Release Day Transportation RFP

The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) 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 organizational leadership comprised of formerly incarcerated individuals verified through the Law Enforcement Information Network (LEIN) — this is a mandatory eligibility filter.

The scope covers transportation for MDOC clients released from all Michigan correctional facilities except Marquette, Baraga, and Alger to approved destinations such as housing or parole offices. The contractor must serve 28 correctional facilities and four support facilities statewide, handle up to three simultaneous transports daily and 60 monthly transports, and maintain capacity for occasional Upper Peninsula releases. All staff providing direct services, handling offender records, or in supervisory roles must complete LEIN clearance, CJIS training and compliance, PREA training, fingerprinting, background checks including Michigan State Police ICHAT, and MDOC Vendor Rules training. Pricing is structured as a flat hourly rate measured in 15-minute increments, with billable time beginning 15 minutes before pickup at an MDOC facility and ending upon client dropoff. The contractor receives $10.00 per training module completed per staff member upon full completion of all required modules. Transportation requests are submitted Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., though drop-offs may occur outside these hours. The contractor may decline referrals only for inability to accommodate unusual disability requests or when referrals are made with less than one week notice.

The contract runs from November 15, 2026, through September 30, 2027, with potential renewal for four additional one-year periods at the State's sole discretion, subject to legislative appropriation. The State will award to a single vendor offering the best value based on technical evaluation (100-point scale with 80-point minimum to qualify for pricing evaluation) and pricing. Written questions were due September 4, 2026, with answers posted September 9. Commercial General Liability ($1 million per occurrence / $2 million aggregate), Automobile Liability ($1 million per accident), Workers Compensation, and Employers Liability ($500,000) insurance are required, with the State named as additional insured. Monthly invoices are due 15 calendar days after each invoicing period. Contact: Chris Hopcraft, 517-241-2192, HopcraftC@michigan.gov.