Educational Services

The County of Orange Probation Department is soliciting proposals through a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Educational Services to provide college-level instruction and related academic support to approximately 400 youth in custody at Juvenile Hall, Youth Guidance Center, Youth Leadership Academy, and the Multipurpose Rehabilitation Center, as well as community-supervised youth. The target population is predominantly male (87.5 percent) and Hispanic (77.3 percent), with an average court-ordered commitment length of 299 days. Qualified respondents must demonstrate a minimum of two years' experience providing educational services and full compliance with the County's Model Contract. Deliverables include in-person and online college-level courses leading to industry-recognized certifications or associate and bachelor degrees, onsite tutoring up to three times weekly, college counseling and academic advising, Federal Student Aid assistance, transitional counseling and workforce development support for youth prior to and following release, and comprehensive data tracking and reporting. The contractor must supply instructors, textbooks, laboratory equipment, and specialized software, while the County will provide laptops, space, security, parking, background investigations, and Canvas software. The evaluation process occurs in two phases: Phase 1 includes written proposal scoring across Knowledge and Experience (90 points), Staffing (120 points), Service Delivery (160 points), Service Cost (100 points), and Compliance with County Model Contract (25 points), totaling 495 points; Phase 2 may include optional oral interviews worth up to 400 points. Cost evaluation uses the Ratio Method with the lowest-cost proposal receiving maximum points. Key dates include a non-mandatory pre-proposal meeting on March 11, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. via Microsoft Teams; question submission deadline of March 13, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.; response deadline of March 19, 2025; and proposal submission deadline of March 31, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. via the County's eProcurement Portal.

The solicitation documents do not identify specific set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises or restrictions limiting eligible respondent types based on organizational designation. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available procurement materials. The selected contractor must integrate with existing County infrastructure, including Canvas software for course management and delivery, and must comply with multiple security and information-sharing frameworks including FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) requirements, California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) access protocols, Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) policies, Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) confidentiality requirements, and Orange County Superior Court Juvenile Exchange of Information Policy guidelines. All contractor personnel must undergo background clearance, including fingerprinting and criminal record checks, and must complete security-related training and forms prior to assignment. The contract will be awarded as a firm fixed-fee arrangement for an initial three-year term with potential for two optional two-year renewal periods subject to mutual written agreement and County Board of Supervisors approval. The specific award value or budget range is not disclosed in the RFP; however, Board of Supervisors approval is required for contracts with annual value exceeding $200,000 or total multi-year value exceeding $1,000,000. Contractors must demonstrate pricing competitiveness with other government entities and include itemized costs for up to 20 college courses plus lump-sum "Other Cost of Attendance" including books, supplies, and related expenses.