PVD25-134 Youth Empowerment Activities: Safe and Sober Alternatives

The City of Providence's Department of Housing & Human Services (HHS) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) designated as PVD25-134 for Youth Empowerment Activities: Safe and Sober Alternatives, targeting youth-focused substance use prevention programs in Providence County, Rhode Island. The procurement seeks organizations to host youth empowerment activities designed to build protective factors against substance use during a one-year contract period from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026. This solicitation is part of Providence's Overdose Prevention Strategy and will be funded through Opioid Settlement Funds. Proposers must provide trauma-informed and culturally competent services that demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of substance use risk and protective factors. The evaluation criteria will assess project proposals, anti-racism approaches, organizational experience, and budget alignment, with a minimum qualification threshold of 75 total points and at least 20 points in key evaluation categories. Proposals are due on October 20, 2025, with an anticipated award date of November 17, 2025, and potential project start on January 1, 2026.

Eligibility for this contract is specifically limited to youth-serving organizations or collaboratives located in or primarily serving Providence youth, with a mandatory requirement of 501(c)(3) certification. The Department of Housing & Human Services anticipates making total awards of $60,000, with flexibility to award the full contract to a single proposer, split the award among multiple proposers, or potentially make no award. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises were explicitly mentioned in the solicitation. The procurement does not reference any incumbent vendors or existing technological infrastructure requirements. Successful proposers will be expected to develop and implement youth empowerment activities that provide safe and sober alternatives, with a focus on creating protective factors against substance use. The contract period is firmly set for one year, and organizations will need to demonstrate a robust approach to youth engagement and substance use prevention to be competitive in the selection process.