1661-25-R-RFQF-00008

The Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services (MDCPS) is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a comprehensive Kinship Navigator Program Implementation, solicitation number 2025KNPI. The procurement seeks a qualified entity with demonstrated child welfare experience to develop and implement a statewide program supporting relatives and close family friends caring for children when parents are unable to do so. Proposed services must be accessible through both in-person and virtual platforms, with a focus on providing concrete supports including emergency financial assistance, community resource access, and legal navigation assistance. The program will be incrementally rolled out across Mississippi, with the selected provider expected to develop a detailed program manual and pilot the program statewide within one year. Key deliverables include establishing a comprehensive support system for kinship caregivers, potentially submitting the program for review by the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse to secure federal recognition. The proposal submission deadline is July 24, 2025, at 12:00 PM CT, with an anticipated Notice of Intent to Award on July 27, 2025. The initial contract term will run from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.

The RFP appears to have no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, though respondents must demonstrate substantial child welfare expertise. The program will be funded through the Family First Prevention Services Act, with the contract structured on a cost reimbursement basis and potential current needs/cash advance payments for the first 60 days. Indirect and administrative costs are strictly limited to 10% of the total project budget. While specific budget details are not explicitly stated, the subgrant form suggests flexibility in financial arrangements with potential for current needs/cash advance or cost reimbursement payment methods. The selected provider will be required to submit various documentation including a board resolution, cost allocation plan, and indirect cost rates. The program aims to provide comprehensive support to kinship caregivers, with potential long-term objectives of establishing a sustainable, federally recognizable support model for relatives caring for children in Mississippi's child welfare system.