Trauma-Informed Care in Detention

Iowa Judicial Branch
1111 East Court Avenue | Des Moines, IA 50319
R P
EQUEST FOR ROPOSAL
RFP COVER SHEET
Administrative Information:
Title of RFP: Trauma-Informed Care in Detention RFP Number: JUV-27-CB-08-001
Agency: Iowa Judicial Branch (IJB or Agency)
Number of years of the 1 year Number of possible annual 5 additional 1-year
initial terms of the renewals: terms exercisable
Contract: by the IJB in its
sole discretion
Anticipated Initial
06/30/2027
07/01/2026 Ending:
Contract Term Beginning:
Issuing Officer:
Connie Murphy
(563)343-5553
Connie.Murphy@iowacourts.gov
400 W 4th St
Davenport, IA 52801
Date/Time(Central time):
PROCUREMENT TIMETABLE-Event or Action:
Agency Posts Notice of RFP on TSB website 03/31/2026
Agency Issues RFP 04/02/2026
Letters of Intent to Bid Due Date: 04/13/2026
RFP written questions, requests for clarification, and suggested changes from Date: 04/13/2026
Respondents due: Time: 3:00 p.m.
The IJB's written response to RFP questions, requests for clarifications and Date: 04/20/2026
suggested changes due: (will be available on bidding website)
Proposals Due Date: Date: 05/22/2026
Proposals Due Time: Time: 3:00 p.m.
Anticipated Date to issue Notice of Intent to Award: Date: 06/15/2026
Date: 07/01/2026
Anticipated Date to execute Contract:

RFP#JUV-27-CB-08-001
Relevant Websites: Web-address:
Internet website where Addenda to https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/rfp/
this RFP will be posted: https://bidopportunities.iowa.gov/
Internet website where General
https://www.iowacourts.gov/static/media/cms/General_Terms_for
Terms for Juvenile Court Services
_JCS_Services_Cont_1257FB3D72AAA.pdf
(JCS) Services Contracts are located:
Electronic Copies of Proposals Required to be Submitted to Issuing Officer.
Firm Proposal Terms 120 Days
Per Section 3.2.11, of the RFP the minimum Number of Days following the
deadline for submitting proposals that the Respondent guarantees all proposal
terms, including price, will remain firm:
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1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 PURPOSE
The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to solicit proposals from Responsible Respondents to
provide the goods and/or services identified on the RFP cover sheet and further described in Section 4 of
this RFP to the IJB, as identified on the RFP cover sheet. The IJB intends to award a Contract(s) beginning
and ending on the dates listed on the RFP cover sheet, and the IJB, in its sole discretion, may extend the
Contract(s) for up to the number of annual extensions identified on the RFP cover sheet.
1.2 DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this RFP and the resulting Contract, the following terms are defined.
"Agency" means the agency identified on the RFP cover sheet that is issuing the RFP.
"Bid Proposal" or "Proposal" means Respondent's proposal submitted in response to the RFP.
"Contract" means the Contract(s) entered into with Respondent(s) as described in section 6.
"Contractor" means the awarded business/person to provide the contractual services agreed upon.
"General Terms" and "General Terms and Conditions" shall mean the General Terms for Juvenile Court
Services service contracts as linked on the RFP cover page.
"IJB" shall mean the Iowa Judicial Branch.
"Invoice" means a Contractor's claim for payment. At the IJB's discretion, claims must be submitted on
an original invoice from the Contractor and on a claim form accepted by the IJB, such as a General
Accounting Expenditure (GAX) form.
"Juvenile Court Officer" or "JCO" means a person appointed as a juvenile court officer under section
602.7202 of the Iowa Code and also includes a chief juvenile court officer appointed under section
602.1217 of the Iowa Code.
"Juvenile Court Services" or "JCS", for the purposes of this RFP, means a unit of the Iowa Judicial Branch
in which juveniles adjudicated by the Iowa Juvenile Court as delinquent and youth at risk of entering the
court system receive services as directed by the Chief Juvenile Court Officer or designee.
"Respondent" means the company, organization or other business entity submitting a proposal in
response to this RFP.
"Responsible Respondent" means a Respondent that has the capability, as determined in the sole
discretion of the IJB, in all material respects to perform the scope of work and specifications of the
Contract. In determining whether a Respondent is a Responsible Respondent, the IJB may consider various
factors including, but not limited to, the Respondent's competence and qualifications to provide the goods
or services requested, the Respondent's integrity and reliability, the past performance of the Respondent
and the best interest of the IJB and the State.
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"Responsive Proposal" means a Proposal that complies, in the sole discretion of the IJB, with the material
provisions of this RFP.
"RFP" means this Request for Proposals and any attachments, exhibits, schedules or addenda hereto.
"State" means the State of Iowa, the IJB, and all state agencies, boards, and commissions, and any political
subdivisions making purchases from the Contract as permitted by this RFP.
"Vendor" means anyone who provides goods or services to another entity.
1.2.1 Additional Definitions specific to this RFP:
"Adverse Childhood Experiences" or "ACEs" refers to stressful or traumatic events that children face
before reaching 18 years of age. These include various forms of abuse (physical, emotional, sexual),
neglect (emotional, physical), and household challenges such as witnessing domestic violence, living with
individuals with substance use disorders, having an incarcerated relative, or experiencing family
separation. Studies have shown that individuals with a high number of ACEs are at an increased risk for
negative outcomes in adulthood, including chronic diseases, mental illness, substance misuse, and
reduced life potential. The more ACEs one has, the greater the risk for these outcomes.
"Authorization of Release of Information" means a form used by JCS for the purpose of authorizing the
release of a confidential record, signed and dated by the person(s) empowered to release the information.
"Detention" means a licensed and secure facility run by the county or consortium of counties for the
safe and secure holding of youth who committed or allegedly committed a delinquent act, and are
placed by a court order.
"Mandatory reporter" means a professional legally required to report suspected child or dependent
adult abuse or neglect to authorities.
"Supervising Juvenile Court Officer" or "Supervising JCO" means the person responsible for the direct
supervision of youth who committed a delinquent act(s), including monitoring service delivery.
"Trauma-Informed" or "Trauma-Informed Care" or "TIC" means the incorporation of an understanding
of trauma and traumatic experiences and the effect they can have on children in foster care into the
care and services provided to a child. These experiences may include, but would not be limited to,
betrayal of a trusted person or institution and a loss of safety; experiences of violence; physical, sexual,
and institutional abuse, neglect, intergenerational trauma, and, disasters that induce powerlessness,
fear, recurrent hopelessness, and a constant state of alert. Trauma-Informed is an approach to help
engage people with histories of trauma that recognizes the presence of trauma symptoms and
acknowledges the role that trauma has played in their lives.
"Trauma Specialist" means a mental health professional trained specifically to support people in
recovering from trauma. Trauma Specialists are equipped with specialized skills and therapeutic
approaches designed to address the unique challenges faced by trauma survivors.
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1.3 OVERVIEW OF THE RFP PROCESS
The RFP process is for the IJB's benefit and is intended to provide the IJB with competitive information to
assist in the selection process. It is not intended to be comprehensive. Each Respondent is responsible for
determining all factors necessary for submission of a comprehensive Proposal.
Respondent should review Attachment 3, Form 22 Request for Confidentiality, for more information if its
Proposal contains confidential information. Any Proposal marked "Confidential" or "Proprietary" on every
page may be disqualified.
Respondents will be required to submit their Proposals electronically via email to the Issuing Officer.
1.4 BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Early intervention and follow-up programs/graduated sanctions services are services to be provided to
children adjudicated delinquent and children who have been referred to Juvenile Court Services for a
delinquency violation or who have exhibited behaviors that put them at risk of a juvenile delinquency
referral. The services are directed to enhance personal adjustment to help the children transition into
productive adulthood and to prevent or reduce delinquent acts, out-of-home placement, and recidivism.
The Iowa Judicial Branch is requesting Proposals for the purpose of providing Trauma-Informed Care
services for youth in detention in all thirty (30) counties included within the First (D1), Seventh (D7) and
Eighth (D8) Judicial Districts of Juvenile Court Services (JCS). JCS D1 includes Allamakee, Blackhawk,
Buchanan, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Grundy, Howard, and Winneshiek counties.
JCS D7 includes Cedar, Clinton, Jackson, Muscatine and Scott counties. JCS D8 includes the counties of
Appanoose, Davis, Des Moines, Jefferson, Henry, Keokuk, Lee (North and South), Louisa, Mahaska,
Monroe, Poweshiek, Van Buren, Wapello, and Washington.
Youth are detained if they meet criteria for placement in Detention pursuant to Iowa Code section 232.22.
The circumstances resulting in such action vary with each youth. A youth's behavior in the community
that resulted in being detained, and their behavior while in and because of Detention placement, is
frequently related to traumatic experiences. Juvenile response to assessments and rehabilitation is also
seen as likely to be affected by traumatic experiences.
Some of the known traumatic experiences of youth in Detention can involve experiences from having
been "on the run" for a length of time, including human trafficking. Often youth in Detention have
witnessed violent crime or have themselves been victims of violence. These youth may even be the
perpetrator of the violence. Youth in Detention and other juvenile justice settings also reportedly
experience higher rates of bereavement and violent deaths than do youth in the general population and,
consequently, where maladaptive coping mechanisms have been adopted.
Youth who are behaviorally out of control or experiencing suicidal ideations and who do not meet criteria
for hospitalization may be held in Detention until the youth is able to improve self-regulation. Providing
Trauma-Informed Care to these youth early in their Detention placement could allow the youth to be
released to community-based services or alternate suitable placement without a lengthy stay in
Detention.
Youth in Detention often feel a great deal of anxiety about appearing in court for a variety of reasons but
mostly because they are unsure if they will be released back into the community or sent to placement
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elsewhere. Youth who attend court appear in their Detention issued uniform which can provide a sense
of shame and general anxiety about being in a room full of professional adults and a judge; they may feel
that their lives are out of their control. Psychological safety is a requirement to be able to attend court
successfully, able to understand what is happening, and able to contribute to the outcomes.
Present barriers to providing co-regulation skill-building services while in Detention or issues that must
be taken into consideration include:
Most of the confined youth receive benefits under Medicaid, which does not pay for services while
the youth is in Detention. It is rare that a youth's existing service provider (if they have one),
provides service during Detention stays due to this funding issue.
The time and travel logistics of a service provider visiting a youth in Detention, including but not
limited to securing permissions from Detention staff to provide services to the youth in Detention.
A youth's short duration of placement in Detention.
Potential for irregular hours of service delivery.
Provision of services by a new provider would require time to build rapport and develop a trust
relationship, which may be exasperated if the youth has been seeing a provider prior to Detention
placement.
Parental consent is not always obtainable or can be difficult to obtain.
Unintended consequence of a youth's longer stay in Detention solely to continue services.
Trauma-Informed Care is a strengths-based, organizational framework that recognizes the widespread
impact of trauma and focuses on "what happened to you?" rather than "what's wrong with you?". It
prioritizes physical and emotional safety, fosters trust, and empowers survivors to prevent re-
traumatization across healthcare and social service settings.
Trauma-informed care seeks to:
Realize the widespread impact of trauma and understand paths for recovery;
Recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma in patients, families, and staff;
Integrate knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices; and
Actively avoid re-traumatization
This RFP aligns with the guiding principles identified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA). The six core principles of Trauma-Informed Care focus on creating safe,
trustworthy environments by emphasizing Safety, ensuring Trustworthiness and Transparency, promoting
Choice, fostering Collaboration, and building Empowerment, with a recognition of cultural factors.
Trauma-Informed Care has recently been implemented for youth in Detention centers in Districts 1, 7 and
8 through other funding sources; however, data is not yet available regarding number of youth served or
success rates for the services.
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2 ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
2.1 ISSUING OFFICER
The Issuing Officer identified in the RFP cover sheet is the sole point of contact regarding the RFP
from the date of issuance until a Notice of Intent to Award the Contract is issued.
2.2 RESTRICTION ON COMMUNICATION
From the issue date of this RFP until a Notice of Intent to Award the Contract is issued, Respondents
may contact only the Issuing Officer. The Issuing Officer will respond only to written questions
regarding the procurement process. Questions related to the interpretation of this RFP must be
submitted as provided in Section 2. Oral questions related to the interpretation of this RFP will not
be accepted. Respondents may be disqualified if they contact any State employee other than the
Issuing Officer about the RFP except that Respondents may contact the State Targeted Small
Business Office on issues related to the preference for Targeted Small Businesses.
2.3 DOWNLOADING THE RFP FROM THE INTERNET
The RFP document and any addenda to the RFP will be posted at https://www.
iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/rfp/ , https://bidopportunities.iowa.gov/.
The Respondent is advised to check the website periodically for Addenda to this RFP, particularly if
the Respondent downloaded the RFP from the Internet as the Respondent may not automatically
receive addenda. It is the Respondent's sole responsibility to check daily for addenda to posted
documents.
2.4 PROCUREMENT TIMETABLE
The dates provided in the procurement timetable on the RFP cover sheet are provided for
informational and planning purposes. The IJB reserves the right to change the dates. If the IJB
changes any of the deadlines for Respondent submissions, the IJB will issue an addendum to the
RFP.
2.5 QUESTIONS, REQUESTS FOR CLARIFICATION, AND SUGGESTED CHANGES
Respondents are invited to submit written questions and requests for clarifications regarding the
RFP. The questions or requests for clarifications must be in writing and received by the Issuing
Officer before the date and time listed on the RFP cover sheet. Oral questions will not be permitted.
If the questions or requests for clarifications pertain to a specific section of the RFP, Respondent
shall reference the page and section number(s). The IJB will post written responses to questions,
requests for clarifications, or suggestions received from Respondents on or before the date listed
on the RFP cover sheet to the website(s) referenced on the RFP cover sheet. The IJB's written
responses will become an addendum to the RFP.
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The IJB assumes no responsibility for oral representations made by its officers or employees unless
such representations are confirmed in writing and incorporated into the RFP through an addendum.
2.6 AMENDMENT TO THE RFP
The IJB reserves the right to amend the RFP at any time using an addendum. The Respondent shall
acknowledge receipt of all addenda in its Proposal. If the IJB issues an addendum after the due date
for receipt of Proposals, the IJB may, in its sole discretion, allow Respondents to amend their
Proposals in response to the addendum.
2.7 AMENDMENT AND WITHDRAWAL OF PROPOSAL
The Respondent may amend or withdraw and resubmit its Proposal at any time before the
Proposals are due. The amendment must be in writing. Electronic mail is acceptable. Respondents
must notify the Issuing Officer in writing prior to the due date for Proposals if they wish to
completely withdraw their Proposals. Electronic mail is acceptable for notice of withdrawal.
2.8 SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS
Each Respondent is responsible for submitting its Proposal at the Issuing Officer's email address
identified on the RFP cover sheet before the "Proposals Due" date and time listed on the RFP cover
sheet, unless such date and time is extended by the IJB, at its sole discretion, through the issuance
of an addendum to this RFP. This is a mandatory requirement and will not be waived by the
Agency. Any Proposal received after this deadline will be rejected and the IJB will notify the
Respondent. It is the Respondent's responsibility to ensure that the Proposal is received by the
Issuing Officer prior to the deadline. Late proposals, regardless of cause, will not be opened or
considered for evaluation, and will be disqualified from further consideration. It is the Respondent's
sole responsibility to ensure delivery at the stated location and time.
Respondents must furnish all information necessary to enable the IJB to evaluate the Proposal. Oral
information provided by the Respondent shall not be considered part of the Respondent's Proposal
unless it is reduced to writing.
2.9 PROPOSAL OPENING
The IJB will open Proposals after the deadline for submission of Proposals has passed. The Proposals
will remain confidential until the Evaluation Committee has reviewed all of the Proposals submitted
in response to this RFP and the IJB has issued a Notice of Intent to Award a Contract. See Iowa Code
Section 72.3. However, the names of Respondents who submitted timely Proposals will be publicly
available after the Proposal opening. The announcement of Respondents who timely submitted
Proposals does not mean that an individual Proposal has been deemed technically compliant or
accepted for evaluation.
2.10 COSTS OF PREPARING THE PROPOSAL
The costs of preparation and delivery of the Proposal are solely the responsibility of the
Respondent.
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2.11 NO COMMITMENT TO CONTRACT
The IJB reserves the right to reject any or all Proposals received in response to this RFP at any time
prior to the execution of the Contract. Issuance of this RFP in no way constitutes a commitment by
the IJB to award a Contract.
2.12 REJECTION OF PROPOSALS
The IJB may reject outright and not evaluate a Proposal for reasons including without limitation:
A. The Respondent fails to email the cost proposal in a separate attachment.
B. The Respondent acknowledges that a mandatory specification of the RFP cannot be met.
C. The Respondent's Proposal changes a material specification of the RFP or the Proposal is
not compliant with the mandatory specifications of the RFP.
D. The Respondent's Proposal limits the rights of the IJB.
E. The Respondent fails to include information necessary to substantiate that it will be able to
meet a specification of the RFP as provided in Section 3 of this RFP.
F. The Respondent fails to timely respond to the IJB's request for information, documents, or
references.
G. The Respondent fails to include Proposal Security, if required.
H. The Respondent fails to include any signature, certification, authorization, stipulation,
disclosure or guarantee as provided in Section 3 of this RFP.
I. The Respondent presents the information requested by this RFP in a format inconsistent
with the instructions of the RFP or otherwise fails to comply with the specifications of this
RFP.
J. The Respondent initiates unauthorized contact regarding the RFP with state employees.
K. The Respondent provides misleading or inaccurate responses.
L. The Respondent's Proposal is materially unbalanced.
M. There is insufficient evidence (including evidence submitted by the Respondent and
evidence obtained by the IJB from other sources) to satisfy the IJB that the Respondent is
a Responsive Respondent.
N. The Respondent alters the language in Attachment 1: Certification Letter or Attachment 2:
Authorization to Release Information letter.
2.13 NONMATERIAL VARIANCES
The IJB reserves the right to waive or permit cure of nonmaterial variances in the Proposal if, in the
judgment of the IJB, it is in the State's best interest to do so. Nonmaterial variances include but are
not limited to: minor failures to comply that do not affect overall responsiveness, that are merely
a matter of form or format, that do not change the relative standing or otherwise prejudice other
Respondents, that do not change the meaning or scope of the RFP, or that do not reflect a material
change in the specifications of the RFP. In the event the IJB waives or permits cure of nonmaterial
variances, such waiver or cure will not modify the RFP specifications or excuse the Respondent from
full compliance with RFP specifications or other Contract specifications if the Respondent is
awarded the Contract. The determination of materiality is in the sole discretion of the IJB.
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2.14 REFERENCE CHECKS
The IJB reserves the right to contact any reference to assist in the evaluation of the Proposal, to
verify information contained in the Proposal and to discuss the Respondent's qualifications and the
qualifications of any subcontractor identified in the Proposal.
2.15 INFORMATION FROM OTHER SOURCES
The IJB reserves the right to obtain and consider information from other sources concerning a
Respondent, such as the Respondent's capability and performance under other Contracts, the
qualifications of any subcontractor identified in the Proposal, the Respondent's financial stability,
past or pending litigation, and other publicly available information.
2.16 VERIFICATION OF PROPOSAL CONTENTS
The content of a Proposal submitted by a Respondent is subject to verification. If the IJB determines
in its sole discretion that the content is in any way misleading or inaccurate, the IJB may reject the
Proposal.
2.17 PROPOSAL CLARIFICATION PROCESS
The IJB reserves the right to contact a Respondent after the submission of Proposals for the purpose
of clarifying a Proposal. This contact may include written questions, interviews, site visits, a review
of past performance if the Respondent has provided goods and/or services to the State or any other
political subdivision wherever located, or requests for corrective pages in the Respondent's
Proposal. The IJB will not consider information received from or through Respondent if the
information materially alters the content of the Proposal or the type of goods and/or services the
Respondent is offering to the IJB. An individual authorized to legally bind the Respondent shall sign
responses to any request for clarification. Responses shall be submitted to the IJB within the time
specified in the IJB's request. Failure to comply with requests for additional information may result
in rejection of the Proposal.
2.18 DISPOSITION OF PROPOSALS
All Proposals become the property of the State and shall not be returned to the Respondent. Once
the IJB issues a Notice of Intent to Award the Contract, the contents of all Proposals will be in the
public domain and be available for inspection by interested parties, except for information for
which Respondent properly requests confidential treatment or according to exceptions provided in
Iowa Code Chapter 22 or other applicable law.
2.19 PUBLIC RECORDS AND REQUESTS FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT
The IJB's release of public records is governed by Iowa Code chapter 22. Respondents are
encouraged to familiarize themselves with Chapter 22 before submitting a Proposal. The IJB will
produce public records upon request as required to comply with Chapter 22 and will treat all
information submitted by a Respondent as non-confidential records unless Respondent requests
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