The Department of Human Services is interested in contracting with agencies able to provide Group Home Care (GHC) for Dependent Adolescent Males ages 13-21. The qualified applicant(s) must have both c...

The City of Philadelphia Department of Human Services is soliciting proposals for group home care services for dependent adolescent males ages 13–21, with proposals due September 3, 2026, and a pre-proposal meeting on August 12, 2026. Providers must be licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and capable of 24-hour, 7-day-per-week residential care in Pennsylvania; all current for-profit vendors contracted with DHS for these services must respond to qualify for FY27 renewal.

The scope requires trauma-informed, culturally and linguistically competent care; family-driven and youth-guided decision making; active school and community connections; and evidence-based clinical interventions. The Department seeks one or more providers able to serve 18–24 males, including transgender and gender non-conforming youth, though smaller capacity applicants are encouraged. Minimum staffing includes a Program Director with a master's degree and two years of program administration experience, Program Supervisors with equivalent credentials and supervision experience, Provider Workers with bachelor's degrees and two years of adolescent-male experience, and Direct Care Managers with associate's degrees and two years of residential placement experience. Providers must accept all DHS referrals if capacity exists under a "No-Reject, No-Eject" policy and cover transportation to court hearings, medical appointments, and psychological services.

The estimated contract value is $400,000 on a fixed-price basis with monthly invoicing, running October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, with the City retaining the option to add up to four additional one-year renewal terms at its sole discretion. Applicants must submit audited or unaudited financial statements and comply with Philadelphia tax and regulatory clearance requirements. Non-profit applicants must submit IRS Determination Letters. A Local Business Entity or Local Impact Certification is optional but may be considered a positive evaluation factor. Questions are due August 17, 2026; answers post August 25. Site visits are scheduled for the week of September 14, 2026, with anticipated applicant selection September 24 and contract execution October 1. Applicants cannot be government agencies.