The application in this RFQ is designed to help determine whether a proposer meets the DDA's eligibility requirements under Policy 6.13 to deliver Individual Employment, Group Supported Employment and/or Community Inclusion Services. Once Pierce County receives an application submitted in response to this RFQ, the application will be reviewed for completion. If the application is complete, it will be reviewed by an evaluation committee. An Application Evaluation Committee (AEC) will evaluate complete applications and make recommendations to PCHS. The AEC is comprised of persons who are knowledgeable of the specific professional service requirements.County procurement staff may contact applicants on behalf of the AEC at any time during the evaluation process to request additional documentation and information such as agency policies, procedures, satisfaction surveys, and other records, and/or to schedule interviews. The AEC may also gather information from other sources, such as the applicant’s website and may consider the applicant’s performance related to any previous contracts that the applicant may have held with Pierce County.To become a qualified provider, applicants must receive a total score of 75% or higher and complete a financial risk assessment prior to a formal contract offer. The application sections for Supported Employment and Community Inclusion services will be scored independently, with each section equal to half of the maximum total score to become qualified for each service.Based upon the content of the application(s), applicant interview(s), and evaluation of other available information, the AEC will score the application response(s) and issue recommendations. The AEC will present its recommendations to the County Executive or designee, who holds the final authority for qualification and award determinations. Successful applicants will be notified of the qualification decision and may enter a one (1) year provisional contract with PCHS to provide services, at the discretion of PCHS.Incomplete ApplicationsApplications that are submitted but not responsive to the requirements in the solicitation are deemed incomplete and will not be reviewed. Failure to provide any information requested through this RFQ may also result in the application being deemed incomplete. If at any point during the review process an application is found to be incomplete, applicants will be notified that their application will not be moving forward. Incomplete applications include any application that does not include responses and documentation for all required sections of the application.

"Applicant," "Bidder," "Proposer" and "Respondent" mean an organization, agency or provider that submits a formal response to this solicitation."Application," "Bid," "Proposal," "Response" or "Submission" mean a formal response to this solicitation. “CFR” means Code of Federal Regulations.“Client,” "Participant," "Household," or "Member" means an individual (or individuals) who receives services, or is eligible to receive services, under this solicitation.“DDA” and “DDCS” both mean the Developmental Disabilities Community Services division, formerly known as the Developmental Disability Administration. The acronyms are intended to be used interchangeably. “RCW” means Revised Code of Washington.“WAC” means Washington Administrative Code.

Supported Employment ServicesSupported employment services may be provided to individuals who meet Developmental Disability Administration (DDA) eligibility requirements and who reside in Pierce County, age 21 and older. Eligible participants are referred to qualified service provider agencies by their assigned Case Resource Manager at the DDA.In 2006, DDA fully implemented DDA Policy 4.11 – County Services for Working Age Adults, which established employment supports as the first use of Employment and Day Program funds. The policy was informed by previous workgroup recommendations submitted to the Washington State Legislature and reaffirmed by subsequent legislation supporting employment as the first choice for adults of working age.The goal of supported employment services is for working age adults to attain and maintain community-based employment while earning competitive wages. In accordance with DDA policies and Guiding Values, all services offered should be individualized, responsive to client goals, and focused on building skills to promote inclusion into the community as well as financial independence.Individual Employment (IE) services are a part of an individual’s pathway to employment and are tailored to individual needs, interests, and abilities, and promote career development. These are individualized services necessary to help persons with developmental disabilities obtain and continue integrated employment at or above the state’s minimum wage in the general workforce. These services may include intake, discovery, assessment, job preparation, job marketing, job supports, record keeping and support to maintain a job.Group Supported Employment (GSE) services are part of an individual’s pathway to integrated jobs in typical community employment. GSE services are intended to be short term and offer ongoing supervised employment for groups of no more than eight (8) workers with disabilities in the same setting. The service outcome is sustained paid employment leading to further career development in integrated employment at or above minimum wage. Examples include enclaves, mobile crews, and other business models employing small groups of workers with disabilities in integrated employment in community settings.Community Inclusion ServicesCommunity Inclusion services may be provided to individuals who meet DDA eligibility requirements and reside in Pierce County. Eligible clients include individuals enrolled in the Basic Plus, Core, or Roads to Community Living waivers who are 62 and older or who have accessed supported employment services for nine (9) consecutive months, except for clients with a DDA approved exception to the 9-month rule. Eligible clients are referred to qualified service provider agencies by their assigned Case Resource Manager at the DDA.Community Inclusion (CI) services are individualized services provided in typical integrated community settings. Services will promote individualized skill development, independent living and community integration for persons to learn how to actively and independently engage in their local community. Activities will provide opportunities to develop relationships and to learn, practice and apply skills that result in greater independence and community inclusion.Applicants interested in providing both Supported Employment and Community Inclusion services must apply for both services. For more information about Supported Employment and Community Inclusion services, please visit the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) County Best Practice website. https://www.dshs.wa.gov/dda/county-best-practices

Pierce County expressly reserves the rights to:Waive any and/or all irregularities in the responses submitted.Reject any or all responses or portions thereof.Base awards with due regard to quality of services, experience, compliance with specifications, and other such factors as may be necessary in the circumstances.Make the award to any organization or combination of organizations whose response(s), in the opinion of the County, is in the best interest of the County.

Pierce County Human Services (PCHS) is seeking eligible providers to deliver Individual Employment, Group Supported Employment, and/or Community Inclusion services to eligible clients of Developmental Disabilities Community Services - referred to in this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) as Employment & Day Program Services (EDPS).This RFQ is for new applicants seeking to qualify to provide EDPS; current providers do not need to re-apply. The intended result of this RFQ is for PCHS to offer a financial award and negotiate a contract with organizations that meet the qualifications to deliver the EDPS. Such organizations may be offered the opportunity to accept an award and negotiate a contract. An organization will not be offered an award or contract for services in which it is not qualified to deliver.This RFQ is a solicitation for qualifications only. It shall not be construed as an offer, a guarantee, or a promise that the solicited qualification will result in a contract for services with PCHS.This RFQ is open and continuous. Applicants may apply at any time.

In order for an organization to be eligible to submit qualifications under this procurement, the organization must meet the following eligibility requirements:Submit a projected budget for one year of services.Submit evidence that shows the agency has a credit line or cash reserves that enable the agency to provide services for at least two months.The firm, association, corporation, or any person in a controlling capacity or any position involving the administration of federal, state, or local funds: is NOT currently under suspension, debarment, voluntary exclusion, or determination of eligibility by any agency; has NOT been suspended, debarred, voluntarily excluded, or determined ineligible by any agency within the past three (3) years; does NOT haves a proposed debarment pending; has NOT been indicted, convicted or has a civil judgment rendered against said person, firm, association, or corporation by a court of competent jurisdiction in any matter involving fraud or misconduct within the past three (3) years.

Authorities and StandardsApplicants submitting a response to this RFQ agree that any resulting qualification and contractual agreement will require compliance with the authorities and standards that must be followed for implementation of Employment and Day Program services. The full text for each of the authorities and standards include but are not limited to the following, including any successors:Revised Code of Washington – https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/Chapter 49.17 RCW – Washington Industrial Safety and Health ActTitle 71A RCW – Developmental DisabilitiesChapter 74.15 RCW – Care of Children, Expectant Mothers, Persons with Developmental DisabilitiesChapter 74.34 RCW – Abuse of Vulnerable AdultsWashington Administrative Code – https://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/Chapter 296-24 WAC – General Safety and Health StandardsChapter 296-62 WAC – General Occupational Health StandardsChapter 388-06 WAC – Background ChecksChapter 388-823 WAC – Developmental Disabilities Administration Intake and Eligibility DeterminationChapter 388-825 WAC – Developmental Disabilities Administration Service RulesChapter 388-828 WAC – Developmental Disabilities Administration AssessmentChapter 388-831 WAC – Community Protection ProgramChapter 388-845 WAC – Developmental Disabilities Administration Home and Community-Based Services WaiversChapter 388-850 WAC – County Plan for Developmental DisabilitiesChapter 388-891A WAC – Vocational Rehabilitation Services for Individuals with DisabilitiesDevelopmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) Policies – https://www.dshs.wa.gov/dda/policies-and-rules/policy-manualPolicy 4.11 – County Services for Working Age AdultsPolicy 5.01 – Background Check AuthorizationsPolicy 5.02 – Necessary Supplemental AccommodationPolicy 5.05 – Limited English Proficient (LEP) ClientsPolicy 5.06 – Client RightsPolicy 5.14 – Positive Behavior Support PrinciplesPolicy 5.15 – Restrictive Procedures: CommunityPolicy 5.17 – Physical Intervention TechniquesPolicy 5.23 – Functional Assessments and Positive Behavior Support Plans: Employment and Day Program ServicesPolicy 6.08 – Incident Management and Reporting Requirements for County and County-Contracted ProvidersPolicy 6.13 – Provider Qualifications for Employment and Day Program ServicesPolicy 15.03 – Community Protection Standards for Employment and Day Program ServicesPolicy 15.05 – Community Protection Program Exit CriteriaDDA Guiding Values – https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sites/default/files/DDA/dda/documents/DDA%20Guiding%20Values%20Booklet.pdfDDA County Best Practices – https://www.dshs.wa.gov/dda/county-best-practicesDDA Criteria for EvaluationCounty Guide to Achieve DDA Guiding ValuesDDA Guidelines for Community-Based Assessments within Employment ServicesEmployment Activities – Strategies and Progress / Outcome MeasuresIndividual Employment Billable ActivitiesCommunity Inclusion Billable Activities CommunityCommunity Inclusion Frequently Asked QuestionsDDA Self-Employment GuidelinesDevelopmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (42 USC Chapter 144) – https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCODE-2015-title42/USCODE-2015-title42-chap144Title 42 Code of Federal Regulations § 441.530 Home and Community-Based Setting – https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-C/part-441Insurance Coverage Prior to executing a contract, applicants must meet insurance requirements established by Pierce County. For Contractors providing services to Community Protection Program (CPP) Clients, additional insurance requirements apply in accordance with DDA Policy 15.03 – Community Protection Standards for Employment and Day Program Services.Background ClearanceEach employee of a Contractor who provide direct services or who may have unsupervised access to clients must obtain proof of criminal history background clearance in accordance with Chapter 388-06 WAC and DDA Policy 5.01 – Background Check Authorizations. The Contractor shall assume responsibility for the timely completion of background checks.

RESPONDENTS WHO REGISTER AND DOWNLOAD RFQ DOCUMENTS will be automatically added to the FOLLOWERS' list in the County's eProcurement Portal. Notifications for procurement updates, addendum and other procurement information will be sent to all who register on the Pierce County eProcurement Portal.

Pierce County cannot accept late responses. All responses are due by the deadlines per the timeline under the procurement. No exceptions shall be made.

The County reserves the right to conduct interviews with qualified proposers prior to making a final decision. If interviews are conducted, details and information will be provided prior to any scheduling, if the timeline does not already include an interview date. Interview questions will only include questions associated with the received response for clarification and additional details. Interviews will not be added scores, but the evaluation team may revise initial scores with additional information provided during the interviews.

The County will not reimburse organizations for any costs involved in the preparation and submission of responses to this procurement or in the preparation for and attendance at subsequent interviews.

All submission, timeliness, and content requirements shall be applied equally to all Proposers regardless of any current or previous relationship with the County or the proposer's relationship with the County, County staff, or elected officials. See Pierce County Code 3.12 (Code of Ethics).Proposers not selected may seek additional clarification or debrief, request time to review the selection procedures, or discuss the evaluation methods utilized in the RFQ process. Appeals are limited to procedural errors in the selection process. In the event no such procedural errors are found to have occurred, the decision of the County shall be final.If a proposer disagrees with the decision, they may register the appeal by sending an email to pcshsprocurement@piercecountywa.gov, within five (5) business days after the notice of selection is sent to the proposer. The appeal must state all facts and arguments upon which the appeal is based. The Director of Pierce County Human Services, or designee, will review the appeal and determine whether the rules and requirements outlined in this RFQ were followed, including solicitation documents, the organizations’ response, and the facts which form the basis of the appeal. The Director will render a written decision within fifteen (15) days from the receipt of the appeal.

All questions must be submitted within the County's eProcurement Portal, under the Question & Answer Section. All questions shall receive a response within ten (10) business days. Respondents must be registered in the eProcurement Portal software in order to submit questions, receive addenda and notifications, and ultimately submit a response.

Anne Marie EdmundsProcurement & Contract SpecialistEmail: annemarie.edmunds@piercecountywa.gov Phone: (253) 798-7456Department:Human ServicesDepartment Head:Human ServicesHuman Services Director

During State Fiscal Year 2026, Pierce County will reimburse providers for Employment and Day Program services according to the following rate schedule. Supported Employment and Community Inclusion rates may be adjusted as needed, based on budget projections, up to the DDA maximum allowable rate. Pierce County will notify providers prior to any rate adjustments, including any notification from DDA about potential changes to the maximum allowable rates.ServiceRate of ReimbursementIndividual Employment$108.80 / hourGroup Supported Employment$93.80 / hourCommunity Inclusion$66.08 / hourPrior Approval / ETR HoursRate is negotiable and may be capped

This RFQ is open on an ongoing basis. Applicants will receive acknowledgment of receipt within 10 days of submission and be notified of any incompleteness within 30 days of submission. If an application is determined to be complete, applicants will be provided details about next steps within 30 days of submission and prior to a full review by an independent review committee.

The Washington State Interlocal Cooperation Act, Ch. 39.34 RCW, authorizes public agencies to cooperatively purchase goods and services if all parties agree. By responding to this RFQ, Consultants agree that other public agencies may purchase goods and services under this solicitation or contract at their own cost and without Pierce County incurring any financial or legal liability for such purchases. Pierce County agrees to allow other public agencies to purchase goods and services under this solicitation or contract, provided that Pierce County is not held financially or legally liable for purchases and that any public agency purchasing under such solicitation or contract file a copy of this invitation and such contract in accordance with RCW 39.34.040.

Organizations should be aware that any records they submit to the County or that are used by the County even if the organization possess the records, may be public records under the Washington Public Records Act (RCW 42.56). The County must promptly disclose public records upon request unless a statute exempts them from disclosure. Organizations should also be aware that if even a portion of a record is exempt from disclosure, generally, the rest of the record must be disclosed. Exemptions are narrow and specific.Organizations should clearly mark any record they believe is exempt from disclosure.

The initial contract period is expected to be 12 months. The County has the option of renewing contracts annually after the initial contract is executed. Contracts may be renewed, without advertisement or solicitation; renewal is subject to the availability of funding, the continued need for the service(s), and/or satisfactory performance by the Contractor. The actual schedule will be negotiated with the selected organization(s) based on the final scope of work, funding, and services purchased and is subject to appropriation of funds.The Pierce County Executive has the final authority to execute contracts. Decisions regarding contract awards for solicited services in this RFQ will be subject to Pierce County’s contract approval process. Contracts only become effective after receiving a signature by the County Executive, or designee.In accordance with DDA policy 6.13, newly qualified applicants will receive a twelve (12) month provisional contract. If a newly qualified applicant does not receive at least one (1) referral from the DDA within twelve (12) months of the date that the applicant’s provisional contract is issued, the applicant’s status as a qualified provider may be revoked.Additional federal, State, or local funds may become available during the contracting cycle and allocated through this solicitation. Funding may only be awarded for the same scope of services as described in this solicitation. It is important to note, any contract awarded as a result of this procurement is contingent upon the availability of funding. If at any time during the term of the contract the funding relied upon for the contract is reduced, modified, or eliminated, or if the funding terms are modified, the County reserves the right to amend the contract as appropriate or to terminate the contract.

Follow instructions carefully - if attachments are provided under this procurement, they are to be utilized as part of the response - do not replace or use the organization's own format, as the response may be deemed "non-responsive" or "not eligible."All proposals are evaluated on the completeness and quality of the content. Only those proposers providing complete information as required will be considered for evaluation. The County will not contact the organization for correction of proposals and proposers are strongly encouraged to carefully review their proposals for completeness and accuracy before submitting. For proposals to be considered responsive and move to the review process, the proposer must, under Section 7, RFP Questionnaire:1. Acknowledge all required "confirmations."2. Complete all required attachments, to include uploading any supplemental documents.3. Submit the following materials as part of the proposal. The accepted file types include, .pdf, .png, .jpeg, .docx, .xlsx, and other MS Office formats. Please label all attachments as listed below.Evidence of Credit Line or Cash Reservices (Question 6)Projected Budget (Question 8)Organization Chart (Question 10.7)Job Descriptions (Question 10.8)Program Monitoring Reports (Question 10.9)Evidence of Accreditation - Employment Services ONLY, if applicable (Question 11.1.9)Sample or Redacted Employment Service Plan - Employment Services ONLY (Question 11.1.10)Sample or Redacted Community Inclusion Service Plan - Community Inclusion Services ONLY (Question 11.2.7)Business License (Question 12.1)Pre-Award Risk Assessment and all supplemental materials (Question 12.2), including:2 most recent audited financial statements, including federal single audit, management letters and findings/corrective responses.Prior year Balance Sheet, Profit and Loss and Cash Flow Statements for entire year period.Current YTD Balance sheet, Profit and Loss and Cash Flow Statements.Most recent IRS annual submission, if this has not been sent, please detail why it not been filed yet.Agency’s policies and procedures for fiscal/grant accounting, including cost allocation and record retention policies.Third Party monitoring reports you may have received in last two years.1 example of a management timesheet and 1 example of an employee (non-management) timesheet.Additional documents, as applicable.4. Acknowledge and confirm each addendum and notice issued under this procurement. The system will not allow final submission unless all required confirmations are checked.By submitting a proposal, proposer agrees that all documents, reports, proposals, submittals, working papers, or other materials prepared by the organization pursuant to this procurement shall become the sole and exclusive property of the County, and the public domain, and not property of the organization. The organization shall not copyright, or cause to be copyrighted, any portion of said items submitted to the County because of this procurement.Only electronic submittal via the County's eProcurement Portal shall be accepted for this procurement. No hard copies, emails, or fax submittals shall be accepted.

Pierce County, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. 2000d to 2000d-4 and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, subtitle A, Office of the Secretary, Part 21, nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs of the Department of Transportation issued pursuant to such Act, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises as defined at 49 CFR Part 26 will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

Responses must be received by the Procurement & Contract Services Department before 2:00 pm on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. The respondent is responsible for submission of their response before the deadline. The County shall not be responsible for late submittals. If a proposer misses the submission deadline, the proposal may be submitted for consideration during the next review period, which can be found under RFQ #27-001-DD-EDPS in the OpenGov portal.