The UCS Office of Court Administration’s (OCA) Division of Professional and Court Services (DPCS) is soliciting proposals via this RFP for the purpose of establishing a contract to provide court services for the Bronx Criminal Court (BCC).
UCS operates the BCC, which has jurisdiction over misdemeanors (crimes punishable by fine and/or imprisonment of up to one year) and lesser offenses committed in the Bronx. The BCC also conducts arraignments and preliminary hearings for felonies (crimes punishable by imprisonment of more than one year) committed in the Bronx. In 2022, approximately 21,850 people were arraigned in the Bronx based on allegations of non-federal offenses committed in the Bronx. Of these, approximately 3,490 (16%) were women. Incarcerating women can be particularly destabilizing for families given that they tend to be primary caregivers. Further, they present with unique challenges. Studies have shown that women who enter the criminal legal system are likely to suffer from past trauma and abuse, mental health and substance misuse issues, and poverty and homelessness. A 2017 report found that 85% of the women detained in New York City’s jails are mothers, many have suffered trauma and violence at the hands of men, and two-thirds report having a mental illness.
PROJECT INFORMATION
UCS is the recipient of an award (the “Grant Award”) by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) (the “Grantor”) for the purpose of funding the Bronx Criminal Court Women’s Mental Health Initiative in the Bronx, New York (the “Project”). Pursuant to the terms of the Grant Award, $501,169 is the maximum available funding for Project Services (as set forth in Article V below) performed during May 1, 2024 – September 30, 2026, provided, however, that such period may be extended upon mutual agreement of Grantor and UCS (the “Project Term”). UCS reserves the right to request a no-cost extension of the Project Term from the Grantor. Initially, compensation under the contract resulting from this RFP will be limited to reimbursing the awarded contractor for expenses incurred assisting UCS with the development of a Planning and Implementation Guide (“Guide”) for this Project. Upon review and approval of the Guide by the Grantor, UCS will notify the awarded contractor that UCS will reimburse the awarded contractor for expenses incurred delivering all other Project Services (as that term is defined in Article V, below). UCS will not reimburse the awarded contractor for Project Services other than the above-described Guide development assistance delivered prior to such notification.
UCS anticipates that the selected applicant will be designated a “subrecipient” rather than a “contractor” for purposes of federal requirements of the Grant Award.
AWARD
UCS intends to award one contract for a term commencing on or about May 1, 2024, and terminating on or about September 30, 2026 (“Contract Term”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Contract Term of any contract resulting from this RFP may extend to a term not to exceed five (5) years in total, which contract shall terminate upon the earlier of: (i) five (5) years from the contract commencement date; or (ii) the complete expenditure of funding available for Project Services, whichever is earlier, unless otherwise terminated pursuant to the terms of said contract. Awarded contractor shall be contractually obligated to provide the Project Services for the Project Term, as it may be amended or extended. UCS and awarded contractor shall communicate regularly concerning the remaining amount of grant funds and the approximate timing of complete expenditure.
Minimum Qualifications
Proposals will be considered only from applicants who meet the following minimum qualifications:
• Qualified applicants are agencies that possess at least two (2) years of experience in performing services similar or relevant to those described herein.
• Qualified applicants must have the capacity to provide (as set forth in Article V, below) Project Services, including the Required Staffing, to clients within the Bronx.
PROJECT SERVICES
UCS seeks proposals describing how the applicant will provide the services listed below (“Project Services”). The selected applicant shall be required to:
1. During the implementation phase, work with the UCS to develop a screening tool to identify female defendants who: (i) may need mental health services and/or treatment; (ii) may be victims of gender-based violence (trafficking, sexual assault, intimate partner violence, etc.); or (iii) exhibit indicia of substance use disorder(s) (“Potential Participants”) for Bronx mental health court or other problem-solving courts as appropriate.
2. Work with the Bronx Criminal Court (BCC) and other stakeholders during the planning year to develop a non-invasive questionnaire to identify Potential Participants.
3. Provide staff to screen Potential Participants held for arraignment or appearing for arraignment on a desk appearance ticket in the BCC. The staff will flag the cases of these Potential Participants so that their cases may be referred to the appropriate problem-solving court for further screening and assessment.
4. Develop a referral process for jurists of the BCC who identify Potential Participants. The staff will also provide a referral to a treatment provider or further screening by problem-solving court staff.
5. Provide in-kind services equivalent to 15% of the total contract value for the purpose of providing supervisory services during the planning and implementation of the Project to facilitate the delivery of the required services.
6. Conduct training for judges and non-judicial staff of the BCC about the prevalence of extensive histories of trauma among justice-involved women and its impact on mental health, techniques for identifying Potential Participants, and making appropriate treatment referrals. Training shall include use of the UCS Women’s Mental Health Initiative Screening Tool (as described in Paragraph 1, above).
7. Collect data about Potential Participants and prepare reports for the BCC, including the number of Potential Participants identified, treatment or evaluation referrals made, and the number who participated in treatment.
Required Staffing:
Two (2) Clinical Case Managers (Full Time). The Clinical Case Managers will be an integral part of the Bronx Women’s Mental Health Initiative team and will be based in the BCC. The Case Managers must demonstrate skill in identifying primary treatment/intervention needs in women, especially mental health disorders but also substance abuse and other areas of concerns. The Case Managers will report directly to the Presiding Judge of the Bronx Misdemeanor Mental Health Court and must have experience in the mental health and substance abuse fields as well as strong organizational skills.
Required qualifications:
• Master’s Degree in criminal justice, social work or related field with substantial experience working with populations experiencing mental illness, commercial sexual exploitation, labor/sex trafficking, gender-based violence, and/or sexual assault, and knowledge of trauma-informed care is required. An equivalent combination of education and experience will also be considered.
Preferred qualification:
• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with treatment and criminal justice systems.
• Preference will be given to candidates who are fluent in a second language.
RFP Issue Date March 8, 2024
Deadline to Submit Written Questions March 20, 2024 at 2:00pm EST
Deadline to Submit Proposals April 8, 2024 at 2:00pm EST
Estimate Contract Start Date May, 1, 2024
The UCS looks forward to your response.
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Set Aside: No
Due date:04/08/2024 2:00 PM
Contract term: On or about May 1, 2024 thru September 30, 2026
County(ies): Bronx
Location: Bronx, NY Business entities awarded an identical or substantially similar procurement contract within the past five years: Mental Health Association of Erie County
Horizon Health Services
