Release Day Transportation RFP

The Michigan Department of Corrections is requesting proposals for Release Day Transportation services under RFP #260000002520, with proposals due September 25, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Questions are due September 4, 2026, with answers posted by September 9. No set-asides or preference programs are identified. The contractor must primarily employ individuals who have been incarcerated or otherwise impacted by the justice system—a core operational requirement rather than a hiring goal.

The scope encompasses transportation for individuals released from all MDOC facilities except Marquette, Baraga, and Alger, to approved destinations including home placements and parole offices statewide. The contractor must assess and provide ADA-accessible transportation, participate in transition and resource team meetings, handle multiple simultaneous transports, and maintain a dedicated Program Manager available 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. All direct-service staff, those handling offender records, and supervisory personnel must pass LEIN clearance, complete CJIS training and security addendum requirements, obtain fingerprinting, and comply with PREA standards and MDOC Vendor Rules and Regulations. The contractor must submit a final project plan within 30 calendar days of contract execution and attend a kickoff meeting within that same window. Subcontractors require prior state approval.

Pricing is structured as a flat fee per hour measured in 15-minute increments for each transport service, with proposals required for Year 1 and optional pricing for optional renewal years. The contractor must certify independent price development and may propose early-payment discounts or optional vendor-provided services such as meals with associated pricing. Monthly invoices are due 10 calendar days after each invoicing period, with payment by Electronic Funds Transfer.

The evaluation allocates 30 points each to three Statement of Work sections and 10 points to the Vendor Questions Worksheet, for 100 technical points total. Proposals scoring 80 or higher advance to pricing evaluation. The State reserves the right to conduct on-site visits, oral presentations, and interviews; negotiate with one or more bidders; and award multiple contracts. Contracts valued at $250,000 or more require State Administrative Board approval.

Schedule D Service Level Agreements impose financial penalties including $250 per non-compliant staff member for training failures, $500 per business day for delayed corrective action responses, $250 per LEIN violation, $500 per month of untimely or inaccurate invoicing, and credits equal to transportation costs for no-shows or denial-procedure violations. Insurance requirements include $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate Commercial General Liability; $1,000,000 per accident Automobile Liability; and Workers Compensation and Employers Liability coverage.