All proposals will be reviewed for completeness and compliance with the RFP requirements. Proposals that meet the Minimum Qualification as identified in Section 2 will advance to the formal evaluation process and be scored based on responses to RFP questions and required attachments, including Exhibit A: Budget Worksheet. An Application Evaluation Committee (AEC) comprised of Pierce County staff, local, state, and federal jurisdictional partners with expertise in procuring similar services will review and score proposals based on the requirements and content of this RFP. The AEC’s scores will then be sent to the Executive. The Executive, in consultation with Department staff, will review the proposals for geographic diversity, equal opportunity, and alignment with the Executive’s Strategic Plan. The Executive will then add to each proposal his allotted number of points, as reflected in the Scoring Criteria section of this procurement, and will make funding decisions in a manner that best benefits Pierce County, including the most effective use of funds and equitable coverage across providers.The funding recommendations would then be sent to the Council who, per PCC 4.48.020P, shall approve the expenditures.

"Applicant," "Bidder," and "Proposer" mean an organization, agency or provider that submits a formal response to this solicitation."Application," "Bid," or "Proposal" 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.“RCW” means Revised Code of Washington.“WAC” means Washington Administrative Code.

Pierce County expressly reserves the rights to:Waive any and/or all irregularities in the proposals submitted.Reject any or all proposals 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 proposal(s), in the opinion of the County, is in the best interest of the County.

Pierce County seeks to partner with organizations that can deliver high-quality, youth-centered out-of-school programming to students ages 11–25. These services will provide safe, structured, and enriching opportunities outside traditional school hours, designed to foster academic success, social-emotional development, creative expression, and college and career readiness.Programs must prioritize youth and young adults experiencing financial hardship, housing instability, or other systemic challenges such as foster care involvement, juvenile justice involvement, or developmental and intellectual disabilities. Services must be accessible and low barrier, ensuring that participation is not limited by cost, transportation, or language or cultural barriers. Strategies may include transportation assistance, program fee subsidies, and culturally responsive engagement to meet the diverse needs of Pierce County communities. Services provided will focus on either academic and enrichment programs or recreation and social development programs.Community collaboration is a key component of these services. Providers are expected to actively engage youth, local organizations, schools, and community stakeholders to create a supportive network that enhances program impact. This may include forming partnerships with community-based organizations, leveraging local resources, and incorporating youth voice in program design and delivery. Collaborative efforts should aim to strengthen connections between participants and their communities, promote inclusivity, and ensure programs reflect the unique cultural and social fabric of Pierce County.*As a service enhancement, proposals may include minor equipment purchases or facility improvements that directly support program delivery and improve the quality, accessibility, or safety of services offered. The enhancements must be reasonable, clearly justified, and aligned with the overall objectives of the program (see Section 4.3 for additional information).Successful applicants must provide services and/or serve youths in the Pierce County Regional Transit Authority ‘RTA’ service area.

In order for an organization to be eligible to submit a proposal under this procurement, the organization must meet the following eligibility requirements:Has an ACTIVE UEI number issued by sam.gov at the time of application.Has a UBI number.Has NOT filed for bankruptcy within the past 7 years.Has NOT been part of any legal proceedings or lawsuits within the last 3 years.

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

Applicants may submit proposals for one or both of the following project types. A separate application must be submitted for each project type.1. Academic & Enrichment Programs. Programs that provide structured learning opportunities outside of traditional school hours to support academic growth, creativity, and critical thinking. Eligible activities may include, but are not limited to:Tutoring and Homework Support: One-on-one or group tutoring sessions, homework clubs, academic coaching, literacy and math skill-building workshops.Arts and Creative Expression: Visual arts (painting, drawing, sculpture), performing arts (music, dance, drama), digital media (photography, video production, graphic design).College and Career Exploration: Career fairs and guest speaker series, college campus visits and application workshops, resume building, interview preparation, job shadowing, paid internships, and learning stipends.Required Services for Academic & Enrichment Programs. Programs must include two or more of the following services:Enrichment Activities: Academic tutoring, STEM and arts programming, leadership development, and career exploration opportunities.Education Components: STEM-focused learning (science, technology, engineering, and math projects); Literacy and language development programs; Financial literacy and budgeting skills; Digital literacy and technology training; Study skills and academic confidence-building workshops; on-going education and career pathways.Social-Emotional Supports: Mentorship, skill-building workshops, and activities that promote resilience and positive relationships.Barrier Reduction: Transportation assistance, scholarships or stipends, and language access services.Youth Voice Integration: Incorporate youth input in planning and delivery, particularly around career pathways and future goals.Community Collaboration: Coordinate or co-locate services with schools, youth-serving organizations, and community networks to maximize impact and sustainability.2. Recreation & Social Development Programs. Programs that provide safe, supervised spaces for youth to develop social-emotional skills, build relationships, and engage in healthy recreation. Eligible activities may include, but are not limited to:Sports and Fitness: Sports leagues and fitness classes, outdoor adventure programs (hiking, biking, camping), structured play and games promoting teamwork.Mentoring and Supportive Relationships: Peer mentoring and leadership development, adult/peer-led discussion groups and life coaching, intergenerational activities and community service.Social-Emotional Learning and Life Skills: Workshops on communication, conflict resolution, and emotional regulation, financial literacy and decision-making skills, support groups for youth facing challenges (e.g., foster care, justice involvement).Required Services for Recreation & Social Development Programs. Programs must include two or more of the following services:Safe Recreation: Structured sports, games, and creative outlets that encourage healthy lifestyles and social interaction.Social-Emotional Supports: Mentorship, skill-building workshops, and activities that promote resilience and positive relationships.Barrier Reduction: Transportation assistance, scholarships or stipends, and language access services.Youth Voice Integration: Incorporate youth input in planning recreational activities and leadership opportunities.Community Collaboration: Coordinate or co-locate services with schools, youth-serving organizations, and community networks to maximize impact and sustainability.3. Screening, referral, and enrollment. EACH project type application submitted must also include a process for the following to ensure youth receive appropriate services and supports:Screening: Conduct intake assessments to identify participant needs, strengths, and risk factors, enabling tailored programming.Referrals: Connect youth and families to additional resources when needs extend beyond program scope (e.g., mental health services, housing assistance, food security programs).Enrollment: Maintain a streamlined, low-barrier enrollment process that minimizes paperwork and offers assistance for families with language or technology challenges. Enrollment should prioritize equity and confidentiality

PROPOSERS WHO REGISTER AND DOWNLOAD RFP 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.

The County reserves the right to conduct interviews with qualified proposers prior to making a final selection. 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 proposal 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 final award would be based upon the review process, interviews, and past contract performance (where applicable).

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 scoring methods utilized in the RFP 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 RFP were followed, including solicitation documents, the organizations’ proposal, 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 no later than 4:30 pm on Monday, February 9, 2026. Proposers must be registered in the eProcurement Portal software in order to submit questions, receive addenda and notifications, and ultimately submit a proposal.

In order for an organization to be eligible to submit a proposal under this procurement, the organization must meet the following eligibility requirements:Be a/an:Educational school or district; orWashington State registered non-profit with current 501(c)(3) status; orA municipality or other governmental agency within Pierce County; or For-profit organization working in partnership with a Washington State registered non-profit as the program lead. Possess a Washington State business license by the time a contract is executed (as evidenced by a UBI number when available).Possess a Federal Tax ID number.All above criteria will also apply to any subcontracted services approved by Pierce County.

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.

A virtual or in-person pre-proposal meeting will be conducted by Pierce County staff at the time, date, and location as indicated in the Timeline section of this RFP.Pre-proposal meeting attendance is not required but is highly encouraged for all organizations considering a response to this procurement. It is the County’s belief that attending the meeting will assist the proposer in presenting the best possible request for funding. During the pre-proposal meeting, Pierce County staff will give an overview of the solicitation, the proposal process, an overview of the requirements, and will also be available to answer questions and provide technical assistance. Please have the instruction/proposal packet available and any questions that the organization may have related to the procurement.

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 RFP, 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 period of performance of any contract resulting from this procurement is expected to begin on or about the date of execution through December 31, 2027. The County has the option of extending contracts for an additional 24 months after the initial contract expires. However, no Contractor will be guaranteed an extension. Decisions whether to extend a contract will be based on Pierce County’s assessment of the Contractor’s performance as evaluated by performance measure data as described in Section 4.6 of this solicitation, as well as any additional performance outcomes or deliverables negotiated in the final contract agreement.

Eligible CostsProgram budget should include only costs directly related to the program that fall into the categories below. Invoices are paid monthly on a cost reimbursement basis. If a contractor awarded funding does not expend and invoice all funds awarded, those funds will remain with the County for reallocation.Employee Related CostsSalaries/WagesBenefitsNon-employee Related Costs*Minor facility improvements such as:Safety enhancementsAccessibility UpgradesComfort and functionalityEquipment costs such as:Technology for program delivery or capacity buildingCreative and recreational suppliesFurniture for youth centered spacesSafety and healthOffice and Operating SuppliesSupportive servicesEventsFacility maintenanceContracted professional servicesOngoing Operations and MaintenanceOther Costs – must be explained and approvedAdministrative - no more than 15% of total direct costs outlined in budget.*If the proposed program includes minor facility improvements, applicants must ensure that all work complies with Washington State public works requirements as outlined in RCW 39.04 and prevailing wage laws under RCW 39.12. Minor improvements, such as safety enhancements or accessibility upgrades, will require procurement and prevailing wage obligations when public funds are used. Applicants are responsible for determining whether their proposed improvements meet the definition of public works and for adhering to all applicable regulations. Contractors performing work must submit Intent and Affidavit forms to the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries to confirm compliance with prevailing wage requirements. Ineligible CostsPSTAA funding under this procurement may not be used for:The purchase or construction of a new facility.Any costs associated with purchasing or constructing a new facility; or.Major construction projects, including but not limited to significant renovations, expansions or structural modifications to existing facilities.

Organizations awarded funding for Academic & Enrichment Activities will be required to report on the following outputs:Number of unduplicated youths participating and enrolled in activitiesNumber of workshops or classes facilitatedNumber of youth participants demonstrating improvements in academic growth, creativity, and critical thinking skills.Organizations awarded funding for Recreation & Social Development Activities will be required to report on the following output and outcome:Number of unduplicated youth and young adults servedNumber of youths demonstrating improvements in social-emotional skills, teamwork, or leadership abilities.

The total value of this procurement is $1,730,300 in Puget Sound Taxpayer Accountability Account (PSTAA) Funds based on estimated revenue. The County anticipates awarding multiple contracts from this procurement. The County reserves the right to make awards, based on the quality and scope of proposals received, available funding, and identified service needs.The total funding available under this Request for Proposals (RFP) is limited and may be distributed among multiple providers. Proposers are encouraged to scale their funding requests proportionally to the scope and geographic reach of their proposed services. The County may negotiate budgets and service levels to ensure the most effective use of funds and equitable coverage across providers. The County reserves the right to adjust award amounts at its sole discretion.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.

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.

Follow instructions carefully - if attachments are provided under this procurement, they are to be utilized as part of the proposal - do not replace or use the organization's own format, as the proposal 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.Attachment A: Budget WorksheetPre-Award Risk Assessment and supplemental materials (Question 17.1)If submitting more than one proposal, you must also download, complete, and upload the following materials for each additional application under Question 18.1:Application Questions (Word) and any applicable attachmentsAttachment A: Budget Worksheet (must submit a budget for EACH proposal)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.

Proposals must be received by the Procurement & Contract Services Department before 2:00 pm on Friday, February 20, 2026. The proposer is responsible for submission of proposal before the deadline. The County shall not be responsible for late submittals. Exceptions will not be made for proposers who miss the submission deadline, and no proposals will be accepted via email.