Shoplifting/theft diversion program

The City of Phoenix, Arizona, issued Request for Proposal RFP PS-26-0265 for professional services to operate a Shoplifting/Theft Diversion Program serving Maricopa County and Phoenix City jurisdictions. The program targets individuals charged with shoplifting and theft offenses, providing comprehensive diversion services including screening and intake assessments, educational group sessions capped at 30 participants, and counseling group sessions capped at 15 participants designed to redirect participants away from the criminal justice system. The successful contractor must maintain an office location within 10 miles of the Phoenix Municipal Court Building with operating hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on regular workdays and provide counseling services on weekday evenings and Saturdays, accommodate both pre-plea and post-plea participants, employ bilingual staff fluent in English and Spanish, provide interpreters at no cost, maintain comprehensive case management systems with web-based access for the Prosecutor's Office, and submit monthly and annual performance reports. Minimum qualifications require at least two years of operational experience providing rehabilitation or similar diversion services, with all service delivery personnel fully qualified and accredited in their respective roles; contractors must be registered with the Arizona Corporation Commission and in good standing to conduct business in Arizona. The evaluation criteria weighted proposals as follows: method of approach (60 percent), qualifications and experience (20 percent), program evaluation and performance measures (7.5 percent), and pricing (12.5 percent). The pre-offer conference was scheduled for May 11, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. via Microsoft Teams; written inquiries were due by May 15, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.; and sealed proposals were due by May 27, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., submitted electronically through the City's Procurement Portal. The initial contract term commences July 1, 2026, for three years with two optional one-year renewal extensions available at the City's sole discretion.

No specific set-aside designations or disadvantaged business enterprise restrictions are explicitly identified for this procurement, though the supplemental terms and conditions applicable to City of Phoenix Aviation Department contracts reference disadvantaged business enterprise requirements under 49 C.F.R. Parts 26 and 23, which may apply to airport-related services. The current program reportedly served approximately 256 defendants with 172 completions based on fiscal year 2024/2025 data, though actual future participation may vary. The contractor must collect itemized fees covering screening and intake, educational sessions, counseling sessions, reschedule fees, late fees, out-of-county monitoring, and additional fees on a sliding scale, remitting $30.00 to the City for each defendant completing the program and paying the full program fee of $220 for the 8-hour education class; no overall budget range or award value is specified in the solicitation documents. Insurance requirements include general liability ($4,000,000 general aggregate), professional liability ($2,000,000 per claim), workers' compensation, and automobile liability ($1,000,000 combined single limit). The contractor must comply with extensive regulatory requirements including Criminal Justice Information Services security standards, confidentiality obligations, data protection protocols, heat safety compliance measures, Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, and federal certifications including tax liability, debarment and suspension, and Federal Transit Administration certifications as applicable.