RFQ_35910-14666_Amendment_2.pdf

RFQ # 35910-14666 – Amendment # 2 Page 1 of 9

STATE OF TENNESSEE

DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS # 35910-14666

AMENDMENT # 2

FOR BRIGHT FUTURES

DATE: JULY 31, 2026

RFQ # 35910-14666 IS AMENDED AS FOLLOWS:

1. This RFQ Schedule of Events updates and confirms scheduled RFQ dates. Any event, time, or date containing revised or new text is highlighted.

EVENT

TIME

(central time zone)

DATE

1. RFQ Issued JUNE 25, 2026

2. Disability Accommodation Request Deadline 2:00 p.m. JUNE 30 , 2026

3. Notice of Intent to Respond Deadline 2:00 p.m. JULY 2, 2026

4. Written “Questions & Comments” Deadline 2:00 p.m. JULY 8, 2026

5. State Response to Written “Questions & Comments”

JULY 31, 2026

6. Response Deadline 2:00 p.m. AUGUST 7, 2026

7. State Completion of Technical Response Evaluations

AUGUST 19, 2026

8. State Notice of Intent to Award Released and RFQ Files Opened for Public Inspection

2:00 p.m. AUGUST 21, 2026

9. End of Protest Period AUGUST 28, 2026

10. State sends contract to Contractor for signature

AUGUST 31, 2026

11. Contractor Signature Deadline 2:00 p.m. SEPTEMBER 2, 2026

2. State responses to questions and comments in the table below amend and clarify this RFQ.

Any restatement of RFQ text in the Question/Comment column shall NOT be construed as a change in the actual wording of the RFQ document.

RFQ # 35910-14666 – Amendment # 2 Page 2 of 9

RFQ

SECTION

PAGE

QUESTION / COMMENT STATE RESPONSE

1. Request to consider revising survey administration to every two months “while enrolled” and to remove “upon discharge” as post-discharge data is collected at the 6- and 12-month intervals.

Post-discharge surveys are required to capture outcome data after exiting the program.

2. Given the limited scope of “Bright Futures” as defined in the RFQ, and that the Bright Future case management services does not include an evidence-based program model, will the state consider requested revisions to the Evaluation and Outcomes terms/requirements with the awarded contractor?

No, this not something the State will consider at this time.

3. Many of the “anticipated program outcomes” as defined in section A.5. of this RFQ seem to align with outcomes expected when implementing an evidence-based program model/service, versus a monthly case management model. If the awarded contractor has experience implementing transition-age youth case management services, will the state consider the requested revisions to the Outcomes requirements to align more closely with the anticipated outcomes appropriate for this level of case management service?

• Specifically, appropriate outcomes for case management services could be to consider evaluating the uptake and persistence of Bright Future case management services, i.e., young adults enroll in the services and remain qualified/enrolled until they reach the age eligibility limit.

• EFC case management has been linked in literature to positive outcomes in other domains, so the longer young people are enrolled, the more likely they are to experience

No, the anticipated outcomes will not be adjusted.

RFQ # 35910-14666 – Amendment # 2 Page 3 of 9

PAGE

QUESTION / COMMENT STATE RESPONSE

positive outcomes in other domains.

• Below are some recommended anticipated outcomes for this level of service:

o Length of enrollment o Rate of enrollment versus eligibility o Uptake of external services and resources o Young adult goal completion o Improvement with jurisdiction specific targets o Reason for exit

4. Will the state consider removing response rate expectations entirely?

Response rate percentages as defined in this RFQ are likely unreasonably high and unattainable.

No, the response rate provides outcome data related to the case management services provided.

5. What organizations are currently providing Bright Futures services under this contract or a previous contract, and which DCS regions do they serve?

The Youth Villages LifeSet program was previously contracted to conduct the large majority of Bright Futures case management.

DCS manages the case for youth ultimately transitioning to the ECF Choices program.

6. What is the current number of youths receiving Bright Futures Services statewide by county?

Please see Exhibit 1 on pages 8-9 of this RFQ Amendment . The county data provided for a full fiscal year and includes both.

7. Broken out by month for the last 18 months, how many youths have been referred to Bright Futures Services?

The table below details the last 12 months of referred youth for Bright Futures Services. This time frame aligns with the expansion of eligibility which occurred on July 1, 2025.

Month Number Referred for Case Management

Jul 95

Aug 70

Sep 52

Oct 57

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PAGE

QUESTION / COMMENT STATE RESPONSE

Nov 67

Dec 61

Jan 63

Feb 64

Mar 70

Apr 56

May 58

Jun 42

Total 755

8. Approximately what percentage of referrals are accepted for services versus declined due to ineligibility or other reasons?

Because DCS Independent Living staff serve as case participants and guide youth toward eligibility before they age out of foster care, this specific data point is not tracked (and is estimated to be low). Overall uptake is trending toward a 70% acceptance rate among those eligible. The remaining 30% consists of youth who decline to participate, relocate out of state, enlist in the military, or have runaway status at the time of exit.

9. Please provide the average monthly caseload currently managed by each provider by region.

Region Avg. Caseload

(Monthly)

Northeast 124

East 141

TN Valley 131

Mid-State 214

Mid-West 138

West 144

10. Does the State expect providers to maintain an on-call crisis response staff available 24/7, or is telephone consultation sufficient outside of normal business hours?

The provider shall maintain established mechanisms to deliver on-call and after-hours support to all clients twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week.

11. Who determines individual eligibility for each recipient?

The DCS Independent Living team is responsible for eligibility determination and enrollment into Bright Futures.

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PAGE

QUESTION / COMMENT STATE RESPONSE

12. Does DCS have a maximum or recommended caseload for Bright Futures Case Managers, or is the caseload determined by the Contractor?

The maximum number of Bright Futures cases assigned to a single case manager is 20.

13. What is the minimum required frequency of participant contacts (face-to-face, virtual, and telephone), and are there required standards for documenting each contact?

The minimum required contact is one face to face in person contact with participants. Contact may need to increase during times of transition.

14. Is the Contractor expected to directly provide employment readiness and life-skills instruction, or is the expectation primarily referral and coordination with community partners?

The contractor shall ensure each participant receives employment readiness and life skills instruction, provided either directly or through a referral to a community partner.

15. Beyond the Tennessee CANS and Life Skills Assessment 2.0, are there additional assessments that Contractors are required to administer during program participation?

The Casey Life Skills assessment is recommended.

16. What organizations are currently providing Bright Futures services under this contract or a previous contract, and which DCS regions do they serve?

The Youth Villages LifeSet program was previously contracted to conduct the large majority of Bright Futures case management statewide. DCS manages the case for youth ultimately transitioning to the ECF Choices program.

17. Can you please confirm the $26 rate is paid as long as they are eligible and on our list, they number of interactions would not adjust that rate up or down?

I.e. If we've only had 1 interaction in a month with the individual due to schedules etc, it would not impact the rate?

The $26 rate is paid based on a monthly face to face contact being conducted and documented in the DCS Electronic System.

18. Does the State intend to make a single statewide award under this RFQ, or to award to more than one Respondent?

This solicitation will result in a single-award, with one (1) contract.

19. Will the State provide a transition period and case-transfer support from the current provider, and what transition timeline does the State expect relative

Case transfers shall occur within the first sixty (60) days of the contract.

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QUESTION / COMMENT STATE RESPONSE

to the Effective Date and the Contractor signature date?

20. Section 5.3 references Attachment D, Cost Proposal, yet Attachment D is the Statement of Certifications and Assurances and the Pro Forma Contract sets a fixed rate per day per client. Please confirm whether a Cost Proposal is required and, if so, provide the form.

Cost proposals are not required for this solicitation.

21. Item A.1 directs Respondents to provide the Statement of Certifications and Assurances at RFQ Attachment E, but that document is printed as Attachment D and Attachment E is the Reference Questionnaire. Please confirm Respondents should submit the Attachment D Statement of Certifications and Assurances.

Refer to item 3 below.

22. Please confirm the minimum monthly participation-hours threshold for employment-based eligibility under the Bright Futures program.

Participants enrolled under the employment eligibility criteria are required to work a minimum of 80 per month.

23. The Contract sets a targeted average of 595 young adults per day. Does the State set a maximum caseload per Case Manager, or a preferred caseload range?

The maximum number of Bright Futures cases assigned to a single case manager is 20.

24. Does the State require specific regional or County coverage, or assign cases to the Contractor by region?

The contractors’ case assignments shall be based on the location where the participant resides.

25. Given that comparable statewide Case Management contracts are commonly multi-year and ongoing, will the State accept current contracts of comparable size and scope toward the requirement for completed-contract references?

Yes, this is acceptable.

26. Please confirm the specific versions of the Tennessee CANS and the Life Skills 2.0 Assessment, and whether the

Version 2 is the version used for this program. Instruments and trainings for these programs shall be provided to the awarded contractor.

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QUESTION / COMMENT STATE RESPONSE

State provides the instruments and the required training.

27. Please confirm the State provides the Contractor access to, and training on, the State Electronic Records System.

The State shall provide access and training related to the State’s Electronic Records System

3. Delete RFQ Attachment A – Item A.1. in its entirety and insert the following in its place (any sentence or paragraph containing revised or new text is highlighted):

A.1. Provide the Statement of Certifications and Assurances (RFQ Attachment D) completed and signed by an individual empowered to bind the Respondent to the provisions of this RFQ and any resulting contract. The document must be signed without exception or qualification.

4. RFQ Amendment Effective Date. The revisions set forth herein shall be effective upon release. All other terms and conditions of this RFQ not expressly amended herein shall remain in full force and effect.

Exhibit 1

RFQ # 35910-14666 – Amendment # 2 Page 8 of 9

County Number Receiving Bright Futures Services

Anderson 17

Bedford 4

Benton 3

Blount 30

Bradley 20

Campbell 10

Cannon 5

Carroll 4

Carter 10

Cheatham 7

Chester 3

Claiborne 13

Clay 2

Cocke 13

Coffee 14

Cumberland 16

Davidson 122

Dekalb 9

Dickson 13

Dyer 5

Fayette 4

Fentress 5

Franklin 16

Gibson 4

Giles 12

Grainger 5

Greene 23

Grundy 8

Hamblen 26

Hamilton 68

Hancock 2

Hardeman 4

Hardin 5

Hawkins 6

Haywood 4

Henderson 11

Henry 4

Hickman 8

Humphreys 3

Jackson 4

Jefferson 16

Johnson 4

Knox 86

Lake 2

Lauderdale 7

Exhibit 1

RFQ # 35910-14666 – Amendment # 2 Page 9 of 9

Lawrence 17

Lewis 1

Lincoln 6

Loudon 5

Macon 5

Madison 5

Marion 4

Marshall 10

Maury 12

McMinn 13

McNairy 1

Meigs 8

Monroe 7

Montgomery 59

Moore 1

Morgan 2

Obion 5

Overton 4

Perry 2

Pickett 2

Polk 2

Putnam 21

Rhea 14

Roane 13

Robertson 15

Rutherford 79

Scott 5

Sevier 20

Shelby 151

Smith 7

Stewart 2

Sullivan 31

Sumner 22

Tipton 9

Trousdale 1

Unicoi 4

Union 5

Warren 14

Washington 19

Wayne 6

Weakley 3

White 11

Williamson 13

Wilson 31

Grand Total 1324