Foster Family Agency Services, and Temporary Evaluation Community Home Services

The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) is seeking applications from licensed Foster Family Agencies (FFA) to provide comprehensive foster care services from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2027, with a potential two-year renewal option. The procurement focuses on recruiting, certifying, training, and supporting foster parents who can accept foster youth when placement with relatives is not possible. Applicants must be licensed by the California Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Division and can apply for two service types: required FFA General Services and optional Temporary Evaluation Community Home (TECH) Services. The services target children ages 0-18 who are dependent, detained, or need temporary placement, including those awaiting specialized care settings. The evaluation process will use a pass/fail scoring for General Services and a competitive point system for TECH Services, with a maximum of 185 points. Key evaluation criteria include multiple TECH beds, sibling accommodation capabilities, bilingual capacity, and ability to house children awaiting various specialized placements. The application deadline is April 1, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time, with tentative interviews scheduled for April 4-12, 2024.

The contract opportunity includes provisions for Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) considerations and requires comprehensive documentation of organizational capabilities. Funding for the contract is contingent on state and federal budget allocations, with no guaranteed minimum referrals. For FFA General Services, reimbursement will be through the California Department of Social Services at rates set by the Foster Care Rates Bureau, while TECH Services will be reimbursed by the County at a fixed rate of $40 per day per bed. The total estimated budget for TECH Services is approximately $210,000 for the three-year contract period, with an annual allocation of around $70,000. Applicants must provide detailed documentation, including current licenses, insurance certificates, organizational references, and compliance with Levine Act campaign contribution disclosure requirements. The contract requires extensive background checks, comprehensive training for foster parents, and ongoing monitoring of placements to ensure child safety and compliance with California Welfare and Institutions Code and Community Care Licensing regulations.