Request for Proposals: TANF Youth Development Program Services 2026

Partner4Work has issued this Request for Proposals (RFP) to identify providers to deliver Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Youth Development Program (YDP) services to eligible youth and young adults ages 12–24 in Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh. Services will be delivered through a three-phase, grade-banded continuum, and bidders may propose programming for one, two, or all three phases: 

1. Phase 1: Exploration (grades 6–8, approximate ages 12–14): Youth begin connecting their interests, strengths, and education to future career opportunities through career awareness activities, exposure to local industries, job shadowing and workplace visits, career speakers, project-based learning, and leadership development.
2. Phase 2: Job Readiness and Academic Support (grades 9–10, approximate ages 14–16): Youth build the academic and workplace skills needed to succeed in school and in early employment, such as part-time, summer, or entry-level jobs, through tutoring, mentoring, job shadowing, and career counseling.
3. Phase 3: Postsecondary and Career Readiness (grades 11–12 and beyond, ages 16–24): Youth prepare for a successful transition after high school into postsecondary education, training, or employment. Career-focused programming includes occupational skill development, preparation for recognized credentials, and work experience with an employer, with paid work experience as the expected standard. 

Outlined in this RFP are the available funds (up to $2.2 million for July 1, 2027 – June 30, 2028, with the possibility of up to three annual renewals), participant eligibility criteria, the requirements for providers and program implementation, and instructions for how to apply. This procurement seeks to move the TANF youth network from a focus on activity volume toward measurable workforce outcomes. Every provider, regardless of the phase(s) proposed, will be expected to actively connect young people to the next stage of their journey, whether that is the next phase of the continuum, WIOA Youth services, or PA CareerLink®. Through this RFP, we seek providers who will work together as one connected system, building strong career pathways from middle school through adulthood for young people facing systemic barriers to employment. 

Proposals are due December 4, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET through Partner4Work's Submittable portal. A joint virtual bidders' conference covering all three Fall 2026 procurements (TANF Youth, WIOA Youth, and WIOA Adult/Dislocated Worker) will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. ET. Advance registration is required by October 12, 2026: register for the bidders' conference here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about joining the conference. 

All questions regarding this RFP should be emailed to rfp@partner4work.org by November 11, 2026, with "TANF Youth Questions [Organization Name]" as the subject line. Responses to questions will be posted publicly in a Q&A document on this site and updated regularly.