Shelter Care for Unaccompanied Children

Added: Mar 17, 2015 1:28 pm
Please note that a Service Area for Temporary Structures was included in the original Presolicitation Notice posted to FedBizOpp on January 28, 2015. The Temporary Structures Service Area is no longer a part of this solicitation and was removed from the Draft Solicitation posted on March 13, 2015.

Added: Jan 28, 2015 4:34 pm THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP). THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY. A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS WILL BE ISSUED VIA FEDBIZOPPS ON OR ABOUT February 19, 2015.

The purpose of this effort is to put in place a multiple award, Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracting mechanism in order to address potential temporary shelter and processing needs based on the historical variations in border crossings by unaccompanied children.

General Information

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Division of Children's Services (DCS) provides unaccompanied children with shelter and services until they are released to a sponsor while their immigration case proceeds. The Homeland Security Act of 2002, section 462, transferred responsibilities for the care and placement of unaccompanied children from the Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service to the Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ORR has incorporated child welfare values, as well as the principles and provisions established by the Flores Agreement of 1997 and the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) of 2008.

In order to meet the needs of arrivals based on historical variations, ORR will design and develop strategies for bringing on temporary shelter beds and services across the country. While no decisions have been made yet regarding the need for temporary sheltering capacity in 2015 or future years, this SOW outlines a proposed contract plan for temporary, short-term beds and services should the need arise. Due to the fluctuating nature of unaccompanied children arrivals, ORR seeks contracts that provide the following services on a regional basis throughout the United States:

1) Shelter Staffing
2) Wrap-Around Support Services
3) Temporary structures
4) Training and Technical Assistance (T&TA)
5) Transportation
6) Medical and Clinical staffing

Background

In 2014, the federal government responded to a significant increase in the number of unaccompanied children who were apprehended on the southwest border, with an aggressive, coordinated interagency response focused on providing humanitarian care for the children as well as heightened deterrence, enhanced enforcement, stronger foreign cooperation, and greater capacity for Federal agencies to ensure that our border remains secure. As a result of these efforts, the number of unaccompanied children attempting to cross the southwest border has declined precipitously, and the federal government continues to focus its resources to prevent a similar situation from developing in the future.

ACF is continuing to develop efficient, cost-effective strategies to address the historical variations in border crossings by unaccompanied children. Every effort is being made to avoid a future increase in border crossings by children. At the same time, it is important for the Federal government to be prepared to provide humanitarian care when necessary.

During FY 2014, ACF operated temporary facilities at camps and on Department of Defense military bases. ACF worked with existing grantees that were able to expand their capacity to operate the temporary shelters while continuing to maintain services at the standard shelters they operated. Contracting for services related to temporary shelters would allow ACF to use a competitive process to identify temporary facility providers, instead of expanding existing grant agreements, where appropriate to provide care to children. The competitive contracting process could also provide more cost effective options for temporary sheltering. ACF is taking a phased approach to exploring contract vehicles that could provide flexible options for services on a regional basis throughout the United States.

Scope of Services

Shelter Staffing:
Under this task order, the contractor(s) will provide staffing services at identified shelter locations to provide the management, supervision, and required services to children. Staff support is defined as formal and informal services provided to ensure children's safety and care. The contractor is to provide all positions identified and described in the SOW, including licensed professionals, program management staff, and supervision of 24/7 operations. The contractor shall provide all logistical support for the travel and equipment needed to fulfill the requirements under the Task Order (s). The contractor shall provide scalable staffing plans to serve a range of children with ramp-up and draw-down capabilities.

Wrap-Around Support Services:
Under this task order, the contractor(s) will provide all support services at identified shelter locations. The mission includes feeding, cleaning, maintenance and facility preparation, clothing, linens and laundry, transportation, recreational equipment, security, hygiene kits, medical supplies, and custodial services. Depending on the needs of the facility, wrap-around services may include portable toilets and hand washing stations, and mobile trailers for offices. Security services will include unarmed security guards and any equipment, such as closed-circuit television networks and communication devices as directed by the government. Maintenance and facility preparation services may include fencing for the property, painting and building repairs, industrial cleaning, addressing non-ADA compliance factors, and other preparations needed to accommodate the sheltering of children in the facilities.

Temporary Structures:
Under this task order, the contractor(s) will secure options for providing temporary structures, such as soft-sided facilities or trailers, suitable for sheltering between 500 to 2,500 unaccompanied children in HHS custody. Temporary structures could be located on federally-owned or leased sites. The contractor would be responsible for the building maintenance and all services to the building, including electricity and plumbing.

Transportation:
Under this task order, the contractor(s) will secure a national transportation contractor to make travel arrangements for children in ORR facilities. The contractor shall provide cost effective and time efficient transportation to move children within the ORR-network of shelter locations, including temporary shelter facilities. Additionally, if needed to manage shelter capacity and expedite discharges, ORR may waive the requirement for sponsors to arrange travel and associated costs of releasing the children from the shelter and place with the sponsor. In these instances, the travel contractor will also be responsible for purchasing transportation, including flights, trains, buses, and car rentals, for the children and an escort, if applicable, to release the child to a sponsor.

Training and Technical Assistance:
Under this task order, the contractor(s) will secure a provider to train staff at both temporary and standard shelters, as needed. The training will include ORR policies and procedures, completing sponsor packets, use of the ORR web-based database, and implementing best practices to provide high quality services to the children. While this contract is primarily targeted towards temporary facilities, in fiscal year 2014, ORR awarded nearly 22 new grants to shelter providers and may request the training and technical assistance provider to work with new grantees which operate standard shelter beds.

Medical and Clinical Staffing:
Under this task order, the contractor(s) will secure health service options for facilities at temporary federally-owned or leased sites. Health services encompass medical and mental health screening, including vaccinations, as well as primary care and counseling for unaccompanied children in the custody of HHS. Responsibilities also cover coordinating and documenting medical information per ORR guidance.

Anticipated Period of Performance:
The anticipated Period of Performance (PoP) will be from April 30, 2015 through March 31, 2016 for the base year and four (4) one year option periods.

The RFP (15-233-SOL-00103) will be made available on or about February 19, 2015. The RFP may be accessed electronically only via the FedBizOpps website (http://www.fbo.gov). Offerors are responsible for routinely checking the FedBizOpps website for any possible solicitation amendments that may be issued.