OCA-DGCP-061 Onondaga County Firearm Youth Intervention Services

BACKGROUND INFORMATION  

The mission of the New York State Unified Court System (“UCS”) is to deliver equal justice under the law and to achieve the just, fair and timely resolution of all matters that come before our courts. In the service of our mission, the UCS is committed to operating with integrity and transparency, and to ensuring that all who enter or serve in our courts are treated with respect, dignity, and professionalism. We affirm our responsibility to promote a court system free from any and all forms of bias and discrimination and to promote a judiciary and workforce that reflect the rich diversity of New York State. More information about the UCS is available at https://www.nycourts.gov.

The UCS Office of Court Administration’s (“OCA”) Division of Grants, Contracts & Procurement (“DGCP”) is soliciting proposals via this Request for Proposals (“RFP”) for the purpose of providing firearm intervention services in Onondaga County as described in Article II, Project Information.

The Raise the Age law launched in New York State on October 1, 2018, which ushered in a new paradigm requiring a fundamental restructuring of New York’s juvenile and criminal justice systems. Raise The Age is rooted in brain science with the fundamental premise that adolescents are not adults; they are children transitioning to adulthood. Prior to 2017, New York had remained one of the last two states in the country that continued to treat 16-year-olds as adults for purposes of criminal liability. The new law statutorily created a Youth Part in each county’s superior court having exclusive Jurisdiction of all cases involving Juvenile Offenders (13- to 15-year-olds) charged with designated felonies in the adult system, and the new designation of Adolescent Offenders (16- and 17-year-olds) who are accused of committing felony-level offenses. While many of these cases may be transferred to the Family Court, most cases involving the use of firearms remain in the Youth Part.

PROJECT INFORMATION

The UCS is the recipient of a Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program grant (the “Grant Award”) by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (“BJA”) through the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services (“DCJS” or the “Grantor”) to establish direct relationships with community-based violence interruption programs and pilot interventions for youths charged with gun-related offenses, to prevent future crime and promote community safety.

The DGCP, on behalf of the Office for Justice Initiatives (“OJI”), is issuing this RFP to solicit proposals from qualified applicants who use an evidence-based model to provide community-based interventions to support justice-involved young adults with gun-related offences whose cases are in the Youth Part (the “Project”). The Empowerment Through Wellness to Prevent Gun Violence Initiative will be implemented in seven (7) counties in New York State identified as the pilot sites (Bronx, Erie, Kings, Monroe, Nassau, Onondaga, and Suffolk). This RFP is seeking proposals in Onondaga County only.

Pursuant to the terms of the Grant Award, $360,000 is the maximum available funding for Project Services (as set forth in Article V below) performed during October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026, provided, however, that such period may be extended upon mutual agreement of the Grantor and UCS (the “Project Term”).

UCS anticipates that the selected applicant will be designated a “subrecipient” rather than a “contractor” for purposes of federal requirements of the Grant Award. UCS reserves the right to request a no-cost extension of the Project Term from the Grantor.

AWARD

UCS intends to award one contract for a term commencing on or about December 1, 2025 and terminating on or about September 30, 2026 (“Contract Term”).

Awarded contractor shall be contractually obligated to provide the Project Services (as described below) for the Project Term, as it may be amended or extended. UCS and awarded contractor shall communicate regularly concerning the remaining amount of grant funds and the approximate timing of complete expenditure.

This RFP seeks community-based interventions to support justice-involved young adults with gun-related offenses whose cases are in the Youth Part in Onondaga County, as described in the grant chart above.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Proposals will be considered only from applicants who meet the following minimum qualifications:

1. The proposing organization must demonstrate the capacity to deliver youth-focused gun violence prevention and community violence intervention programming. If the proposing organization does not have the full capacity to meet all program requirements independently, it may partner with one or more community-based organizations located in Onondaga County that have a demonstrated commitment to prevention and youth well-being to provide all required services. In such cases, the lead organization will be responsible for managing coordination efforts and ensuring that all activities are aligned with the requirements and objectives outlined in this RFP. See Article V (Project Services) for qualifying details.

2. Individuals or organizations who have had a contract terminated for cause by New York State within the past five (5) years are not eligible to apply.

PROJECT SERVICES

UCS seeks proposals describing how the applicant will provide the services listed below (“Project Services”). The selected applicant shall be required to:

1. Referrals and Intake

Accept referrals from UCS Judges and Resource Coordinators for youth charged with gun-related offenses.

Conduct intake assessments to determine the individual needs, risks, and strengths of each participant.

2. Program Services

A. Mentor Services

Recruit or partner with a community-based organization that possesses demonstrated lived experience aligned with the needs and backgrounds of the population being served.

Pair participants with trained mentors for individualized support and guidance. 

Provide ongoing supervision, support, and training to mentors to ensure high-quality engagement and ethical practices.

B. Therapeutic Services

Employ qualified behavioral health staff trained in trauma-informed care and evidence-based therapeutic interventions (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy, support groups, etc.).

Address the impacts of chronic violence exposure on youth and their communities through specialized therapeutic support.

C. Case Management and Wraparound Services

Provide individualized case management for all participants.

Make appropriate cross-system referrals in the following areas:

o Workforce Development: Job readiness training, vocational skills

o Employment and Housing: Transitional employment, stable housing, and basic needs access

o Life Skills: Harm reduction, parenting, healthy habits, financial literacy, and planning

o Education: High School Equivalency (e.g., GED), professional certification programs

3. Coordination with Court and Stakeholders

Coordinate case planning and service delivery with assigned court staff, including Resource Coordinators.

Engage with other community-based service providers as appropriate to ensure a wraparound approach.

Provide continuous feedback regarding participants’ progress with assigned court staff including Resource Coordinators.

4. Participant Engagement

Utilize evidence-based engagement techniques to support participants in:

o Attending all scheduled appointments.

o Fulfilling program obligations.

o Appearing in court as required.

Maintain ongoing communication with participants to build trust, provide guidance, and facilitate progress.

5. Documentation and Data Management

Maintain accurate, efficient, and timely records of all participant interactions, services provided, and outcomes in appropriate files and database(s). The design of the form shall be created in collaboration with the UCS stakeholder group (“Project Team”).

Submit documentation in accordance with programmatic and research standards for data collection and reporting.

6. Program Administration

Assign a primary contact person responsible for program coordination and communication with referring agencies. Notify stakeholders in writing of any changes to this designated contact.

Provide appropriate supervision and oversight for any staff included on this project.

If the proposing organization cannot accommodate all of the required project services as specified in this RFP, proposing organization must partner with one or more organizations to ensure all services are met. The proposing organization is responsible for making all arrangements with Partner Organization. The Partner Organization shall be a subcontractor of the Awarded Contractor and shall be subject to all terms and conditions set forth in the Section XII, “Subcontracting.” The Partner Organization must be designated in the proposal submitted in response to this RFP, subject to the same approvals as the primary Contractor.

RFP Issue Date October 6,2025

Deadline to submit written questions, October 24, 2025 at 2:00 PM EDT

Deadline to submit proposal, November 3, 2025 at 2:00 PM EDT

Estimates Contract Start Daye December 1, 2025