Oregon Refugee Children's Assistance Services Service Area 4

The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP S-10000-00012344) for Oregon Refugee Children's Assistance Services (ORCAS) in Lane County. The procurement seeks a contractor to provide comprehensive support services for ORR-eligible refugee children and youth, focusing on promoting academic performance and successful integration into local public schools. Required services include school enrollment assistance, interpreting/translation services, school orientations, after-school and summer programs, and training support for school staff to increase their capacity to support refugee students. Evaluation criteria for proposals include key personnel (20 points), implementation plan (15 points), collaboration plan (10 points), equity and inclusion (10 points), experience (10 points), references (10 points), and budget (25 points), totaling 100 possible points. Key dates include a pre-proposal conference held on January 23, 2025, with questions due by February 6, 2025, and proposals due on February 18, 2025. The anticipated award date is March 9, 2025, with a contract term running from March 2025 through September 30, 2026, and potential extensions up to five total years.

Four organizations submitted proposals for this opportunity: Pacific Refugee Support Group, Catholic Community Services of Lane County, Language Phone, and Lutheran Community Services Northwest. The RFP includes a Certified Disadvantaged Business Outreach Plan, requiring proposers to engage with and potentially subcontract with Certified Firms under ORS 200.055 by the Oregon Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID). The contract has a maximum value of $186,440 for the initial term, funded through the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Refugee School Impact (RSI) services program. Proposers must verify participant eligibility, including confirmation of noncitizen status and immigration requirements within 60 months of receiving ORR-eligible immigration status. The procurement emphasizes equity and inclusion, mandating services be provided without discrimination based on race, religion, nationality, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or political opinion. The expansion of ORCAS to Lane County is driven by recent refugee settlement patterns, with 59 refugees resettled in the county through the Reception & Placement program in FFY 2024 and 128 ORR-eligible individuals receiving state cash assistance.