Request for Applications (RFA) for Adoption Vendor Attorney Services

The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) is issuing a Request for Applications (RFA) for Adoption Vendor Attorney Services under solicitation number S-10000-00011992. The procurement seeks to establish a registry of qualified attorneys who will provide legal services to prospective adoptive parents for children in ODHS custody. Qualified attorneys must be active members in good standing with the Oregon State Bar, possess a minimum of three years' experience in adoption legal services, and maintain professional liability insurance of $300,000 per claim. The primary deliverables include preparing and filing adoption petitions, obtaining adoption judgments, securing new birth certificates, and completing all legal documentation within 30 calendar days of receiving consent packets. Attorneys will be expected to prioritize "Petitionless Adoption" when possible and establish direct attorney-client relationships with adoptive families. The solicitation will accept applications from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2029, at 3:00 PM Pacific Time, with ODHS expecting to award contracts to all responsive and responsible applicants meeting the RFA requirements.

The procurement does not appear to have specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, though applicants must comply with non-discrimination policies, wage equity laws, and various state and federal compliance requirements. Attorneys selected will be placed on the Adoptions Services Vendor Attorney Registry, from which adoptive parents can choose legal representation. The compensation structure is fixed at $550 per adoption case, with an additional $75 per sibling when separate court petitions are required. ODHS will also reimburse actual costs for birth certificates, court filing fees, and adoption certificate issuance fees. There are no guaranteed work volumes, as adoptive parents will select attorneys independently from the registry. Attorneys must accept ODHS payment rates as full compensation and are prohibited from charging adoptive parents additional fees. Current vendor attorneys with active contracts or those who previously applied under a prior solicitation (S-10000-00000747) are not required to reapply for this opportunity.