Family Resource Center Case Closure Pilot

The Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is soliciting qualifications under RFQ 27-DCYF-PPS-009 for voluntary, community-based prevention and support services for families exiting child welfare involvement. The pre-bid conference is November 5, 2026 at 11:00 a.m., and responses are due December 4, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. No formal set-aside is established. DCYF instead offers bid preferences of 10% for Washington Small Businesses, 10% for Certified Veteran-Owned Businesses, and 5% for contractors without mandatory individual arbitration requirements under Executive Order 18-03.

Voluntary numerical participation goals of 20% for small businesses, 10% for minority and women-owned businesses, and 1% for veteran-owned businesses apply. Bidders planning to use subcontractors must submit a Diverse Business Inclusion Plan, which is a mandatory pass/fail requirement.

Services include family engagement, strengths and needs assessments, service navigation, warm handoffs, and connections to housing, food, transportation, healthcare, childcare, and substance use treatment, for families with children age three or over. DCYF anticipates approximately 1,170 families annually at a 25% participation rate. Bidders must demonstrate experience with voluntary, family-driven, strengths-based services and capacity to serve at least one priority community: Spokane County, South King County, Tumwater and Southern Thurston County, Snohomish County, West King County, Tri-Cities, Bellingham, Pierce County, or Tribal Communities in King County. Bidders must be licensed to do business in Washington or commit to licensure within 30 days of selection, and must not be debarred from federal transactions. Contractors must contact referred families within three business days, complete intake within ten business days, and report any data breach within one business day.

DCYF intends to award up to five contracts, each with an initial amount not to exceed $37,600.00, and total estimated funding of $150,000 or less. Compensation uses monthly capacity rates of $2,791.92 to $2,843.97 per Family Advocate FTE by community, per-referral rates of $12.99 to $13.24, and monthly case rates of $181.58 to $204.47 per case. Ramp-up funding covers six months after execution, declining from 100% in months one through three to 0% in month seven. The term is six months commencing January 1, 2027, or upon execution if later, with up to five one-year extensions not to exceed June 30, 2032.

Evaluation is scored on 100 points: 40 points for technical components, including service populations, eligibility limits, concrete goods and basic needs support, and motivational interviewing competencies, and 60 points for management components, including project approach, staffing, tribal collaboration, and readiness for DCYF onboarding and referral pathway training before January 2027 implementation.

Solicitation Coordinator Kris Gorgas accepts electronic submissions at dcyf.contracts@dcyf.wa.gov.