFP”) to solicit qualified vendors to design, pilot, coordinate, and implement a collaborative transportation solution to support participants involved in NHJB treatment court programs, including Drug Court, Mental Health Court, and Family Treatment Court.

The purpose of this RFP is to identify a vendor capable of arranging, coordinating, or directly providing reliable, timely, and appropriate transportation services for treatment court participants who experience transportation barriers that may impact their ability to access court-ordered services, treatment appointments, recovery supports, case management meetings, drug testing, court appearances, or other program-related obligations.

Transportation access is a critical support for successful participation in treatment court programs.

Participants may reside in rural or underserved communities where public transportation is limited, inconsistent, or unavailable. As a result, the lack of reliable transportation can create barriers to treatment access, program compliance, family stability, and overall participant success. Through this procurement, NHJB seeks to pilot and implement a practical transportation model that improves access to required services while supporting the goals of accountability, recovery, public safety, and long-term program engagement.

The selected vendor will be expected to work collaboratively with NHJB, AOC staff, treatment court teams, and other designated stakeholders to develop a service delivery model that is responsive to participant needs, geographically feasible, cost-effective, and administratively manageable. The proposed solution may include direct transportation services, coordinated ride scheduling, subcontracted transportation providers, mileage-based services, or other innovative approaches that meet the needs of NHJB treatment court participants.

NHJB intends for this RFP to result in a transportation solution that can be piloted, assessed, and adjusted as needed based on program usage, service availability, participant need, budgetary constraints, and operational feedback from treatment court stakeholders. NHJB reserves the right to determine the scope, location, participant eligibility, service frequency, and implementation schedule for any pilot or resulting services awarded through this RFP.

B. Schedule

The following table provides a Schedule of Events for this RFP through tentative contract finalization and

Notice to Proceed. NHJB reserves the right to amend this Schedule at its sole discretion and at any time through a published Addendum.

EVENT DATE LOCALTIME

RFP Released to Vendors (Advertisement) 05/15/2026 4:00 PM

Vendor Inquiry Period Ends 06/12/2026 4:00 PM

Final NHJB Responses to Vendor Inquiries 06/17/2026 4:00 PM

Vendors Submit Proposals 07/17/2026 4:00 PM

Estimated Timeframe for Vendor Oral Presentations and Interviews (if needed)

08/14/2026 10:30 AM

Estimated Notification of Selection and Begin Contract Development

09/30/2026 4:00 PM

C. Purpose and Background

The New Hampshire Judicial Branch (“NHJB”) is issuing this Request for Proposals (“RFP”) to solicit proposals from qualified vendors capable of providing safe, reliable, timely, and cost-effective transportation services for eligible participants in New Hampshire’s Drug Court, Mental Health Court, and Family Treatment

Court programs.

NHJB’s mission is to preserve the rule of law and protect the rights and liberties guaranteed by the United

States and New Hampshire Constitutions by providing accessible, prompt, and efficient forums for the fair and independent administration of justice, with respect for the dignity of all served. Additional information regarding NHJB may be found on the NHJB website at: https://www.courts.nh.gov/.

NHJB consists of the Supreme Court, Superior Court, Circuit Court, and the Administrative Office of the

Courts. New Hampshire’s Drug Courts are located within the Superior Court. Mental Health Courts are primarily located within the Circuit Court. The Family Treatment Court is located within the Circuit Court in

Sullivan County. Current Drug Court and Mental Health Court locations are listed on NHJB’s website at:

https://www.courts.nh.gov/our-courts/drug-mental-health-courts/court-locations.

Transportation is an essential support service for many treatment court participants who may otherwise experience barriers to successfully engaging in court-ordered or court-approved program requirements. These barriers are often more significant in rural communities, where access to public transportation, treatment providers, court locations, recovery support services, and other program-related appointments may be limited.

Through this RFP, NHJB seeks to establish transportation services for eligible Drug Court, Mental Health

Court, and Family Treatment Court participants who have no other reasonable means of transportation.

Services are intended to support participant travel to and from their residence and non-medical appointments or program-related obligations associated with participation in NHJB treatment court programs. Such appointments may include, but are not limited to, court appearances, treatment-related services, case management meetings, recovery support services, drug testing appointments, and other approved program activities as directed by NHJB or designated treatment court personnel.

The purpose of this procurement is to reduce transportation-related barriers that may impact participant compliance, treatment access, court engagement, and overall program success. NHJB intends to contract with a vendor or vendors that can provide dependable transportation services while maintaining appropriate standards for safety, professionalism, confidentiality, responsiveness, and accountability.

Award of a contract under this RFP shall not guarantee any specific volume of trips, referrals, or expenditures.

Services shall be requested on an as-needed basis and shall be subject to participant eligibility, program needs, availability of funding, and the terms and conditions of any resulting contract.

https://www.courts.nh.gov/ https://www.courts.nh.gov/our-courts/drug-mental-health-courts/court-locations

D. Contract Term

The initial term of the contract resulting from this RFP shall begin on the effective date of the fully executed and approved contract and shall continue through September 30, 2028, unless earlier terminated in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract.

The actual contract start date shall be determined by the date on which all required approvals have been obtained and the contract has been fully executed by the parties. No services shall commence, and no costs shall be incurred or reimbursed, prior to the effective date of the approved contract unless expressly authorized in writing by the New Hampshire Judicial Branch (“NHJB”).

Following the initial contract term, the NHJB may, at its sole discretion, renew the contract for one (1) additional one-year term, subject to the continued availability of funding, satisfactory contractor performance, ongoing need for the services, and any required approvals. Any renewal shall be documented through a written contract amendment or renewal agreement executed by both parties.

The NHJB anticipates awarding one (1) contract as a result of this RFP process. However, the NHJB reserves the right to make no award, reject any or all proposals, or take any other action deemed to be in the best interest of the NHJB.

SECTION II. SCOPE OF SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED

A. Overview

The New Hampshire Judicial Branch (“NHJB”) is seeking proposals from qualified vendors to provide transportation coordination and/or direct transportation services for eligible participants involved in New

Hampshire Treatment Court programs, which may include Drug Court, Mental Health Court, and Family

Treatment Court programs.

The intent of this RFP is to establish reliable, safe, timely, and cost-effective transportation services that support participant access to court-ordered, treatment-related, and program-related obligations. Transportation services may be provided directly by the Selected Vendor, coordinated through third-party transportation providers, or arranged through a combination of available transportation options, including but not limited to public transit, taxi services, rideshare services, contracted drivers, or vendor-operated transportation.

Vendors may submit proposals to serve one or more geographic areas within the State of New Hampshire.

Vendors are not required to provide statewide coverage; however, each Vendor must clearly identify the counties, regions, courts, or service areas it is able to support. NHJB reserves the right to award contracts to one or more Vendors in order to meet the operational needs of the Branch.

The Selected Vendor(s) shall provide, at a minimum, the following services:

A. Transportation Request Intake

Operate a contact center, dispatch system, or designated point of contact to receive transportation requests from authorized NHJB staff, caseworkers, case managers, or other approved program personnel.

B. Eligibility Confirmation

Work with NHJB to establish and follow a process for confirming participant eligibility prior to scheduling transportation. The Selected Vendor shall not provide transportation services outside the approved eligibility process unless expressly authorized by NHJB.

C. Scheduling and Coordination of Trips

Schedule transportation requests on an individual or group basis, as appropriate. Transportation may include trips to and from court appearances, drug testing, treatment appointments, group therapy, case management meetings, probation check-ins, parenting time, child-related appointments connected to

Family Treatment Court, and other approved Treatment Court program activities.

D. Transportation Availability

Ensure transportation is available for eligible participants as requested and authorized under the resulting contract. The Selected Vendor shall coordinate or provide transportation in a manner that supports timely attendance at required appointments and obligations.

E. Cost-Effective Transportation Options

Use the most cost-effective and appropriate mode of transportation for each request, while also considering participant safety, reliability, location, timing, accessibility needs, and program requirements.

F. Trip Confirmation and Communication

Confirm scheduled trips with the participant and the transportation provider, as applicable. The

Selected Vendor shall maintain a process for communicating trip details, updates, delays, cancellations, or other transportation-related issues in a timely manner.

G. Transportation of Adults and Children

Provide or coordinate transportation for adults and children under the age of seventeen (17), when authorized. Children must be accompanied by an adult during transportation unless otherwise expressly approved in writing by NHJB and permitted by applicable law and policy.

H. Participant Safety and Special Considerations

Safely transport participants who may have vulnerable medical, behavioral health, substance use, psychological, or other personal circumstances. The Selected Vendor shall ensure that drivers and transportation providers maintain professional conduct and follow appropriate safety protocols at all times.

I. Business Hours and After-Hours Contact

Be available by telephone Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding State and federal holidays. If transportation is scheduled outside of normal business hours, the Selected Vendor must provide a method for participants, NHJB staff, and/or transportation providers to contact an appropriate representative during the pre-arranged trip period.

J. Limited English Proficiency Services

Maintain a process for providing services to participants with Limited English Proficiency (“LEP”), including the ability to communicate transportation details, scheduling information, and related instructions in a manner that supports meaningful access to services.

K. Grievance and Appeal Process

Establish and maintain a grievance and appeal process to address participant complaints, missed trips, service concerns, driver conduct issues, scheduling disputes, and other transportation-related matters.

The Selected Vendor shall document all complaints and provide information to NHJB upon request.

L. Coordination with NHJB

Work collaboratively with NHJB staff and designated Treatment Court personnel to ensure transportation services are provided in accordance with program needs, participant eligibility, contract requirements, and applicable policies.

M. No Guarantee of Usage

NHJB makes no guarantee as to the number of trips, participants, service hours, or total compensation under any resulting contract. Services shall be requested on an as-needed basis, subject to participant eligibility, program approval, funding availability, and NHJB operational needs.

B. Historical Usage and Anticipated Service Volume

The New Hampshire Judicial Branch currently receives statewide transportation services for participants involved in Drug Court, Mental Health Court, and Family Treatment Court programs. In calendar year 2025, the current provider completed approximately 226 rides statewide for eligible treatment court participants. The

New Hampshire Judicial Branch anticipates the need for these services may increase in the upcoming contract period as program needs continue to evolve and transportation remains an important support service for participant compliance, access to treatment, court appearances, and other approved treatment court-related obligations. For planning purposes, NHJB would like bidders to have the capacity to support an estimated 15% increase in annual ride volume, which would equal approximately 260-350 rides per year.

This historical usage information is provided for informational and planning purposes only. NHJB does not guarantee any minimum or maximum number of rides, trips, miles, or service requests under any resulting contract. Actual usage will depend on participant needs, court approval, program referrals, available funding, geographic coverage, and other operational factors. Bidders should describe their ability to provide transportation services on a statewide basis and demonstrate how their proposed service model can accommodate current service levels, anticipated growth, and fluctuations in demand throughout the contract term.

C. Minimum Requirements:

1. For an out-o f -s ta t e vendor, they must have a valid Certificate of Authority to transact business, as required by New Hampshire law RSA 293-A. The form for applying for a Certificate of

Authority can be acquired through the New Hampshire Secretary of State's website at:

https://sos.nh.gov/corporation-ucc-securities/corporation/forms-and-fees/

a. This requirement must be satisfied by applying for a Certificate of Authority before the effective date of the contract resulting from this RFP.

D. Minimum Qualifications for Vendors

To be deemed responsive and eligible for consideration under this RFP, each Vendor shall demonstrate that it meets, or will meet prior to the start of services, the minimum qualifications outlined below. These requirements apply to the Vendor and to any subcontracted, contracted, or otherwise arranged transportation provider used to perform services under this RFP, including but not limited to taxi companies, rideshare arrangements, shuttle providers, or other third-party transportation services.

1. Transportation Provider Requirements

The Vendor shall ensure that all transportation providers performing services under this RFP maintain appropriate documentation and policies necessary to provide safe, reliable, and compliant transportation services. At a minimum, the Vendor shall provide or maintain proof of the following:

a. Automobile Insurance https://sos.nh.gov/corporation-ucc-securities/corporation/forms-and-fees/

Proof of current and adequate automobile insurance coverage for all vehicles used to provide transportation services under this RFP. Coverage shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and local requirements.

b. Valid Driver’s Licenses

All drivers providing transportation services shall possess and maintain a valid driver’s license appropriate for the vehicle being operated and shall comply with all applicable licensing requirements.

c. Substance Use Policy

The Vendor and any transportation provider used by the Vendor shall maintain a written substance use policy that prohibits drivers from operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or any other substance that may impair safe vehicle operation.

d. Hands-Free / Distracted Driving Policy

The Vendor and any transportation provider used by the Vendor shall maintain and enforce a hands-free and distracted driving policy that prohibits the use of handheld mobile devices while operating a vehicle, except as permitted by applicable law.

2. Confidentiality and Personally Identifiable Information Requirements

The Vendor shall maintain written confidentiality and Personally Identifiable Information (“PII”) policies and procedures designed to protect information related to program beneficiaries, Drug Court

Participants (“DCPs”), other treatment court participants, and their children.

At a minimum, the Vendor’s confidentiality and PII policies shall prohibit the unauthorized access, use, disclosure, distribution, or sharing of any participant information obtained through the performance of services under this RFP. The Vendor shall ensure that all employees, drivers, subcontractors, and third-party providers who may have access to such information are informed of and required to comply with these confidentiality obligations.

In the event of an actual, suspected, or imminent breach involving PII or confidential participant information, the Vendor shall notify the New Hampshire Judicial Branch (“NHJB”) within twenty-four

(24) hours of discovery. Such notice shall include, to the extent known at the time of reporting, the nature of the incident, the information affected, the individuals potentially impacted, and the corrective actions taken or proposed by the Vendor.

3. Complaint and Grievance Procedure

The Vendor shall maintain a written complaint and grievance procedure for documenting, reviewing, and responding to complaints from program participants, DCP clients, court staff, or other authorized NHJB representatives. The procedure shall include, at a minimum:

a. Process for receiving and documenting complaints;

b. Process for reviewing and investigating complaints in a timely manner;

c. Process for communicating resolution or follow-up action, when appropriate; and

d. Process for tracking repeated service concerns, driver conduct issues, missed rides, delays, safety concerns, or confidentiality-related complaints.

The Vendor shall cooperate with NHJB in reviewing any service-related concerns and shall take corrective action when requested or when otherwise necessary to ensure continued compliance with the requirements of this RFP.

4. Vendor Responsibility for Subcontractors and Arranged Providers

The Vendor shall remain fully responsible for the performance, conduct, compliance, and service quality of any subcontractor, contracted transportation provider, or other arranged provider used to perform services under this RFP. The use of a third-party transportation provider shall not relieve the Vendor of its obligations under the resulting contract.

The NHJB reserves the right to request documentation demonstrating compliance with these minimum qualifications at any time during the RFP process or during the term of any resulting contract.

SECTION III. RFP PROCESS

A. Agency Point of Contact/Restriction of Contact with Agency Employees

The sole point of contact for this RFP, from the RFP issue date until the resulting contract is effective:

Kasey Ash

Purchasing Coordinator

Procurement@courts.state.nh.us

From the date of release of this RFP until the award is made and announced regarding the selection of a vendor, all communication with personnel employed by or under contract with the NHJB regarding this RFP is prohibited unless first approved by the RFP Sole Point of Contact. NHJB employees have been directed not to hold conferences and/or discussions concerning this RFP with any potential contractor during the selection process, unless otherwise authorized by the RFP Sole Point of Contact. Vendors may be disqualified for violating this restriction on communications.

B. Vendor Inquiries

All contact concerning this RFP, including but not limited to, requests for clarifications, questions, any changes to the RFP, must be submitted via email and received by the Point of Contact by the end of vendor inquiry period (see Schedule of Events herein).

The subject of email must be as follows:

INQUIRIES TO RFP-NHJB -2026-02-PARTICIPANT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR DRUG,

MENTAL HEALTH, AND FAMILY TREATMENT COURTS

The vendor must identify the RFP name, page number and relevant paragraph and include the vendor’s name, telephone number, and e-mail address.

The NHJB’s responses to properly submitted inquiries will be posted on the following website on or before the date specified in the Schedule of Events: https://www.courts.nh.gov/our-courts/supreme court/about/administrative-office-courts/rfps-and-rfis

The NHJB may consolidate and/or paraphrase questions for sufficiency and clarity. Oral statements, representations, clarifications, or modifications concerning the RFP shall not be binding upon the NHJB.

Official responses by the NHJB will be made only in writing by the process described above. It is the responsibility of vendors to review the most updated information related to this RFP before submitting a proposal.

C. RFP Addendum

The NHJB reserves the right to amend this RFP at its discretion, prior to the Proposal submission deadline. In the event of an addendum to this RFP, the NHJB, at its sole discretion, may extend the Proposal submission deadline, as it deems appropriate.

mailto:Procurement@courts.state.nh.us https://www.courts.nh.gov/our-courts/supreme%20court/about/administrative-office-courts/rfps-and-rfis https://www.courts.nh.gov/our-courts/supreme%20court/about/administrative-office-courts/rfps-and-rfis

D. Property of the NHJB

All material received in response to this RFP shall become the property of the NHJB and will not be returned to the vendor. Upon Contract award, the NHJB reserves the right to use any information presented in any

Proposal.

E. Confidentiality of a Proposal

Unless necessary for the approval of a contract, the substance of a proposal must remain confidential until the

Effective Date of any contract resulting from this RFP. A vendor’s disclosure or distribution of Proposals other than to the NHJB will be grounds for disqualification.

F. Public Disclosure

The content of each vendor’s Proposal shall become public information upon the award of any resulting

Contract. Any information submitted as part of a response to this RFP may be subject to public disclosure under applicable law.

Confidential, commercial or financial information may be exempt from public disclosure under applicable law.

If you believe any information being submitted in response to this request for proposal, bid or information should be kept confidential as financial or proprietary information, you must specifically identify that information in a letter to the NHJB and must mark/stamp each page of the materials that you claim must be exempt from disclosure as “CONFIDENTIAL”. A designation by the vendor of information it believes exempt does not have the effect of making such information exempt. The NHJB will determine the information it believes is properly exempted from disclosure. Marking of the entire Proposal or entire sections of the Proposal as confidential will neither be accepted nor honored. Notwithstanding any provision of this RFP to the contrary, vendor pricing will be subject to disclosure upon approval of the contract. If a request is made to the NHJB to view portions of a Proposal that the vendor has properly and clearly marked confidential, the NHJB will notify the vendor of the request and of the date the NHJB plans to release the records. To halt the release of information by the NHJB, a vendor must initiate and provide to the NHJB, prior to the date specified in the notice, a court action in the Superior Court of the State of New Hampshire, at its sole expense, seeking to enjoin the release of the requested information.

By submitting a proposal, vendors acknowledge and agree that:

• The NHJB may disclose any and all portions of the proposal or related materials which are not marked as confidential and/or which have not been specifically explained in the letter to the person identified as the point of contact for this RFP;

• The NHJB is not obligated to comply with a vendor’s designations regarding confidentiality and must conduct an independent analysis to assess the confidentiality of the information submitted in your proposal;

and

• The NHJB may, unless otherwise prohibited by court order, release the information on the date specified in the notice described above without any liability to a vendor.

G. Ethical Requirements

From the time this RFP is published until a contract is awarded, no vendor shall offer or give, directly or indirectly, any gift, expense reimbursement, or honorarium, as defined by RSA 15-B, to judicial or non-judicial employee of the NHJB, any elected official, public official, public employee, constitutional official, or family member of any such official or employee who will or has selected, evaluated, or awarded an

RFP. Any vendor who has been convicted of an offense based on conduct in violation of this section, which has not been annulled, or who is subject to a pending criminal charge for such an offense, shall be disqualified from bidding on the RFP. A vendor that was disqualified under this section because of a pending criminal charge which is subsequently dismissed, results in an acquittal, or is annulled, may notify the NHJB.

H. Non-Commitment

Notwithstanding any other provision of this RFP, this RFP does not commit the NHJB to award a Contract.

The NHJB reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to reject any and all Proposals, or any portions thereof, at any time; to cancel this RFP; and to solicit new Proposals under a new acquisition process.

I. Compliance

Vendors must be in compliance with applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations, and applicable policies and procedures adopted by the NHJB currently in effect, and as they may be adopted or amended during the contract period. It is vendor’s responsibility to determine the applicability and requirements of any such laws, rules and regulations.

J. Proposal Cost

By submitting a Proposal, a vendor agrees that in no event shall the NHJB be either responsible for or held liable for any costs incurred by a vendor in the preparation of, or in connection with the Proposal, or for oral presentation or product demonstration if any.

SECTION IV. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

A. Proposal Submission, Deadline, and Location Instructions

Proposals must be submitted via E-mail to: procurement@courts.state.nh.us and email subject lines must be clearly marked as follows:

RESPONSE TO

RFP-NHJB-2026-02- PARTICIPANT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR DRUG, MENTAL HEALTH,

AND FAMILY TREATMENT COURTS

Proposals must be received no later than the time and date specified in the Schedule of Events section. Late submissions may not be considered for contract award. Delivery of the Proposals shall be at the Bidder’s expense. NHJB accepts no responsibility for mislabeled email or email that is not delivered or undeliverable for whatever reason.

B. Validity of Proposal

The proposal shall be signed by a person authorized to legally bind the Bidder and shall contain a statement that the proposal and the pricing contained therein will remain valid for hundred and eighty (180) days following the deadline for submission of Proposals in Schedule of Events, or until the effective date of any resulting Contract, whichever is later.

C. Proposal Format

a. For clarity, the proposal should be typed or printed. Proposals should be single-spaced with 1” margins on white 8 1/2” x 11” paper using a font no smaller than 12-point Times New Roman or similar.

b. Bidders must respond to each question and instructions listed in Appendix C of this RFP.

Number each response in the proposal to correspond to the relevant question or instructions of the RFP.

c. All pages of the proposal should be numbered consecutively beginning with number 1 on the first page (not including the cover page or table of contents pages) through to the end, including all forms and attachments. Bidder’s name should appear on every page, including attachments.

d. All electronic documents should be formatted for printing as formatting will not be adjusted prior to printing and review of these documents.

e. It is the responsibility of the Bidder to provide all information requested in the RFP package at the time of submission. Failure to provide information requested in this RFP may, at the discretion of the NHJB, result in a lower rating for the incomplete sections and may result in the proposal being disqualified for consideration.

f. The Bidder shall complete and submit the “Proposal Cover Page” provided in Appendix A of this RFP and provide it with the Bidder’s proposal. The cover page must show the specific mailto:procurement@courts.state.nh.us information requested, including Bidder address(es) and other details listed. The proposal cover page shall be dated and signed by a person authorized to enter into contracts on behalf of the Bidder.

g. The Bidder should complete and submit the “Debarment and Non-collusion Certification

Form” provided in Appendix B of this RFP. Failure to provide this certification may result in the disqualification of the Bidder’s proposal, at the discretion of the NHJB.

SECTION V. EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS

A. Criteria for Evaluation and Scoring

The NHJB will evaluate each responsive proposal using a scoring scale of 100 points which will be distributed as set forth in the table below:

CATEGORIES POINTS

Technical Proposal

Vendor Qualifications and Experience 20

Specifications of Work to be Performed 35

Service Delivery & Reliability 10

Cost Proposal 35

TOTAL MAXIMUM POINTS 100

*Bonus Points for proposing a reasonable statewide transportation solution 5

The review team will use a consensus approach to evaluate the proposals. The Vendor receiving the highest number of evaluation points will be recommended for contract negotiations.

B. Oral Interviews and Product Demonstrations

The NHJB reserves the right to invite vendors to oral interviews and/or product demonstrations. The NHJB retains the sole discretion to determine whether to conduct oral interviews, with which vendors, and the number of interviews. Vendors are advised that the NHJB may decide to conduct interviews with less than all responsive vendors.

The purpose of oral interviews and product demonstrations is to clarify and expound upon information provided in the written proposals. Information gained from oral interviews and product demonstrations will be used to refine technical review scores assigned from the initial review of the proposals. Vendors are prohibited from altering their proposals during the oral interviews and product demonstrations. Therefore, Vendors should submit proposals that present their rates and other information as clearly and completely as possible.

The NHJB may ask the vendor to provide written clarifications of elements in their proposal regardless of whether it intends to conduct oral interviews.

C. Cost Proposal Scoring

Cost proposals will be reviewed upon completion of the final technical scoring of proposals. Vendors are advised that this is not a low bid award and that the scoring of the cost proposal will be combined with the scoring of the technical proposal to determine the overall highest scoring vendor.

Not requesting a BAFO, Vendors are encouraged to provide their most competitive prices in their initial proposals.

No Best and Final Offers: The NHJB will not seek 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.

D. Negotiations and Selection

1. The NHJB reserves the right to waive minor or immaterial deviations from the RFP requirement if determined in the best interest of the NHJB.

2. The final decision regarding the award of the contract is subject to approval by the Director of

AOC and the Administrative Council (if applicable).

3. If the NHJB determines to make an award, it will issue an “intent to negotiate” notice to a vendor based on these evaluations. The NHJB reserves the right to negotiate with the successful Bidder to finalize a contract at the same rate or cost of service as presented in the selected proposal. Such negotiations may not significantly vary the content, nature or requirements of the proposal or the NHJB’s Request for Proposals to an extent that may affect the price of goods or services requested. The NHJB reserves the right to terminate contract negotiations with a selected Bidder who submits a proposed contract significantly different from the proposal they submitted in response to the advertised RFP. In the event that an acceptable contract cannot be negotiated with the highest ranked Bidder, the NHJB may withdraw its award and negotiate with the next-highest ranked Bidder, and so on, until an acceptable contract has been finalized. Alternatively, the NHJB may cancel this RFP, and solicit new proposals under a new acquisition process.

4. The NHJB reserves the right to reject any and all Proposals or to make multiple awards.

SECTION VI. CONTRACT DOCUMENT

A. The Selected Bidder will be required to execute a contract in the form of the NHJB Standard Terms and Conditions which is attached as Appendix D.

B. The NHJB may consider modifications of this form during negotiations. To the extent that a vendor believes that exceptions to the standard form contract will be necessary for the vendor to enter into the Agreement, the vendor should note those issues during the vendor inquiry period. The NHJB will review requested exceptions and accept, reject or note that it is open to negotiation of the proposed exception at its sole discretion. If the NHJB accepts a vendor’s exception the NHJB will, at the conclusion of the inquiry period, provide notice to all potential bidders of the exceptions which have been accepted and indicate that exception is available to all potential bidders. Any exceptions to the standard form contract that are not raised during the Vendor inquiry period are waived. In no event is a vendor to submit its own standard contract terms and conditions as a replacement for the NHJB’s terms in response to this solicitation.

C. Allocation of funds is final upon successful negotiations and execution of the contract, subject to the review and approval of the Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, and NHJB

Administrative Council (if applicable). Contracts are not considered fully executed and valid until approved by the Director and the Council and funds are encumbered. No contract is effective unless signed by the Director.

APPENDIX A

PROPOSAL COVER PAGE

RFP-NHJB-2026-02-PARTICIPANT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR DRUG, MENTAL HEALTH,

AND FAMILY TREATMENT COURTS

Bidder’s Organization Name:

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:

Local Office Street Address:

Local Office City/State/Zip:

● This proposal and the pricing contained therein will remain valid for hundred and eighty (180) days following the deadline for submission of Proposals in Schedule of Events contained in the

RFP, or until the effective date of any resulting Contract, whichever is later.

● No personnel currently employed by the NHJB or any NH State agency 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 agreement with the

NHJB should they be 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:

APPENDIX B

DEBARMENT AND NON-COLLUSION CERTIFICATION

RFP-NHJB-2026-02-PARTICIPANT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR DRUG, MENTAL HEALTH,

AND FAMILY TREATMENT COURTS

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. Have not, within the past 2 years, been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, a violation of RSA

356:2, RSA 356:4, or any state or federal law or county or municipal ordinance prohibiting specified bidding practices, or involving antitrust violations, which has not been annulled;

b. Have not been prohibited, either permanently or temporarily, from participating in any public works project pursuant to RSA 638:20;

c. Have not previously provided false, deceptive, or fraudulent information on a vendor code number application form, or any other document submitted to the state of New Hampshire, which information was not corrected as of the time of the filing of a bid, proposal, or quotation;

d. Are not currently debarred from performing work on any project of the federal government or the government of any state;

e. Have not, within the past 2 years, failed to cure a default on any contract with the federal government or the government of any state;

f. Are not presently subject to any order of the department of labor, the department of employment security, or any other state department, agency, board, or commission, finding that the bidder is not in compliance with the requirements of the laws or rules that the department, agency, board, or commission is charged with implementing;

g. Are not presently subject to any sanction or penalty finally issued by the department of labor, the department of employment security, or any other state department, agency, board, or commission, which sanction or penalty has not been fully discharged or fulfilled;

h. Are not currently serving a sentence or is subject to a continuing or unfulfilled penalty for any crime or violation noted in this section;

i. Have not failed or neglected to advise the division of any conviction, plea of guilty, or finding relative to any crime or violation noted in this section, or of any debarment, within 30 days of such conviction, plea, finding, or debarment;

j. Have not been placed on the debarred parties list by the NH Department of Administrative

Services pursuant to RSA 21-I:11-c within the past year;

k. Have not been convicted of wage theft of its employees within the past 2 years;

l. Have not been convicted of a felony level offense involving worker safety practices within the past

2 years; or

m. Have not been found guilty, within the last 2 years, of misclassification of workers as independent contractors, in violation of department of labor standards and the definition of employee in RSA

281-A:2.

I further certify that: the Proposal submitted in response to this RFP, the prices, terms and conditions, and Work quoted have been established without collusion with other vendors and without effort to preclude the NHJB from obtaining the best possible competitive Proposal. 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.

Failure to provide this certification may result in the disqualification of the Bidder’s proposal, at the discretion of the NHJB.

Name (Print): Title:

Authorized Signature: Date:

APPENDIX C

BIDDER RESPONSE TEMPLATE

RFP-NHJB-2026-02-PARTICIPANT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR DRUG, MENTAL HEALTH,

AND FAMILY TREATMENT COURTS

Bidders shall submit proposals in accordance with Appendix C – Bidder Response Template. Proposals should be organized sequentially and must follow the same order and section headings set forth in Appendix

C. Bidders are required to respond fully to each question and provide all information requested in each applicable section.

The New Hampshire Judicial Branch (“NHJB”) reserves the right to reject any proposal that is incomplete, nonresponsive, does not follow the required format, exceeds the stated budget, or otherwise fails to comply with the requirements of this RFP. The purpose of this required format is to ensure consistency in proposal review, support an equitable evaluation process, and allow the evaluation team to compare responses in a clear and uniform manner.

All proposals must address, at a minimum, the following:

1. Vendor Profile/Overview

The Bidder shall provide a general overview of its organization, including the personnel and resources that will be assigned to this project. This section must include, at a minimum:

a. A brief history of the Bidder, including the number of years the organization has been in business.

b. A description of the Bidder’s current organizational structure, including the total number of employees and the number of employees who would directly or indirectly support the services contemplated under this RFP.

c. A description of the Bidder’s experience providing transportation, coordination, dispatch, call center, case management support, or other related services of similar size, scope, and complexity.

d. A summary of any litigation, claims, disputes, or administrative proceedings, whether pending or resolved, within the past five (5) years in which the Bidder was a party and which may be relevant to the Bidder’s ability to perform the services required under this RFP.

e. Disclosure of any contract terminations for cause, default notices, or material performance issues within the past five (5) years involving services similar to those requested in this RFP.

2. Vendor Qualifications

The Bidder shall provide information demonstrating that it has the qualifications, experience, personnel, and capacity necessary to successfully perform the services required under this RFP. This section must include, at a minimum:

a. The names, titles, roles, and qualifications of key personnel who will be assigned to this project, including relevant experience, education, certifications, licenses, and professional qualifications.

b. The identity and qualifications of the individual who will serve as the project manager or primary point of contact for NHJB, including a description of similar projects or contracts successfully managed by that individual.

c. A description of the Bidder’s experience providing services to courts, treatment courts, governmental agencies, health and human service programs, justice-involved populations, or other comparable programs.

d. A description of any similar projects or contracts currently or previously performed by the Bidder, including the customer’s name, scope of services, contract duration, and overall contract value, where disclosure is permitted.

e. A description of the Bidder’s ability to manage participant transportation needs in a confidential, timely, trauma-informed, and service-oriented manner.

f. A description of Bidder’s internal quality control procedures, complaint resolution process, driver or subcontractor oversight process, and performance monitoring practices.

3. Vendor’s Detailed Explanation of Proposed Solution

The Bidder shall provide a detailed explanation of its proposed solution and approach to meeting the requirements set forth in Section II – Scope of Work. The response must address each subsection of the Scope of Work and clearly identify how the Bidder will perform the required services. At a minimum, this section must include:

a. A comprehensive narrative response to each requirement identified in Section II – Scope of Work.

b. A clear statement identifying whether each requirement can be met fully, partially, or not at all. For any requirement that can only be met partially, or cannot be met, the Bidder must provide an explanation and describe any proposed alternative approach.

c. A description of the proposed transportation coordination model, including scheduling, dispatching, participant communication, ride tracking, cancellation management, emergency or same-day request handling, and service coverage.

d. A description of the proposed contact center or customer service model, including hours of operation, staffing, communication methods, response times, escalation procedures, and language access capabilities, if applicable.

e. A description of how the Bidder will ensure participant confidentiality, data security, and compliance with applicable privacy requirements.

f. A description of reporting capabilities, including the type of utilization, trip, mileage, invoice, and performance reports that can be provided to NHJB.

g. If the Bidder proposes to use third-party transportation providers, subcontractors, or independent contractors, the proposal must include:

• The identity of the proposed provider, if known;

• A description of the provider’s qualifications and experience;

• The nature of the relationship between the Bidder and the provider;

• The Bidder’s oversight, monitoring, and accountability procedures;

• Confirmation that the Bidder will remain fully responsible for all services performed under the resulting contract; and

• Any applicable insurance, licensing, background check, or driver qualification requirements.

h. A proposed implementation and transition plan. The plan must demonstrate that the Bidder is prepared to commence services on or around October 1, 2026, and must include key milestones, implementation tasks, staffing readiness, communication planning, and any information or support needed from NHJB.

4. Cost Proposal

The Cost Proposal must identify the cost for all aspects of the proposed services, including but not limited to administrative fees, contact center or coordination costs, dispatch services, trip costs, mileage costs, reporting, account management, and any other fees necessary to perform the services required under this RFP.

The total budget available for the full contract term is up to $400,000.00. Proposals with a total cost exceeding $400,000.00 shall be deemed non-responsive and will be disqualified from further consideration.

For purposes of this RFP, the proposed price per mile shall not exceed the federal mileage reimbursement rate for privately owned automobiles as published by the U.S. General Services Administration (“GSA”) and/or the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and in effect on the proposal submission deadline. Bidders may propose a mileage rate lower than the applicable federal mileage reimbursement rate; however, proposed mileage rates exceeding the applicable federal rate in effect on the proposal due date will not be accepted.

The applicable mileage rate used for proposal submission and evaluation shall be the federal rate published and in effect as of the proposal due date. Any subsequent change to the federal mileage reimbursement rate after the proposal due date shall not automatically increase the Bidder’s proposed pricing or the resulting contract amount unless expressly approved in writing by NHJB through a contract amendment or other written authorization.

The Cost Proposal must clearly identify the number of miles and/or estimated trips that can be provided within the available budget. Bidders must clearly describe their pricing methodology and identify whether pricing is based on mileage, trip volume, administrative fees, flat fees, zones, minimum charges, wait time,…