Sole Source Notice

The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is pursuing a sole source contract with Evident Change to improve the state's Child Welfare Program's Shared Planning Meeting (SPM) model. The procurement focuses on updating and implementing statewide system improvements incorporating five key elements of the Team Decision Making (TDM) model: equality, engagement, equity/inclusivity/transparency, fairness, and self-evaluation/sustainability. Specific deliverables include a comprehensive policy and practice review, data analysis, training for facilitators, staff, supervisors, and community partners, post-training implementation support, and youth engagement training. The contract, stemming from a class action settlement with Disability Rights of Washington, requires the contractor to demonstrate expertise in developing and refining the TDM model and be listed on the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare. The contract period runs from March 17, 2025, to July 31, 2025, with capability statements from potential offerors due by March 7, 2025. Vendors must showcase their ability to incorporate the specified TDM elements and provide comprehensive training and technical assistance.

The procurement is a sole source contract specifically targeting Evident Change as the exclusive provider, with no explicit set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises mentioned. The contract covers multiple jurisdictions across Washington State, including but not limited to Franklin, Grant, Grays Harbor, Chelan, and Yakima Counties. Evident Change is the proprietary owner of the TDM model currently used by DCYF, making them the only authorized provider for this specific training and implementation support. The total contract value is $250,000, funded entirely through federal sources allocated by the state legislature. The budget includes itemized costs for various deliverables, such as $31,000 for policy review, $44,000 for practice review, $28,500 for data analysis, $49,000 for youth engagement training, and $25,000 for technical assistance. The contract includes a potential six-month extension option and requires strict data security protocols for handling DCYF information, with detailed protections outlined in the contract's Exhibit A.