Request for Information (RFI) Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Unaccompanied Alien Children Bureau (UACB), Special Population Continuum of Care (CoC) Residential Care Network

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Refugee Resettlement, issued a Request for Information (RFI) under solicitation number 7571MN26R00017 to identify qualified organizations capable of providing residential care services for Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) ages 12–17 with complex behavioral and mental health needs. The solicitation seeks to establish a Special Population Continuum of Care Network comprising state-licensed and nationally accredited facilities offering a spectrum of care levels, including High-Security Facilities (HSF), Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTF), Therapeutic Group Homes (TGH), and other specialized settings. Contractors must maintain full operational readiness for contracted bed capacities at all times, with minimum and maximum bed ranges specified per care level, and must be prepared to accept UAC within 72 hours of referral. All services must comply with federal regulations under 45 CFR Part 410, ORR policy guides, and state licensing standards, with a strong preference for national accreditation from bodies such as COA or the Joint Commission. Proposals are submitted via a single 10-page Capability Statement in 12-point Times New Roman, double-spaced format, and must include detailed information on organizational structure, staffing ratios, clinical service delivery models, past performance, licensing history, and compliance with federal and state regulations. Offerors are required to disclose any deficiencies in licensing or accreditation within the past five years and must provide their Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and business size status. The government intends to award up to three Firm-Fixed Unit Price (FFUP) contracts based on a trade-off evaluation—not lowest price technically acceptable—prioritizing the quality of care, operational sustainability, safety protocols, and proven clinical outcomes over cost alone. The base contract period is 12 months, with four optional 12-month periods that could extend performance up to five years. Contractors must achieve full operational capacity within 120 days of award and adhere to strict staffing, supervision, and security requirements, including continuous 24/7 supervision, secure perimeters, and prohibition of detention-style features. The evaluation emphasizes trauma-informed care, integrated clinical services, and the ability to participate in a Community of Practice. Responses were due by April 9, 2026, and the RFI was posted on June 1, 2026, with key contacts for inquiries including