DCY Electronic Child Maltreatment Guidance Tool

The State of Ohio's Department of Administrative Services, acting on behalf of the Department of Children and Youth and targeting Franklin County, is soliciting proposals for an Electronic Child Maltreatment Guidance Tool. This web-based decision tree tool will help mandated reporters determine when to refer suspected child maltreatment cases to county Public Children Services Agencies (PCSA). The project will be implemented across five distinct phases: stakeholder engagement, decision tree development, testing and interrater reliability, system build and implementation, and ongoing support. Key deliverables include a summary report, modifiable decision tree, training materials, e-learning modules, and a continuous quality improvement (CQI) plan and evaluation report. The tool must utilize Ohio statutory criteria, provide resource links for alternative support options, and include decision tree pathways for different reporting scenarios. The contract term runs from award through September 30, 2027, with potential renewals for up to two additional two-year terms. Proposals are due by August 29, 2025, with technical support available at 614-466-5090 in the 48 hours prior to submission. Evaluation criteria will likely focus on the comprehensiveness of the proposed solution, innovation in decision tree design, and alignment with state reporting requirements.

The procurement appears open to a wide range of technology and consulting firms with expertise in child welfare systems, decision support tools, and web-based applications. While specific set-aside designations are not explicitly detailed, the State of Ohio typically encourages participation from Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and Executive Diversity, Growth and Equity (EDGE) vendors. Contractors must demonstrate robust capabilities in data security, with required adherence to NIST 800-53 moderate level security baseline or ISO 27001 standards. The project involves comprehensive data handling requirements, including protocols for protecting Personally Identifiable Information (PII), Federal Tax Information (FTI), and other sensitive data categories. Proposed solutions should include innovative features such as Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) implementation and potential artificial intelligence capabilities like GPT chatbots. Contractors must be prepared to provide detailed hourly labor rates across multiple roles, including Project Lead and Technical Lead, with rates to be specified for a three-year period. While the exact budget is not specified, the comprehensive nature of the project and the multi-phase implementation suggest a significant investment in developing this critical child welfare reporting tool.