Families First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) Amendment #2

ANDREA SANDERS
COMMISSIONER
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
FAMILIES FIRST PREVENTION
SERVICES ACT (FFPSA)
PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION
RFP# 2026FFPSAPI
Issue Date: Friday, April 3, 2026
CLOSING LOCATION
Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services
750 North State Street
Jackson, Mississippi 39202
CONTACT
Justin Steep, RFP Coordinator
601-359-4368
contracts@mdcps.ms.gov
CLOSING DATE AND TIME
Proposals must be received by Monday, May 4, 2026 , by 12:00 P.M., CT
MDCPS WELCOMES THE PARTICIPATION OF MINORITY
BUSINESSES
RFP No. 2 026FFPSAPI Page 1 of 72

TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION 1: REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) PROCESS OVERVIEW ............................ 3
SECTION 2: PROGRAM INFORMATION .................................................................................. 7
2.1 Purpose ......................................................................................................................................... 7
2.2 Definitions....................................................................................................................... 9
2.3 Service Area Description........................................................................10
2.4 Scope of Services.................................................................................10
SECTION 3: MINIMUM CERTIFICATIONS ............................................................................ 15
SECTION 4: PROPOSAL FORMAT ......................................................................................... 16
4.1 Written Proposals Shall Contain the Following Minimum Information: ................................... 16
4.2 Evaluation Procedure .................................................................................................................. 18
4.2.1 Step One: .................................................................................................................................... 18
4.2.1.1 Responsive Respondent .......................................................................................................... 18
4.2.1.2 Responsible Respondent......................................................................................................... 19
4.2.2 Step Two: .................................................................................................................................... 19
4.2.2.1 Relevant Experience and Expertise (10 point maximum) ...................................................... 19
4.2.2.2 Service Goals and Objectives (10 point maximum) ............................................................... 19
4.2.2.3 Program Approach (15 point maximum) ............................................................................... 20
4.2.2.4 Management Plan (10 point maximum) ................................................................................. 20
4.2.2.5 Service Coordination/Collaboration (10 point maximum) ..................................................... 20
4.2.2.6 Timetable (10 point maximum).............................................................................................. 20
4.2.2.7 Budget Narrative (35 point maximum) .................................................................................. 21
4.4 Nonconforming Terms and Conditions ...................................................................................... 23
4.5 Informalities and Irregularities ................................................................................................... 23
4.6 Conditioning Proposal Upon Other Awards ............................................................................... 23
4.7 Award ......................................................................................................................................... 24
4.7.1 Notice of Intent to Award ........................................................................................................... 24
4.7.2 Notice of Subgrant Agreement ................................................................................................... 24
SECTION 5: POST AWARD INFORMATION ........................................................................... 24
5.1 Post-Award Vendor Debriefing .................................................................................................. 24
5.2 Required Subgrant Terms and Conditions .................................................................................. 24
5.3 MDCPS Website ........................................................................................................................ 24
5.4 Attachments ................................................................................................................................ 25
5.5 MDCPS Rights Reserved ........................................................................................................... 25
5.6 Legal Requirements .................................................................................................................... 25
RFP No. 2 026FFPSAPI Page 2 of 72

SECTION 1: REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) PROCESS OVERVIEW
1.1 Proposal Acceptance Period
Respondents shall submit one (1) original, signed proposal, and one (1) electronic copy
on USB flash drive in a sealed envelope or package to the following (mailed or hand-
delivered), no later than the time and date specified for receipt of proposals:
MDCPS Contracts & Procurement
RFP No. 2026FFPPSAPI - Families First Prevention Services Act Program Implementation
750 North State Street
Jackson, Mississippi 39202
NOTE: MDCPS will NOT accept proposals submitted via either electronic mail or
facsimile.
Timely submission is the responsibility of the respondent. Proposals received after the
specified Proposal Submission Deadline described herein shall be rejected. Any
proposal received later than 12:00 PM CT on Monday May 4, 2026 will be
declared non-responsive and not eligible for consideration for possible award of a
subgrant. MDCPS will not entertain any exceptions to this hard deadline. The envelope
or package shall be marked with the proposal opening date and time, and the number of
the RFP. The time and date of receipt shall be indicated on the envelope or package
by MDCPS staff. Modifications or additions to any portion of the procurement
document may be cause for rejection of the proposal. MDCPS reserves the right to
decide, on a case-by-case basis, whether to reject a proposal with modifications or
additions as non-responsive. As a precondition to proposal acceptance, the MDCPS
may request the respondent to withdraw or modify those portions of the proposal
deemed non-responsive that do not affect quality, quantity, price, or delivery of the
service.
1.1.1 Timeline
Request for Proposals Issue Date: Friday, April 3, 2026
Deadline for Written Questions and Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Requests for Clarification to MDCPS
Anticipated Posting of Answers to Thursday, April 16, 2026
Questions and Requests for
Clarifications:
Proposal Submission Deadline: Monday, May 4, 2026
Proposal Opening: Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Anticipated Notice of Intent to Award: Friday, May 15, 2026
Anticipated Period of Performance June 1, 2026 - September 30, 2029
RFP No. 2 026FFPSAPI Page 3 of 72

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 RFP. The initial contract term is determined
by MDCPS, but MDCPS may change the dates of the initial contract term without
amendment to this RFP if the date changes are necessary because of the procurement
schedule. No other dates shall be changed unless a written amendment is issued.
MDCPS also has the right to reject any and all proposals during any step of the
procurement or awarding process (even after negotiations have begun).
1.1.2 Rejection of Proposals
Proposals which do not conform to the requirements set forth in this RFP may
be rejected by MDCPS. Proposals may be rejected for reasons which include,
but are not limited to, the following:
A. The proposal contains unauthorized amendments to the
requirements of the RFP.
B. The proposal fails to include provisions as designated in the RFP.
C. The proposal is conditional.
D. The proposal is incomplete or contains irregularities which
make the proposal indefinite or ambiguous.
E. The proposal is received late. Late proposals will be
retained unopened in the procurement file.
F. The proposal is not signed by an authorized representative of the
party.
G. The proposal contains false or misleading statements or references.
H. The proposal does not offer to provide all services required by the
RFP.
I. The proposal fails to follow the required format of Sec. 4.3.
1.1.3 Exceptions
Respondents taking exception to any part or section of the solicitation shall
indicate such exceptions on the Proposal Exception Summary Form, attached
to this RFP as Attachment B. Failure to indicate any exception will be
interpreted as the respondent's intent to comply fully with the requirements as
written. Conditional or qualified proposals, unless specifically allowed, shall
be subject to rejection in whole or in part.
1.2 Expenses Incurred in Preparing Offers
The MDCPS accepts no responsibility for any expense incurred by the respondent in
the preparation and presentation of an offer. Such expenses shall be borne exclusively
by the respondent.
1.3 Confidential and Proprietary Information
Should the respondent's proposal contain any confidential or proprietary information
per Mississippi Code Annotated 25-61-1, et. seq., and 79-23-1 (1972, as amended),
the respondent shall submit a separate redacted PDF copy of the proposal on a separate
USB flash drive. The USB flash drive containing the separate redacted proposal shall
RFP No. 2 026FFPSAPI Page 4 of 72

be clearly labeled as "REDACTED COPY." A redacted copy will be in addition to
the number of required copies as requested in Sec. 1.1 of this RFP.
If a respondent does include a redacted copy of the proposal, the redacted copy will
be considered public record and will be released by MDCPS upon receipt of a Public
Records Request. If the respondent does not include a redacted copy of the proposal,
the entire proposal (including attachments, etc.) will be considered public record and
subject to review by the general public. Requests to review confidential and/or
proprietary information will be handled in accordance with applicable legal
procedures. Failure to clearly redact any proprietary information, trade secrets, or
other confidential commercial/financial information may result in that information
being released in a public records request.
1.4 Registration with Mississippi Secretary of State
By submitting a proposal, the respondent certifies that it is registered to do business
in the State of Mississippi as prescribed by Mississippi law and the Mississippi
Secretary of State or, if not already registered, the respondent hereby certifies that it
will register with the Mississippi Secretary of State within five (5) business days of
being offered an award. Sole proprietors are not required to register with the
Mississippi Secretary of State.
1.5 Debarment
By submitting a proposal, the respondent certifies that it is not currently debarred from
submitting proposals for subgrants issued by any political subdivision or agency of the
State of Mississippi or Federal government and that it is not an agent of a person or
entity that is currently debarred from submitting proposals for contracts issued by any
political subdivision or agency of the State of Mississippi or federal government. The
respondent shall submit a completed MDCPS Debarment Verification Form, attached
to this RFP see Attachment H for additional details. The MDCPS reserves the right to
deem any proposal not containing an executed MDCPS Debarment Verification Form
as non-responsive to this RFP.
1.6 Competitive Proposals
Discussions may be conducted with respondents who submit proposals determined to
be reasonably susceptible of being selected for award. Likewise, MDCPS also reserves
the right to accept any proposal as submitted for subgrant award, without substantive
negotiation of proposed terms, services or prices. For these reasons, all parties are
advised to propose their most favorable terms initially.
Respondents submitting proposals in response to this RFP may be required, at MDCPS'
discretion, to make an oral presentation of their proposals. The objectives of such
presentations will be to clarify any questions MDCPS may have regarding proposed
services and costs to assist MDCPS in arriving at a final selection. Toward this end,
respondents shall have employees selected from key management positions available
for attendance if a presentation is required. MDCPS will schedule the time and location
of these presentations. These oral presentations are solely at the option of MDCPS and
RFP No. 2 026FFPSAPI Page 5 of 72

may or may not be conducted at the discretion of MDCPS.
1.7 Additional Information
Questions and requests for clarifications regarding this RFP shall be submitted in
writing by e-mail to the RFP Coordinator at contracts@mdcps.ms.gov. Verbal
questions will NOT be accepted. Questions shall NOT contain proprietary or classified
information. MDCPS does not guarantee that questions received after the deadline are
reflected in Section 1.1.1. Timeline will be answered. When submitting questions and
requests for clarifications, "Questions for RFP No. 2024TDPP - Transportation and
Driving Pilot Program" should be the subject for the email. Question submittals should
include a reference to the applicable RFP section and be submitted in the format shown
below:
No. RFP Section, Page No. Question/Request for Clarification
1.
MDCPS will not be bound by any verbal or written information that is not contained
within this RFP unless formally noticed and issued by MDCPS. Respondents are
cautioned that any statements made by contact persons that cause a material change to
any portion of the RFP shall not be relied upon unless subsequently ratified by a formal
written amendment to the RFP. At no time shall any respondent or its personnel
contact, or attempt to contact, any MDCPS staff regarding this RFP except in writing
to the email address as set forth and, in the manner prescribed in this section.
1.8 Acknowledgment of Amendments
Should an amendment to the RFP be issued, it will be posted on the MDCPS website
(www.mdcps.ms.gov) in a manner that all respondents will be able to view and posted
to the MS Procurement Portal for ARPA Subgrants. Further, respondents must
acknowledge receipt of any amendment to the solicitation by signing and returning the
amendment with the proposal, by identifying the amendment number and date in the
space provided for this purpose on the amendment, or by letter. The acknowledgment
should be received by the MDCPS by the time and at the place specified for receipt of
proposals as reflected in Section 1.1.1. It is the respondent's sole responsibility to
monitor the MDCPS website for amendments to the RFP.
This RFP, all questions, requests for clarification, and answers will be published on
the MDCPS website (www.mdcps.ms.gov) and posted to the MS Procurement Portal
in a manner that all respondents will be able to view by the date reflected in Section
1.1.1. (Attachment T)
1.9 Type of Contract and Payment for Services
Agreement(s) for services resulting from this RFP will be in the form of a firm fixed
price subgrant. Payments for services will be on a Cost Reimbursement basis as
detailed and required in the most current version of the MDCPS Subgrant Manual
(Sec. 5.7).
RFP No. 2 026FFPSAPI Page 6 of 72

Depending upon requirements of a federal award and other applicable federal cost
principles, MDCPS may provide reimbursement to Subgrantees on a Current
Needs/Cash Advance basis for the first sixty (60) days of the subgrant period.
Subgrantees must submit this initial payment request through a Cash Advance Claim
Support Form. Payments on Current Needs/Cash Advance basis may be permitted by
MDCPS provided that the Subgrantee maintains and/or demonstrates the capacity
through established written procedures and financial management systems to meet the
requirements of applicable federal cost principles.
All payment requests will be on a Cost Reimbursement basis. Cost
Reimbursement claims shall be accompanied by the following required
supporting documentation: Subgrantee's General Ledger, Monthly Expenditure
Report Form, and required Participant Data that reflects participants served
during the prior month.
Payment on Cost Reimbursement basis will be processed based on respondent's
proper submission of a Claim Form along with required supporting documentation
detailing services provided for any negotiated subgrant agreement. Any Subgrantee
request for payment shall comply with the most current version of the MDCPS
Subgrant Manual. MDCPS reserves the right, under the MDCPS Subgrant Manual, to
monitor and review all claim submissions under any Subgrant Agreement entered into
based upon this procurement.
NOTE: Subgrantees that receive funding from any other source, such as another
agency or grant, shall not be reimbursed for providing any of the proposed
services as required and detailed in Sec. 2.3 of this RFP.
1.10 Written Proposals
Proposals shall be in writing, indexed, and divided by sections to allow for ease of
handling and review by MDCPS.
SECTION 2: PROGRAM INFORMATION
2.1 Purpose
The Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) was signed into law as part of the
Bipartisan Budget Act on February 9, 2018. This act reforms the federal child welfare
financing streams, Title IV-E and Title IV-B of the Social Security Act, to provide services
to families who are at risk of entering the child welfare system. Mississippi Department
of Child Protection Services is responsible for implementing the federal regulations
resulting from FFPSA, managing the Title IV-E State Plan, and administering funding to
support these efforts. FFPSA allows states, territories, and tribes the option of using
federal title IV-E funds for prevention programs such as Healthy Families America,
offering an opportunity for states to provide services to more families and prevent foster
RFP No. 2 026FFPSAPI Page 7 of 72

care system involvement. Mississippi's FFPSA Plan was approved in August 2025.
Mississippi's FFPSA plan presents an opportunity to implement improvement efforts by
creating capacity for prevention services and reinforcing a priority on meeting the needs
of families to keep children safely at home. To that end, MDCPS has selected prevention
programs that meet the evidence levels required by FFPSA and best align with the needs
of children identified as being at imminent risk of entering foster care, expectant and
parenting youth in foster care, and families of these children and youth.
The Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services is seeking proposals from
qualified entities with child welfare experience to implement the following evidence-
based practice model programs described below:
* Intercept(R) (Rated: Well-Supported) - Intercept is an integrated approach to in-home
parenting skill development that offers a variety of evidence-based practices (Adolescent
Community Reinforcement Approach (ACRA), Community Advocacy Project (CAP),
Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-
CBT), and Motivational Interviewing), as clinically-indicated, to meet the individualized needs
of a family and youth. This comprehensive intervention takes a therapeutic approach to
parenting skills education, educational interventions, development of positive peer groups, and
extensive help for families and children in accessing community resources and long-term,
ongoing support. The goals of the program are to reduce subsequent maltreatment, prevent
foster care placement, and reduce time in state custody by successfully reuniting children with
their families in a timelier manner.
* Homebuilders - Intensive Family Preservation and Reunification (Rated: Well-Supported) -
Homebuilders is a home- and community-based intensive family preservation service designed
to support families with children 0-18 years old. This intensive, in-home counseling/visitation
program focuses on children at imminent risk of out-of-home placement and/or who cannot be
reunified with their family without intensive services to address the physical condition of the
home, improving supervision, decreasing parental depression and/or alcohol and substance
abuse, and helping families access needed community supports. Parents and caregivers are
enlisted as partners in assessment, goal setting, and treatment planning, all in furtherance of
successful reintegration of the child into the home and community following discharge from
foster care.
* Motivational Interviewing (Rated: Well-Supported) - Motivational Interviewing is designed
to promote behavior change and improve physiological, psychological, and lifestyle outcomes
by helping clients identify and resolve ambivalence to change and progress through the five
stages of change. Motivational Interviewing will be used as a bundled program by community
providers.
RFP No. 2 026FFPSAPI Page 8 of 72

Each child receiving title IV-E prevention services must have a child-specific prevention
plan with MDCPS. The child-specific prevention plans will include identified prevention
strategy or strategies for the child. It will also list services to be provided to or on behalf
of the child to support the success of the identified prevention strategy or
strategies. Providers will be required to collaborate with the family and MDCPS to
provide relevant information and keep the title IV-E child-specific prevention plan up to
date.
Applicants must describe how they will apply a family-centered, culturally competent,
strengths-based approach to prevention service planning with families.
Applicants must meet reporting requirements based on data points as outlined in
(https://acf.gov/cb/training-technical-assistance/revised-technical-bulletin [acf.gov]) and Title IV-
E reporting requirements in compliance with federal guidelines.
The contractor will be responsible for developing these services to preserve family
connections, through evidence-based, voluntary home visiting services that strengthen
parent-child relationships, promote healthy childhood growth and development, and
enhance overall family functioning. The program helps parents build resources and access
community services to foster nurturing environments for their children from prenatal
development through early childhood.
Preference will be given to an entity or entities that:
* Has extensive experience with the Core Service Components as further
detailed in Sec. 2.4 (Scope of Services) of this RFP;
* Can provide all Core Service Components of the Healthy Families
America program statewide. Please indicate service area(s) in the
response.
* Has capability to track progress and report outcomes as needed by
MDCPS (
May want to consider some semblance of the below language (if my understanding is
correct):
"Respondents are not required to submit a proposal including all Core Service
Components and may include any number of Core Service Components. Proposals should
include services where your organization has relevant experience, qualified staff and
operational capacities to deliver high-quality outcomes."
2.2 Definitions
For this RFP, the below definitions apply:
Regular Driver's License (Light Commer License-Class D) - All other vehicles or
combination of vehicles which are not included in Class A, Class B, or Class C and for
RFP No. 2 026FFPSAPI Page 9 of 72

which a Light Commercial License is required when operating a vehicle commercially
under 26,000 pounds such as but not limited to any vehicle with a logo for commercial use,
taxicab, limousine, or any vehicle transporting no more than fifteen (15) passengers.
2.3 Service Area Description
Service Area Description
Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services (MDCPS) anticipates that services funded
under this Request for Proposals (RFP) will be provided statewide. Services may be delivered in
one or more geographic regions to ensure broad coverage and accessibility to children and families
involved with or at risk of involvement with the child welfare system.
MDCPS operates through designated service regions and counties across the State of Mississippi,
encompassing urban, rural, and underserved communities. Respondents may propose to provide
services in one or multiple MDCPS service areas, depending on organizational capacity,
infrastructure, and experience.
Respondents must clearly identify the specific service area(s) for which they are applying by
completing Attachment M - Proposed Service Area(s) included in this RFP. Proposals should
demonstrate the Respondent's ability to effectively deliver services within the selected geographic
area(s), including staffing plans, community partnerships, and strategies to ensure accessibility
across diverse populations.
MDCPS reserves the right to award contracts in one or multiple service areas based on
demonstrated need, availability of funding, and the Respondent's capacity to meet program
requirements.
2.4 Scope of Services
Core Service Components
The implementation of the First Families Prevention Services Act Plan will enable
MDCPS and its partners to serve children, youth, and families in Mississippi more
effectively by providing approved, evidence-based mental health, substance abuse
prevention and treatment services, and in-home skills-based parenting programs to
targeted populations for up to 12 months beginning on the date a child was identified in a
child-specific prevention plan as a "child who is a candidate for foster care". The child
also will be eligible for allowable child specific administrative costs at the beginning of
the month in which the child is identified as a candidate in the child specific prevention
plan. Accordingly, MDCPS is currently seeking proposals for the following evidence-
RFP No. 2 026FFPSAPI Page 10 of 72