KHA Youth Empowerment Services (YES)

The City of Jacksonville, Florida, through its Kids Hope Alliance Division, is requesting proposals for Youth Empowerment Services (YES) programming under RFP 18119-26, with proposals due October 30, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. EST and a mandatory pre-bid meeting on September 9, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom. Lead applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations incorporated and actively operating for a minimum of one year prior to the proposal deadline, with proof of active status on Sunbiz required.

The scope encompasses youth services designed to support workforce development, youth empowerment, and employment readiness. Awardees must submit a Multi-Year Implementation Plan and comply with federal E-Verify Program enrollment for employment eligibility verification. Proposals are limited to 20 pages excluding appendices and must be accompanied by insurance requirements, conflict of interest certifications, and various compliance forms.

The total available funding pool is $5.2 million across multiple tiers, with award requests ranging from under $250,000 to $1 million depending on the funding tier selected. The contract is structured as an initial one-year term with two optional one-year renewals contingent upon organizational performance against defined benchmarks and continued appropriation of funding by the City.

Evaluation uses a multiattribute methodology across six domains: Organizational Capacity and Readiness (40 points), Program Design and Service Model (60 points), Employer Partnerships and Work-Based Learning (30 points), Youth Voice and JSEB Participation (30 points), Performance Management and Data (20 points), and Budget and Financial Compliance (20 points). Proposals must achieve a minimum score of 160 out of 200 possible points (80%) to be eligible for funding consideration. The City encourages utilization of Jacksonville Small and Emerging Businesses (JSEBs).