Program Contact
Kurt Myers - kurt.myers@commerce.wa.gov (Send Email)

The objective of this RFP is to fund expanding and established community-based reentry services to currently and formerly incarcerated people who exit adult correctional or juvenile residential facilities in Washington state. Proposals will be considered that include plans to provide access to essential community-based reentry services in one or more of the following areas:

• Housing: Transitional housing, rental housing, temporary shelter, etc.
• Case Management and Navigators: Peer navigators or credible messengers working inside Washington’s prisons and jails to build relationships and plans prior to release and/or supporting successful transitions to the community post-release.
• Employment Services: Job and skills training, direct employment, introductions to potential employers, etc.
• Family Reunification: Family case management, mentoring programs for children of incarcerated parents, family-to-family mentoring, support with household reintegration, etc. For Proposals including these types of services it would be preferred that the organization/program already have, or be willing to build, a working relationship with Department of Children, Youth and Families and the Department of Social and Health Services.
• Transportation: Bus passes, or other transportation to connect individuals with employment, treatment and support services, or other essential activities.
• Communication: Temporary/prepaid cell phone contracts, laptop, computer access, email/internet skills trainings (i.e., LinkedIn presence, employment/education skills), etc.
• Education: Basic education, continuing education, post-secondary education, etc. This could include tools needed for educational purposes.
• Basic Needs: Hygiene essentials, clothing, shoes, etc.
• Other: Proposals that offer social growth or community building activities for individuals exiting incarceration (i.e., collective healing circles and events, restorative/racial/social justice workshops, leadership and self-advocacy trainings, etc.) will be considered. Proposals to provide legal services to respond to collateral impacts of reentry will also be considered.

COMMERCE intends to award multiple contracts to provide the services described in this RFP.

To be considered responsive and evaluated for this RFP, organizations submitting Proposals must clearly meet or exceed the following Minimum Qualifications:

• Be licensed to do business in the state of Washington or submit a statement of commitment to become licensed in Washington within thirty (30) calendar days of being selected as an Apparently Successful Contractor.
• Have a primary service area within one or more communities in Washington state.
• Be any of the following:
  
  • A community-based, nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status as verified by a copy of their Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 501(c)(3) determination letter; or
  • A tribal government agency or program

For-profit businesses and organizations are NOT eligible applicants.

• Have established priorities, policies, and measurable goals - or coordinate with partners that have established priorities, policies and measurable goals - consistent with the objectives and scope of work described in section 1.2.
• Have at least one year of demonstrated experience with, or coordinate with partners that have at least one year demonstrated experience with, initiatives that serve individuals and families impacted by incarceration.
• Must NOT have an active contract funded by the Reentry Grant Program within the Department of Commerce, Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention/Community Safety Unit
• Must be able to verify annual operating expenditures under $500,000 based on previous year reporting

Proposals that do not clearly meet or exceed all minimum qualifications listed above are non-responsive and will not be evaluated.