Youth Advisory Committee Coordination

Washington's Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF), Office of Juvenile Justice, is issuing a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP #26-DCYF-OJJ-103) to procure Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) coordination services for five counties: Chelan, Franklin, Grant, Grays Harbor, and Yakima. The solicitation seeks one individual or organization with no more than two primary staff at 1.0 FTE to facilitate, coordinate, and support a Youth Advisory Committee operating as a subcommittee to the Washington State Partnership Council on Juvenile Justice (WA-PCJJ). Key objectives include ensuring youth leadership and lived experience guide juvenile justice decision-making, advocacy efforts, and policy recommendations; conducting outreach and recruitment of committee members; developing committee charters and bylaws; maintaining weekly member contact; attending quarterly Partnership Council meetings; and providing staff support for quarterly reporting. Primary deliverables consist of quarterly progress reports and quarterly financial reports, with the contractor required to attend pre-bid conference on May 12, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time via Microsoft Teams. Written questions must be submitted by May 12, 2026, with responses posted by May 15, 2026. Proposals are due July 10, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, with the apparent successful bidder announced August 31, 2026. Mandatory qualifications include Washington business licensure, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number, non-debarment certification, and demonstrated understanding of the juvenile justice system and systemic oppression of youth of color. Evaluation criteria include project design and implementation strategies (30 points), supporting information and demonstrated experience including project management and coalition-building (50 points), budget outline (10 points), and budget narrative (10 points). Desirable qualifications include full-time dedicated staff, staff with personal justice system experience, and HCA-recognized certifications such as Certified Peer Counselor or Certified Peer Support Specialist.

There are no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises; however, a 5% preference is available for bidders certifying compliance with Executive Order 18-03 regarding employee arbitration clause restrictions. Organizations certifying as Minority or Women-Owned Business Enterprises (OMWBE), Veteran-Owned Businesses, or Small Businesses may identify these designations but receive no stated procurement preference. Bidders must submit minimum three letters of support, with at least one from a youth or young person with direct service experience with the applicant organization. No incumbent vendor or current contractor is identified in the solicitation materials. The maximum contract award is $140,000 for the initial twelve-month period commencing October 1, 2026, with 100% funding from the Federal Title II Block Grant awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). Allowable expenses include personnel, supplies, other services and charges, equipment, travel, and contractual services, with a maximum indirect cost allocation of 15% of the total budget; capital outlay and food costs are not permitted. The contract term extends through September 30, 2027, with two optional one-year extensions available, potentially extending through September 30, 2029. All funding is federal and subject to 2 CFR Part 200 compliance requirements, federal terms and conditions, comprehensive insurance obligations, background check and PREA training requirements, and extensive record-keeping and audit requirements for a five-year retention period following contract expiration.