DYS 2026-14 Diversion Coordination Programs- Bristol County

The Massachusetts Department of Youth Services (DYS) under the Executive Office of Health and Human Services is issuing a Request for Response (RFR) to procure diversion coordination services for Bristol County through a community-based service provider. The procurement seeks implementation of a comprehensive diversion coordination program designed to prevent justice-involved youth from entering the formal justice system, with key deliverables including outreach and partnerships with law enforcement, clerk magistrates, district attorneys, judges, and defense attorneys; intake and assessment services utilizing standardized screening tools (YLS/SRV, YLS/CMI, and MAYSI-2); development of individualized diversion agreements and case plans; ongoing case management and support for a caseload of at least 20 youth; and data collection for program evaluation. The program requires at least one full-time Diversion Coordinator with an expected annual salary range of $70,000 to $80,000 commensurate with education and experience, and must include separate budget line items for personnel, supervisor, travel, and youth program incidentals. Evaluation criteria totaling 100 points include implementation plan, outreach and partnership strategy, letters of support from at least two eligible referrers, service connection capabilities, data collection experience, family engagement approach, staff training and supervision plans, equity and inclusion initiatives, collaborative learning participation, fiscal management capacity, and detailed multi-year budgets. Responses limited to 30 pages plus appendices must be submitted electronically through the COMMBUYS platform by June 30, 2026, at 4:00 PM EST; no bidder's conference is scheduled, and the contract period covers two years (FY27 and FY28) subject to annual appropriation.

This procurement is subject to the Commonwealth's Small Business Purchasing Program (SBPP) and Supplier Diversity Program (SDP) requirements, mandating that bidders make a minimum 1% financial commitment to certified diverse business partners. All awarded contractors must participate in the Commonwealth's Electronic Funds Transfer program and offer prompt payment discounts unless demonstrating undue hardship. The annual budget allocation for the Bristol County diversion site is $138,320.00, with separate budgets required for both fiscal years. No incumbent vendor or existing contractor information is provided in the available documentation. Vendors must register in the COMMBUYS system to submit responses, a process available at no cost that requires basic company information, Tax ID, business classification, and at least one United Nations Standard Product and Service Code (UNSPSC) to categorize services. The OSD Help Desk is available to support vendors with registration or technical issues at 1-888-627-8283 or OSDhelpdesk@mass.gov.