Credible Messenger - Expression of Interest

January 29, 2025 RE: Request for Expression of Interest - Credible Messenger Dear Providers: The Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) is requesting Expression of Interest responses from providers who provide community-based credible messenger mentoring, support, and life enrichment services that have:

1. Staff with personal lived experience in juvenile and/or adult systems of care,
2. Staff who are able to provide violence disruption and mediation services and
3. Who are able to navigate high violence neighborhoods

The Department is looking to provide these services for an average daily population (ADP) of up to twenty-five (25) youth in every county in the State of Maryland and are interested in providing the following services:

1. Contact (e.g., face-to-face, phone or other contact, such as email or virtual platforms) referred youth within 24 hours of receiving referral from DJS.
2. Provide intensive life coaching and cases management services to all youth identified and referred by DJS
3. Programs must operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to include on call services.
4. Programs must agree to participate in DJS designated training.

Youth referred will be in one of three programs:

1. Thrive Academy who are youth on probation or aftercare that are highest risk of being a victim or perpetrator of gun violence.
2. Thrive Passport is designed for youth who require additional supports and services.
3. Detention Alternative for youth who are detained or at risk for detention.

DJS is seeking to contract with providers who have a rate issued by the Maryland Department of Education Interagency Agency Rate Committee for Fiscal Year 2025, beginning March 1, 2025. Providers are asked to respond in writing with general expression of interest. Please indicate your intent to provide the services requested by submitting the General Expression of Interest Letter or Email, which includes the following information:

1. Name of your program/organization
2. The county/counties your program operates in
3. What program are interested in providing (Thrive/Passport/Detention Alternative), (Note: Providers can support all three.)
4. How you will provide the services outlined above, and
5. The number of youth you are able to serve?
6. How you intend to provide the services in compliance with the COMAR regulations.

Per COMAR 21.11.13, this procurement is subject to a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) subcontracting goal. The MBE percentage will be based on the services to be provided and the availability of the MBEs in the provider's location. Your organization may be eligible to become a certified MBE, thus we strongly encourage all providers to visit the Maryland Department of Transportation's (MDOT) website for additional information and the listing of certified MBE's. The MDOT website is www.mdot.maryland.gov as these contracts will exceed $25,000.00. Service providers that submit acceptable or potentially acceptable general expressions of interest will be given fair and equal treatment with respect to discussions. Please ensure that the written General Expression of Interest or E-mail response be received no later than 3:30pm (local time) on February 11th, 2025 at ronald.colbert@maryland.gov You must ensure that the written response is received by the Department of Juvenile Services no later than the designated response date to be considered for a potential contract award. Please call me at 443-540-0929 or email me at ronald.colbert@maryland.gov if you require additional information or have any questions by 3:30pm (local time) February 5th, 2025.