National Responsible Fatherhood Work Group - Lead

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Government Contracting Services (GCS) is seeking a contractor to operate the National Responsible Fatherhood Work Group (NRFWG). The purpose of the NRFWG is to include the father's voice in federal fatherhood work and in Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood (HMRF) grantees' work, as well as to build the fatherhood field. The contractor will work with eight Responsible Fatherhood (RF) grantees to provide consulting services, training, and leadership development opportunities for fathers. The NRFWG will primarily assist OFA-funded RF grant activities in recruiting, engaging, and supporting fathers through their programs. It will also support efforts to engage fathers in all services directed to families, including identifying ways to improve systems such as child support and child welfare. The contract is expected to have a 24-month base services component and two 24-month optional services components.

The release of the solicitation for this contract is tentatively planned for the third quarter of 2022. Interested vendors are requested to submit capability statements by April 11, 2022, providing information on their capabilities, past experience, and staff expertise related to the scope of work. This request for information is for market research purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation for bids or proposals.

If implemented as expected, the NRFWG is anticipated to bring improvements to RF programming by proposing best practices and suggesting language for program guidance that promotes equitable services and resources for fathers. It will also contribute to updates in curricula by reviewing HMRF curriculum and providing suggestions for more culturally responsive language. Additionally, the NRFWG will help improve other programming by developing a platform for practitioners and fathers to provide insights on program implementation and strategies for working with various safety net programs. The ultimate goal is to build future leaders in the field of fatherhood by creating opportunities for fathers to develop leadership experience and skills.

Overall, this opportunity aims to enhance the support and engagement of fathers in responsible fatherhood programs and strengthen the services provided to families.