R -- SPECIAL NOTICE: Request for Information - Supporting Family and Juvenile Residential custody and care practices and service including residential management and service provisions.

This Request for Information (RFI) is to solicit (1) comments and questions relating to the development of a Statement of Work for Family and Juvenile Detention Services that incorporate best practices for residential management and service provision of children, youth, and families in minimally security, less than secure, and/or non-secure facility from within the competitive marketplace, whether governmental or commercial and (2) industry or governmental interest in providing such services, in the form of a Sources Sought synopsis for information purposes only. This is not a solicitation announcement. Currently, no solicitation is available. This request for information does not commit the Government to pay any cost incurred in preparation of any submission to this Sources Sought Notice. The purpose of this request for information is to gain knowledge of potential qualified sources. Responses to this sources sought synopsis will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions BACKGROUND: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Office of Detention and Removal Operations, Juvenile and Family Residential Management Unit (JFRMU) sets juvenile and family detention policy and manages juvenile and family detention resources for individuals detained by ICE for administrative reasons. This RFI is to assist ICE in providing children, as well as members of their family, with a safe and secure environment while in ICE custody. When an adult with one or more minor children is detained, they may be placed in an ICE family residential facility. This enables families to stay together to the greatest extent possible rather than separating children from their parents. The goal of ICE family residential facilities is to maximize other available detention space and contain costs associated with the detention of non-criminal aliens including family units who are awaiting adjudication and/or removal from the United States. ICE provides safe, secure, and humane services in a residential setting. ICE has determined that maintenance of a family unit in a least restrictive setting is necessary to enforce specified provisions of immigration law. The standard operating procedure when an alien is ordered to be placed is detention: the alien is transported from the point of arrest to a processing center or a Detention and Removal Operations (DRO) field office. During processing, identification and paperwork on the alien are completed, personal belongings are documented, and a detention or residential facility is designated as the most appropriate housing option. The alien is then transported to the appropriate detention or residential facility. All responders are advised that the following considerations must be addressed in the family residential facility: Compliance with applicable state child welfare laws and regulations and all state and local building; fire, health and safety codes; suitable living accommodations, food and appropriate clothing and personal grooming items; least restrictive environment with detained adults on the premises; appropriate routine medical and dental care, emergency health care services including a complete medical examination within 48 hours of admission excluding weekends and holidays for juveniles and within 14 days for adults; appropriate immunizations for juveniles; administration of prescribed medications; educational instruction for juveniles of school age Monday through Friday in basic academic competencies; recreational and leisure activities; access to religious services; visitation with family members not detained at the facility; phone access; maintenance and safety of confidential case records. Additionally, all responders must address how any requirement for state residential license to provide child residential, group, or foster care, if needed, would be handled by their proposal. This RFI is for information and planning purposes only and should not be construed as a solicitation or an obligation on the part of the ICE. Responses to this notice are not an offer and cannot be accepted by ICE to form a binding contract. ICE does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses or otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted or the use of such information. All information received as a result of this RFI that is marked proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses will not be acknowledged or returned. Respondents may be invited to make an oral presentation to ICE concerning their response to this RFI. As a result of this RFI, ICE may issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) or an additional RFI. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against ICE shall arise as a result of a response to this RFI or the use of such information either as part of the evaluation process or in developing the specifications for any subsequent requirement. SUBMISSIONS: Respondents may provide - but are not limited to providing - the following information: (1) a statement indicating interest and capability to perform the required tasks; (2) a statement describing the respondent's proposed technical approach to the identified tasks; (3) suggestions regarding best means of providing for adequate family and juvenile care in an administrative detention setting; (4) suggestions for an appropriate schedule and/or development period; submitted materials should be submitted to ICE on or before July 23, 2007. Materials should be mailed to: Attention Susan Erickson, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of Acquisition Management, 425 I Street NW, Suite 2208, Washington, DC 20536. Telephone questions/inquiries will not be accepted. Please address all questions by e-mail to Susan.D.Erickson@dhs.gov. Interested parties having the required physical plant to meet the above requirement should submit a capability statement to include the following: (1) Name and address of firm; (2) Size of business; (3) Average annual revenue for past three years; (4) Number of employees; (5) Ownership of firm; (6) Business size (large, small, disadvantage); (7) Number of years in business; (8) Affiliate information (parent company, joint venture partners, potential teaming partners, prime contractor if potential sub, subcontractors if potential prime; and (9) List of customers covering the past five years (highlight relevant work performed, contract numbers, contract type, dollar value of each procurement, point of contact with address and phone number). Place of Performance: Potentially Nationwide