Youth Crime Prevention Program

The City of Phoenix Human Services Department is seeking a professional services contractor to develop and implement a comprehensive Youth Crime Prevention Program targeting juvenile crime reduction in four specific neighborhoods: Maryvale, South Phoenix, Alhambra, and Central City. The three-year contract, set to commence on or about January 1, 2026, aims to provide intervention services for youth aged 12-17, with a focus on violence prevention, substance abuse prevention, after-school enrichment, youth mental health services, dropout prevention, and family support strategies. Key program deliverables include 360 mentoring hours, 48 group family workshops, and 540 hours of after-school recreation, utilizing the Eisenhower Quantum Opportunities Curricula as an evidence-based intervention method. The solicitation (HSD-RFP-26-0074) was released on August 25, 2025, with critical dates including a September 12, 2025 deadline for questions, a September 19, 2025 question response deadline, and a proposal submission deadline of October 17, 2025 at 3:00 pm. Proposals will be evaluated based on nine criteria, with the highest weighted categories being Program Design and Methodology (20 points), Organizational Capacity and Staffing (15 points), and Evaluation and Logic Model (15 points).

The procurement includes specific Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and small business participation requirements, mandating contractors to track and report DBE participation through the City's Certification and Compliance System. Preferred minimum qualifications for the contractor include 3-5 years of experience in youth-focused crime prevention programming, cultural competency in high-crime neighborhoods, experience managing grant-funded projects, and established partnerships with schools, law enforcement, and community organizations. The total contract value is $500,000 per year, with an option to extend for two additional years at the same annual amount, subject to fund availability. Contractors must demonstrate good faith efforts in engaging DBE firms, including sending letters to potential suppliers, encouraging DBE certification, and actively seeking DBE-certified firms through the Arizona UTRACS database. The program will be implemented across four locations: Cesar Chavez High School, Alhambra High School, ABC Community Center, and City of Phoenix Burton Barr Library, with a staffing model that includes 3 Full Time Equivalents (FTEs) and 3 volunteers, leveraging community partnerships with local high schools and the West Valley YMCA.