Foster Parent Recruitment and Retention

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for statewide foster parent recruitment and retention services, targeting the jurisdictions of Kootenai County and other regions within the state. The primary objective is to increase the ratio of foster parents to children from the current 0.75 to 1.5, which will require a comprehensive approach to recruiting and supporting foster families. The contractor will be responsible for hiring recruitment coordinators in each of the seven state regions, developing effective recruitment strategies, coordinating recruitment advisory councils, organizing monthly recruitment activities, and providing initial orientation information meetings. Additionally, the contractor must implement retention services, including establishing resource peer mentors to support existing foster families. The RFP requires offerors to submit detailed technical and cost proposals, with the cost proposal being evaluated for the top three technically scoring proposals. Proposals are due by August 16, 2024, with an anticipated initial contract term of three years and the potential for two additional one-year extensions. The evaluation will focus on the contractor's ability to develop robust recruitment efforts, coordinate with regional offices, and achieve the strategic goal of increasing foster parent availability.

There are no specific set-aside designations mentioned in the documents for this procurement. The current vendor for these services is Eastern Washington University, though no preferential treatment is indicated for incumbent vendors. The RFP does not restrict participation based on business size or type, suggesting open competition among qualified providers. The contract will be funded through state appropriations, with the Department reserving the right to terminate the contract if sufficient funds are not available. While no explicit budget range is provided, the RFP utilizes a fixed unit cost/indefinite quantity pricing structure, allowing contractors to propose costs per unit which will be multiplied by estimated quantities. The Department expects the successful contractor to work collaboratively with regional offices, other agencies, and tribal entities to achieve the recruitment and retention goals. Contractors will be required to submit monthly invoices and reports detailing their progress in meeting the foster parent recruitment objectives.