Citizen Review Panel Facilitation

The Kansas Department of Children and Families (DCF) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Citizen Review Panel Facilitation services, with the procurement being administered by the Kansas Department of Administration. The solicitation seeks qualified vendors to coordinate and facilitate two statewide Citizen Review Panels (CRPs)—the Intake to Petition Panel and the Custody to Transition Panel—along with the Children's Justice Act (CJA) Task Force, which operates in conjunction with the Intake to Petition Panel. Additional deliverables include planning and execution of the annual Kansas Practice Model Showcase and annual Public Practice Standards (PPS) Supervisors Conference with workshops. The contract term will run for three years from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2029, with options to renew for two additional one-year periods. Bidders must demonstrate a minimum of five years of continuous active participation in comparable services and provide three references from the past five years. Proposals must be submitted in separate technical and cost components addressing CRP facilitation services, supervisor conference and workshop planning and execution, and Kansas Practice Model Showcase coordination. Pricing should be itemized by service category and fiscal year, with allowable annual increases not to exceed 5% in years two and three. The proposal closing date is March 24, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. CST/CDT, with bidders able to submit written questions for clarification to Procurement Officer Lara J. Williams (lara.j.williams@ks.gov; 785-296-2371) by March 9, 2026. Deliverables are due at the DCF business address in Topeka, Kansas, by March 29, 2026.

All bid responses must include a current Tax Clearance Certificate from the Kansas Department of Revenue, debarment certifications, immigration reform and control certifications, and completed forms affirming compliance with sexual harassment policies and Israel boycott restrictions. Bidders may claim eligibility for Certified Business or Disabled Veteran Owned Business preferences if applicable and must provide supporting documentation. No specific incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the procurement documents. Travel expenses will be reimbursed according to Kansas State Employee travel guidelines and GSA per diem rates, with out-of-state travel requiring advance approval. The selected contractor must comply with all federal and state regulations, maintain confidentiality of DCF data, and provide qualified personnel to support the CRPs' federal compliance requirements under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) and Children's Justice Act (CJA) legislation. Award will be made by the Procurement Negotiation Committee, and bidders may be required to present their proposals before the committee. Specific budget ranges or award values are not disclosed in the available procurement documents.