Sources Sought Notice (SSN) Secure and HSF Final Draft 6.23.2026.docx

TITLE: State Licensed and Nationally Accredited Secure Care and Heightened Supervision Facility (HSF) Beds for the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Unaccompanied Alien Children Bureau (UACB).

Sources Sought Notice (SSN)

1.0 PURPOSE

This is a Sources Sought Notice ONLY and is for market research purposes. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The Government is seeking capability statements to obtain knowledge and information on potential vendor capability, capacity, and interest for project planning purposes. This is for informational purposes only. No questions will be answered.

2.0 BACKGROUND

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), under the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), is responsible for the care and placement of unaccompanied alien children (UAC) referred by federal agencies, most often the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). A UAC is a child who has no lawful immigration status in the United States (U.S.); has not attained 18 years of age; and, has no parent or legal guardian in the U.S. or no parent or legal guardian in the U.S. who is available to provide care and physical custody (defined at 6.U.S.C 279(g)(2). In most cases, UAC are apprehended by DHS immigration officials and transferred to the care and custody of ORR. ORR funds a network of care provider facilities to assume the physical custody of UAC. A care provider facility is any physical site that houses one or more UAC in ORR custody and is operated by an ORR-funded program that provides residential services for UAC. ORR takes into consideration the unique nature of each child’s situation and applies child welfare principles when making placement decisions that are in the best interests of each child and promptly places UAC in the least restrictive settings (care provider facilities). Placement decisions take into consideration danger to self, danger to the community, and risk of flight.

ORR has two levels of care for UAC who are assessed to be a danger to themselves or others, have a criminal history, or require close supervision, secure care and heightened supervision care (also known as staff secure).

Heightened supervision facilities (also knowns as Staff Secure) maintain stricter security measures than non-restrictive care providers (e.g., shelters), such as intensive staff supervision, in order to provide supports, manage problem behavior, and prevent children from running away. ORR only places UAC in HSF care if they require close supervision, but do not require placement in a secure facility. Placement in HSF care is based on clear and convincing evidence the child:

1. Has been unacceptably disruptive to normal functioning of a shelter care provider facility and transfer is necessary to ensure welfare of the child or others;

1. Has displayed a pattern of severity of behavior, prior to entering ORR custody or while in ORR care, that requires increased supervision by trained staff; and

1. Has non-violent criminal or delinquent history not warranting placement in a secure facility, but which evidences a behavioral concern that requires an increase in supervision above what would be provided in a non-restrictive facility.

Secure facilities are for children who require the strictest level of supervision. Secure facilities have a secure perimeter, major restraining construction inside the facility, and procedures typically associated with correctional facilities. Placement in a secure facility is based on clear and convincing evidence the child:

1. Poses a danger to self or others; or

2. Has been charged with or convicted of a criminal offense or is chargeable with such an offense.

A Secure Care facility has separate accommodations for minors, in a physically secure structure with staff who are able to control violent behavior. ORR uses a Secure Care facility as the most restrictive placement option for UAC who pose a danger to self or others or has been charged with having committed a criminal offense or is chargeable with such an offense. A Secure Care facility is not defined as a standard program or shelter (see 45 CFR 410.1001 Secure facility, and also UAC Policy Guide, Guide to Terms).

In cases where UAC are determined to meet criteria for placement in a secure or HSF care setting, ORR utilizes qualified care provider facilities who are experienced and operational state-licensed and nationally accredited facilities for minors with proven success in the delivery of comprehensive quality programming for these populations.

The Government is seeking industry information on the availability of existing state-licensed and nationally accredited secure care and HSF residential care providers for minors located within the contiguous United States, with capacity to provide residential care for up to 150 secure and 100 HSF placements. The Government’s intent is for this contract to provide both continuity of services and increase secure/HSF capacity at the end of its current secure care contract. Once awarded, the Contractor must provide the ready-physical facilities for the total required capacity of 150 Secure and 100 HSF beds and the bed availability for the increment established at award. See Table 1.

Interested care providers who operate in a state where licensing is not available must be able to demonstrate existing experience and capacity to successfully operate secure and HSF programs equivalent to the state licensing standards (see 45 C.F.R. 410.1302(a)). Any proposed residential care facility and programming must satisfactorily describe their capacity to meet all applicable federal, state, and local regulations for provision of residential secure care and HSF care for minors, including state-licensing requirements and applicable ORR regulations.

The Contractor will be required to provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to provide residential secure placements for UAC as defined in ORR UAC Bureau Policy and Field Guidance. https://acf.gov/orr/policy-guidance/unaccompanied-children-bureau-policy-guide The Government is contemplating a cost structure to deliver facilities, staffing, secure/HSF beds per Table 1 Cost Category and Bed Increments:

Table 1: Cost Category and Bed Increments

Table Notes:

1. Ramp-Up and Transition-In must be completed in no more than 120 calendar days; exit is criteria, not time-based. The directed increment of beds must be available to exit ramp-up /transition-in.

2. Fixed facility fee includes all operations, maintenance, fixed-facility cleared staff, state licensing, permits, and leases to maintain facilities for 250 total (150 Secure/100 HSF).

3. Increment pricing includes all additional management and care-staffing and PWS service-related costs to provide the secure/HSF care per the contract.

4. Initial Secure and HSF bed increments to be established at time of award. Minimum 30 Secure and 20 HSF (Increment 1).

5. Post-award increment increases: The Government may direct an increase to any increment. Multiple increments shall be accomplished concurrently. The Contractor shall achieve with all required cleared staffing the directed increment(s) in no more than 90 total calendar days starting the calendar day after Government direction.

6. Pricing for increment increases start at completion of the bed quantity increase , when the beds at the directed level are available, regardless of the timeline requirement.

7. Increment stabilization: Pricing of increment increases shall be maintained for a minimum of 30 calendar days starting the day achieved before the pricing effectiveness of any directed decrease. There is no stabilization period for subsequent directed increases.

8. Post-award increment decreases: The Government may direct to any lower increment within 7 total calendar days starting the day after Government direction, but no sooner than 30 calendar days after any increment increase.

3.0 GOAL

The goal of this SSN is to identify availability of state-licensed, nationally accredited secure and HSF care facilities capable and interested in providing residential beds for UAC who meet the criteria for placement in each respective setting. ORR is seeking responses from care providers who are interested and who have an existing capacity to provide up to 150 secure care beds and 100 HSF care beds aligned with Table 1; with preference for currently operating capacity, state-licensed and nationally accredited care facilities and/or with a ramp up capacity no longer than 120 days.

The contractor shall include in their Capability Statement:

1. Successful experience (current and past) with operating residential secure care facilities and heightened Supervision (also known as staff secure) care facilities for minors and providing programming as described in the draft PWS.

2. Successful experience (current and past) with operating federal programs and contracts within the past five (5) years.

3. Readiness and capability:

a. Description of existing facilities and programming with capacity to provide up to 150 secure and 100 HSF beds; and/or description of proposed facility locations and capacity to operate.

b. Timeline with which respective beds can be available for new admissions as soon as possible upon an award; in cases of longer than 120 calendar days of contract award, provide detailed explanation of the challenges and roadblocks.

c. If secure and HSF beds and/or the full quantity of each would not be available on the same campus; include a description of locations for the 150 secure and 100 HSF beds and how the campuses are associated and coordinate services for step up and step downs.

4. Any challenges or risks to having the 150 secure and 100 HSF beds ready for new admissions, and earliest timeline when a minimum number of secure and HSF beds can be available for new admissions.

5. Provide a detailed breakdown of the level of care per diem (fixed daily bed increment rate) funding policy.

6. Provide: (a) Company name; (b) company address; (c) Unique Employer Identification (UEI) number; (d) company point(s) of contact, phone number(s), and email address(es); and (e) business type (i.e., small business/other than small business, 8(a), small-business woman-owned, service-disabled veteran owned small business, etc.).

Programming services required will include:

1. Provide humane and secure environment to UAC between ages of 13–17 who meet criteria for secure care placement in a state-licensed facility; and requires the following staff ratios.

· One (1) on-duty staff for every four (4) children during waking hours;

· One (1) on-duty staff for every 12 children during sleeping hours;

· One (1) case manager for every six (6) children;

· One (1) clinician for every six (6) children; and

· Two (2) staff present for each one (1) child during secure transport outside the facility; at least one (1) staff present must be of the same gender as the child being transported.

2. Maintain capacity for timely admission of UAC within 48 hours of notification from ORR so that ORR can meet its statutory requirement for placement of UAC within 72 hours of notification from DHS.

3. Ensure provision of comprehensive services as described in draft PWS, required under 45 CFR §§ 410.1302, 410.1306, 410.1307, 410.1310, 410.1311, and the UAC Policy Guide.

4. Employ policies and service plans to avoid rejection or ejection of a UAC who meets secure care criteria and is referred for placement.

5. Provide comprehensive services including UAC assessment, diagnosis, treatment, education, nutrition, recreation, religious access, acculturation services, discharge planning, transfer recommendations to less-restrictive settings, and safe release recommendations to a vetted sponsor, as described in draft PWS, required under relevant sections of the UC Foundational Rule and the UAC Policy Guide.

6. Facility and operations must be compliant with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations for provision of residential secure care for juveniles.

7. Facility (indoor and outdoor) and operations must have capacity to serve up-to-150 Secure Care beds and 100 HSF beds for UAC which operates program services 24/7, 365 days per year.

4.0 LOCATION OF SERVICE

Secure Care and HSF facility and programming will be performed within the contiguous United States, at the contractor location(s), including any contractor site designated to provide physical custody and direct care to UAC who meet criteria for Secure or HSF care.

5.0 ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The anticipated period of performance is a base year plus four (4) option years, for a total of up to five (5) years, plus an optional six-month extension. Anticipated start: on or about September 30, 2026.

6.0 IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS

The Government is interested in potential vendors:

1. With experience in providing residential secure and heightened supervision facility programs for youth, similar to the services as described in the draft Performance Work Statement, required under 45 CFR part 410.

2. With ready or near-ready up to 150-bed capacity for secure care including facilities with expected ramp-up not to exceed 120 calendar days; and ready or near-ready 100-bed capacity for HSF care facilities with expected ramp-up not to exceed 120 calendar days.

3. Currently operating state licensed and nationally accredited secure care and HSF (also known as Staff Secure) programs; or programs with extensive past experience with proven success operating state -licensed and nationally accredited residential secure and HSF programs and ramp up capacity to accept admissions not to exceed 120 calendar days upon a contract award.

State and Local Authorization Self-Attestation Requirement: The Offeror shall provide a signed self-attestation confirming that, as of the date of capability statement submission and throughout the full period of performance including all option years, it possesses all required state and local authorizations, licenses, and approvals necessary to operate licensed secure and HSF levels of care for unaccompanied alien children (UAC) in each proposed jurisdiction, or, where a formal licensing exemption applies, that the Offeror has documented legal authority to operate without a license in that jurisdiction.

The Offeror shall disclose any pending approvals, known restrictions, conditions, or state or local objections that may affect its ability to perform in any proposed jurisdiction at any point during the period of performance. The contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer in writing within five (5) business days of any change in licensure status, revocation, restriction, or state or local objection arising during contract performance that may affect operations in any jurisdiction. Failure to disclose known limitations at the time of capability statement submission may result in a determination of non-responsibility.

Notes:

1. Potential care providers with interest in a limited capacity in providing only the programming as described in the provided draft PWS, or only the facilities portion of this requirement are encouraged to respond; and encouraged to describe any existing partnerships for secure and HSF programming and/or plans to partner.

2. The Government is most interested in vendors with existing facility capacity for 150 secure beds and 100 HSF beds or with capability of the full facility capacity no later than 120 calendar days of a contract award. While the Government may direct any secure and HSF increments from the minimum guaranteed numbers (20 HSF and 30 Secure) to the maximums bed numbers (100 HSF and 150 Secure) at time of award per Table 1, the vendor must have the facility ready capacity for the full required capacity of 150 secure beds and 100 HSF beds in order to mitigate risk of not achieving post-award directed increment increase requirements.

Capability Statement Submission Instructions:

1. No phone calls or questions will be accepted.

2. The Capability Statement shall be limited to 10 double-spaced pages total. The pages will have 1-inch margins, and using not less than 12-point font, Times New Roman.

3. Tables and figures can be Times New Roman and no smaller than 9-point font. The total number of tables and figures shall be limited to 12. The Cover Letter, Tables of Contents, and Technical Appendix are not included in the page count.

4. Capability Statements shall be submitted via email to the Contract Specialist, Amber Harris at: Amber.Harris@hhs.gov, by 10:00am ET on Monday, 06/29/2026.

III. Disclaimer and Important Notes This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by the respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed. Information provided will be used to assess tradeoffs and alternatives available for the potential requirement and may lead to the development of solicitation. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. Any solicitation resulting from the analysis of information obtained will be announced to the public in System for Award Management (SAM) in accordance with FAR Part 5. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.

Confidentiality No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any technical information received in response to this Sources Sought Notice in any resultant solicitation(s).