The New York State Office of Children & Family Services (OCFS) announces a Solicitation of Interest (SOI) for qualified entities that can provide music production, education, instruction, and training to at-risk youth residing at Goshen Secure Center, Brookwood Secure Center for Youth, and Highland Residential Center. Youth should obtain the skills and knowledge that are needed to master industry standard music education and production. The goal is to teach and train at-risk youth valuable music educational and production skills that can be used to obtain gainful employment when reintegrating into the community.

Please see the Eligibility Criteria section for additional information.

This advertisement is public notice that OCFS is seeking to contract with an organization to train and teach at-risk youth the knowledge and skills required to master music production skills within our enhancement program. Responders must teach the necessary skills and knowledge needed for youth to obtain a basic knowledge of music education and production. Responders should be able to appeal to a wide range and diverse group of participants and trainees. Topic areas offered in this program should include, but not be limited to, music production, audio engineering production, video creation/editing, and digital photography. Offerors must be able to provide training for all topic areas. The desired outcome of this program is to build the capacity, knowledge, and skillsets of the participants and trainees with hands-on trainings for all topic areas as needed. There is one (1) position available, and OCFS will make one (1) award to cover needed services for all three (3) facilities.

Please see the Scope of Work section for additional information.

Below are descriptions of the OCFS juvenile justice facilities for which services are being sought:

Goshen Secure Center is located at 97 Cross Road, Goshen, NY 10924. Goshen serves male youthful offenders/adolescent offenders (YO/AO) who were tried and convicted in adult criminal court. Depending on the sentence, youth may remain in OCFS custody up to twenty-one (21) years of age.

Brookwood Secure Center for Youth is located at 419 Spookrock Road, Claverack, NY 12513. Brookwood serves male youthful offenders/adolescent offenders (YO/AO) who were tried and convicted in court. Depending on the sentence, youth may remain in OCFS custody up to twenty-one (21) years of age.

Highland Residential Center is located at 629 North Chodikee Lake Road, Highland, NY 12528. The youth served are male adjudicated juvenile delinquents generally between the ages of 14 and 18, placed with OCFS by the New York State Family Courts.

The purpose of this SOI is to invite any eligible and interested entities that believe they can satisfy this program’s needs to inform OCFS by a Letter of Interest (LOI). To be considered responsive, your organization’s LOI should be received no later than the deadline specified on the first page of this announcement. Please see the How to Respond section for additional information and submission requirements.

This opportunity is authorized under Section 163 of State Finance Law as a Discretionary Purchase. OCFS intends to contract pursuant to its discretionary purchasing authority under State Finance Law Section 163(6), which authorizes purchases without a formal competitive process in certain circumstances. This funding opportunity is limited to purchases up to the Discretionary Buying Threshold from respondent organizations qualified as:

• New York State Small Business Enterprises (SBE)
• New York State certified Minority-owned and/or Women-owned Business Enterprises (MWBE)
• New York State certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses (SDVOB)

NYS-certified MWBE and SDVOB are qualified pursuant to Article 15-A of State Executive Law and Article 3 of Veterans’ Services Law . In accordance with Section 160(8) of State Finance Law and Article 4-B of Economic Development Law , SBE are defined as a small business concern that is domiciled in New York State, independently owned and operated, not dominant in its field, and employs 100 or less persons.

Primary respondents that are certified and/or qualify as an SBE, MWBE, or SDVOB should complete, sign, and submit the Attachment 3 – Affirmation of Business Status provided with this solicitation.

Please see the SOI document located on the "Documents" tab for additional information and submission requirements.