PUBLIC NOTICE
SOQ NO. 25-001
 
Psychological and/or Psychiatric Evaluation Services
Jefferson Parish Department of Juvenile Services
                                                                             
 
The Parish of Jefferson, authorized by Resolution No.145486, is hereby soliciting Statements of Qualifications (General Professional Services Questionnaire), from individuals and/or agencies interested in providing forensic psychological and/or psychiatric evaluations for juveniles and family members as a result of Juvenile Court orders for such evaluations.  Contracts will be awarded on an as needed basis.  The minimum evaluation services will include the following in whole or in part:
 
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS:  3:30 PM on January 31, 2025
 
General
Clinical interview; review of records; social history (including educational performance); educational evaluation (for those receiving Special Education services); standardized intelligence test; standardized adaptive behavior assessment; and other needed clinician-identified measures (evaluation measures used must be objective, standardized measures); and appropriate psychiatric evaluations as specifically requested by Juvenile Court.
 
The evaluations of juveniles and family members will be used to answer such questions as:
1.   Is out of home placement needed?
2.   What treatment or services will benefit the youth and family and why?
3.   Does the child need to be referred for Special Education or Developmental Disability Services?
 
Qualified professionals and/or agencies must be able to provide emergency evaluations and sexual perpetrator evaluations.  Qualified professionals and/or agencies are to work collaboratively with Juvenile Court, including case processing time (usually 21 days), with the Department of Juvenile Services, and other juvenile service entities.  Qualified professionals and/or agencies must be able to manage the number of evaluations ordered by Juvenile Court.  For reference in 2023 there were approximately 110 psychological and psychiatric evaluations conducted.
 
Evaluation Criteria:
The following criteria will be used to measure proposal qualifications:
1.   Ability to provide quality evaluations as per advertised criteria (40 points).
2.   Ability to provided evaluations in a timely manner (20 points).
3.   Qualifications of evaluators (20 points).
4.   Professional experience of agency in providing similar services (20 points).
 
Individual performing evaluations must be licensed psychologists and/or psychiatrists who have experience assessing at-risk adolescents and families.  Psychiatrists must have certification in child psychiatry.  Qualifying applicants will conform to appropriate professional ethical guidelines regarding scope of practice.  For further information, contact Dr. John Ryals, Jr. at (504) 364-3750 ext. 87438.
 
Submittal Requirements:
Statement of Qualifications - General Professional Services Questionnaire

All firms must submit a Statement of Qualifications - General Professional ServicesQuestionnaire and must identify all sub-consultant individuals/firms (for which they expect to use to provide professional services) on said questionnaire.
All firms must also submit a Statement of Qualifications - General ProfessionalServices Questionnaire for each sub-consultant individual/firm (for which they expect to use to provide professional services). 
(Refer to Jefferson Parish Code Ordinance, Section 2-928).  
 
The Statement of Qualifications – General Professional Services Questionnaire can be obtained by contacting the Jefferson Parish Purchasing Department at (504) 364-2678 or via the Jefferson Parish website at www.jeffparish.gov.
 
License Requirements

All firms must submit license information as indicated above for firm.
All firms must submit license information as indicated above for each sub-consultantindividual/firm.
 
Submissions:
The deadline for submittal is January 31, 2025 at 3:30 PM.
No SOQ submittals will be accepted after the deadline.
Submissions will only be accepted electronically via the Jefferson Parish’s e-Procurement system, Central Bidding.  Central Bidding can be accessed by visiting either www.jeffparish.gov or www.centralauctionhouse.com.
All vendors are required to register with Central Bidding. Jefferson Parish vendors are able to register for free by accessing the following link: www.centralauctionhouse.com/registration.php.
 
SOQ Affidavits are not required to be submitted with the Statement of Qualifications (General Professional Services Questionnaire) but shall be submitted prior to contract approval, including any sub-consultants. 
 
All required insurance under this SOQ shall conform to Jefferson Parish Resolution No. 141125, as applicable.  In addition, Medical Professional Liability Insurance in the sum of at least One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) unless FIRM is enrolled in the Louisiana Patient’s Compensation Fund as per R.S. 40:1299.41, et seq. 
Insurance Certificates are not required to be submitted with the Statement of Qualifications (General Professional Services Questionnaire) but shall be submitted prior to contract approval, including any sub-consultants. 
Disputes/protests relating to the decisions by the evaluation committee or by the Jefferson Parish Council shall be brought before the 24th Judicial Court.
 
ADV:  The New Orleans Advocate:  January 8, and 15, 2025