Specifications include, but are not limited to: The purpose of this solicitation is to receive offers for the South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS) from certified adoption investigators seeking to perform one or more of the following services: 1. Adoptive/Foster family new home assessments 2. Adoptive/Foster family reapplication home assessments B. New Home Assessment Requirements 1. Provider must complete a comprehensive family home assessment using the outline found in Attachment A. 2. Provider must conduct a minimum of two (2) visits; one (1) visit must be in the home and one (1) visit can be in the home or virtual (as long as you are still able to view the home and members of the household) interviewing the foster and adoptive applicant(s), all household members, children in the home (biological, adoptive, and foster children), and regular visitors (i.e. significant other who visits on a regular basis, grandparents who visit on a regular basis, etc.) to assess parenting abilities, motivation to foster/adopt, acceptance of child/family factors and all other necessary information (see Attachment B) to make a recommendation as to the applicant(s)’ suitability as foster and/or adoptive parent(s). 3. Provider must work flexible hours to include daytime, evenings, weekends, and holidays to meet the schedules of the foster or adoptive applicants and complete assessments. It is incumbent upon Provider to notify SCDSS, promptly and ahead of time, of any dates and times in which Provider will be unavailable so that SCDSS may seek investigators to fill in from outside the region, if needed. 4. Whenever applicable, Provider must interview designated individuals identified as the following: a. guardians. b. children of the adoptive applicants who reside outside of the home (adult and minors). c. all references d. any adult who spends a significant amount of time in the home, i.e., a paramour to the applicant, applicant’s parent, etc. e. other household members. 5. For child-specific studies, Provider must interview the foster care and adoption specialists of the child(ren) as well as the foster home licensing worker. In addition to the above-mentioned persons, interviews of other relevant individuals may be necessary. The Certified Investigator (CI) may be required to contact other associated persons and entities to gather evidence concerning the character and integrity of the adoptive applicants. Such persons and entities include, but may not be limited to, the following: a. child placing agencies; b. Guardian Ad Litem; c. therapist; d. extended family members, friends, and prior spouses of applicant(s); and e. all other such persons as may be necessary for Provider to develop an informed assessment of each applicant.