LSF Loses Child Welfare Bid,

But Raises Profile in State

CEO Reflects on Blessings of Competitive Process

10 March 2009

By Thomas L. Weitzel

LSF Communications

Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) lost last week in the competitive bidding to become the Lead Community Based Agency for Child Welfare in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, but raised the agency's profile in a significant way in the state of Florida through the bidding and negotiations process, according to LSF President and CEO Samuel Sipes.

"Lutheran Services Florida is in a different place than we were a month ago because of our bid and our quality presentation," said Sipes.  He particularly pointed to the higher score that LSF received for its proposal in blind scoring by the Florida Department of Children and Families last month.  (Click here to see the article on the scoring Feb. 10.) 

The loss, he explained, was therefore not for lack of quality or detail in the bid proposal or the presentation, but because competing against an incumbent agency is "always an uphill battle."

Regardless of the loss, "we accomplished our goals to raise the profile of our agency within the State and to lay the groundwork for future opportunities," wrote Sipes in a letter to the LSF Board of Directors and other partners in the bidding process.  "LSF is definitely now considered a credible player, and we have gained the respect of the senior ranks of state government and within the provider community."

Sipes also expects LSF's participation as a competitor in the bidding will have a positive affect on children and families in South Florida.

"An open competitive process always brings the best out of all those who participate and that can only mean good things when it comes to services for children and families," Sipes said.

Throughout the bidding and negotiating process, Sipes and others significantly noted the feeling of God's presence and guidance.

"We definitely felt called to be doing this, and many times during the week of negotiations, members of our team commented on how God seemed to be in this," said Sipes.  "When we lost the bid, I wondered what it all meant.  I realize now that God doesn't always call us to success, but God does bless us for following his call, and we can already see those blessings."

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