RECOMMENDATION 9: Simplify procurement processes to secure the services families need and want. Most prevention supports are delivered by contracted nonprofit partners. An evolving set of family needs as well as a changing fiscal policy landscape means DCYF needs to work nimbly with its provider partners. Presently, Requests for Applications (RFAs are administratively burdensome for respondents and slow to be awarded, keeping many organizations — especially smaller organizations, including many that hold trusted relationships with historically marginalized communities — out of the procurement process altogether. Procurement challenges also hinder the growth of successful pilot programs and create uncertainty for provider organizations, making it difficult to align hiring and retention efforts with contract awards. These barriers can be diminished by taking lessons from the Department of Commerce, which recently leveraged creative approaches to procure services that prevent youth homelessness. Stronger partnership with provider agencies will also support Title IV-E claiming, as finding effective ways to track which families are served and measure program impact are essential to federal reimbursement. We are also aware that DCYF is actively pursuing solutions to this challenge through existing service accountability group discussion and solutioning. There have been barriers due to liability insurance. A tangible next step may be mapping out what is negotiable versus non-negotiable per Department of Enterprise Services rules and regulations.
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