PO27-012 safety assessment tool TP

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is issuing a sole-source procurement (PO27-012) for the continued implementation of the Safety Assessment Family Evaluation (SAFE) Model through Action 4 Child Protection. The procurement covers comprehensive safety assessment services across the full case lifecycle—from intake through case closure—for all maltreatment types at six defined decision points. Deliverables include staff training, coaching, case consultation, practice and policy development, fidelity reviews, IT system integration with IllinoisConnect, project management, and the Safe@Home community-based in-home safety management component. The contract period runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, with no renewal options. The scope encompasses infrastructure development, installation, and full implementation phases, involving 1,146 on-site days, 11,590 off-site hours, and training delivery across multiple DCFS regions. Key deliverables include core training materials, e-learning modules, competency assessments, job aids, intervention manuals, fidelity review instruments, and integrated system dashboards. Written comments or public hearing requests must be submitted by May 1, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. to Dianne Richman, Chief Procurement Officer, with a public hearing scheduled for May 6, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. via WebEx.

This sole-source procurement is restricted to Action 4 Child Protection, the exclusive developer and owner of the copyrighted SAFE Model framework, with no competitive bidding permitted under the procurement method. DCFS justified the sole-source approach based on copyright exclusivity, as the SAFE Model and all related assessment instruments, training curriculum, and implementation materials are legally available from no other source. The procurement requires integration with DCFS's existing IllinoisConnect IT system and builds upon a phased statewide implementation that began in FY22, representing the sixth year of deployment following a FY20 Chapin Hall evaluation. DCFS has previously invested approximately $18 million across four executed contracts from FY22 through FY26 with contract values of $2,960,231; $4,220,480; $5,203,770; and $5,600,430. The estimated contract value for FY27 is $5,704,875, funded through state appropriations, with costs distributed across three implementation phases: Infrastructure ($784,575), Installation ($4,524,300), and Full Implementation ($396,000), including $515,700 in travel expenses and a 10% management fee for ongoing project management activities.