rfi family residential services

7/26/2019 RFI Family Residential Services

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Request for Information-Family Residential Services

This publication is a Request for Information (RFI) as defined in FAR 15.201(e) from theDepartment of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

regarding services to house family units composed of adults with juvenile family members of all

age ranges. The purpose of this RFI is to conduct market research and obtain information aboutpricing, delivery, and other market information or capabilities which will be used for planning

purposes in determining appropriate strategies to meet the Agency's requirements. This RFI is

not a request for competitive proposals; therefore, responses to this notice are not consideredoffers and therefore cannot be accepted as such by the Government. This RFI is issued solely for

information and planning purposes and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a

commitment for an RFP in the future. Responders are advised that the U.S. Government will not

pay for any information or administrative cost incurred in response to this announcement.

The goal of this RFI is to better understand the potential variety of housing and care options for

families when detained by ICE for processing purposes.

The detaining of family units who entered the United States illegally or otherwise lack status to

remain in the United States is the responsibility of ICE. The Office of Enforcement andRemoval Operations (ERO) is the program within ICE that handles the planning,

implementation, and management of broad programs relating to the processing, supervision,

detention, and removal of family units when held at one of ICEs family residential facilities.

ICEs family residential facilities provide quality and compassionate care for non-criminal

families in a residential setting. The families generally consist of a parent/legal guardian and the

parents/guardians child(ren) who have not attained 18 years of age and constitute a uniquepopulation. For that reason, family residential facilities are designed to be open-movement

environments with significant programming and resources dedicated to activities, educational

programs, and regular medical and mental health care. As a result of this open-movementenvironment and the unique needs of families, residential facilities must be separate from other

detention facilities. The ICE Family Residential Standards (FRS) (http://www.ice.gov/detention-

standards/family-residential) serve as a framework of the treatment of individuals in family

facilities and the types of care and treatment that should be provided.

This RFI addresses the need to acquire residential services in a supervised facility (or facilities)

that provide(s) for the safety of residents, prevent unauthorized entry from persons notparticipating in the residential program, allow for open movement by residents, and provide

appropriate care and custody for family units during their stay within ICEs family residential

facilities. We are requesting information from industry partners to determine their interest andability to provide residential-based care and other related services to families in ICE custody.

These services include medical and mental health care, as well as educational, recreational,

religious, linguistic, transportation and food preparation services provided in an innovativemanner, and which do not resemble traditional correctional practices.

This RFI will allow ICE to assess the availability of State-licensed residential care facilities that

could provide the above noted services twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week,
http://www.ice.gov/detention-standards/family-residentialhttp://www.ice.gov/detention-standards/family-residentialhttp://www.ice.gov/detention-standards/family-residentialhttp://www.ice.gov/detention-standards/family-residentialhttp://www.ice.gov/detention-standards/family-residentialhttp://www.ice.gov/detention-standards/family-residential


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to family units held by ICE. The facility(ies) shall be licensed by the State agency responsible for

residential programs that house juveniles (and family groups as applicable). Should the Service

Provider be unable to secure State licensure, then the provider shall nonetheless comply with allsubstantive requirements for State-licensed residential care programs and seek application of

such requirements to the family residential center with oversight or monitoring by the State.

Service delivery shall be provided in a culturally sensitive manner with appropriateaccommodations for the language needs and specific characteristics of a family population with

minor children. The service provider should expect foreign individuals from a variety of ethnic

backgrounds and nationalities.

The design and administration of the program shall be in accordance with all applicable federal,

state and local licensing provisions, and the guidelines contained in ICEs FRS, as well as other

applicable regulations, settlement agreements and court orders. It is the service providersresponsibility to assume adequate and appropriate management oversight for the implementation

and successful performance of these services.

The location of the facility(ies) must be within the continental United States, ideally facilitieslocated along the southwest border within the states of California, New Mexico, Arizona and/or

Texas. Locations in other states will be entertained with consideration of the locationsstrategic, complementary and/or financial benefits to ICE.

With this RFI, ICE is seeking information regarding potential facilities to accommodate up to

1,000 beds, which could be provided at a single location but would ideally be comprised ofseveral service locations with up to 500 beds at each facility.

This services requirement would include the provision of residential services in accordance withthe ICE FRS. Any concept for family residential services should offer the following:

Location:

o A facility location accessible to infrastructure such as airports, highways,

hospitals, phone/internet service, etc. to support the operation.

o Proximity to metropolitan area for access to medical and mental health services aswell as educational services and more general human capital to limit the need to

detail staff to cover facility operations.

Amenities:

o

The housing and other structures must appear residential and child-friendly ratherthan penal in nature. Facilities should not incorporate characteristics on the

interior or exterior typically associated with secure detention facilities, such as

high security fences, razor wire fencing, or heavy steel doors.

o Private showers and restrooms, and space for residents to change clothing, and

dress children with reasonable privacy.


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o Climate control (heat and/or cooling), no lockable doors, 1 bed per person

o Laundry facilities, library with age-appropriate books.

o Recreational facilities both indoor and outdoor areas with a variety of activities

(soccer, basketball, etc.); space for indoor activities such as arts and crafts,listening to music.

o A program design that will support the integrity of the family unit to includeparental supervision of children. A behavior management system that is positive

in nature and includes the family unit in managing youth behavior.

o A community-based programming environment that promotes accountabilitythrough positive peer culture.

o Non-institutional resident clothing and staff uniforms. Residents would be

allowed to wear their own clothing. Families lacking clothing will be providedappropriate non-institutional and varied clothing comparable to clothing that

would be worn by the general public.

o Parents must be furnished supplies to care for infants such as diapers, diaper

changing tables, breastfeeding accessories, strollers, high chairs, baby car seats.

o Freedom of movement for residents housed in the family residential setting.

Residents must be free to move about the facility, to include the

dormitory/sleeping areas, reading library, law library, cafeteria, and recreationareas during daylight hours.

Please note: due to varying family composition (number of family

members, ages, genders of children, physical plant limitations, etc.), some

beds within the housing unit may at times be unusable. The Service

Provider must develop a plan to minimize the number of unusable bedswhile at the same time comply with ICE approved housing practices.

Ideally family units would be assigned their own bedroom, but ICE will

entertain various housing models that appropriately accommodate thepopulation and meets the requirements of the FRS.

o Natural/ambient light throughout the facility. Emphasis on communal areas and

social interactions.

o Contact visitation, including arrangements for visiting families, with extendedhours. Where practicable, visitation should include visitation both day and

evening hours, seven days a week.


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Staff-Resident Communications:

o Non-institutional method of public address to notify residents of census,appointments, events and announcements.

o

Large percentage of all contracted staff must be bilingual in Spanish and English.Staffing composition and facility practices must allow for appropriate

management of the resident population. Residents will include adults (males

and/or females) accompanied by their own minor children (both male andfemale). In some instances same sex staff members must be available to conduct

certain activities (i.e. searches). In other instances, when same sex staff members

are unavailable, an additional staff person may be necessary.

o Should the facility encounter individuals who only speak indigenous languages

(such as Kiche or Quich, Mam) and/or in instances when commercially

available telephonic services are insufficient to provide meaningful access to

services, the Service Provider must arrange for consistent regular interpretiveservices through on-site interpreters or if unavailable via tele-video.

Education and Related Services:

o Structured, grade-level appropriate education programs for children ages four and

above with accommodation for children with disability or special needs.Classroom settings, core subjects and other classes are provided in accordance

with state educational requirements and have a student:teacher ratio not to exceed

20:1 with at least four hours of education daily (Monday Friday), plus anadditional hour of physical education.

o

Integrated and structured daily routines, which will include education, recreation,life skills and/or chores, study period, counseling, group interaction, free time,

and access to religious and legal services. Services will be accessible by all family

units and their individual members regardless of age.

o Provision of monitored certified care for children while their parents are engaged

with attorneys, attending court proceedings, at hearings related to their

immigration cases, or unavailable due to medical or other emergencies.

o Age appropriate recreation, exercise structures and equipment designed for

children ages 117 years of age. Open access to recreation areas within the openmovement policies.

o Field/day trips with particular focus on educating the children.

Medical Services:

Medical Services will most likely be required. These services are defined in Attachment 1-IHSC


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Generic Medical Space Requirements

Language Access:

The Service Provider is responsible for providing meaningful access to all programs and

services (e.g. medical, intake, classification, sexual assault reporting) for individuals withlimited English proficiency. This should be accomplished through professional

interpretation and translation or qualified bilingual personnel for necessary

communication with residents who do not speak or understand English. Oralinterpretation should be provided for residents who are illiterate. Other than in

emergencies, and even then only for that period of time before appropriate language

services can be procured, residents shall not be used for interpretation or translation

services. The Service Provider should utilize commercial phone language interpretiveservices to ensure fulfillment of this requirement. Telephones that can be used for this

purpose must be available in each classroom.

It is the obligation of the Service Provider to ensure residents with disabilities (e.g.physical, mental, intellectual, developmental) are housed/served in the least restrictive

environment and that reasonable modifications be provided to allow individuals withdisabilities to have equal opportunity to participate in programs and services. The

Service Provider will use auxiliary aids and necessary assistive devices for residents who

because of a disability need additional communication support.

Employee Health:

Employee health files for each employee must be maintained on site, in a locked cabinetby the Health Services Administrator or the employers designee. Health files are

maintained in accordance with DHS and ICE Privacy Policies and the Privacy Act of

1974.

The Service Provider may initiate employment of an individual who has initiated the

required vaccines and the individual may be hired and begin performing work on a

contract as long as they meet all subsequent booster dates until fully vaccinated.

Information on specific contents of health files, medical tests, and recommended and/orrequired vaccinations for employees will be included in the RFP if one is issued.

Legal Services:

o

Private areas for attorney-client contact visitation, video teleconferencingcapability, and innovative solutions for visitation, including virtual visitation,from remote areas for attorneys and families unable to travel to the facility. The

ability for residents to speak privately with their attorneys and to receive

messages. Access to telephones to converse with counsel.

o Engagement with pro bono providers in the provision of Know Your Rights or

other Legal Orientation Programs for residents, as well as access to other relevant


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community based services and programs for residents.

Food Services:

o Cafeteria-style hot meal service three times per day with a variety of culturally

relevant menu options, including the ability to accommodate medical or special

diets of residents

o Access to nutritional snack and beverage items 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.

Residents must be afforded access to a variety of snacks generally located in closeproximity to the dormitory areas. Snacks must include such items as fresh milk,

juice, fruits, and vegetables.

o Baby formula, baby food, single-use disposable baby bottles/nipples, and bottlewarmers must always be readily accessible.

Religious Services:

o

Access to religious services, with appropriate space and accommodations for a

variety of faith groups.

Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA):

Full compliance with the DHS PREA Standards to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to SexualAbuse and Assault in Confinement Facilities, 79 Fed. Reg. 13100 (March 7, 2014), is

mandatory.

Additional services required at a facility may include contractor oversight and supervision,

training of personnel, equipment, materials, supplies, licenses, permits, certificates, pre-

employment screenings, administration, and any other resources necessary to provide residentialcare and other services, transportation and food services for families in ICE custody. The

Contractor shall also be responsible for maintaining current permits/business licenses throughout

the term of the contract.

Applicable Design Standards:

Attachment 1: IHSC Generic Medical Space Requirements

ICE requests concept and solutions for this requirement from commercial and non-commercial

sources. Please note: ICE design standards governing adult detention facilities are not be

applicable to this RFI.

Respondents to this RFI shall identify:

Relevant Contractor Experience

Facility Address(es)


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Transportation Distance to the following:

o Hospital

o Immigration court

o Transportation hubs, including airport, train, bus

o

Fire Station

Facility Type - Existing / New / Combination of both

Facility Information

o Existing:

Renovation to existing

Year Built

Number of Beds

Medical space Information on recreation, dining, library and other relevant space

Zoning

o New Construction

NEPA Requirements

Zoning

Thorough description of buildings, space, and character

o Combination of Existing and New Construction:

Description of both

How will the facilities support each other

Factors listed above, as applicable

Description of life in the facility, how it works as shelter care, and how freedom of

movement will be maintained.

Proposed staffing and training.

Access to public and commercial transportation routes and services.

Access to local consulates and pro-bono legal services.

Access to hospitals with emergency care large enough to be able to handle a big

population such as proposed residential center


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ICE encourages submissions from, or partnering agreements with, a variety of social

service organizations with demonstrable experience in providing care to immigrant

populations to include children and families.

Please do not submit proprietary information in response to this Request for Information, as theinformation received will likely be used to assist in shaping of any competitive solicitation to

follow.

All interested parties shall forward their capabilities statements via email to

[email protected] 12:00 pm (noon) EDT on March 24, 2016. A formal request for

proposal (RFP) outlining all requirements maybe posted via FedBizOpps.gov at a future date.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

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