Victim advocacy services for victims of juvenile offenders

The Washington Department of Commerce, Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention/Community Safety Unit, is soliciting proposals for victim advocacy services targeting victims of juvenile offenders across five counties (Franklin, Grant, Grays Harbor, Chelan, and Yakima), with proposals due August 25, 2026 and a pre-proposal conference on July 20 at 10:00 a.m. PT. The Department will award three statewide contracts.

Proposers must be licensed to do business in Washington or commit to obtaining licensure within 30 days of selection and must demonstrate at least three years of documented experience providing crime victim advocacy services within Washington State. Services include direct support, emotional guidance and counseling, system navigation, resource facilitation, safety planning, and administrative assistance.

Total funding is $450,000 distributed regionally: $200,000 for Western Washington, $100,000 for Central Washington, and $150,000 for Eastern Washington. The contract period runs from October 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, with options for two additional one-year extensions. Funding is contingent upon availability under the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA).

Evaluation weights technical approach at 80 points, management qualifications at 15 points, and cost at 5 points. Proposers certifying they do not require mandatory individual arbitration clauses for employees receive an additional 5 percent bonus. The Department will consider geography, urban/rural distribution, and applicants' history of performance and compliance with previous contracts when making award decisions.

A statement of intent is due August 19, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. PT. A tribal pre-proposal conference is scheduled for July 20 at 1:00 p.m. PT. Questions are due through August 3, 2026, with answers posted by August 7. Virtual presentations with finalists may occur September 10, with the apparent successful contractor announced September 14. Contract negotiation will occur September 15–30, with the earliest contract signing date of October 1, 2026.