DYS PRE-INDEPENDENT LIVING -FEMALES, Statewide - Request for Responses

The Department of Youth Services is seeking to award a contract for a statewide pre-independent living program designed exclusively for female youth aged 16 to 21 transitioning from residential supervision, serving 5 to 11 youth at a time across all five DYS regions. The program must provide 24/7 residential care with on-site support from qualified adults, grounded in trauma-informed care, Positive Youth Development, racial equity, and LGBTQ+ inclusivity. Offerors must propose up to three compliant residential locations, with the central administrative performance located at 40 Broad Street, Boston, MA. The contract is structured as a fee-for-service arrangement with an estimated annual value of $1.29 million based on 8 beds at $493.50 per day and 90% utilization, with a base period of three years and two optional one-year extensions, bringing the total potential value to approximately $6.48 million, contingent on appropriation and actual utilization. Proposals are evaluated on a 100-point scale prioritizing program specifications (48 points) including security compliance, life skills training, medication protocols, and community resource integration; proposed location (40 points) covering facility security and community engagement; a vision statement (8 points) demonstrating program philosophy and startup readiness; and general specifications (4 points). Evaluation uses a consensus-based trade-off model without price as a factor, focusing on technical excellence. Offerors must comply with EEC-approved background checks, maintain specific staffing levels including a 1.0 FTE Program Director and 7.27 FTE direct care staff, and submit detailed curricula, partnership agreements, and operational plans. All staff must be 21 or older, possess valid driver’s licenses if handling transportation, and adhere to PREA, clinical oversight, and emergency protocols. Proposals are capped at 30 pages with strict formatting rules and must be submitted electronically via COMMBUYS by August 17, 2026. Compliance with the Master Service Pre-Qualification Application is mandatory, and failure to meet standards triggers a 14-day corrective action requirement. DYS retains full authority to inspect sites, approve locations, and enforce program compliance, with immediate reporting required for any safety hazard.