Islamic Chaplain - DRC260104 - CCI

The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) is procuring an Islamic Contract Chaplain for the Chillicothe Correctional Institution, located in Chillicothe, Ohio, serving approximately 2,600 incarcerated individuals. The contract opportunity requires a qualified religious services provider to conduct weekly Jumu'ah congregational prayer services, Ta'lim religious education classes, and provide comprehensive pastoral care to Muslim inmates. Key deliverables include weekly religious services, monthly documentation submission, attendance at an annual Religious Services Meeting, and specialized ministry services across designated institutional units. Candidates must possess a valid ecclesiastical endorsement, a License to Preach and/or Certificate of Ordination, and demonstrate experience in religious services and pastoral care. The solicitation requires submission through the OhioBuys system, with a posted date of December 24, 2025, and a response deadline of January 12, 2026. Evaluation will likely focus on candidates' religious credentials, professional experience, and ability to meet the institution's specific religious service requirements.

The contract opportunity does not explicitly indicate specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. All candidates will be subject to comprehensive background checks, institutional orientation training, and specialized Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) training. Compensation is structured on a per-service basis, including $100 per weekly Jumu'ah service ($5,200 annually), $95 per weekly Ta'lim class ($4,940 annually), and $90 per week for specialized ministry pastoral care ($4,680 annually). Additional compensation includes $260 for each of three Islamic holidays and $75 for mandatory annual meeting attendance. The position involves potentially hazardous working conditions, requiring flexibility for weekend or emergency on-call availability. Contractors must also comply with Executive Orders prohibiting offshore service performance and disclose all business locations where services will be performed. The total annual compensation range appears to be approximately $15,000-$16,000, depending on service frequency and holiday observances.