RFI 260000000016 Juvenile Justice

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is issuing RFI 260000000016 to solicit information on juvenile justice residential treatment and supportive services, with responses due October 16, 2026. This is an information-gathering exercise only — the RFI does not constitute a commitment to procure or award a contract, carries no anticipated contract value or procurement timeline, and does not require response submission to be eligible for any future RFP.

MDHHS conducted a comprehensive Juvenile Justice Needs Assessment in June 2026 synthesizing input from court administrators, service providers, case management organizations, community mental health programs, and the Juvenile Justice Advisory Council. The assessment identified eight primary need areas: increased placement options for youth with specialized needs; workforce capacity and retention (particularly in rural areas); services for youth with complex mental health conditions and trauma; short-term respite and crisis stabilization alternatives; equitable geographic access to placements; licensing and regulatory changes around restraint and seclusion; consistent risk and needs assessment implementation across counties; and family engagement and aftercare support. Survey respondents ranked respite and stabilization placements as the highest priority need (69%), followed by transitional and independent living options. The assessment found that 77.5% of adjudicated youth placed out of home had low, moderate, or high-risk assessments in 2025 yet faced insufficient placement options; waitlists and inadequate services were cited as primary reasons youth remain in detention longer than six months.

MDHHS welcomes responses from direct service providers, technical assistance organizations, and subject matter experts addressing any or all seven service categories: workforce development and staffing solutions; specialized residential placements; specialized clinical and therapeutic services; short-term respite and crisis stabilization; geographic access and rural delivery; compliance and licensing education; and family engagement and aftercare. The RFI seeks evidence-based and evidence-informed approaches that reduce future justice system involvement and support community transition. Pricing should be described generally by major cost categories or rates (per diem, per youth, hourly, flat fee); itemized dollar estimates are not required. MDHHS currently contracts with Residential Foster Care Juvenile Justice providers and will make existing contracts available upon FOIA request.

A pre-response webinar is scheduled October 28, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. Eastern (limited to two attendees per vendor). Questions are due October 1, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. Eastern; answers will be posted by October 5. Responses must be submitted electronically through michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS in PDF or Word format with all attachments in native formats and file sizes limited to 6 MB. A Confidential Treatment Form is required with every submission; failure to submit may result in disqualification. All responses become public record immediately upon receipt and are subject to Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, though trade secrets and proprietary financial information may be redacted if properly claimed. Vendors who participated in the Needs Assessment are not precluded from responding to future RFPs.