Relative Caregiver Program Case Management Services - UPDATED

The State of Tennessee, Department of Children's Services, is issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to procure case management services for the Relative Caregiver Program across eight regional groups encompassing all Tennessee counties. The solicitation seeks qualified vendors to deliver comprehensive case management services to relative caregivers who have assumed custody of children outside formal foster care, with deliverables including intake and safety assessments, needs assessments, service planning, ongoing case management, home visits, support groups, and administration of RCP stipends. Projected service volumes range from 177 to 826 children per fiscal year depending on the region, with separate contract awards issued for each regional group. The procurement will be evaluated in two phases: Phase I assesses mandatory requirements on a pass/fail basis, while Phase II applies a 100-point scoring model allocating 50 points for general qualifications and experience and 50 points for technical qualifications, experience, and approach, with a minimum threshold score of 70 points required to remain in the competitive range. Key deadlines include a Notice of Intent to Respond deadline of May 12, 2026, written questions deadline of May 15, 2026, and final response submission deadline of June 4, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Central Time. Technical evaluations will be completed by June 15, 2026, with an Evaluation Notice issued by June 17, 2026, the protest period ending June 24, 2026, and the selected contractor required to sign the contract by June 29, 2026. Vendors must demonstrate current bank and vendor credit references, evidence of financial stability, and three professional references from similar projects completed within the past five years, while all personnel conducting background checks and performing services must comply with DCS Policy 4.1 and maintain comprehensive insurance coverages including cyber liability ($2,000,000), commercial general liability ($1,000,000), workers' compensation, automobile liability ($1,000,000), and sexual abuse and molestation insurance ($1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate).

The RFQ does not identify any set-aside designations, disadvantaged enterprise restrictions, or limitations on the types of organizations eligible to respond. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are specified in the solicitation, and no existing infrastructure or technology integration requirements are noted. The contract term is five years, running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031, with compensation structured as a fixed rate of $10.00 per day per child served. Maximum annual liabilities range from $613,200 to $3,014,900 depending on the regional group and fiscal year, with total five-year maximum liabilities ranging from $3,182,800 to $14,578,100 per regional group. No renewal options are specified in the RFQ.