Early Services Program (ESP)

The Iowa Judicial Branch's Juvenile Court Services is issuing a Request for Proposal to solicit community-based case management services for the Early Services Program (ESP), targeting youth ages 12 and under referred for delinquent acts across seven counties in the Fifth Judicial District (Dallas, Guthrie, Jasper, Madison, Polk, Warren, and Marion counties). The procuring agency seeks one or more vendors to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate case management, wraparound services, trauma and mental health screenings, school collaboration, family engagement activities, and restorative justice programming designed to prevent early juvenile records and reduce recidivism. Key performance objectives include achieving 95 percent service delivery rates for referred youth and 90 percent successful completion rates for Informal Adjustment Agreements. Respondents must submit letters of intent to bid and written questions by May 1, 2026, with complete technical and cost proposals due by May 29, 2026 at 12:00 P.M. central time to kelly.cox@iowacourts.gov. The Iowa Judicial Branch anticipates issuing a Notice of Intent to Award by June 15, 2026, with contract execution scheduled for July 1, 2026. Evaluation will employ a weighted scoring system combining technical proposals (5,400 possible points) and cost proposals (1,000 points) for a total of 6,400 points, with cost scoring using a ratio formula favoring the lowest-priced proposal. Required qualifications include demonstrated case management capabilities, experience with trauma and mental health services, school collaboration expertise, and the ability to provide quarterly reporting and documentation of service delivery.

The RFP does not specify set-aside designations or restrictions on organization types eligible to respond. Respondents must comply with mandatory specifications including maintaining firm proposal terms for 120 days following submission, obtaining criminal history clearance authorization, providing references, disclosing litigation history and debarment status, and registering to do business in Iowa. Required insurance coverage includes general liability of $2 million per occurrence, automobile liability of $1 million, workers compensation, property damage of $1 million, professional liability of $1 million, and cyber liability of $1 million. The initial contract term runs for one year from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, with the Iowa Judicial Branch retaining the option to renew for up to five additional one-year terms at its sole discretion. The anticipated maximum annual contract budget is $300,000, with cost proposals requiring detailed, itemized pricing on an all-inclusive basis covering salaries, benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, training, and indirect costs, and payment processing allowing sixty days via EFT/ACH, State Warrant, or State Pcard.