JJS: Transportation Statewide

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is seeking a contractor to provide Juvenile Justice Transportation Services statewide through RFP No. 250000003105. The primary objective is to safely transport juvenile justice youth to and from secure facilities, with services commencing January 1, 2026, and continuing through September 30, 2028, with potential two one-year renewals. Contractors must provide trained transporters capable of managing youth transportation, utilizing de-escalation techniques, and complying with specific requirements including meal provisions and limited communication. The service will involve transporting an estimated 202 youth in the first year (January-September 2026), increasing to 270 youth in subsequent years. The evaluation process will assess proposals across five categories: bidder experience, education/credentials, staffing/training, program implementation, and vendor questionnaire, with a maximum of 125 possible points. Only proposals scoring 100 points or more will be considered, and the state reserves the right to select the bid providing the best overall value. Key dates include a pre-proposal meeting on October 2, 2025, and a proposal deadline of October 23, 2025.

The RFP does not explicitly mention set-aside designations or restrictions for specific types of organizations. The pricing structure allows bidders to propose an hourly rate for transportation services, with additional reimbursement for mileage and meals under specific conditions. Mileage will be reimbursed based on the contractor's home or business location nearest to youth pick-up and drop-off sites, with meal reimbursement permitted for transportation assignments lasting four consecutive hours or more, capped at the state-approved lunch rate. The contract has annual awards increasing from $125,000 in the first year to $185,000 in subsequent years, with a total maximum award of $495,000 for the entire contract period. Contractors must submit detailed unit rate calculations including all direct and indirect costs, mandatory insurance expenses, and certify that proposed prices were determined independently. Additionally, contractors must comply with bi-annual Regional Detention Support Services (RDSS) training, which must be attended once every two years, as specified in Amendment 1 to the original RFP.