OCA-DGCP-071 Judiciary Civil Legal Services, Legal Empowerment

II. PROJECT INFORMATION The UCS Office of Court Administration’s (“OCA”) Division of Grants, Contracts and Procurement (“DGCP”) is soliciting sealed proposals via this Request for Proposals (“RFP”) to award contracts for Judiciary Civil Legal Services’ Legal Empowerment Project to provide quality free legal services to vulnerable individuals at or below 200% of the federal poverty threshold and underserved populations, including individuals and communities experiencing barriers to safety, stability, or access to justice, as further described herein. OCA will award funding to nonprofit organizations (as further outlined herein) that provide representation, legal assistance, legal information, and outreach to indigent individuals and families. The goal of this initiative is to strengthen access to civil legal services and ensure that vulnerable individuals can understand and assert their legal rights through the coordinated use of attorneys, legal advocates, family advocates, social workers, benefits specialists, and other professionals. Via this RFP, UCS will establish one or more contracts in each of the following counties: Bronx, Erie, Kings, Monroe, Nassau, New York, Onondaga, Queens, Suffolk, and Westchester. These counties were selected based on their high concentrations of individuals living in poverty in New York State. For purposes of this RFP, eligible clients are defined as New York State residents living at or below 200% of the federal poverty threshold who are experiencing conditions that contribute to increased/heightened vulnerability or reduced access to legal resources, including those affected by violence, displacement, disability, service-related challenges, or other barriers to safety and stability (hereinafter, “Eligible Client”). Eligible Clients will receive timely access to highquality, free legal services. UCS is allocating $6,000,000 in the aggregate to address civil legal needs for Eligible Clients. Funding is intended to support the delivery of community-centered civil legal services across the ten (10) counties in New York State with the largest number of people living in poverty. Resources will be directed to strengthen local service capacity and address the civil legal needs of Eligible Clients in these communities. The maximum funding available for each county in a twelve (12) month period is listed in Exhibit 5. Allocations in each subsequent year of the contract are subject to available state appropriations. UCS anticipates that each Awarded Contractor (as defined in Article III below) will begin to perform the Project Services (as set forth in Article V below) on or about October 1, 2026. Key Bid Dates (Note: OCA reserves the right to modify any Key Bid Date as it may deem appropriate.) EVENT and DATES Bid Issue Date - Thursday, June 18, 2026 Question Due Date - Thursday, July 9, 2026 at 2:00PM Eastern Bid Submission Deadline Date - Thursday, August 13, 2026 at 2:00PM Eastern Estimated Contract Start Date - October 1, 2026 Note: Throughout this RFP, the terms bidder, proposer, vendor and applicant are used interchangeably, as are RFP, bid and solicitation. III. AWARD UCS intends to award one or two contracts per county (“Contract”) to successful bidders (each an “Awarded Contractor”) for a term of five (5) years. Each Contract is expected to commence on or about October 1, 2026, and terminate on or about September 30, 2031. (“Contract Term”). Awards will be made on a county-by-county basis. Awarded Contractors must demonstrate the capacity to serve the entire county for which they are awarded. Applicants awarded for one or more counties will enter to a single Contract with UCS covering all applicable counties. If no awards are made for a particular county, or the awards made within a particular county do not fully exhaust the available funds, UCS reserves the right to reallocate those funds to the remaining counties. Applicants may apply individually or in partnership with other organizations; however, a single entity must be identified as the lead applicant responsible for fiscal management, reporting, and performance. Any such partnerships should be described in the applicable sections the Narrative Description – Proposed Service Delivery. Applicants proposing to partner with another organization must identify the legal name of the partner entity, their NYS Vendor ID number, and describe the relationship between the applicant and partner entity. If an applicant proposes delivering services in partnership with another entity, UCS may, upon award, request or require a written agreement between the Awarded Contractor and the partner entity. Any partner entity deemed to be a subcontractor may also be required to file a vendor responsibility questionnaire, as describer further in Article XII General Specifications. Any Contract resulting from this solicitation is subject to the approval of the NYS Attorney General and Office of the State Comptroller. IV. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS To be eligible for award, applicants must meet the following minimum qualifications: 1. Applicants must be not-for-profit entities, typically organized under the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law, and must submit proof of charities registration or an exemption from the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau portal with the application. Eligible entities must also submit proof of tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code. 2. Applicants must have a physical office space within the county service area for which they are applying. If multiple counties are being applied for, there must be physical office space in each county. Proof must be submitted with the application demonstrating that the Applicant currently owns, leases, or otherwise controls the physical office space. Acceptable proof may include: deed of ownership; executed lease agreement for the duration of the five-year contract period; or other legally binding written documentation demonstrating control of the space. UCS will make all determinations as to whether such documentation is sufficient for purposes of this RFP. The following organizations and individuals are categorically ineligible for contract awards: • Individuals or organizations listed as ineligible on the federal System for Award Management due to suspension or debarment. • Individuals or organizations listed as ineligible on the NYS Office of General Services database of debarred entities. V. PROJECT SERVICES Awarded Judiciary Civil Legal Services applicants shall be required to provide Civil Legal Services to Eligible Clients as outlined herein (the “Project Services”). Legal Services Providers awarded as a result of this RFP shall deliver comprehensive services that protect and advance the legal rights of vulnerable populations. At a minimum, services provided by Legal Service Providers, including but not limited to: • Provide quality legal services at no cost to Eligible Clients at or below 200% of thefederal poverty threshold. • Provide legal advice and representation in priority civil legal service areas, including but not limited to: o Family-related law matters, including personal safety and protection orders; o Legal services related to residency and related administrative processes; o Access to public benefits, income support, and healthcare services; o Consumer rights, financial stability, and debt-related issues ; o Disability rights and access to accommodations; and o Veterans’ benefits and related legal issues. • Conduct intake, screening, and eligibility assessments to identify urgent legal needs and prioritize high-risk cases. • Provide crisis intervention and safety-planning referrals. • Advocate on behalf of clients in negotiations with opposing parties, government agencies, and other stakeholders to resolve civil legal matters and secure access to essential rights and benefits. • Represent clients at all stages of civil legal proceedings, including negotiations, administrative hearings, and court appearances, as appropriate. • Prepare and file necessary legal documents, including pleadings, motions, stipulations, and appeals when appropriate. • Providing navigation services that assist individuals in accessing legal systems, court services, and community-based legal resources. • Supporting community-based outreach efforts that inform individuals of their legal rights and available legal resources. • Partnering with other nonprofit organizations that deliver services to vulnerable populations. • Promoting equitable access to justice for all individuals . • Expanding access to civil legal services for underserved and marginalized populations. • Provide trauma-informed, culturally competent, and language-accessible services to ensure all clients can meaningfully participate in their legal matters. • Coordinate with community-based organizations, social service agencies, and other service providers to support holistic client outcomes, including safety planning, economic stability, and access to supportive services. • Maintain detailed case notes, client records, and outcome data in accordance with OCA standards and reporting requirements. • Participate in ongoing collaboration with OCA, courts, and community partners to improve service delivery, identify systemic barriers, and enhance access to justice. • Conduct community education and legal rights workshops for vulnerable populations. Complete quarterly reports as required by UCS. • Provide appropriate supervision and oversight for any staff included in the Contract. • Ensure compliance with all confidentiality, ethics, and professional responsibility requirements. Available funding will not meet the need for all legal protection. Accordingly, applicants must demonstrate the ability to leverage existing federal, state, and local resources. Business enterprises awarded an identical or substantially similar procurement contract within the past five years: None