RFQ for Human Services Development Service Providers

LACKAWANNA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES/HUMAN SERVICES DEVELOPMENT FUND
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS
FY 2026-2027
Issued: April 24, 2026_ RFQ ID #: _114-26-1100-06
1. INTRODUCTION:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a fair and open process, sealed
submittals will be received and reviewed by the County of Lackawanna ("COUNTY")
Board of Commissioners ("Board of Commissioners") for the provision of services to
eligible individuals served by the Department of Human Services/Human Services
Development Fund. This RFQ will be used in applying for funds to provide services for
Fiscal Year July 2026 to June 2027.
Submission Deadline:
Respondents must submit their written Submittals by 4:00 p.m. May 25, 2026
prevailing time:
Contact Person: Gayle Sensi, Email:
Contract Officer humanservices@lackawannacounty.org
Submissions received will be reviewed and evaluated by the Department of Human
Services (herein after referred to as the Department), based upon such criteria as the
Department, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate. The Department reserves the
right to request clarification or additional information from any respondent. The
Department, in its sole discretion, may accept or reject any or all submittals.
The Department reserves the opportunity to modify this Request for Qualifications
(herein after referred to as RFQ) at its own discretion and without prior notice, and to
waive any immaterial defect or informality in any proposal as may be permitted by law.
Page 1 of 12

2. PURPOSE:
The purpose of this Request for Qualifications is to solicit submissions from qualified
agencies and /or individuals to provide professional services on behalf of the County in
connection with the administration of the Human Services Development Fund. Service
areas include:
Adult Services - Counseling, Home Delivered Meals
3. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS:
1. One (1) original copy of the Submittal must be provided.
2. Submittals must be emailed directly to Lackawanna County Department of
Human Services, HSDF - Attn: Gayle Sensi at
humanservices@lackawannacounty.org. Submittals must be sent with the
submitting agency or individual and the RFQ number clearly marked in the
Subject Box. Submittals by fax, telephone, or UPS is not permitted. Failure
to follow the proper submission format may cause the submission to be
rejected.
3. The final selection will be made in the sole discretion of The Board.
4. All questions regarding this Request for Qualifications should be made in
writing to Gayle Sensi, Contract Officer, email:
humanservices@lackawannacounty.org
4. PRE-SUBMITTAL MEETINGS:
There will be an opportunity for prospective Submitters to 'meet' with the Lackawanna
County DHHS/HSDF staff for a Question and Answer session:
Please email Gayle Sensi at: humanservices@lackawannacounty.org to request a
Microsoft Teams meeting or phone conference.
5. QUESTIONS:
Questions can be submitted via email to humanservices@lackawannacounty.org
* Questions will be answered by the appropriate individual(s) and answered
within 3 business
days via email with a return reply acknowledging receipt of the email request.
* QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WILL BE SHARED WITH ALL SUBMITTERS
through posting on the Lackawanna County website, www.lackawannacounty.org
Page 2 of 12

All questions pertaining to this RFQ must be submitted on or before: Friday, May
8, 2026.
6. CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION OF QUALIFICATIONS:
The Department will independently evaluate each submittal and selection will be made
upon the following criteria:
1. Experience and reputation in the field.
2. Experience and reputation in the field with respect to contracting with
governmental entities to provide services on behalf of the County.
3. Knowledge of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Human
Services Development Fund and the organizational structure of the Lackawanna
County Department of Human Services.
4. The administrative and programmatic capacity to manage the volume of work.
5. Availability to accommodate any required meetings of the Department.
6. Ability to meet reporting requirements and timelines for completion as set forth
by the Department.
7. Other factors determined to be in the best interest of the County in the
Department's sole discretion.
7. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
Each Submission must be in sufficient detail to permit evaluation, at a minimum, with
respect to the following issues. Submissions must include the information that is
specifically requested herein as well as such additional information as a respondent
deems relevant to the process. Each submitter agrees that their Submittal constitutes a
firm offer to the County that cannot be withdrawn for ninety (90) days from the
Submission due date.
To achieve a maximum degree of comparability, the Submissions shall be organized in
the manner specified below and use corresponding lettering and/or numbering.
Title Page:
(1 page): Show name of your agency, address, name of contact, telephone
number(s) and email address along with the current date. Also include the title and
number of the RFQ.
Page 3 of 12

Table of Contents:
All Submissions to the County must include the following:
SECTION 1 Agency Information (see Form A)
Name, address, phone number and email address of the agency;
The corporate officer's name, title and signature. This person must
be able to execute agreements on behalf of the agency;
The service(s) for which the submittal has been prepared.
SECTION 2 Agency Description (see Form A)
A brief description of your agency's history, ownership and
organizational structure;
Include as attachments an organizational chart, a copy of the most
recent audit and a copy of any licenses that pertain to services
provided.
SECTION 3 Agency Services (see Form A)
List all services provided by your agency and address at which they
are provided.
SECTION 4 Scope of Services/Statement of Qualifications (see Form B)
Provide a description of the proposed service and your agency's
qualifications and experience in providing this service;
Provide the names, experience, qualifications and applicable
licenses held by the individual primarily responsible for servicing
the Program and any other person(s), whether as employees or
subcontractors, with specialized skills that would be assigned to
service the Program.
SECTION 5 County Contracts (see Form C)
Provide a listing of all like or similar service contracts or Mutually
Agreed Upon Written Agreement (MAWA) with other county
programs to provide services. Include agency name, contact
person, services, contract dates and amounts. If no other contracts,
please state N/A.
SECTION 6 Statement of Assurances (see Form D)
Page 4 of 12

A statement of assurance that your agency is not currently in
violation of any regulatory rules and regulations set forth by the
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) that may have
any impact on your agency's operations;
A statement of assurance that your agency has no conflict of
interest in providing service on behalf of Lackawanna County;
A statement of assurance that your agency is not involved in any
current or pending litigation involving Lackawanna County or any of
its Departments or Authorities;
A statement of the insurances currently held by your agency.
SECTION 7 Additional Information
Include any additional information not specifically required but
deemed important and relevant by the submitting agency.
SECTION 8 Subcontractors
RESPONDENTS SHOULD NOTE THAT ANY AND ALL WORK
INTENDED TO BE SUBCONTRACTED AS PART OF THIS
SUBMITTAL MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY BACKGROUND
MATERIALS AND REFERENCES FOR PROPOSED
SUBCONTRACTOR(S) - NO EXCEPTIONS
8. RESPONSIBILITIES:
The successful Submitter shall have primary responsibility for the following:
*Have knowledge of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Human
Services Development Fund (HSDF) Instructions and Requirements Supplements.
*Perform initial client eligibility determinations and subsequent eligibility
redeterminations as per the eligibility requirements of the HSDF Instructions and
Requirements.
*Provide service, as defined in the HSDF Instructions and Requirements, to eligible
clients.
*Develop individualized service plans for each client.
*Maintain client files including but not limited to documents pertaining to eligibility
determination, eligibility redetermination, need for service, service plans, type and
Page 5 of 12

number of service units provided and copies of correspondence and any other
documents covering actions, proposed actions or service requests.
*Maintain waiting lists in compliance with the HSDF Instructions and Requirements
when the demand for service exceeds the availability of service.
*Retain in compliance with the HSDF Instructions and Requirements all client files,
rejected application forms, I&R Logs, books, records and other fiscal and administrative
documents pertaining to expenditures reimbursed by the HSDF.
*Submit monthly invoices no later than the 15th day of the following month in which
service was provided.
*Submit quarterly expenditure reports no later than 30 days after the end of the quarter.
*Attend meetings as may be required by the Department.
9. CONFIDENTIALITY:
All Submissions in response to this RFQ shall be held confidential until a contract is
awarded. Following the contract award, Submissions are subject to release as public
information unless the Submission or specific parts of the Submission can be shown to
be exempt from the Pennsylvania Public Information Act. Respondents are advised to
consult with their legal counsel regarding disclosure issues and take the appropriate
precautions to safeguard trade secrets or any other proprietary information. The County
assumes no obligation or responsibility for asserting legal arguments on behalf of
potential Respondents. If a Respondent believes that a Submission or parts of a
Submission are confidential, then the Respondent shall so specify. The Respondent
shall stamp in bold red letters the term "CONFIDENTIAL" on that part of the
Submission, which the Respondent believes to be confidential. Vague and general
claims as to confidentiality shall not be accepted. All Submission and parts of
Submissions that are not marked as confidential will be automatically considered public
information after the contract is awarded.
10. CONFLICT OF INTEREST:
Any agency or person considering doing business with Lackawanna County
Government must disclose the agency or person's affiliation or relationship that might
cause a "Conflict of Interest" with County Government entity. Any attempt to
intentionally or unintentionally conceal or obfuscate a conflict of interest may
automatically result in the disqualification of the Submitter's submittal.
Page 6 of 12

11. COMMUNICATION WITH ELECTED OR APPOINTED OFFICIALS:
All communications during this process should be directed to the appropriate contact
listed in this RFQ. Any agency that makes any effort to communicate with any other
official of Lackawanna County, either directly or indirectly, during this process will be
EXCLUDED from consideration.
12. FORMS ATTACHED:
Form A - Agency Information, Description and Services
Form B - Scope of Services/Statement of Qualifications
Form C - County Contracts
Form D - Statement of Assurances
Qualification Base Selection Process
The statement of qualifications will be evaluated in accordance with the County's
Qualifications Base Selection Process. Anyone submitting a statement of
qualifications is advised to review that process, which is set forth on the
County's website.
Page 7 of 12

DHHS-HSDF
AGENCY SUMMARY
FORM A
This form should be completed and submitted with the Request for Qualification by the
submission date noted in the Annual Request for Qualification for Service Providers.
I. AGENCY INFORMATION
Agency Name:
Corporate Address:
City: State: Zip Code:
Phone: Email:
Services
Provided:
EIN Number:
*Corporate Officer's Name: Title:
Corporate Officer's Signature:
* Person authorized to execute agreements
II. AGENCY DESCRIPTION
In the space below, please provide a brief description of your agency's history,
ownership and organizational structure. Include as attachments an organizational
chart, copy of your most recent audit, applicable licenses and other supporting
documents.
Page 8 of 12

DHHS-HSDF
lII. AGENCY SERVICES
Instructions: In the space below, please list all services and the address of service
delivery provided by your agency.
This form should be completed and submitted with the Request for Qualification by the
submission date noted in the Annual Request for Qualification for Service Providers.
Service Name Address
Page 9 of 12

DHHS-HSDF
SCOPE OF SERVICES/STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS
FORM B
I. SERVICE DESCRIPTION
In the space below, please provide a brief description of the proposed service and
your agency's qualifications and experience in providing this service.
II. EMPLOYEE DETAILS
In the space below, please provide the names, experience, qualifications, and
applicable licenses held by the individual primarily responsible for servicing the
Program and any other person(s), whether as employees or subcontractors, with
specialized skills that would be assigned to service the Program.
Page 10 of 12