RFP Title: TRANSFER HEARINGS IN CALIFORNIA JUVENILE JUSTICE PROCEEDINGS
RFP Number: CFCC-2026-03-AC
REQUEST FOR
PROPOSALS
JUDICIAL COUNCIL OF CALIFORNIA
REGARDING:
TRANSFER HEARINGS IN CALIFORNIA JUVENILE JUSTICE
PROCEEDINGS
RFP# CFCC-2026-03-AC
PROPOSALS DUE:
April 21, 2026, NO LATER THAN 3:00 P.M. PACIFIC TIME
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RFP Title: TRANSFER HEARINGS IN CALIFORNIA JUVENILE JUSTICE PROCEEDINGS
RFP Number: CFCC-2026-03-AC
1.0 BACKGROUND INFORMATION
1.1. The Judicial Council of California (Council), chaired by the Chief Justice of
California, is the chief policy making agency of the California judicial system.
The California Constitution directs the Council to improve the administration of
justice by surveying judicial business, recommending improvements to the courts,
and making recommendations annually to the Governor and the Legislature. The
Council also adopts rules for court administration, practice, and procedure, and
performs other functions prescribed by law. The Judicial Council’s Center for
Families, Children and the Courts (CFCC) supports programs in court settings
that improve practice and services for children, youth, parents, families and other
court users.
1.2. Juvenile justice proceedings in California address allegations that youth have
violated criminal laws. Jurisdictional transfer and physical transfer hearings are
critical in these proceedings, determining whether, in certain cases, the youth’s
case should be transferred to adult criminal court and if the youth will be housed
in a juvenile or adult facility. Judges presiding over these hearings must navigate
complex statutory requirements, constitutional protections, and evolving case law
to ensure fair and lawful outcomes.
1.3 This Request for Proposals (RFP) seeks an entity with expertise in juvenile law
and judicial education to develop a comprehensive bench guide for judges
(“Guide”). The Guide will focus on jurisdictional transfer and physical transfer
hearings in California juvenile justice cases, providing practical checklists,
summaries of applicable law, and sample scripts to support judicial decision-
making and promote uniformity and fairness statewide.
2.0 DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES AND DELIVERABLES
2.1 Introduction
The Judicial Council of California seeks the services of a qualified entity to develop a
bench guide for judges about jurisdictional transfer and physical transfer hearings in
California juvenile justice. The successful proposer will demonstrate expertise in
juvenile law, judicial education, and curriculum development, and will deliver a
resource that is clear, practical, and accessible for judicial officers statewide. The
Guide must be accessible in print and digital formats and meet accessibility standards
under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Contractor will collaborate
with CFCC attorneys, court partners, and subject matter experts throughout the
project.
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RFP Title: TRANSFER HEARINGS IN CALIFORNIA JUVENILE JUSTICE PROCEEDINGS
RFP Number: CFCC-2026-03-AC
2.2 General Scope of Services Requirements
The Guide must be designed for use by judges presiding over juvenile justice matters,
with a focus on transfer hearings.
• The Guide should include:
o Procedural checklists for jurisdictional transfer hearings.
o Summaries of applicable statutes, rules, and case law, including Welfare
and Institutions Code sections relevant to juvenile justice transfer
hearings.
o Sample scripts for judicial officers to use during hearings.
o Guidance on evidentiary issues, rights advisements, and findings/orders.
o References to relevant Judicial Council forms and local rules.
• The content must be current, reflecting recent legislative changes, appellate
decisions, and best practices in juvenile justice.
• The Guide should be formatted for ease of use in court, including tables of
contents, quick-reference sections, and hyperlinks or cross-references where
appropriate.
2.3. Tasks and Deliverables
The Judicial Council anticipates the following major tasks and deliverables. Without
changing the Deliverables, the Contractor may propose refinements to the tasks as
necessary.
2.3.1 Task 1 – Project Initiation and Needs Assessment
• Meet with Judicial Council staff to assess scope, needs, identify gaps, and
define objectives for the Guide.
• Contractors shall meet with Judicial Council staff, including CFCC attorneys,
to obtain input on:
• needs and gaps in existing materials;
• desired objectives and outcomes;
• audience needs and accessibility considerations;
• key issues identified by courts and practitioners statewide.
• Deliverable 1 - Contractor shall provide a summary of this meeting which
includes the Contractor’s understanding of the items above and action items.
Estimated Due Date: [June 1, 2026]
2.3.2 Task 2 – Drafting and Review
• Contractor shall design and develop a detailed outline that includes:
• major sections and subsections of the Guide;
• key legal authorities and citations;
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RFP Title: TRANSFER HEARINGS IN CALIFORNIA JUVENILE JUSTICE PROCEEDINGS
RFP Number: CFCC-2026-03-AC
• proposed practical tools (e.g., timelines, checklists);
• proposed case examples and hypothetical scenarios;
• identification of any areas requiring deeper research or expert review.
• Deliverable 2 - Complete draft of the Guide for review and comment.
Estimated Due Date: [August 30, 2026]
2.3.3 Task 3 – Finalization of Full Draft
• Contractor shall prepare a complete draft of the Guide that incorporates all
content and feedback provide by JBE for Deliverable 2. This draft must
include narrative explanations, charts, checklists, sample language, and other
practical guidance tools. The Guide must be ADA-compliant and ready for
publication in both print and digital formats. Contractor shall provide the
Judicial Council with all final files and editable source files.
• Deliverable 3 - Final Guide ready for dissemination.
Estimated Due Date: [November 30, 2026]
2.3.4 Optional Tasks
• At the Judicial Council’s discretion, Contractor may also be asked to develop
and present a one-day training for attorneys and/or bench officers using
content from the Guide. If exercised, Contractor shall:
• prepare a training agenda and slides;
• develop sample exercises or hypotheticals;
• deliver the training either in person or virtually (which may be recorded for
archival use); and
• provide post-training materials and evaluation summaries.
• Deliverable 4 (Optional): Presentation of the Guide at a designated event or
training session.
Due Date: [December 31, 2026, if applicable]
3.0 TIMELINE FOR THIS RFP
The Judicial Council has developed the following list of key events related to this RFP.
All dates are subject to change at the discretion of the JBE.
EVENT
RFP issued
Deadline for questions
Solicitations@jud.ca.gov
Questions and answers posted (estimate only)
https://courts.ca.gov/policy-
administration/bidders-solicitations
DATE
March 27, 2026
April 8, 2026,
no later than 3:00 PM (PT)
April 14, 2026
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RFP Title: TRANSFER HEARINGS IN CALIFORNIA JUVENILE JUSTICE PROCEEDINGS
RFP Number: CFCC-2026-03-AC
EVENT
DATE
Latest date and time proposal may be
submitted
Solicitations@jud.ca.gov
Evaluation of proposals (estimate only)
Notice of Intent to Award (estimate only)
Deadline to Submit Award Protest (JCC must receive
award protest within 5 days of Notice of Intent to Award)
Contract start date (estimate only)
Contract end date (estimate only)
April 21, 2026,
no later than 3:00 PM (PT)
April 27 – April 30, 2026
May 1, 2026
May 11, 2026
December 31, 2026
4.0 RFP ATTACHMENTS
The following attachments are included as part of this RFP:
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This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.
