Services for the Provision of Equitable Diversion Access Initiative and Efficient Justice Pathways for Youth

The County of Orange Probation Department is soliciting proposals for the Equitable Diversion Access Initiative and Efficient Justice Pathways Services for Youth through a Request for Proposal (RFP) released on June 6, 2025. The procurement seeks qualified firms to provide comprehensive diversion services for youth ages 12-17 who have been arrested for a 602 WIC offense and have a mental health or substance abuse disorder history. Proposed services must include case assessments, individualized case plans, service navigation, counseling, skill-building, and restorative justice interventions, with an anticipated annual range of 1,500 to 2,000 youth referrals. The RFP includes a non-mandatory pre-proposal meeting scheduled for July 1, 2025, with proposals due by July 21, 2025 at 3:00 pm. Evaluation criteria will assess proposers across five key areas: knowledge and experience (25%), staffing (20.8%), service delivery (33.3%), service cost (16.7%), and compliance with the county model contract (4.2%). Proposers must demonstrate experience delivering diversion services to law enforcement agencies and maintain a local office in Orange County, with the ability to implement the program within 60 days of contract award.

The contract is funded through a Board of State & Community Corrections (BSCC) Proposition 47 Grant and is structured for a three-year term with potential for two additional years of renewal. While no specific set-aside designations or enterprise restrictions were explicitly mentioned, the RFP emphasizes the need for trauma-informed and culturally competent service providers. Proposers must be capable of comprehensive program implementation, including measuring participant progress, communicating program completion to referring agencies, and conducting six-month follow-up assessments to track justice system involvement. Although specific pricing details are not fully specified, the contract will be a usage-based agreement with monthly expenditure and revenue reporting requirements. The contractor will need to provide services that focus on reducing juvenile justice system involvement through early intervention and support, with the potential to shift budgeted funds between line items upon receiving prior written approval from the county administrator.