Appalachian Challenge Academy Case Manager

The Commonwealth of Kentucky, Department of Military Affairs, issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Appalachian Challenge Academy Case Manager position located in Harlan, Kentucky, serving Elliott County. This part-time case management role requires qualified professionals to provide mentoring and placement services for 25-30 cadets ages 16-18 during both residential and post-residential phases of the program, limited to 100 hours per month through June 30, 2020. Key responsibilities include processing mentor applications, coordinating mentor/mentee training events, managing mentor reporting, and assisting with cadet placements following graduation, with potential travel to localized training events at state expense. Applicants must demonstrate a minimum of three years of professional experience in education, recruiting, social work, youth/juvenile services, or related fields. The evaluation criteria allocate 25 points for relevant experience, 75 points for qualifications and expertise in working with the target youth demographic including report writing and placement assistance proficiency, and 60 points for the cost proposal submitted as an hourly rate with all anticipated expenses included, for a total evaluation score of 160 points. Sealed technical and cost proposals were required to be submitted separately by 13:00 Eastern Time on July 17, 2018, with the anticipated contract term running from August 1, 2018 through June 30, 2020, renewable for up to two additional two-year periods subject to Secretary of Finance and Administration Cabinet and Legislative Research Commission Government Contract Review Committee approval.

The RFP documentation does not identify any specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to particular enterprise categories such as disadvantaged, minority-owned, or women-owned businesses. No incumbent vendors, current contractors, or existing infrastructure requiring integration were referenced in the solicitation materials. The specific award value or budget range was not disclosed in the available procurement documents, though compensation would be determined through the hourly rate submitted in cost proposals and evaluated against the Commonwealth's fair and reasonable pricing standards. The Commonwealth reserved the right to reject any or all proposals, request best and final offers, conduct oral presentations for clarification purposes, and negotiate compensation based on submitted pricing. All vendors, including foreign entities, were required to comply with Kentucky procurement regulations and appropriate registration requirements with the Secretary of State.