Community-Based Care Lead Agency for Circuit 13

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), Suncoast Region, is seeking proposals for a Community-Based Care Lead Agency contract to provide a comprehensive array of foster care and related child welfare services in Hillsborough County (Circuit 13). The services to be delivered include, but are not limited to, child abuse prevention and protection, adoptions, family preservation, independent living, emergency shelter, residential group care, therapeutic foster care, intensive residential treatment, foster care supervision, case management, coordination of mental health services, post-placement supervision, permanent foster care, and family reunification. The contract will have an anticipated start date of July 1, 2022 and a five-year term. Vendors must submit detailed proposals addressing their services approach, executive overview, and core team qualifications, which will be evaluated on a 700-point scale. The financial reply, worth 300 points, will assess the vendor's financial management approach, service efficiencies, administrative cost reduction, and ability to meet local match requirements.

This procurement is open to any interested vendor that can comply with the terms of the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN). The ITN does not specify any set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond. The current incumbent vendor is not named, and no details are provided on any existing infrastructure or technology that requires integration. The first year's contract value is set at $87,984,563, with funding sources including state funds and federal grants, along with a required 25% local community match for certain program funds. The DCF has the discretion to award one or more contracts through this process.