RFP JUV-27-CM-07-004 Credible Messengers

Iowa Judicial Branch
1111 East Court Avenue | Des Moines, IA 50319
R P
EQUEST FOR ROPOSAL
RFP COVER SHEET
Administrative Information:
Title of RFP: Credible Messengers RFP Number: JUV-27-CM-07-004
Agency: Iowa Judicial Branch (IJB or Agency)
Number of years of the 1 year Number of possible 5 additional 1-year
initial terms of the annual renewals: terms exercisable
Contract: by the IJB in its sole
discretion
Anticipated Initial
June 30, 2027
July 1, 2026 Ending:
Contract Term Beginning:
Issuing Officer:
Connie Murphy
(563)343-5553
connie.murphy@iowacourts.gov
Date/Time(Central time):
PROCUREMENT TIMETABLE-Event or Action:
Agency Posts Notice of RFP on TSB website 5/6/26
Agency Issues RFP 5/8/26
Letters of Intent to Bid 5/19/26
3:00 PM
RFP written questions, requests for clarification, and suggested changes from 5/19/26
Respondents due: 3:00 PM
The IJB's written response to RFP questions, requests for clarifications and 5/26/26
suggested changes due: (will be available on bidding website)
Proposals Due Date: 6/15/26
Proposals Due Time: 3:00 PM
Anticipated Date to issue Notice of Intent to Award: 6/16/26
Anticipated Date to execute Contract:
7/1/26

RFP# JUV-27-CM-07-004
Relevant Websites: Web-address:
Internet website where Addenda to https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/rfp/
this RFP will be posted: https://bidopportunities.iowa.gov/
Internet website where General
https://www.iowacourts.gov/static/media/cms/General_Terms_fo
Terms for Juvenile Court Services
r_JCS_Services_Cont_1257FB3D72AAA.pdf
(JCS) Services Contracts are located:
Electronic Copies of Proposals Required to be Submitted to Issuing Officer.
Firm Proposal Terms 120 Days
Per Section 3.2.11, of the RFP the minimum Number of Days following the
deadline for submitting proposals that the Respondent guarantees all proposal
terms, including price, will remain firm:
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RFP# JUV-27-CM-07-004
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 PURPOSE
The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to solicit proposals from Responsible Respondents to
provide the goods and/or services identified on the RFP cover sheet and further described in Section 4 of
this RFP to the IJB, as identified on the RFP cover sheet. The IJB intends to award a Contract(s) beginning
and ending on the dates listed on the RFP cover sheet, and the IJB, in its sole discretion, may extend the
Contract(s) for up to the number of annual extensions identified on the RFP cover sheet.
1.2 DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this RFP and the resulting Contract, the following terms are defined.
"Agency" means the agency identified on the RFP cover sheet that is issuing the RFP.
"Bid Proposal" or "Proposal" means Respondent's proposal submitted in response to the RFP.
"Contract" means the Contract(s) entered into with Respondent(s) as described in section 6.
"Contractor" means the awarded business/person to provide the contractual services agreed upon.
"General Terms" and "General Terms and Conditions" shall mean the General Terms for Juvenile Court
Services service contracts as linked on the RFP cover page.
"IJB" shall mean the Iowa Judicial Branch.
"Invoice" means a Contractor's claim for payment. At the IJB's discretion, claims must be submitted on
an original invoice from the Contractor and on a claim form accepted by the IJB, such as a General
Accounting Expenditure (GAX) form.
"Juvenile Court Officer" or "JCO" means a person appointed as a juvenile court officer under section
602.7202 of the Iowa Code and also includes a chief juvenile court officer appointed under section
602.1217 of the Iowa Code.
"Juvenile Court Services" or "JCS", for the purposes of this RFP, means a unit of the Iowa Judicial Branch
in which juveniles adjudicated by the Iowa Juvenile Court as delinquent and youth at risk of entering the
court system receive services as directed by the Chief Juvenile Court Officer or designee.
"Respondent" means the company, organization or other business entity submitting a proposal in
response to this RFP.
"Responsible Respondent" means a Respondent that has the capability, as determined in the sole
discretion of the IJB, in all material respects to perform the scope of work and specifications of the
Contract. In determining whether a Respondent is a Responsible Respondent, the IJB may consider various
factors including, but not limited to, the Respondent's competence and qualifications to provide the goods
or services requested, the Respondent's integrity and reliability, the past performance of the Respondent
and the best interest of the IJB and the State.
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RFP# JUV-27-CM-07-004
"Responsive Proposal" means a Proposal that complies, in the sole discretion of the IJB, with the material
provisions of this RFP.
"RFP" means this Request for Proposals and any attachments, exhibits, schedules or addenda hereto.
"State" means the State of Iowa, the IJB, and all state agencies, boards, and commissions, and any political
subdivisions making purchases from the Contract as permitted by this RFP.
"Vendor" means anyone who provides goods or services to another entity.
1.2.1 Additional Definitions specific to this RFP:
"Academy for Transformational Change" or "ATC" means a specialized training organization focused on
reducing violence, incarceration, and Recidivism by empowering human services professionals,
community leaders, and Credible Messengers.
"Adverse Childhood Experiences" or "ACEs" refers to stressful or traumatic events that children face
before reaching 18. These events include various forms of abuse (physical, emotional, sexual), neglect
(emotional, physical), and household challenges such as witnessing domestic violence, living with
individuals with substance use disorders, having an incarcerated relative, or experiencing family
separation. Studies have shown that individuals with a high number of ACEs are at an increased risk for
negative outcomes in adulthood, including chronic diseases, mental illness, substance misuse, and
reduced life potential.
"Authorization of Release of Information" means a form used for the purpose of authorizing the
release of confidential information, signed and dated by the person(s) empowered to release the
information.
"Case Plan" means a written document, developed with input from the child, custodians/guardians, and
Juvenile Court Services that identifies the youth's criminogenic needs and risk factors and includes a
plan for how to address, lower and ultimately resolve the risk areas.
"Chief Juvenile Court Officer" (CJCO) means the person responsible for overseeing Juvenile Court
Services' operations to promote safe and positive outcomes for at-risk youth, victims, and communities.
The CJCO acts as a community leader, collaborating with support agencies, law enforcement, and
institutions to implement effective youth initiatives, rehabilitative programs, and coordinated
responses. This CJCO enforces research-based best practices and ensure compliance with applicable
rules and directives. This CJCO administers efficient budgets, contracts, funding, and grant
management.
"Contract Administrator" (CA) means the person responsible for administering and tracking the JCS
district allocation, drafting and overseeing district service contracts for JCS, and overseeing assigned
statewide contracts. This person prepares, negotiates, reviews, oversees, and administers contracts
including both formal and informal procurement processes as well as contract terms to ensure contracts
conform to legal requirements and meet objectives.
"Credible Messengers" or "Mentors" are neighborhood leaders, experienced youth advocates and
individuals with relevant life experiences who coach guide, mentor, and advocate for youth and families
in both group and one on one settings.
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RFP# JUV-27-CM-07-004
"Goal Achievement Plan" means a plan for attaining a particular goal, often called a tactic or action
plan, involving defining a specific, measurable, and time-bound objective (SMART) and breaking it into
small, actionable steps.
"JCS Supervisor" means the responsible person providing oversight to Juvenile Court Officers.
"Lived Experience" means direct, firsthand knowledge, understanding, and personal insights gained
through experience rather than through academic study or secondhand information.
"Motivational Interviewing" (MI) means a collaborative, goal-oriented style of communication with
particular attention to the language of change. MI is designed to strengthen personal motivation for and
commitment to a specific goal by eliciting and exploring the person's own reasons for change within an
atmosphere of acceptance and compassion." (Miller & Rollnick, 2013)
"Prosocial Activities" means structured, positive, and developmentally appropriate experiences that
help youth build the skills, relationships, and habits necessary to succeed in school, work, and
community life. For youth who are justice involved these activities are intentionally designed to
strengthen social emotional skills such as self regulation, communication, conflict resolution, and

empathy; increase connection to positive peers and adults; promote law abiding behavior and reduce

opportunities for delinquency; build confidence, purpose, and belonging; reinforce healthy

decision making and goal directed behavior.
"Recidivism" means any m isdemeanor or felony level offense referred to the juvenile justice system, the
adult corrections system, or both, within a twelve (12) month period after date of discharge from
service.
"Restorative Justice Practices" means a collaborative process for repairing the harm caused by
delinquent offenses rather than determining guilt and imposing punishments.
"Restorative Justice Circle-Practice" means structured, voluntary, and dialog-driven processes used to
address harm, resolve conflict, or build community by bringing together those affected.
"Social Capital" means the value derived from positive social networks that acts as a resource built on
relationships, mutual care, and reciprocity, fostering cooperation for shared benefits like jobs, support,
or community improvements.
"Transformative Mentoring" means the core component of the Credible Messengers initiative and
centers on pairing youth with Credible Messenger-Mentors, whose shared Lived Experiences uniquely
position them to build authentic, trusting relationships with system involved youth. These Mentors
provide structured group and individualized one on one sessions designed to promote personal growth,
accountability, and sustained engagement with youth. In partnership with Juvenile Court Officers (JCOs),
Credible Messengers also help reinforce youth's goals, and ensure that mentoring supports are aligned
with each youth's Case Plan and developmental needs.
"Trauma-Informed" or "Trauma-Informed Care" means the incorporation of an understanding of
trauma and traumatic experiences and the effect they can have on children in foster care into the care
and services provided to a child. These experiences may include, but are not limited to, betrayal of a
trusted person or institution and a loss of safety; experiences of violence; physical, sexual, and
institutional abuse, neglect, intergenerational trauma, and disasters that induce powerlessness, fear,
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RFP# JUV-27-CM-07-004
recurrent hopelessness, and a constant state of alert. Trauma-Informed is an approach to help engage
people with histories of trauma that recognizes the presence of trauma symptoms and acknowledges
the role that trauma has played in their lives.
1.3 OVERVIEW OF THE RFP PROCESS
The RFP process is for the IJB's benefit and is intended to provide the IJB with competitive information to
assist in the selection process. It is not intended to be comprehensive. Each Respondent is responsible for
determining all factors necessary for submission of a comprehensive Proposal.
Respondent should review Attachment 3, Form 22 Request for Confidentiality, for more information if its
Proposal contains confidential information. Any Proposal marked "Confidential" or "Proprietary" on every
page may be disqualified.
Respondents will be required to submit their Proposals electronically via email to the Issuing Officer.
1.4 BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Early intervention and follow-up programs/graduated sanctions services are services to be provided to
children adjudicated delinquent and children who have been referred to Juvenile Court Services for a
delinquency violation or who have exhibited behaviors that put them at risk of a juvenile delinquency
referral. The services are directed to enhance personal adjustment to help the children transition into
productive adulthood and to prevent or reduce delinquent acts, out-of-home placement, and recidivism.
Juvenile Court Services within the Seventh Judicial District (JCS D7) seeks proposals from qualified
Respondents to deliver Credible Messenger Transformative Mentoring for youth involved with JCS D7,
within Scott County within the State of Iowa. JCS D7 seeks proposals that integrate authentic
engagement, peer support networks and mentor well-being into service design and delivery to
strengthen public safety, youth belonging, and long-term community outcomes. Respondents will
provide delivery and ongoing management of the Credible Messenger program within Scott County.
Scott County implemented Credible Messenger services beginning in April 2025 for JCS-involved youth
with delinquent acts involving guns, expanding in December 2025 to include youth returning from
placement, youth with high-risk gang/group affiliation and high-risk youth with delinquent acts involving
selling drugs. JCS D7 seeks proposals for Respondents to employee and maintain Credible Messengers
and deliver Transformative Mentoring with fidelity to the ATC model.
Youth participation with the Credible Messengers program is expected to last 6-12 months in duration,
with rolling admissions and flexibility based on age, goals, progress and outcomes. Community-based
mentoring is preferred and facility-based mentoring may begin for youth in out-of-home placement to
support their reentry planning.
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RFP# JUV-27-CM-07-004
1.5 PROGRAM APPROACH AND VALUES
The Credible Messenger initiative implements Restorative Justice Practices that enable youth to learn
important skills in conflict resolution that empower them to be leaders in their communities. These skills
include self-reflection, being respectful of others, and reducing future conflict. Restorative Justice
Practices assist youth in building empathy and understanding how harm affects themselves and others.
The Credible Messenger model utilizes trained Mentors with Lived Experience in the justice system to
build trust and guide youth toward positive outcomes. The program emphasizes relationship-building,
Restorative Justice, and community engagement, aligning with Trauma-Informed and culturally
responsive practices ensuring all communications made in preparation for, and during the program are
kept confidential as required by law.
Goals and objectives for the Credible Messenger initiative include:
1. Connect youth to services, supports, and resources that help them reach their goals and
developmental milestones;
2. Engage youth in positive, developmentally appropriate, and structured activities to enhance
public safety; and
3. Invest directly in local organizations and businesses with the goal of maximizing the Social
Capital of youth by building connections and community supports to help to strengthen the
youth's long term economic and social-emotional stability.
Transformative Mentoring is primarily a group-based process that brings together JCS youth and adult
Mentors in a community setting, using a standard curriculum through which Mentors guide youth
through the transformation of thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors while ensuring all communications
made in preparation for, and during the program are kept confidential as required by law.
Transformative Mentoring is designed with the assumption that participant attendance will likely be
irregular at first, and that some participants may continue to display negative attitudes and behaviors
during the initial phases of engagement. There should be no expulsion or rejection of participants who
engage in negative behavior. Instead a Restorative Justice approach that balances community
accountability and support should be employed to continually engage young people who are struggling
to adhere to expectations established through justice system-involvement. Recognizing that sustained
engagement takes time, JCS will not penalize providers for youth whose attendance is irregular.
However, it is expected that providers collaborate with JCS to regularly participate in outreach and re-
engage participants with attendance lapses.
Examples of group and one-on-one interactions are as follows:
Mentoring Groups:
Weekly curriculum grounded in the evidence-based principles of Motivational Interviewing, the
stages of change, and cognitive-behavioral approaches provided by a mentor.
Restorative Justice Principles Circle-Practice to build a safe space for youth engagement.
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RFP# JUV-27-CM-07-004
One-on-one Mentoring:
Weekly check ins to monitor youth progress in accessing both formal and informal supports and
services.
Assisting youth with enrollment/attendance and advocacy for school and other programs and
services.
On call availability for support, crisis response, advice and guidance.
All Credible Messengers shall be trained to deliver Transformative Mentoring programming prior to
delivery of the service.
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2 ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
2.1 ISSUING OFFICER
The Issuing Officer identified in the RFP cover sheet is the sole point of contact regarding the RFP
from the date of issuance until a Notice of Intent to Award the Contract is issued.
2.2 RESTRICTION ON COMMUNICATION
From the issue date of this RFP until a Notice of Intent to Award the Contract is issued, Respondents
may contact only the Issuing Officer. The Issuing Officer will respond only to written questions
regarding the procurement process. Questions related to the interpretation of this RFP must be
submitted as provided in Section 2. Oral questions related to the interpretation of this RFP will not
be accepted. Respondents may be disqualified if they contact any State employee other than the
Issuing Officer about the RFP except that Respondents may contact the State Targeted Small
Business Office on issues related to the preference for Targeted Small Businesses.
2.3 DOWNLOADING THE RFP FROM THE INTERNET
The RFP document and any addenda to the RFP will be posted at https://www.
iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/rfp/ , https://bidopportunities.iowa.gov/.
The Respondent is advised to check the website periodically for Addenda to this RFP, particularly if
the Respondent downloaded the RFP from the Internet as the Respondent may not automatically
receive addenda. It is the Respondent's sole responsibility to check daily for addenda to posted
documents.
2.4 PROCUREMENT TIMETABLE
The dates provided in the procurement timetable on the RFP cover sheet are provided for
informational and planning purposes. The IJB reserves the right to change the dates. If the IJB
changes any of the deadlines for Respondent submissions, the IJB will issue an addendum to the
RFP.
2.5 QUESTIONS, REQUESTS FOR CLARIFICATION, AND SUGGESTED CHANGES
Respondents are invited to submit written questions and requests for clarifications regarding the
RFP. The questions or requests for clarifications must be in writing and received by the Issuing
Officer before the date and time listed on the RFP cover sheet. Oral questions will not be permitted.
If the questions or requests for clarifications pertain to a specific section of the RFP, Respondent
shall reference the page and section number(s). The IJB will post written responses to questions,
requests for clarifications, or suggestions received from Respondents on or before the date listed
on the RFP cover sheet to the website(s) referenced on the RFP cover sheet. The IJB's written
responses will become an addendum to the RFP.
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The IJB assumes no responsibility for oral representations made by its officers or employees unless
such representations are confirmed in writing and incorporated into the RFP through an addendum.
2.6 AMENDMENT TO THE RFP
The IJB reserves the right to amend the RFP at any time using an addendum. The Respondent shall
acknowledge receipt of all addenda in its Proposal. If the IJB issues an addendum after the due date
for receipt of Proposals, the IJB may, in its sole discretion, allow Respondents to amend their
Proposals in response to the addendum.
2.7 AMENDMENT AND WITHDRAWAL OF PROPOSAL
The Respondent may amend or withdraw and resubmit its Proposal at any time before the
Proposals are due. The amendment must be in writing. Electronic mail is acceptable. Respondents
must notify the Issuing Officer in writing prior to the due date for Proposals if they wish to
completely withdraw their Proposals. Electronic mail is acceptable for notice of withdrawal.
2.8 SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS
Each Respondent is responsible for submitting its Proposal at the Issuing Officer's email address
identified on the RFP cover sheet before the "Proposals Due" date and time listed on the RFP cover
sheet, unless such date and time is extended by the IJB, at its sole discretion, through the issuance
of an addendum to this RFP. This is a mandatory requirement and will not be waived by the
Agency. Any Proposal received after this deadline will be rejected and the IJB will notify the
Respondent. It is the Respondent's responsibility to ensure that the Proposal is received by the
Issuing Officer prior to the deadline. Late proposals, regardless of cause, will not be opened or
considered for evaluation, and will be disqualified from further consideration. It is the Respondent's
sole responsibility to ensure delivery at the stated location and time.
Respondents must furnish all information necessary to enable the IJB to evaluate the Proposal. Oral
information provided by the Respondent shall not be considered part of the Respondent's Proposal
unless it is reduced to writing.
2.9 PROPOSAL OPENING
The IJB will open Proposals after the deadline for submission of Proposals has passed. The Proposals
will remain confidential until the Evaluation Committee has reviewed all of the Proposals submitted
in response to this RFP and the IJB has issued a Notice of Intent to Award a Contract. See Iowa Code
Section 72.3. However, the names of Respondents who submitted timely Proposals will be publicly
available after the Proposal opening. The announcement of Respondents who timely submitted
Proposals does not mean that an individual Proposal has been deemed technically compliant or
accepted for evaluation.
2.10 COSTS OF PREPARING THE PROPOSAL
The costs of preparation and delivery of the Proposal are solely the responsibility of the
Respondent.
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