691 - Catholic Services GCI

The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) is seeking a Catholic Services provider for the Grafton Correctional Institution and Grafton Reintegration Center located in Lorain County. The procurement opportunity requires an ordained or licensed Catholic clergy member to deliver comprehensive religious programming, including weekly Mass, Catechism instruction, pastoral care, and related services for incarcerated individuals. Specific deliverables include conducting regular worship services, providing religious education, offering pastoral counseling, performing holy day services, and submitting monthly reports to institutional leadership. Qualified candidates must pass a criminal background check, possess current work permits, and preferably have completed one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education. The contract term will commence upon approval and continue through June 30, 2027, with two potential two-year renewal options. The bid submission deadline is September 22, 2025, with bids required to be submitted through Ohio|Buys by 4:00:00 p.m. Columbus, Ohio time.

The contract appears open to qualified religious service providers without specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. Compensation is structured with per-service rates: $66.95 for Mass, $51.50 for Catechism instruction, and $82.40 for pastoral care and program administration, resulting in a total annual contract value of $20,965.65. Bidders will be evaluated based on multiple factors including experience, financial condition, previous contract performance, management skills, and ability to execute the contract properly. Notably, the state has implemented Executive Orders 2019-12D and 2022-02D, which prohibit contracting with offshore services and Russian institutions, respectively. Interested candidates must submit a resume and qualifying documentation directly to institutional contacts Ron Armbruster and Latonya Cotton via their Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction email addresses. The state will seek to award the contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder in accordance with Ohio Revised Code.