Debit Card and Payment Processing Services

The vendor is required to provide for issuing payments to youth and young adults using reloadable prepaid debit cards that are mailed directly to each recipient.
- Payments may include, but are not limited to one-time payments, reimbursements for self-sufficiency related expenses, recurring monthly subsidy payments, payments and reimbursements related to education and training voucher (ETV), payments for youth and young adults who complete the national youth in transition database survey, monthly youth council stipends, and payments for work completed by lived expert advocates.
1. Prepaid debit card program:
•    The debit card shall be visa or Mastercard branded. 
•    The right to approve the name, design, content, and graphics of the debit card used by the contractor. 
•    The design and graphics used in connection with shall not be used for any other purpose without the written consent of department. 
•    Debit card accounts will be established at the direction of department via electronic files transmitted to the contractor for bulk payments. 
•    Individuals' cards on an as needed basis. 
•    Electronic files or individual card requests will be submitted by any of the staff.
•    Provide a template for bulk payments that department will use to collect client information and send or upload to the contractor’s secure data system. 
•    The template shall include the most minimal information needed about each client to achieve the stated purpose. 
•    All electronic data shall be secured through encryption or other comparable security measure. 
•    The process for secured electronic file transfer and must include a template sample as parts. 
•    All electronic data shall be secured through encryption or other comparable security measure.
2. Distribution of the debit card:
•    Responsible for the acquisition and distribution of the debit cards.
•    Ensure that only one (1) debit card is issued to a single client. 
•    Debit cards must be reloadable. 
•    Department will encourage recipients to retain their cards for any additional or reoccurring payments. 
•    In some instances, department may not be able to verify that the individual still has their card. 
•    These situations, department may request a card be issued to an individual who has previously received a card. 
•    Preparation and distribution of all instruction materials sent to the client. 
•    Department shall review and approve all accompanying materials prior to distribution of the cards, including the activation sticker, if used. 
•    No advertisements or marketing materials may accompany the card unless approved in writing by department. 
•    The electronic file transmission, the contractor will create and submit an invoice to department within five (5) business days for the total cost of client payments included in the file transmission, in addition to administrative fees. 
•    Debit cards shall be issued to the client in not more than ten (10) business days after contractor receives payment from department. 
•    Deposit for new and existing debit cards shall occur in no more than ten (10) business days after receiving payment from department.
•    The card to the client via first class mail with no forwarding order attached. 
•    The return address on the envelope must be within state. 
•    The debit card to the client at the exact address provided by department.
•    Issue replacement cards at the cost to the cardholder. 
•    Include the fee structure for replacement cards. 
•    Provide customer service support for the cardholder related to any questions or issues that the cardholder experiences. 
•    The customer service capabilities as part of the response, including the procedures for processing inquiries related to lost or stolen cards, non-receipt of card, and research and adjustments. 
•    Established turn-around times for inquiries related to lost or stolen cards, non-receipt of card, and research and adjustments.
- Prepaid debit card activation:
•    Provide instructions to the cardholder on how to activate the card and create a personal identification number (pin) via phone call, website, and other means.
•    The contractor will fully describe the functions that will be available through the website.
•    The website shall be designed to allow recipients to view balances, transactions, change a pin and access other debit card documentation and information.
•    Provide access to funds immediately upon card activation.
•    Provide department with online access of debit card and cardholder information to determine whether cards have been activated.
•    Provide the ability to close any debit cards accounts that were never activated upon the request of department and provide a file containing a listing of the closed accounts.
•    Responsible for all escheatment of funds related to any dormant activated accounts established under the debit card program and shall provide all necessary data to department to affect such escheatment in the administrator’s electronic format.
- Use of the prepaid debit card:
•    The card shall operate as a reloadable embedded micro-chip prepaid debit card. 
•    The client may opt for provision of a virtual prepaid debit card. 
•    The card shall not offer a line of credit.
•    The debit card must be fully compliant with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations and meet all industry standards including, but not limited, to, ANSI x4.13, “american national standard for financial services- financial transaction cards” and ANSI x4.16, “american national standard for financial services- financial transaction cards- magnetic stripe encoding,” for use in ATM and pos terminals so that cardholders can have broad access to their funds.
•    ATM access and shall identify the locations of ATMs where free services are available and how cardholders may locate an atm or branch location via a toll-free customer service telephone service and a website.
•    Provide department and each cardholder with a map or schematic of all ATMs and branch locations for the issuing financial institution and associated networks within the state, nationally, and internationally.

- Contract Period/Term: 3 years
- Questions/Inquires Deadline: November 6, 2025