RFI-2027-DCYF-01-PROGR: Assessment of Sununu Youth Services Programming

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
FOR
Assessment of Sununu Youth Services Programming
RFI-2027-DCYF-01-PROGR
RELEASE DATE: July 13, 2026

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Assessment of Sununu Youth Services Programming
Request For Information
1. Overview and Purpose
1.1 Overview
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (the Department),
Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), is issuing this Request for
Information (RFI) to gather information from qualified organizations with experience in
evaluating secure detention facilities, residential treatment, juvenile justice, and
traumainformed care programs.
1.2 The Department seeks vendor input on approaches to conducting a comprehensive
assessment of current Sununu Youth Services Center (SYSC) operations and
recommendations for improvement, including considerations related to SYSC's
planned transition to a new facility. The Department is particularly interested in
seeking responses from organizations with expertise in:
1.2.1 Traumainformed treatment models for youth, restorative practices, and
therapeutic milieu management;
1.2.2 Restorative justice programming;
1.2.3 Secure juvenile justice residential operations and safety practices;
1.2.4 Behavioral support systems, deescalation and therapeutic environment
management;
1.2.5 Organizational assessment, including staffing studies, leadership evaluation,
safety assessments, quality assurance systems, and training system
evaluation; and
1.2.6 Leadership, workforce development, staff wellbeing, and strategies for
recruitment and retention.
1.3 Respondents may include nonprofits, academic institutions, consulting firms, or other
qualified entities serving the broad continuum of care that includes secure and
residential programs, therapeutic schools, outpatient and behavioral health services,
community-based services, foster care, housing, employment supports, and training
programs. Collaborative or multidisciplinary submissions are welcome.
1.4 Purpose
This RFI is for informationgathering only and will aid the State in refining its approach
for a comprehensive assessment of its current programming model and
recommendations for improvement consistent with therapeutic and restorative justice
best practices and statutory requirements. This RFI does not commit the State to
issue an RFP or award a contract.
2. Background
2.1 SYSC operates 24/7 providing justice-involved detained and committed youth aged
13-17, who cannot safely be served within the community, with comprehensive
services within a trauma-informed, secure, highly structured setting serving an
average daily census of 12-17 youth. While the eligibility for release or parole from
SYSC is determined by the court or juvenile parole board, day-to-day oversight,
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New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Assessment of Sununu Youth Services Programming
policy making, and facility administration fall under Department and DCYF leadership
who are responsible for treatment, education, stabilization, and safety of the youth
and staff who care for them.
New Hampshire boasts among the lowest rates of juvenile incarceration in the nation.
Since 2022, DCYF has been a leader in promoting Juvenile Justice Reform by
focusing on earlier intervention through community-based services, reducing
involvement in the formal legal system, encouraging positive youth development and
decreasing the need for future judicial involvement.
Guided by RSA 169-B:10, when a law enforcement agency is considering bringing a
youth to court under a delinquency petition, the agency or prosecutor make a referral
to the Department to conduct the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths
Assessment (CANS).
Based on these assessments, DCYF makes recommendations to the referring law
enforcement agency as to whether involvement in the juvenile court system is
necessary, or if the youth would be better served through community-based services
which could include mental health services, employment, diversion programs, or other
pro-social activities.
New Hampshire's Juvenile Justice Reform has had remarkable success in diverting
youth away from becoming involved in the formal juvenile justice court system and
from deep end system involvement such as secure detention. In partnership with the
Department's Children's System of Care, fewer youth are entering the juvenile
justice system, there are fewer new delinquencies, and even fewer youth are
committed to SYSC.
In recognition of the progress of Juvenile Justice Reform, the smaller daily census
and an outdated facility, in 2023, Governor Chris Sununu signed into law, HB 49,
authorizing the closure of the existing, large-scale, aging SYSC facility and authorized
the construction of a smaller, more trauma-informed, secure facility. This new facility
is located on the campus of Hampstead Hospital in Hampstead, New Hampshire.
Construction will be completed by Fall 2026 and it is anticipated that youth will
move into the new facility in Hampstead, New Hampshire in January 2027,
meeting all requirements of HB 49. While the Department is eager to serve youth
in a modern facility, this transition is adding to the current operational uncertainty
especially with regards to staffing. It is unclear how many staff will opt to work in the
new facility that is 40 minutes south of the current SYSC. However, there are also
significant opportunities to re-imagine new therapeutic and recreational programming,
all within a modern building.
HB 49 also includes a wide range of trauma-informed responsibilities for the
operation of the existing and new youth treatment center. Those statutory
responsibilities must be considered in any RFI response.
While it is encouraging that most youth at risk for adjudication in New Hampshire can
be diverted away from secure detention and commitment, opportunities remain to
strengthen services for those requiring the highest level of traumainformed, secure
care. SYSC is preparing to move into a new smaller facility and serving a smaller but
more complex population. These factors present an opportunity for strategic
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New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Assessment of Sununu Youth Services Programming
improvements to enhance operational capacity, program quality, and the facility's
ability to meet the needs of the youth in its care.
3. RFI Questions and Additional Information
3.1 Note to Respondents:
3.1.1 The State is seeking a better understanding in the areas listed below and
requests interested Respondents provide responses to the following
questions, as applicable.
3.1.2 Respondents may respond to some or all of the questions below. Please
label responses with regard to the question being addressed.
3.2 Questions
3.2.1 Assessment Approach and Methodology
3.2.1.1 Please describe your organization's approach to conducting
comprehensive organizational and program assessments for youth
residential treatment or juvenile justice facilities.
3.2.1.2 What traumainformed and restorative justice frameworks would
guide your assessment of SYSC's program model?
3.2.1.3 How would you evaluate alignment between current SYSC
practices and evidencebased traumainformed and restorative
justice principles?
3.2.1.4 What assessment tools, structured interviews, document reviews or
observational protocols do you typically employ?
3.2.2 Programmatic and Clinical Operations
3.2.2.1 Describe how you would evaluate the quality and effectiveness of
SYSC programming, including residential, clinical, educational,
medical, and milieu management practices.
3.2.2.2 What strategies would you use to assess staff and contractor
integration across residential life, safety and security, and clinical
operations (e.g., youth counselors, clinical teams, education staff)?
3.2.2.3 Describe how you would evaluate how staff and contractor roles are
clarified, integrated, and communicated with regards to
responsibility and accountability for residential, behavioral,
educational, medical, and clinical care.
3.2.2.4 How would you assess the appropriateness and consistency of
behavioral management strategies, including Positive Behavioral
Interventions and Supports (PBIS), deescalation models, and
restorative practices?
3.2.3 Staffing and Workforce
3.2.3.1 What methodologies do you utilize for assessing workforce
competencies, training curriculum, staffing adequacy, shift
structure, and scheduling?
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New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Assessment of Sununu Youth Services Programming
3.2.3.2 How would you evaluate risks related to staff turnover, burnout, and
retention?
3.2.3.3 What approaches would you use to assess innovative recruitment,
onboarding and retention strategies for Youth Counselors,
clinicians, and supervisors?
3.2.4 Safety and Facility Operations
3.2.4.1 How would your organization assess SYSC's safety environment,
including environmental safety concerns, youth interactions,
supervision practices, and shift hand-off communication?
3.2.4.2 What intervention model/s, in alignment with RSA 126-U would you
recommend in instances where a youth becomes dysregulated and
becomes a danger to themselves or others?
3.2.4.3 Please describe your experience evaluating security technology
options (still cameras, body-worn cameras), including benefits,
limitations, and bestpractice considerations. What factors should
be weighed when balancing operational needs with technology
capabilities?
3.2.4.4 What methodologies do you recommend for ensuring continuous
quality improvement, quality assurance and real-time adjustments
to practice based on independent review of documentation and
video evidence?
3.3 Sole Point of Contact
The Sole Point of Contact for this RFI, relative to this submission of requested
information is:
State of New Hampshire
Department of Health and Human Services
Robert Moore, Contract Specialist
Robert.W.Moore@dhhs.nh.gov
Other State personnel are NOT authorized to discuss this RFI before the submission
deadline. The State will not be held responsible for verbal responses to vendors
regardless of source.
3.4 RFI Timetable
RFI Release Date: 07/13/2026
RFI Responses Due Date: 07/27/2026 at 12:00pm EST
The State reserves the right to modify these dates at its sole discretion.
3.5 Respondent Inquiries
3.5.1 All inquiries about this RFI, including but not limited to requests for
clarification, may be made in writing, citing the RFI page number and part or
subpart, and submitted to the Sole Point of Contact identified in Subsection
3.3.
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New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
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3.5.2 Any inquiries must be submitted by e-mail; however, the Department assumes
no liability for assuring accurate and complete e-mail transmissions.
3.5.3 The Department may not acknowledge receipt of questions.
3.5.4 The Department will only respond to inquiries that are understood and
relevant to this RFI.
3.5.5 Statements that are not questions will not receive a response.
3.5.6 Any verbal answers given are non-binding.
3.6 RFI is not an RFP
3.6.1 This RFI is for informational purposes only and is not intended to result in a
contract or vendor agreement with any Respondent. This RFI is not a Request
for Proposals, Bids, or Applications. The State is seeking insight and
information prior to finalizing business, functional, operational, and technical
requirements before considering the publishing of a Request for Proposal
(RFP).
3.6.2 This RFI does not commit the State to publish a competitive solicitation or
award a contract. The issuance of an RFP or other competitive solicitation, as
a result of information gathered from these responses, is solely at the
discretion of the State. If an RFP or other competitive solicitation is issued, it
will be open to all qualified vendors whether those vendors choose to submit a
response to this RFI. This RFI is not a pre-qualification process.
3.7 Respondent Presentations and Discussions
The Department may request that Respondents provide presentations based upon
their submission. There is no guarantee that a Respondent will be asked to provide a
presentation. Any and all costs associated with a presentation shall be borne entirely
by the Respondent. Respondents may be requested to provide demonstrations to
expound upon their responses and proposed solutions. Respondent presentations
are for informational purposes only and do not confer any additional status upon a
vendor for any future or potential competitive solicitation or contract.
3.8 RFI Amendment
The Department reserves the right to amend this RFI, as it deems appropriate prior to
the submission deadline on their own initiative or in response to issues raised through
inquiries. In the event of an amendment to the RFI, the Department, at its sole
discretion, may extend the submission deadline. The amended language will be
posted on the Department Internet site.
3.9 Submission Instructions
3.9.1 Respondents are asked to examine all documentation and other
requirements.
3.9.2 The Department requests that submissions conform to all instructions,
conditions and requirements included in the RFI.
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New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
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3.9.3 Submissions should be received by the date and time specified in the RFI
Timetable, Subsection 3.4. Submissions may be emailed to the Sole Point of
Contact at the following email address:
3.9.3.1 To: Robert.W.Moore@dhhs.nh.gov
3.9.4 Please include the following information in the subject line: RFI-2027-DCYF-
01-PROGR (email xx of xx).
3.9.5 The maximum size of file attachments per email is 25 MB. Proposals with file
attachments exceeding 25 MB may be submitted via multiple emails.
3.10 Outline and Detail
3.10.1 The Transmittal Cover Letter - The Respondent shall submit a Transmittal
Cover Letter in the following manner:
3.10.1.1 On the Respondent's organization's letterhead;
3.10.1.2 Identify the name, title, telephone number, and e-mail address of
the person who will serve as the Respondent's representative for all
matters relating to the RFI;
3.10.2 Table of Contents - The required elements of the RFI response may be
numbered sequentially and represented in the Table of Contents.
3.10.3 RFI Responses - Responses to the RFI questions above must be limited to
twenty (20) pages of text. The page limit excludes the cover page and table of
contents.
3.10.4 Appendix (optional) - Respondents may include an appendix containing
exhibits and diagrams. There is no page limit to the appendix.
3.11 Non-Collusion
The Respondent's required signature on the Transmittal Cover Letter for a
submission in response to this RFI guarantees they have been established without
collusion with other vendors and without effort to preclude the Department from
obtaining the best possible competitive proposal in the event the Department
publishes a Request for Proposals or other competitive solicitation.
3.12 Prohibition on Collaborative Submissions
Submissions may only be submitted by one organization.
3.13 Property of the Department
All material property submitted and received in response to this RFI will become the
property of DHHS and will not be returned to the respondent. The Department
reserves the right to use any information presented in any submission provided that
its use does not violate any copyrights or other provisions of law.
3.14 RFI Response Withdrawal
Prior to the closing date for receipt of submissions, a submission may be withdrawn
by submitting a written request for its withdrawal to Sole Point of Contact identified in
Section 3.3.
3.15 Public Disclosure
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New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
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3.15.1 Any information submitted as part of a response to this RFI may be subject to
public disclosure under RSA 91-A. In addition, in accordance with RSA 9-F:1,
may an RFP be published by the Department, and a contract awarded, that
information will be made accessible to the public online via the website
Transparent New Hampshire. Accordingly, business financial information and
proprietary information such as trade secrets, business and financials models
and forecasts, and proprietary formulas are exempt from public disclosure
under RSA 91-A:5, IV.
3.15.2 Insofar as a Respondent seeks to maintain the confidentiality of its confidential
commercial, financial or personnel information, the Respondent may clearly
identify in writing the information it claims to be confidential and explain the
reasons such information may be considered confidential. This may be done
by separate letter identifying by page number and RFI section number the
specific information the Respondent claims to be exempt from public
disclosure pursuant to RSA 91-A:5.
3.15.3 Each Respondent acknowledges that the Department is subject to the Right-
to-Know Law New Hampshire RSA Chapter 91-A. The Department shall
maintain the confidentiality of the identified confidential information insofar as
it is consistent with applicable laws or regulations, including but not limited to
New Hampshire RSA Chapter 91-A. In the event the Department receives a
request for the information identified by a Respondent as confidential, the
Department shall notify the Respondent and specify the date the Department
intends to release the requested information. Any effort to prohibit or enjoin
the release of the information shall be the Respondent's responsibility and at
the Respondent's sole expense. If the Respondent fails to obtain a court order
from a court of competent jurisdiction enjoining the disclosure, the Department
may release the information on the date the Department specifies in their
notice to the Respondent without incurring any liability to the Respondent. The
Respondent is strongly encouraged to provide a redacted copy of their
Proposal.
3.16 Liability
Respondents agree that in no event shall the State be either responsible for or held
liable for any costs incurred by a Respondent in the preparation or submittal of or
otherwise in connection with their RFI response.
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