Region 5-Child Welfare Housing Program

The contract involves the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families seeking a qualified contractor to deliver child welfare housing assistance services in Pierce and Kitsap Counties. The primary goal is to provide housing vouchers, rental assistance, navigation, and additional support to families, aiming to reduce the duration or prevent the need for children to remain in out-of-home care due to housing barriers. The initiative is grounded in RCW 74.13.802 and is designed to address housing-related challenges that hinder family reunification, thereby promoting stability and well-being for children and their families. The contract is valued between $500,000 and $2,000,000, with the solicitation posted on November 25, 2024, and a response deadline of January 10, 2025. The procurement emphasizes inclusivity and small business participation, requiring bidders to certify their status as small businesses under specific criteria—namely, in-state entities with 50 or fewer employees or less than seven million dollars in gross revenue over the past three years. Additionally, bidders must submit a Diverse Business Inclusion Plan, outlining strategies for engaging minority, woman-owned, veteran-owned, and small businesses as subcontractors, with set participation goals of 10%, 1%, and 20% respectively. The point of contact for the solicitation is Rachel Denney, reachable via email or phone, and the process encourages broad participation from diverse and small business entities to foster equitable economic opportunities within the scope of the program.