Muni Ct - Sex Offender Program

Franklin County Municipal Court is requesting proposals for specialized sexual offender programming services for eligible defendants under a three-year contract commencing September 1, 2026, with proposals due August 19, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

Contractors must hold membership with the Association for the Treatment and Prevention of Sexual Abuse (ASAP) and certification or verified proof of being in the accreditation process through the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections Sex Offender Certification program. These are mandatory qualifications.

The scope includes comprehensive sexual offender intake assessments, individual counseling every 90 days, and weekly two-hour specialized group therapy sessions with progress summaries for defendants designated as sex offenders and determined to be indigent or in need of assistance by the Department of Pretrial and Probation Services. The Court will conduct at least one annual site visit with probation staff to observe group sessions and meet with program staff.

Reimbursement is structured at approved contractual rates: up to $150 per intake session, up to $50 per group treatment session, and up to $100 per individual session for indigent participants. Some clients are on a sliding fee scale and non-indigent clients pay in full. Contractors submit monthly invoices itemizing services provided, including defendant names, court case numbers, and referring probation officers.

Evaluation criteria are: technical proposal quality (10%), personnel competence and relevant experience (20%), ability to perform services and personnel availability (15%), past performance and client references (20%), pricing structure (25%), and other factors including financial stability and overall proposal quality (10%). The Court is not required to accept the lowest bid and reserves the right to reject all proposals.

The contract term runs through August 31, 2029, with an option to extend one additional year through August 31, 2030, subject to approval by both parties and sufficient appropriations. Contractors must maintain public liability insurance with bodily injury coverage of $500,000 per person and $1,000,000 per accident, property damage liability of $500,000 per person and $1,000,000 per accident, and professional errors and omissions insurance of $1,000,000. Proposals may be submitted electronically to courtbids@franklincountymunicourt.org or in hard copy to Cherie Mollette, 375 South High Street, 10th Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215. The Court's Contract Administrator is Elisha Zerman, Chief Probation Officer, at 614-645-8765.