Awarded vendors
- Care Plus NJ, Inc.
- Foster and Adoptive Family Services
- Community Access Unlimited, Inc.
- Robins Nest, Inc.
Description
The 2017 Academic and Career Exploration to Success (ACES) RFP solicited six regional contracts to provide comprehensive academic coaching, career‑exploration, and post‑secondary support services for foster‑care youth ages 16‑21 across New Jersey. The Department of Children and Families allocated a total of $1,892,200, with each region receiving a fixed award ranging from $283,800 to $378,400. Services include academic assessment, tutoring, college‑readiness workshops, career exploration activities, financial‑aid assistance, soft‑skill development, transportation planning, and data reporting. Contractors must staff qualified ACES coaches (master’s degree in education or counseling) with a 1‑to‑25 youth caseload, become fully operational within 60 days of award, and comply with continuous quality‑improvement and reporting requirements. Six distinct vendors were selected: Care Plus NJ, Inc. (Region 1), Foster and Adoptive Family Services (Regions 2‑3), Community Access Unlimited, Inc. (Region 4), and Robins Nest, Inc. (Regions 5‑6).