State Licensed and Nationally Accredited Secure Care and Heightened Supervision Facility (HSF) Beds for the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Unaccompanied Alien Children Bureau (UACB)

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT for Secure Care and Heightened Supervision Beds Unaccompanied Alien Children Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement Unaccompanied Alien Children Bureau 6/23/2026 1.0 General 1.1 Introduction The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) requires contractor services to provide secure care and heightened supervision facility (HSF) care for unaccompanied alien children (UAC) in the care and custody of ORR who meet the respective criteria for each level of placement. The requirement includes the provision of contractor-provided facilities and the comprehensive services described in this performance work statement (PWS). UAC apprehended by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) immigration officials are transferred to the care and custody of ORR. ORR promptly places a UAC in the least restrictive residential setting that is in the best interests of the child, taking into consideration danger to self, danger to the community, and risk of flight. Residential care services begin once ORR accepts a UAC for placement from United States (U.S.) Customs and Border Protection and ends when the child is released from ORR custody, turns 18 years of age, or the UAC’s immigration case results in a final disposition of removal from the U.S. ORR takes into consideration the unique nature of each child’s situation and incorporates child welfare principles when making placement, clinical, case management, and release decisions that are in the best interest of the child. A UAC is defined at 6 U.S.C. §279(g)(2) as a child who (A) has no lawful immigration status in the United States; (B) has not attained 18 years of age; and (C) with respect to whom: 1) there is no parent or legal guardian in the United States; or 2) no parent or legal guardian in the United States available to provide care and physical custody. Following apprehension by a federal agency, UAC are transferred to the care and custody of the ORR and typically placed into removal proceedings and evaluated for release to a sponsor. Consistent with Federal law, ORR promptly places UAC in the least restrictive setting that is in the best interest of the child and meets the child’s unique and individual needs. UAC arrive from diverse backgrounds and are of all ages with unique and individual needs. It is common for UAC to have experienced trauma in their country of origin or during their journey to the United States. While determining the least restrictive appropriate level of care for UAC, ORR takes into consideration other factors including whether a child has a criminal history; whether they are a danger to themselves, other UAC, or the community; and whether the UAC is a flight risk. Taking these factors into consideration, some UAC meet criteria for the most restrictive level of care, secure care placement. This PWS describes the specific tasks required to support the ORR efforts to ensure UAC that are transferred to ORR care and custody are placed in the least restrictive setting that is in the best interest of the UAC and meets the UAC’s unique and individual needs at the appropriate level of safeguarding. ORR has two levels of care for UAC who are assessed to be a danger to themselves or others, have a criminal history, or require close supervision: (1) secure care and (2) HSF care (also known as staff secure). These tasks are necessary to help ensure UAC receive appropriate level of care intended to ensure the safeguarding of all UAC from harm while in ORR custody. 1.2 Objective Operate state‑licensed, nationally accredited HSF and secure care programs and ensure timely admissions into humane, secure environments consistent with 45 CFR Part 410. Within 120 calendar days of award, provide up to 100 HSF bed and 150 Secure bed care and capacity for UAC ages 13–17; in full compliance with all applicable ORR regulations, federal, state, and local requirements. 1.3 Scope of Required Services The Contractor shall provide all appropriately cleared and required personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to provide residential HSF and secure care beds and comprehensive services for UAC accepted for placement by ORR as defined in this except for those items specified as Government-provided services. The Contractor shall: 1) Establish Specialized Residential Care Capacity – The contractor shall operate 100 HSF and 150 secure care beds for UAC between the ages of 13 – 17 and prevent inappropriate denial of admissions for UAC meeting placement criteria. HSF maintain stricter security measures than non-restrictive care providers (e.g., shelters), such as intensive staff supervision, in order to provide supports, manage problem behavior, and prevent children from running away. ORR only places UAC in HSF care if they require close supervision, but do not require placement in a secure facility. Placement in HSF care is based on clear and convincing evidence the child: Has been unacceptably disruptive to normal functioning of a shelter care provider facility and transfer is necessary to ensure welfare of the child or others; Has displayed a pattern of severity of behavior, prior to entering ORR custody or while in ORR care, that requires increased supervision by trained staff; and Has non-violent criminal or delinquent history not warranting placement in a secure facility, but which evidences a behavioral concern that requires an increase in supervision above what would be provided in a non-restrictive facility. Secure facilities are for children who require the strictest level of supervision. Secure facilities have a secure perimeter, major restraining construction inside the facility, and procedures typically associated with correctional facilities. Placement in secure care is based on clear and convincing eviden…