Comprehensive Support Services Program for Returning Citizens

The City of St. Petersburg, Florida is seeking qualified organizations to provide a Comprehensive Support Services Program for Returning Citizens through a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP-25-286). The procurement aims to facilitate successful community reintegration and reduce recidivism rates for individuals recently released from local, state, or federal correctional facilities who are residents of or planning to reside in St. Petersburg. Required services include case management, housing support, employment and workforce development, behavioral health services, life skills training, and community engagement activities. Proposing organizations must have a minimum of three years of experience working with justice-involved populations and demonstrate financial stability and alignment with evidence-based recidivism reduction approaches. Evaluation criteria will weight experience working with returning citizens at 29%, qualifications and technical competence at 29%, capacity to accomplish work at 19%, past performance at 9%, detailed budget at 8%, and small business enterprise certifications at 6%. Key proposal submission dates include a non-mandatory pre-proposal meeting on August 11, 2025, questions due August 14, 2025, and proposals due August 21, 2025 at 3:00 PM through the City's online bidding system, with evaluation and shortlisting scheduled for August 28, 2025.

The City provides preference points for certified Small Business Enterprise (SBE), Minority Owned Business Enterprise (MBE), and Women Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) vendors. Key personnel must have minimum five years of experience and bachelor's degrees in fields such as social work, psychology, or criminal justice, with various professional certifications preferred. The budget allows for flexible funding to support client needs, including emergency housing assistance, basic needs, workforce development resources, utility payments, mental wellness services, and transportation assistance. The estimated annual expenditure is approximately $125,000 under a cost reimbursement contract structure, with an initial three-year contract term and an optional two-year renewal period. The selected vendor must become operational within 30 days of contract execution and provide monthly progress reports and annual evaluations. Insurance requirements include commercial general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, commercial automobile liability of $1,000,000, and workers' compensation as required by Florida law. The program targets adults 18 and older recently released from correctional facilities, with a focus on achieving specific performance milestones including housing placement rates, employment outcomes, and recidivism reduction metrics.