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. The contractor must primarily employ individuals who have been incarcerated or otherwise impacted by the justice system, with a majority of the organization's leadership comprised of formerly incarcerated individuals verified through the Law Enforcement Information Network—a core eligibility and mission-fit requirement.

The scope covers transportation of MDOC clients from all Michigan facilities except Marquette, Baraga, and Alger to approved home placements or parole offices. The contractor must accommodate up to 3 simultaneous transports per day and up to 60 referrals per calendar month, with the majority of releases originating from Jackson, Ionia, and St. Louis facilities. The contractor must attend one 30-minute transition team meeting per client, assess ADA accommodation needs, and comply with MDOC security protocols, CJIS criminal justice information access requirements, PREA standards, and extensive background clearance and staff training mandates. A Program Manager must be available Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The contractor may decline transports only for inability to accommodate unusual disability accessibility requests or when referrals are made with less than one calendar week notice.

Pricing must be submitted as a flat hourly rate measured in 15-minute increments, with billable time beginning 15 minutes before pickup and ending upon client drop-off. Supplemental services such as meals may be priced separately at State reimbursement rates. Training reimbursement is $10.00 per completed module per staff member. The contractor must maintain Commercial General Liability Insurance ($1 million per occurrence / $2 million aggregate), Automobile Liability ($1 million per accident), and Workers Compensation coverage, with the State named as additional insured on a primary and non-contributory basis.

Technical evaluation awards up to 100 points across Statement of Work sections and vendor qualifications, with pricing evaluated only for proposals scoring 80 or higher. The anticipated contract start is November 15, 2026, with an initial term expiring September 30, 2027, and up to four optional one-year renewals subject to legislative appropriation. The State anticipates awarding to a single vendor. Questions were due September 4; posted answers are available. Proposals are binding for 180 days.