Stakeholder Engagement

The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is seeking a contractor to conduct a comprehensive stakeholder engagement project related to the D.S. Lawsuit and Settlement Agreement. The solicitation (RFQQ 26-DCYF-CW-097) requires the selected vendor to solicit, collect, synthesize, and communicate stakeholder input regarding implementation progress and areas of improvement for Kinship Engagement, Family Group Planning, and Referrals and Transitions systemic improvements. Mandatory qualifications include demonstrated expertise working with foster youth within the past five years, professional experience using trauma-informed and culturally responsive methods, and the ability to provide language access and reasonable accommodations. The project will involve conducting a minimum of three virtual listening sessions with youth and four virtual listening sessions with families, tribes, and stakeholders across six geographic regions of Washington State. Evaluation criteria include 205 base points across 14 questions focusing on organizational expertise, technical capabilities, and understanding of child welfare system improvements. Key deadlines include a pre-bid conference on January 13, 2026, the final day for written questions on January 26, 2026, and a response deadline of February 17, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

The solicitation includes voluntary numerical goals for small and diverse business participation, specifically targeting ten percent Office of Minority and Woman-Owned Businesses, one percent Veteran-Owned Businesses, and twenty percent Washington Small Businesses. Eligible bidders are limited to individual sole proprietors or 501(c) non-profit organizations, with a procurement preference for businesses that do not require mandatory individual arbitration for employees. The total contract value is capped at $200,000, divided into three phases: Phase 1 (project planning) up to $35,000, and Phases 2 and 3 (implementation and reporting) combined up to $165,000. The contract performance period runs from March 20, 2026, through March 31, 2027, with potential contract amendments at DCYF's discretion. Bidders must be licensed to do business in Washington or commit to licensure within thirty days of selection. The project requires the contractor to maintain specific insurance coverage, including commercial general liability and professional liability insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, and comply with Washington State data security requirements.