26-P013R Credible Messengers (Highflyers Pilot Program)

The City of Charleston
Procurement Division
2 George Street, Suite 3600
Charleston, South Carolina 29401
P) 843-724-7312 F) 843-724-7354
www.charleston-sc.gov
Proposal Number: 26-P013R Proposals will be received until: August 13, 2026 @ 12:00pm
Proposal Title: Credible Messengers (Highflyers Pilot Program)
Mailing Date: July 14, 2026 Direct Inquiries to: Robin B. Robinson
Vendor Name: FEIN/SS#:
Vendor Address:
City - State - Zip:
Telephone Number: Fax Number:
Authorized Signature: _____________________________ Title: __________________________
Date: _________________________
I certify that this bid is made without prior understanding, agreement, or connection with any corporation, firm, or person submitting a bid
for the same materials, supplies, equipment or services and is in all respects fair and without collusion or fraud. I agree to abide by all
conditions of this bid and certify that I am authorized to sign this bid for the bidder. This signed page must be included with bid
submission.
IMPORTANT
1. This solicitation seeks proposals responding to the Scope of Work for Credible
Messengers (Highflyers Pilot Program). This solicitation does not commit the City of
Charleston to award a contract, to pay any costs incurred in the preparation of applications
submitted, or to procure or contract for the services. The City reserves the right to accept
or reject any, all or any part of any proposal received as a result of this Solicitation, or to
cancel in part or in its entirety this Solicitation if it is in the best interest of the City to do
so. The City shall be the sole judge as to whether proposals submitted meet all
requirements contained in this solicitation.
2. Offeror may mail, or hand-deliver response to the Procurement Division. Do Not Fax in
the proposal response. Please show the solicitation number on the outside of any mailing
package. The City of Charleston assumes no responsibility for unmarked or improperly
marked envelopes. If directing any other correspondence to the Procurement Division not
related to the solicitation, please do not include the solicitation number on the envelope. If
the Bidder chooses not to respond to this solicitation, it is recommended to return the "No
Proposal Response Form" to our office.
3. DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF OFFER: Any proposal or offer received after the
Procurement Director or his designee has declared that the time set for opening has
arrived, shall be rejected unless the offer has been delivered to the designated purchasing
office or the governmental bodies' mail room which services that purchasing office prior
to the proposal opening.
4. Questions regarding this solicitation must be submitted in writing to Robin B.
Robinson, no later than 12:30pm on July 29, 2026. Questions may either be faxed to
843-724-7354 or emailed to Robin B. Robinson, robinsonr@charleston-sc.gov.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
INTRODUCTION
The Charleston Police Department (CPD), in collaboration with the Charleston County School
District (CCSD), is launching the Highflyers Pilot Program - a restorative, community-centered
model for youth violence prevention and intervention. Highflyers is designed for middle-school
students exhibiting chronic behavioral challenges, truancy, or system involvement.
The program centers around four pillars: credible messenger mentorship, trauma-focused therapy,
restorative community engagement, and place-based workforce development. Through this
framework, CPD seeks to transform traditional enforcement-based models into systems of
prevention and care.
PROCUREMENT PROCESS
The RFP (Request for Proposal) is not a bid. In the event the City elects to negotiate a contract
with the successful Vendor, any contract shall contain, at a minimum, the term and conditions (or
substantially the same term and conditions) as hereinafter stated. The City reserves the right, in
its sole discretion, to reject all submissions, reissue a subsequent RFP, terminate, restructure or
amend this procurement process at any time. The final selection and contract negotiation rests
solely with the City.
QUESTIONS
Every effort has been made to insure that all information needed by the Offeror is included herein;
however, questions are allowed and encouraged to clear up any information as described herein,
etc. The City will not accept telephone calls or visits regarding this RFP. All questions shall be
in writing and addressed to: Robin B. Robisnon, City of Charleston, Procurement Division,
2 George Street, Suite 3600, Charleston, South Carolina 29401, or email to:
robinsonr@charleston-sc.gov. Written Questions may also be faxed to: 843-724-7354. All
questions must be received before 12:30pm on July 29, 2026. No interpretation shall be binding
upon the City unless in writing from the City's Corporate Counsel.
ORAL STATEMENTS
No oral statement of any person shall modify or otherwise change, or affect the terms, conditions
or specifications stated in the resulting contract. The City of Charleston shall not be legally
bound by any amendment or interpretation that is not in writing.
NON-ENDORSEMENT
If a Proposal is accepted, the successful Offeror shall not issue any news releases or other
statements pertaining to the award or servicing of the agreement that state or imply the City's
endorsement of the successful Offeror's product or services.
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION
If an Offeror does not desire proprietary information in the Proposal to be disclosed, the Offeror
shall identify all proprietary information in the Proposal. This identification will be done by
individually marking each page with the words "Proprietary Information" or "Confidential" on
which such proprietary information is found. If the Offeror fails to identify proprietary
information, it agrees that by submission of its Proposal that those sections shall be deemed non-
proprietary and made available upon request through the Freedom of Information Act.
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UNAUTHORIZED COMMUNICATIONS
Respondents' contact regarding this RFP with employees or officials of the City of Charleston
will result in disqualification from this procurement process. Any oral communications are
considered unofficial and non-binding with regard to this RFP. The only authorized contacts for
this procurement are any designated Procurement staff.
CONTRACTOR SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR PERFORMANCE
Vendor shall be responsible for the performance of the services required by the contract. Vendor
is an independent contractor and does not act as the City's agent or employee.
DISQUALIFICATION OF OFFERORS
Offerors may be disqualified for any of the following reasons:
* Reason to believe collusion exists among the Offerors
* The Offeror is involved in any litigation against the City
* The Offeror is in arrears on any existing contract or has defaulted on a previous contract
with the City
* Lack of financial stability
* Failure to perform under previous or present contracts with the City
* Is currently debarred by the State of South Carolina Procurement Services
SUSPENSION AND DEBARMENT
The Offeror certifies, by submission of this proposal, that neither it nor its principals are presently
debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from
participation in this transaction by any federal, state or local agency. Where the Offeror is unable
to certify to any of the statements in this certification, such Offeror shall attach an explanation to
this proposal.
CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
The City will rank, based upon the evaluation criteria, all responsible and responsive Vendors.
The City will begin negotiations with the top ranked Vendors and will continue with negotiation
down the ranking until a satisfactory contract with the City is finalized, if any. The terms and
conditions of the contract will be no less advantageous than the provisions of this RFP or the
Vendor's proposal. The City reserves the right to make a partial award or to split the award at its
sole discretion.
CONTRACT TERMS
The initial term of the Agreement shall be for one (1) year. The City reserves the right to extend
the Agreement if the City determines the extension is in its best interest; said extension will be on
an annual basis and shall not exceed four (4) additional one (1) year periods.
VENDOR'S DUTY TO INSPECT & ADVISE AND DECLARE ALL COSTS
Each Vendor shall become fully acquainted with the City's requirements and the scope of
commodities and/or services to be provided. Vendor shall have a duty to request any information
from the City as it deems necessary to prepare the RFP. No change order will be granted or
additional compensation permitted if based upon information the Vendor knew or should have
known as part of the Vendor's duty to become acquainted with the City's circumstances and
requirements.
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RECEIPT OF PROPOSALS
Proposals must be submitted to and received by the City no later than the date and time specified
within this RFP. Offerors mailing proposals should allow a sufficient mail delivery period to
insure timely receipt (12:00pm on August 13, 2026) of their proposal by the City. Proposals
received after the scheduled due date and time will not be considered. Proposals must be
completed and delivered in sufficient time to avoid disqualification for lateness due to difficulties
in delivery. The time and date stamp clock in the City Procurement Division is the official clock
for determining whether submittals are submitted on time. The City of Charleston is not
responsible for delays in the delivery of mail by the U.S. Postal Service or private couriers. It is
the responsibility solely of the Offerors to ensure that its proposal reaches the City of Charleston
Procurement Division, by the designated date and time. Proposals received after the scheduled
due date and time will not be considered.
Late Proposal documents will not be accepted under any circumstances.
PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS
To assure similarity in proposal presentation and allow the Selection Committee to easily
compare competing proposals, Offerors shall include, in the order described, the material
indicated below. It is not the intent of the City of Charleston to constrain Offerors with regard to
content, but to assure that the specific requirements set for in this RFP are addressed in a uniform
manner amenable to Evaluation and Selection Committee review. Offerors may include
additional information sections or appendices if desired, to present additional pertinent
information. Offerors should submit information in a concise and responsive manner for every
requirement. Non-responsive or incomplete submittals or inability to meet City requirements set
forth may lead to disqualification of the Offeror's submittal.
Only information presented in the Proposal will be used to evaluate the submittals.
Responses shall be completed in accordance with the requirements in the RFP. Statements
made by an Offeror shall be without ambiguity, and with adequate elaboration, where
necessary, for clear understanding.
Specific Requirements
Proposals should be as thorough and detailed as possible so that the City may properly evaluate
the Offeror's capabilities to provide the required services. Offerors are required to submit the
following items as a complete proposal:
Complete response to RFP, signed, completed and submitted as required with a detailed
outline and description of proposal, including a list of standard limitations and exclusions.
A narrative summary of all the deviations from the specifications. The detailed explanation
and description of price quotation deviations should be submitted.
Sealed package marked on the outside with the Offeror's name, address, and the solicitation
number.
All submittal forms.
PROPOSAL FORMAT
Proposals are to be prepared in a manner design to provide the Selection Committee with a
straightforward presentation of the capability to satisfy the requirements of this RFP.
All documentation submitted with the proposal shall be in a single volume. Documentation must
be on 8 12 x 11 pages.
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Include the following items:
o RFP Cover Page listing title of project, RFP number, date of submittal, and name of company
o List of lead contact(s) for the City
o List of Qualifications and References: provide at least (4) municipal projects for a client in the
past year. References are provided with accurate and up-to-date contact information.
*Reference form is provided.
o Acknowledgement of any issued Addenda
o Proposal must be signed by an official authorized by the vendor's company to contractually
bind the vendor.
RESPONSE FORMAT AND ORGANIZATION
To assure similarity in proposal presentation and allow the evaluation team to easily compare
competing proposals, Offerors shall include, in the order described, the material indicated below.
It is not the intent of the City to constrain Offerors with regard to content, but to assure that the
specific requirements set forth in this RFP are addressed in a uniform manner amenable to
Evaluation and Selection Committee review. Offerors may include additional sections or
appendices if desired, to present additional pertinent information. Offerors should submit
information in a concise and responsive manner for every requirement and every question. Non-
responsive or incomplete answers to information requests and/or City requirements may lead to
disqualification of the Offeror's submittal.
REQUIRED FORMS AND SIGNATURE PAGES
Offerors shall include as an appendix, all ancillary forms required in this Request for Proposal
(RFP). Required forms include, but are not limited to the following:
* RFP Cover Page
* Certificate of Familiarity
* Any Addenda
COMPLETION OF REPONSES
Only information presented in the Proposal will be used to evaluate the services that best fits the
needs of the City.
Responses shall be completed in accordance with the requirements of this RFP. Statements made
by an Offeror shall be without ambiguity, and with adequate elaboration, where necessary, for
clear understanding.
QUANTITY AND IDENTIFICATION OF PROPOSALS SUBMITTED
Each vendor must submit the following:
o One (1) original un-bound, single-sided Proposal labeled as "ORIGINAL"
o Five (5) bound, double-sided Proposals
o One (1) electronic copy on a flash drive. Please have submittal on flash drive divided into
two documents: 1) the proposal; and 2) the cost.
o The Vendor must mark on the envelope or box containing the proposal the follow
information: "26-P013R Credible Messengers (Highflyers Pilot Program)"
o Note the RFP identification number on the outside of the envelope or box
o All Proposals, including original, copies and the flash drive, shall be submitted together in
one envelope or box
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o Proposals must be submitted by mail or hand delivered to City of Charleston, Procurement
Division, 2 George Street, Suite 3600, Charleston, SC 29401, ATTN: 26-P013R.
No more than one proposal may be submitted by any Vendor.
PROPOSAL EVALUATION PROCESS
An Evaluation and Selection Committee will be established to evaluate the Proposals and select a
proposal which represents the best value to the City. The Evaluation and Selection Committee
will be comprised of City personnel and any other persons as designated by the City. This
Committee will determine the responsiveness and acceptability of each proposal. The Evaluation
and Selection Committee may request additional information from Offerors.
The City will conduct a comprehensive, fair and impartial evaluation of all Proposals received in
response to this RFP. Each Proposal received will first be analyzed to determine overall
responsiveness and completeness to this RFP. Each Proposal will then be evaluated based on
each of the criteria as outlined in Proposal Evaluation Criteria Factors, and after which identified
as either reasonably qualified or unqualified. A Proposal may be declared unqualified if it clearly
fails to demonstrate, in any of the listed areas, a standard that the City believes necessary to meet
the requirements set forth in this RFP.
Following their review of all submitted Proposals, the Selection Committee may select a shortlist
of the highest ranked reasonably-qualified Offerors. Shortlisted Offerors will be invited to
present their Proposal to the Evaluation and Selection Committee.
After the proposals are evaluated, the City will determine whether formal presentations and
interviews are necessary, and if so, which vendors may be invited to make a formal presentation
and/or sit for a panel interview. The City may choose not to require formal presentations or
interviews. The City may choose to contact officials from other jurisdictions regarding the
vendor, their prior work experience and their ability to successfully complete the scope of
services. The City may request clarification or additional information from a specific vendor in
order to assist in the City's evaluation of a proposal. Finally, the City may require changes in the
scope of services as deemed necessary by the City, before execution of the contract.
PROPOSAL EVALUATION CRITERIA FACTORS
The following weighted criteria will be used to evaluate the Proposals for purposes of selecting
the Offeror(s) to negotiate with or to shortlist.
Criteria Factors
* Organizational capacity: for training, fiduciary responsibility, effective
mentorship, partnering with law enforcement, and future expansion (non-starter,
"capacity" must be fully met)
* Program design and implementation plan
* Qualifications and lived experience of Credible Messengers
* Understanding of Highflyers' Mission and Model
* Data collection and reporting strategy
* Local presence, cultural competency, and community trust
It is the Offeror's responsibility to effectively communicate their qualifications, services, and
products to the City by thoroughly responding to each requirement contained in this RFP.
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CPD Highflyers Pilot Program - Credible Messengers
Scope of Work
CREDIBLE MESSENGER SERVICES FOR IN-SCHOOL AND
COMMUNITY BASED INTERVENTION FOR HIGH-RISK YOUTH
PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
The Charleston Police Department (CPD), in collaboration with the Charleston County School
District (CCSD), is launching the Highflyers Pilot Program - a restorative, community-centered
model for youth violence prevention and intervention. Highflyers is designed for middle-school
students exhibiting chronic behavioral challenges, truancy, or system involvement.
The program centers around four pillars: credible messenger mentorship, trauma-focused therapy,
restorative community engagement, and place-based workforce development. Through this
framework, CPD seeks to transform traditional enforcement-based models into systems of
prevention and care.
The awarded partner will provide Credible Messenger Services, offering culturally competent,
trauma-informed mentorship, case management and violence intervention for identified youth at
Simmons-Pinckney Middle School.
CREDIBLE MESSENGER CONTEXT:
"Credible Messengers" are individuals who: (a) have direct experience with incarceration, (b)
involvement with gangs or street-oriented lifestyles, (c) been impacted by the legal system or
foster care, and/or (d) emerged as an agent of change within their community provided they are
willing to leverage their experiences to mentor youth in similar situations.
Reference the excerpt below, written by CPD's Developer of Youth Outreach, from the Police
Magazine on The Vital Role of Credible Messengers to better understand CPD's expectations and
relationship to Credible Messengers:
To those who identify as credible messengers, this is for you... The unique role you play in the
fight against youth violence is undeniable. You are essential, non-negotiable partners in building
public safety, trust, and healing among your communities' most marginalized youth.
You possess insights and relationships that law enforcement cannot replicate. Having grown up
in the communities you serve, you carry decades of trust and understanding. Your firsthand
knowledge of generational cycles of harm allows you to address the root causes of interpersonal
conflicts that, if unaddressed, may escalate into violence.
With your insights and the respect you command within your communities, you have cultural
currency that can create spaces for dialogue and vulnerability, and advance healing and
understanding among youth who often feel alienated from traditional systems of support. When
you step into the role of violence interrupters by responding to incidents of violence and
preventing retaliation, you become first responders. This is not to suggest that credible
messengers should work for police departments, but rather to urge you and law enforcement
agencies to see one another as contemporaries, both striving for the same outcome: safe,
supportive environments where every young person has an opportunity to thrive.
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PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:
* Deliver consistent, relational mentorship to identified "Highflyer" youth, and serve as their
lead "case manager".
* Collaborate and build trust between youth, their families, schools, and law enforcement.
* Reduce youth behavioral incidents, school referrals, arrests, and police contact.
* Improve youth attendance, academic engagement, and peer relationships.
* Support the program's systemic healing by aligning with the restorative and trauma-
informed practices of the other service provides a part of the pilot.
SCOPE OF SERVICES:
The awarded partner is expected to coordinate and manage all the following responsibilities
related to the Credible Messenger pillar of the Highflyers program. It is paramount that the
awarded partner acts as a intermediary between the roles and responsibilities of CPD as a law
enforcement agency and the expectations of all Credible Messengers involved.
I. Program Implementation & Management
a. Recruit, train, and supervise Credible Messengers with relevant lived experience and
professional readiness.
b. Ensure mentors complete required background checks, receive proper exemptions
where needed, and adhere to CPD and CCSD standards for youth engagement.
c. Develop a structured mentorship plan in coordination with CPD's Developer of Youth
Outreach and Simmons-Pinckney's school admin.
d. Participate in planning meetings, Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) sessions,
and Village Gatherings to ensure alignment across partners.
II. Direct Mentorship & Intervention
a. Provide at least 3 Credible Messengers to mentor 10 youth, with a mentor to student
ratio of no more than 1:4.
b. Facilitate twice-weekly small group mentoring sessions (8:30-9:20 a.m., Mondays and
Fridays) for up to ten Highflyer students per semester.
c. Provide individualized mentorship outside of school (check-ins, restorative circles,
family engagement).
d. Use trauma-informed and culturally relevant practices to promote emotional growth,
conflict resolution, and self-advocacy.
e. Document session activities, attendance, and mentor reflections using standardized
templates provided by CPD.
III. Professional Development & Systems Alignment
a. Attend bi-weekly Highflyers "Flight Crew" meetings and monthly Village Gatherings
to align care plans with other service partners.
b. Provide joint training for mentors, school staff, and SROs on effective engagement
strategies with high-risk youth.
c. Collaborate with CPD, CCSD, and all youth service providers assigned to the program
to ensure continuity of care.
d. Ensure on-going training and professional development of Credible Messengers as new
learnings emerge from the pilot.
e. Help build the profession of Credible Messengers by shaping and co-telling the story of
Highflyers alongside CPD.
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IV. Data Collection, Reporting, and Evaluations
a. Submit monthly progress reports summarizing participation, qualitative observations,
and quantitative metrics (attendance, referrals, engagement).
b. Collect pre- and post-program assessments to measure youth growth in leadership, self-
regulation, and school engagement.
c. Participate in semester-end evaluation meetings to review data, outcomes, and
improvement strategies.
d. Contribute data and insights to CPD's Research and Strategic Planning Division for
program evaluation.
DELIVERABLES:
* Training and certification of all Credible Messengers.
* Mentorship session plans and attendance logs.
* Monthly progress and impact reports.
* Pre/post-assessment data and qualitative success stories.
* Semester-end and end-of-program impact summaries
* Participation in regular partner meetings
* Contributions to final Impact Report, Curriculum Guide, and Engagement Toolkit
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
* Demonstrated experience in youth violence prevention, restorative justice, or Credible
Messenger programming - for both high-risk male and female youth.
* Proven success recruiting and training individuals with lived experience to work with
high-risk youth in school/systems-based environments.
* Demonstrated cultural competence and community trust within Charleston's priority
neighborhoods. (i.e. Credible Messengers who live or are from the Bridgeview,
Gadsden Green, Eastside, or Robert Mills communities.)
* Established administrative capacity to manage personnel, data tracking, and fiscal
accountability.
* Prior partnerships with schools, justice agencies, or community-based youth programs
preferred.
REQUIRED SOLICITATION DOCUMENTATION:
* Cover Letter: Tell us your understanding of the mission and vision of the Highflyers
pilot and why your organization is best suited to provide local, culturally competent,
student-centered services for the Highflyers Pilot.
* Agency Description: Executive summary; mission statement; service/offerings; agency
composition; size; agency capacity to carry out this work; location of head and branch
offices (where work will be managed); any other relevant information.
* Agency Qualifications & Experience: Previous relevant projects; references; length of
time in the youth services and/or Credible Messenger space; alignment with "minimum
qualifications"; experience working with(in) communities and system actors; key staff
personnel (excluding Credible Messengers) who will work on this project - job title,
resume, percent of time committed to this project.
* Credible Messenger Profiles: List of names, backgrounds, experience, qualifications,
community/neighborhood connections, and Credible Messenger criteria for each
mentor who will be assigned to this project.
* Current Financial Information: e.g. annual reports and audited financial reports for
the last three (3) years.
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* General Proposal: Program design/curriculum; implementation plan; training schedule
for Credible Messengers; financial proforma & program budget; and data collection and
reporting strategy.
ATTACHMENTS
Appendix A - Highflyer Program Proposal
Appendix B - Highflyer Strategic Plan: Goals, Objectives, & Activities
Appendix C - Highflyer Implementation Plan
Appendix D - The Vital Role of Credible Messengers (article)
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