Background screening services

The City of Detroit Office of Contracting and Procurement on behalf of the Human Resources Department is requesting proposals for background screening services under RFQ with quotes due August 10, 2026 at 4:00 PM EST through the Bonfire procurement portal. Detroit-based business certifications (Detroit Based, Detroit Resident Business, Detroit Headquartered, Detroit Based Small Business, Detroit Based Micro Business, and Joint Venture or Mentor Venture structures) qualify for equalization credits ranging from 1% to 5% under the City's Equalization Allowance program; the lowest equalized bid receives award consideration provided it does not exceed 12% above the lowest responsible bid or $100,000, whichever is less.

The scope encompasses comprehensive criminal background screening including Social Security number validation, county and statewide criminal searches, federal district court searches, national criminal and sex offender searches, motor vehicle record searches, E-Verify integration with electronic I-9 verification, education verification, military service verification, worker's compensation claim history, Patriot Act terrorist watch list scanning, and professional license verification. The City estimates 400 background checks per contract year. Fingerprinting services (bulk and a la carte) and international searches are available. The pricing sheet specifies $400 per comprehensive background screening as an all-inclusive unit price; detailed a la carte and fingerprinting rates are referenced but not populated in the source materials. All pricing must be firm for the two-year contract term.

Vendors must demonstrate a minimum of five years of experience providing background screening services and must complete a technical requirements assessment (Exhibit A). Required insurance includes Workers' Compensation, Commercial General Liability with $1,000,000 combined single limits per occurrence, and Automobile Liability with $1,000,000 combined single limits. Compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guidelines, and state-specific regulations is mandatory. API integration to the City's Applicant Tracking System and adherence to City data standards are required. Contract term is two years, effective upon Detroit City Council approval. Questions are due July 30, 2026, with answers distributed by August 3, 2026. Respondents must submit notarized affidavits, three years of financial statements, Certificate of Insurance, City Treasury Clearance evidence, and SAM registration documentation as conditions of award.