FOR CHILDREN | FOR FAMILIES | FOR MISSISSIPPI
Andrea Sanders, Commissioner
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)
Congregate Care and Child Placing Agency Services
RFQ No. 2025ICCCP002
RFx Number: 3140004423
Issue Date: October 29, 2025
CLOSING LOCATION
Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services
750 North State Street
Jackson, Mississippi 39202
CONTACT
LaShunda Williams, RFQ Coordinator
601-359-4368
contracts@mdcps.ms.gov
CLOSING DATE & TIME
Qualifications must be received no later than
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 12:00 PM, Central Standard Time
2025 Congregate Care and Child Placing Agency Services (RFx 3140004423)
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Table of Contents
SECTION 1: PROCUREMENT PROCESS ....................................................................................................................4
1.1 BACKGROUND ....................................................................................................................................................4
1.2 PROCUREMENT TIMELINE...................................................................................................................................4
1.3
QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS FOR CLARIFICATION ...............................................................................................5
1.4 RECOMMENDED LETTER OF INTENT ...................................................................................................................5
1.5 QUALIFICATIONS ACCEPTANCE PERIOD .............................................................................................................5
1.6 REJECTION OF QUALIFICATIONS.........................................................................................................................5
1.7 EXPENSES INCURRED IN PREPARING OFFERS .....................................................................................................6
1.8 PROPRIETARY INFORMATION .............................................................................................................................6
1.9
RESTRICTIONS ON COMMUNICATION WITH AGENCY STAFF ...............................................................................6
1.10 REGISTRATION WITH THE MISSISSIPPI SECRETARY OF STATE ............................................................................6
1.11 DEBARMENT.......................................................................................................................................................6
1.12 REGISTRATION WITH MISSISSIPPI’S ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM FOR GOVERNMENTAL INFORMATION AND
COLLABORATION (MAGIC) .............................................................................................................................................7
1.13 DISCUSSIONS WITH OFFERORS ...........................................................................................................................7
1.14 SOLICITATION DOCUMENT .................................................................................................................................7
1.15 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF AMENDMENTS ............................................................................................................7
1.16 EXCEPTIONS .......................................................................................................................................................7
1.17 INFORMALITIES AND IRREGULARITIES................................................................................................................7
1.18 RIGHT TO REJECT QUALIFICATIONS ...................................................................................................................8
1.19 TYPE OF CONTRACT ...........................................................................................................................................8
1.20 GENERAL REFERENCES THROUGHOUT THE RFQ ...............................................................................................9
1.21 MDCPS RIGHTS RESERVED ...............................................................................................................................9
1.22 SOLICITATION CANCELLATION CLAUSE .............................................................................................................9
1.23 DISCLOSURE OF ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE ................................................................................................9
1.24 DEFINITION OF PRINCIPAL................................................................................................................................10
1.25 VENDOR EXCLUSION NOTICE ........................................................................................................................... 10
1.26 REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF THE INTENT TO AWARD ......................................................................... 10
SECTION 2: SCOPE OF SERVICES AND REQUIREMENTS .................................................................................11
2.1 PURPOSE........................................................................................................................................................... 11
2.2 SCOPE OF SERVICES ......................................................................................................................................... 12
2.3 TERM................................................................................................................................................................15
2.4 INSURANCE ...................................................................................................................................................... 15
SECTION 3: QUALIFICATIONS SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS ......................................................................16
3.1 QUALIFICATIONS SUBMISSION DEADLINE ........................................................................................................16
3.2 MANNER OF SUBMISSION ................................................................................................................................. 16
3.3 CONTENT OF QUALIFICATIONS .........................................................................................................................17
SECTION 4: EVALUATION AND AWARD ................................................................................................................22
4.1
STEP ONE: DETERMINATION OF RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE OFFERORS....................................................22
4.2 STEP TWO: EVALUATION COMMITTEE ............................................................................................................. 23
4.3 STEP THREE: NEGOTIATION .............................................................................................................................25
4.4 AWARD ............................................................................................................................................................ 25
SECTION 5: DEBRIEFING INFORMATION .............................................................................................................26
5.1 POST-AWARD VENDOR DEBRIEFING ................................................................................................................ 26
ATTACHMENT A: QUALIFICATIONS COVER SHEET.........................................................................................27
ATTACHMENT B: DEBARMENT VERIFICATION FORM....................................................................................30
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ATTACHMENT C: PROPRIETARY INFORMATION FORM ................................................................................31
ATTACHMENT D: QUALIFICATIONS EXCEPTION SUMMARY FORM ..........................................................32
ATTACHMENT E: REFERENCES...............................................................................................................................33
ATTACHMENT F: REFERENCE SCORE SHEET ....................................................................................................37
ATTACHMENT G: SAMPLE CONTRACT.................................................................................................................38
ATTACHMENT H: ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF AMENDMENTS........................................................................53
ATTACHMENT I: RECOMMENDED LETTER OF INTENT..................................................................................54
ATTACHMENT J: PRE-OFFEROR’S STATEMENT OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT ..............................................57
ATTACHMENT K: OLIVIA Y SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ...............................................................................58
ATTACHMENT L: PRICE RESOURCE PER DIEM PAYMENT AMOUNTS......................................................59
ATTACHMENT M: COST FORM FOR CONGREGATE CARE AND CHILD PLACING SERVICES .............62
ATTACHMENT N: RELEASE OF QUALIFICATION AS PUBLIC RECORD ......................................................64
ATTACHMENT O: PERFORMANCE REPORT VARIABLES ................................................................................65
ATTACHMENT P: REQUIRED CLAUSES.................................................................................................................68
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SECTION 1: Procurement Process
1.1 Background
The Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services was created as the state’s lead child
welfare agency by the 2016 Mississippi Legislature, separating it from the Mississippi
Department of Human Services. The mission of MDCPS is to lead Mississippi’s efforts in
keeping children and youth safe and thriving by:
• strengthening families;
• preventing child abuse, neglect and exploitation; and,
• promoting child and family well-being and permanent family connections.
MDCPS is seeking to procure the services of Congregate Care and Child Placing Agency
Services vendors to join its Continuum of Care (CoC) network. The CoC is a network of
agencies that work together to protect children and offer a wide range of family-centered
services, including prevention, medical and legal support, licensed foster homes, and residential
treatment. This solicitation aims to select vendors to provide specified services, with the option
to operate one or multiple facility types. The vendor must be willing to commit to their roles,
engage in evidence-based practices, and collaborate with MDCPS on referrals, admissions,
discharges, placement transitions and aftercare recommendations/services. Additional
information about the services the Agency is seeking can be found in Section 2 of this RFQ.
1.2 Procurement Timeline
RFQ Issued and First Advertisement Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Second Advertisement
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Deadline to Submit Questions or
Requests for Clarification
Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. CST
Anticipated Posting of Answers to
Questions and Requests for Clarifications
Monday,
November
17,
2025
Deadline to Submit the Recommended
Letter of Intent
Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. CST
Deadline to Submit Qualifications
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. CST
Anticipated Notice of Intent to Award Thursday, December 11, 2025
Anticipated Initial Contract Term
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 – Tuesday, March 31, 2028
Note: MDCPS reserves the right to adjust this schedule as it deems necessary. MDCPS may post
Answers to Questions or the Notice of Intent to Award on dates other than those stated above
without amendment to this RFQ. The initial contract term shall be two years, but MDCPS may
change the dates of the initial contract term without amendment to this RFQ if the date changes
2025 Congregate Care and Child Placing Agency Services (RFx 3140004423)
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are necessary because of the procurement schedule. No other dates shall be changed unless a
written amendment is issued.
1.3 Questions and Requests for Clarification
Questions relating to the RFQ requirements, or the services shall be submitted in writing to the
RFQ Coordinator listed on the cover page of this RFQ at Contracts@mdcps.ms.gov no later than
Monday, November 17, 2025, 12:00 p.m., CST. Offerors are cautioned that any statements made
by any person at the agency shall not be relied upon where it contradicts any portion of this
RFQ, unless it is subsequently ratified by a formal written amendment to the RFQ. All questions
and answers will be published on the MDCPS website and the Mississippi Contract/Procurement
Opportunity Search Portal website in a manner that all Offerors will be able to view. When
submitting questions and requests for clarifications, “RFQ No. 2025ICCCP002, Congregate
Care and Child Placing Agency Services” should be the subject for the email. Question
submittals should include a reference to the applicable RFQ section and be submitted in the
format shown below:
No.
RFQ Section, Page No. Question/Request for Clarification
1.
1.4 Recommended Letter of Intent
Offerors should notify MDCPS of their intention to submit a qualifications package. The letter
of intent (Attachment I) shall be submitted via email to Contracts@mdcps.ms.gov by
Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 12:00 p.m. CST. The letter of intent shall include the title and
RFx number on the cover page of this RFQ, the Offeror’s organizational name and address, one
(1) to two (2) sentences stating that the Offeror’s organization intends to submit qualifications
for this service, location of the service area, and the contact person’s name, title, phone number,
fax number, Tax I.D. number, DUNS number, address, and email address. MDCPS will
acknowledge receipt of the letter of intent via return email from contracts@mdcps.ms.gov.
1.5 Qualifications Acceptance Period
The Agency will accept qualifications until Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 12:00 p.m., CST.
Qualifications shall be delivered to the RFQ Coordinator listed on the cover page of this RFQ.
Qualifications submission requirements are contained in Section 3 of this RFQ.
1.6 Rejection of Qualifications
Qualifications which do not conform to the requirements set forth in this RFQ may be rejected
by MDCPS. Qualifications may be rejected for reasons which include, but are not limited to, the
following:
• The qualifications contain unauthorized amendments to the requirements of the RFQ.
• The qualifications are conditional.
• The qualifications are incomplete or contain irregularities which make the Qualifications
indefinite or ambiguous.
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This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.