RFP-2027-DCYF-05-JUSTI: Justice Involved Teen Foster Program

State of New Hampshire
Department of Health and Human Services
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
FOR
Justice Involved Teen Foster Program
RFP-2027-DCYF-05-JUSTI
RELEASE DATE: September 17, 2026

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Justice Involved Teen Foster Program
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. PURPOSE AND OVERVIEW 3
2. STATEMENT OF WORK 5
3. SOLICITATION RESPONSE EVALUATION 7
4. SOLICITATION RESPONSE PROCESS 10
5. SOLICITATION RESPONSE SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS 11
6. SOLICITATION RESPONSE REQUIREMENTS 12
7. ADDITIONAL TERMS AND REQUIREMENTS 13
8. COMPLIANCE 17
9. APPENDICES TO THIS SOLICITATION 19
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New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Justice Involved Teen Foster Program
1. PURPOSE AND OVERVIEW
Introduction
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Division for Children, Youth
and Families ("Department") is seeking responses to this Request for Proposals ("Solicitation"
or "RFP") from qualified Vendors to recruit and support foster caregivers to support teens in
the juvenile justice system across New Hampshire.
The Department anticipates awarding one (1) contract for the services in this Solicitation.
Key Information
The information in the table below is as anticipated by the Department and is subject to
change. Agreements are contingent upon the availability of funds, and/or approval by the
Governor and Executive Council.
Contract Effective Date January 2027, upon Governor and Executive Council
Approval
Contract End Date September 30, 2028
Renewal Options The Department may extend contracted services for up to two (2)
additional years.
Funding for the resulting Up to $150,000, inclusive of the cost to run media ads, as
contract is anticipated to specified in Appendix A, Scope of Services. Vendors are
be approximately: advised this is not a low-cost award; vendor cost proposals
will be scored in accordance with Subsection 3.4., Scoring
of Cost Proposals below.
Funding Source The Department anticipates using Federal funds for resulting
contract.
Assistance Listing Number 16.540
Award Name Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention
Match Requirements NA
Point of Contact Janine Corbett, Contract Specialist
janine.s.corbett@dhhs.nh.gov
603-271-9669
From the date of release of this Solicitation until an award is made and announced regarding the
selection of a Vendor, all communication with personnel employed by or under contract with the
Department regarding this Solicitation is prohibited unless first approved by the Point of Contact
listed above. Department employees have been directed not to hold conferences and/or
discussions concerning this Solicitation with any potential contractor during the selection process,
unless otherwise authorized by the Point of Contact. Vendors may be disqualified for violating
this restriction on communications.
Interested vendors must read this entire Solicitation and submit the required documents
in the specified manner. Vendors are responsible for reviewing the most updated
information related to this Solicitation before submitting responses.
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New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Justice Involved Teen Foster Program
Procurement Timetable
All times are according to Eastern Time. The Department reserves the right to modify
these dates and times at its sole discretion.
Item Action Date
1. S olicitation Released 9/17/2026
Letter of Intent Submission Deadline
2. 9/24/2026
(optional)
9/24/2026
3. V endor Questions Submission Deadline
12:00 PM - Noon
Department Response to Questions
4. 10/8/2026
Published
10/15/2026
5. V endor Solicitation Response Due Date
12:00 PM - Noon
Background
1.4.1. New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Division for
Children, Youth and Families
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (Department) is
responsible for promoting the health, safety, and well-being of the citizens of New
Hampshire. To achieve that goal, the Department provides services for children,
families, individuals, and seniors in areas such as mental health, developmental
disabilities, substance abuse, and public health. The Department does this work through
partnerships with families, community groups, providers, other state and local entities,
and New Hampshire citizens.
The Department's Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) provides and
manages services that strengthen families, keep children safe, and help families thrive.
Through its responsibilities in both Child Protection and Juvenile Justice, DCYF works
to support children, youth, and families together in their own homes and communities
whenever possible. To achieve this, DCYF partners closely with families, the provider
community, and other Department divisions.
1.4.2. Objective
The Department seeks consulting and media campaign services in order to recruit and
support foster caregivers to support teens involved in the juvenile justice system in
furtherance of the Department's goal to develop a long-term widespread workforce of
foster caregivers with the motivation and skillset to care for teens with mental health and
behavior needs so that these vulnerable youth receive quality care in the least-restrictive
setting.
1.4.3. Covered Populations
The population to be served through the resulting contract includes New Hampshire
residents who may be interested in serving as foster parents, or who may be helpful in
identifying potential foster parents.
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New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Justice Involved Teen Foster Program
2. STATEMENT OF WORK
Scope of Services - See Appendix A - Scope of Services.
Mandatory Questions
2.2.1. In response to this Solicitation, Vendor(s) must respond to the Mandatory
Questions below, utilizing Appendix E - Technical Responses to Mandatory
Questions.
Q1. Provide your organization's proposed Work Plan for implementing the
Justice Involved Teen Foster Program.
* Include a detailed project timeline that includes, but is not limited to:
o Milestones marking specific points across the timeline to ensure
the project is on schedule.
o Steps and resources needed to fulfill each aspect of the project
from development to completion.
o Possible project barriers and constraints, including suggested
mitigation strategies for each.
* Include your organization's approach to:
o Recruiting and supporting foster caregivers for justiceinvolved
teens;
o Following up with individuals who express interest in becoming a
foster caregiver;
o Collaborating with required partners;
o Creating both digital and traditional recruitment materials; and
o Structure of providing stipends as incentives to new foster
caregivers who complete the onboarding process; include stipend
amount within Appendix G, Budget Sheet, within Section 8. (c),
Other (stipends).
* Describe how your organization will ensure the Work Plan is realistic,
measurable, and aligned with state and federal foster care guidelines.
* Outline key personnel responsible for activities described in the Work
Plan.
Q2. What specific strategies and methods will your organization use to
successfully attract, engage, and support a diverse pool of foster
caregivers for justiceinvolved teens across New Hampshire?
* Describe media sources your organization anticipates engaging,
including which sources, or a combination of sources, will ensure
statewide coverage.
* Provide examples of tools, systems, or processes your organization
will use to monitor recruitment effectiveness and support caregivers
through onboarding, training, and licensing.
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New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Justice Involved Teen Foster Program
Q3. Describe your organization's experience working with foster care
systems, juvenile justice populations, caregiver recruitment, and/or
training program development.
* Include relevant knowledge of adolescent development, crisis
management, caregiver retention, culturally competent outreach, and
working within state agency structures.
Q4. Explain your organization's capacity to manage the full scope of work,
including staff qualifications, available resources, partnerships, and
ability to meet deadlines for onboarding support, data tracking, reporting,
and collaboration with state partners.
* How will your organization ensure capability to scale to meet the
volume and geographic reach required for this program?
Finance
2.3.1. Payment for services will be made on a monthly basis based on the approved
budgets, which will be included in the resulting contract. Selected Vendor will
be required to submit budgets for Department approval upon notification of
award.
2.3.2. The selected Vendor must complete and submit monthly invoices using a form
satisfactory to the Department to initiate and request payment in accordance
with the terms of the resulting contract.
Remainder of this page intentionally left blank.
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New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Justice Involved Teen Foster Program
3. SOLICITATION RESPONSE EVALUATION
The Department will evaluate responses from Vendors based upon the criteria and
standards contained in this Solicitation and by applying the points as set forth below,
which will be used to determine the overall highest scoring Vendor. Vendors are advised
that this is not a low-cost award.
TECHNICAL RESPONSE POSSIBLE SCORE
Q1. Work Plan 250 Points
Q2. Strategies and Methods 175 Points
Q3. Experience and Knowledge 150 Points
Q4. Capacity 125 Points
Technical Response - Total Possible Score 700 Points
COST PROPOSAL
POSSIBLE SCORE
(see Scoring of Cost Proposals below)
Vendor Cost 250 Points
Vendor Budget Narrative Evaluation 50 Points
Cost Proposal - Total Possible Score 300 Points
MAXIMUM POSSIBLE SCORE 1000 Points
Preliminary Scoring of Technical Responses
3.2.1. The Department will establish an evaluation team. The evaluation team will
review the Technical Proposal and provide a preliminary score. Should a
Vendor fail to achieve a minimum of 400 points during the preliminary scoring,
it will receive no further consideration from the evaluation team and the Vendor's
Cost Proposal will remain unopened.
Scoring of Technical Proposals
3.3.1. Vendor Technical Responses will be scored based on the following criteria:
Q1 0-50 Points 51-150 Points 151-220 Points 220-250 Points
Work Plan Work Plan is vague, Work Plan addresses Strong, detailed Work Comprehensive,
incomplete, or most elements but Plan addressing highly detailed, and
missing major lacks detail, recruitment, support, fully aligned Work
components of the measurable steps, or collaboration, Plan demonstrating
scope of work. clear alignment to materials deep understanding
Limited state/federal foster development, and of the scope. Clear,
understanding of care guidelines. caregiver support. realistic timelines;
required tasks. Implementation steps Includes measurable measurable
may be unclear or milestones and outcomes;
unrealistic. reasonable timelines. integration of
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New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Justice Involved Teen Foster Program
advisory team
guidance; strong
alignment with foster
care regulations;
and a sustainable
transition plan to the
Department.
Q2 0-40 Points 41-110 Points 111-155 Points 156-175 Points
Strategies Limited or unclear Describes general Strong, well Exceptional ability
and strategies for strategies for reaching developed strategies demonstrated
Methods recruitment, diverse caregivers and for caregiver through innovative,
engagement, supporting attraction, tested strategies;
monitoring, or onboarding. Some engagement, robust monitoring
caregiver support. systems are identified, monitoring, and systems; clear
Minimal explanation but approach may be retention. Provides outreach processes;
of tools or processes. inconsistent or clear tools, outreach engagement; and
partially developed. systems, or strong plans for
processes and caregiver support
describes how through each stage
effectiveness will be of onboarding, and
evaluated. licensing.
Q3 0-30 Points 31-90 Points 91-135 Points 136-150 Points
Experience Minimal or no Some relevant Solid and well Extensive,
and relevant experience experience in related documented specialized
Knowledge
in foster care, fields (child welfare, experience in foster experience directly
juvenile justice, or training, outreach, or care systems, aligned to the scope.
caregiver youth services). juvenile justice Deep understanding
recruitment. General familiarity populations, of juvenile justice,
with adolescent caregiver caregiver licensing
development or crisis recruitment, or processes, trauma
management. training programs. informed practices,
Demonstrates strong restorative
knowledge of approaches, and
culturally competent working within state
outreach. government
structures.
Q4 0-25 Points 26-75 Points 76-110 Points 111-125 Points
Insufficient staffing, Moderate capacity. Strong capacity with Excellent capacity
resources, or Has some staff and qualified staff, with robust staffing,
infrastructure. resources but may established established
Capacity concerns have gaps in ability to partnerships, and collaborations,
evident. scale statewide, clear ability to strong infrastructure,
manage deadlines, or manage onboarding, and proven ability to
meet reporting data tracking, and meet all deadlines.
requirements. reporting. Demonstrates
Demonstrates readiness for
Capacity readiness to handle statewide reach,
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New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Justice Involved Teen Foster Program
volume and rapid scaling,
geographic reach. comprehensive data
tracking, and high
quality reporting.
Scoring of Cost Proposals
3.4.1. Vendor Budget Narrative Evaluation: Vendors must complete Appendix G -
Budget Sheet, including a budget narrative explaining the specific line-item
costs included in Appendix G - Budget Sheet and their direct relationship to
meeting the objectives of this RFP. The Budget Sheet with Narrative will be
scored based on the following criteria.
0-16 Points 17-32 Points 33-50 Points
Relationship of costs Relationship of costs relative to Relationship of costs relative
relative to the proposed the proposed services is to the proposed services is
services is not understood. somewhat understood. Costs mostly or fully understood.
Costs do not directly align somewhat align with objectives Costs mostly or fully align
with objectives, and proposed services of the directly with objectives and
requirements, and/or RFP. proposed services of the
proposed services of the RFP.
RFP.
3.4.2. Vendor Total Cost: The following formula will be used to assign points for
Vendor Proposed Cost:
Vendor's Cost Score = (Lowest Total Proposed Cost / Vendor's Total
Proposed Cost) x Maximum Number of Points for Vendor Cost.
*Example:
* Vendor A proposes $100,000
* Vendor B proposes $200,000
* Maximum Number of Points for Vendor Cost = 250 points.
Vendor B Cost Score:
($100,000/$200,000) x 250 = 125 Points
For the purpose of this formula, the lowest proposed cost is defined as the
lowest total cost proposed in Appendix G - Budget Sheet, by a Vendor that has
not been disqualified and received the minimum allowable points during
preliminary scoring of technical responses as specified above. Fractions of
points will be rounded up to the nearest whole number of points.
Rights of the Department in Evaluating Solicitation Responses
3.5.1. The Department reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to:
3.5.1.1. Consider information provided in the Vendor's Transmittal Letter in
evaluating solicitation responses;
3.5.1.2. Make independent investigations in evaluating Solicitation
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New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Justice Involved Teen Foster Program
responses;
3.5.1.3. Request additional information to clarify elements of a proposal;
3.5.1.4. Waive minor or immaterial deviations from the Solicitation and
contract requirements, if determined to be in the best interest of the
State;
3.5.1.5. Omit any planned evaluation step if, in the Department's view, the
step is not needed;
3.5.1.6. Reject any and all Solicitation responses in whole or in part at any
time; and
3.5.1.7. Open contract discussions with the second highest scoring vendor
and so on, if the Department is unable to reach an agreement on
contract terms with the highest scoring vendor(s).
4. SOLICITATION RESPONSE PROCESS
Letter of Intent
4.1.1. A Letter of Intent to submit a response to this Solicitation is optional.
4.1.2. Receipt of the Letter of Intent by Department will be required to receive
electronic notification of any addenda published to amend this Solicitation.
4.1.3. The Letter of Intent must be transmitted by email to the Contract Specialist
identified in Subsection 1.2., and include the name, telephone number, mailing
address and email address of the Vendor's designated contact as specified in
Appendix D - Transmittal Letter and Vendor Information. Notwithstanding the
Letter of Intent, Vendors remain responsible for reviewing the most
updated information related to this Solicitation before submitting a
response.
Solicitation Amendment
4.2.1. The Department reserves the right to amend this Solicitation by publishing any
addenda, as it deems appropriate, on the Department's website
(https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/doing-business-dhhs/contracts-procurement-
opportunities) prior to the Submission Deadline on its own initiative or in
response to issues raised through Vendor Questions submitted by the date
specified in Subsection 1.3, Procurement Timetable. In the event that an
addendum is published, the Department, at its sole discretion, may extend the
Submission Deadline.
Questions and Answers
4.3.1. Vendors' Questions
4.3.1.1. All questions about this Solicitation including, but not limited to,
requests for clarification, additional information or any changes to the
Solicitation must be submitted to the Contract Specialist identified in
Subsection 1.2. via email only using the Solicitation Question
Submission Form available here. Vendors must cite the specific page
number, section, and document to which the question pertains. The
Department assumes no liability for ensuring accurate and complete
email transmissions.
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