Unaccompanied Child Program RFA Questions and Answers .docx

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

regarding the

Request for Applications (RFA) for Congregate Care Services for Unaccompanied Children in U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement Custody

Q&A ISSUED: June 28, 2021

Document Number: EHSUCPRFA2021LC

COMMBUYS Bid Number: BD-22-1039-EHS01-EHS01-63895

This document contains responses to questions received regarding the Request for Applications (RFA) for Congregate Care Services for Unaccompanied Children in U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Custody issued on June 15, 2021, by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS). Answers have been provided to those questions which are of general interest and relevant to the preparation of a response to the RFA.

Q1. Are providers permitted to co-locate UC with children involved with DCF or DMH?

A1. Yes, as long as the program receives approval of co-location from DCF or DMH and the additional beds identified are not currently or potentially in use/licensed/contracted by MA State Welfare Agencies.

Q2. Regarding capacity: Must providers commit to a certain number of slots available for UC?

A2. Providers responding to the RFA will identify how many additional beds they are able to provide. If selected, providers will work with ORR to determine the number of additional beds contracted for the UC program.

Q3. Must providers accept any youth referred? Can providers specify ages and/or genders they are able to accept?

A3. Please refer to section 1.2 of ORR’s Policies and Guidance for the UC program. This RFA allows providers to identify specific age groups and/or genders they are able to create additional bed capacity. Please note: Referral to ORR does not guarantee an ORR grant award or licensing by appropriate authorities within Massachusetts.

Q4. What is meant by classroom education that is the responsibility of the provider? Can UC access local public education?

A4. While students are in HHS custody at HHS Shelters, they will not be enrolled in the local school system. UC must receive a minimum of six hours of structured education, Monday through Friday, throughout the entire year in basic academic areas. Please refer to ORR’s Policy and Guidance for more details : https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/policy-guidance/children-entering-united-states-unaccompanied-section-3#3.3.5

Q5. Are joint applications from two providers allowed?

A5. Joint applications are allowed. All responses must be single source and include relevant organizational information for both providers in Section 4 of the RFA.

Q6. Who is responsible for medical and dental care of UC?

A6. ORR facilitates and funds health care for all unaccompanied children within its custody. Please see section 3.4 of the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s Policy and Guidance for children entering the United States unaccompanied.

Q7. What is expected of providers in terms of access to pro bono legal representation or counsel?

A7. Unaccompanied children and others without immigration status have the right to legal representation. Please click here for ORR’s legal resource guide for unaccompanied children.

Q8. What are the rates? Are they sufficient to cover all basic needs for youth who arrive with very little?

A8. ORR develops budgets and payment amounts in partnership with the grantee for services included in a grant agreement or contract.

Q9. What is the expected timeline after providers submit an application to EOHHS? When would an application be due to ORR? What is the soonest providers might see a referral?

A9. Responses to this RFA are due no later than 4:00 pm on Tuesday July 6th , 2021. At this point, EOHHS will review all response and refer responses to ORR that meet prequalify criteria by mid-July. Please note: Referral to ORR does not guarantee an ORR grant award or licensing by appropriate authorities within Massachusetts.

Q10. Will EOHHS serve as the contractor with the bidding agencies serving as subcontractors to EOHHS? Or, will the agencies apply directly to ORR and be the primary contractor?

A10. No, EOHHS is solely reviewing responses and determining if the respondent(s) meets pre-qualifying criteria to then refer to ORR. Please note: Referral to ORR does not guarantee an ORR grant award or licensing by appropriate authorities within Massachusetts.

Q11. How many children do you expect to be involved in any one ORR contract? What will be the average contract size in terms of number of children and funding?

A11. The number of children per contract depends on the total additional bed capacity identified by the agencies’ response. ORR develops budgets in partnership with the grantee or contractor for the services included in a grant agreement or contract.

Q12. Will there be any funding for capital expenses?

A12. ORR is seeking existing provider sites and programs that could easily bring on additional capacity. Please refer to ORR’s Policy and Guidance for more information.

Q13. If DCF agrees and we can expand upon an existing congregate setting, could we add the UC to our existing DCF congregate programs? Do you know if we would be allowed to use DCF staff if we add just a small number of children? Or, do we have to create a separate program?

A13. A provider is able to expand upon existing capacity, but cannot propose congregate care beds for the UC program that are currently or potentially in use/licensed/contracted for MA state child welfare needs. Please see ORR’s Policy and Guidance for more information on ORR’s staffing policy.

Q14. What do you expect the average length of stay for each UC to be?

A14. ORR reports the average length of UC care is 35 days.

Q15. Would EOHHS/ORR consider licensed and approved foster families who are bi-lingual and bi-cultural?

A15. ORR is currently developing guidance regarding home based care as an option. This RFA is solely for congregate care services.