MassAbility TAP-2026

MassAbility

TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD PROGRAM –TAP-

Response Document

Commonwealth of Massachusetts MassAbility Response Document

This form must be completed according to the instructions presented on each page. Bidders are obliged to respond to each of the requirements within this form and certify via signature that the vendor organization will perform the service(s) as described. Bidders must submit a completed version of this Response Document in addition to all other required forms, as detailed in the Bidder’s Checklist and RFR.

Bidder Name

Vendor Contact Person

Bidder Address

Vendor Email Address

Vendor Code

Vendor Phone Number

Vendor Signatory Name

Vendor Signatory Email

Certification

I certify that the statements made in this proposal are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. Any misstatement of fact may lead to disqualification and dismissal and to such other penalties as may be prescribed by law or regulations. All statements made are subject to verification as a condition of qualification as a vendor. By signing this statement, I hereby give permission for the release of any and all information necessary to verify staff qualifications.

Electronic Signature of Authorized Agency Representative

Date

Requirement 1: Requirement 1: Organizational Experience and Capacity

i. Experience in Delivering Comparable Services Provide specific examples from the past five years demonstrating your organization’s experience providing TAP services to people with disabilities. Include experience serving individuals with:

• Intellectual or developmental disabilities (ID/DD)

• Behavioral health needs • Deafness or hard-of-hearing

• Other under-represented or historically underserved populations

ii. Alignment with Agency Programs Explain how the proposed services fit within your organization’s broader mission and existing programs. Describe how the structure and resources of your agency support effective service delivery, coordination, and quality improvement.

iii. Responsiveness to Emerging Needs Describe how your organization has adapted to meet evolving needs for students with disabilities, as they transition into the adult world.

Requirement 2: Staff Knowledge, Skill and Experience

i. Staff Qualifications and Experience Describe the skills, professional experience, education, certifications, and—where applicable—lived experience of the staff who will deliver the proposed services. Highlight competencies that align with independent living skills for people with disabilities.

ii. Supervision Structure Describe the type, frequency, and structure of supervision provided to staff. Include how supervisors monitor quality, support staff effectiveness, and ensure adherence to service requirements.

iii. Continuity of Services During Staffing Changes Identify specific strategies your organization uses to manage vacancies and staff turnover while maintaining uninterrupted service delivery.

iv. Training and Professional Development Describe the initial and ongoing training and professional development provided for staff.

v. Flexible Service Coverage & Delivery Explain how your organization ensures that staff are available to provide services during non-traditional hours (e.g., evenings, weekends, school vacations) to meet student needs

Requirement 3: Student Engagement and Empowerment

Students with disabilities often face significant barriers to engaging in services and maintaining consistent participation. Describe how your organization will support students in engaging meaningfully and remain empowered throughout their involvement with services. In your response, address the following:

i. Engagement and Empowerment Strategies Describe the creative, practical, and person-centered strategies your staff will use to help students:

· Engage in services

· Remain involved over time

· Feel empowered in shaping their goals and decisions

ii. Example of an Intentional Strategy

i. Provide one example of how your organization has successfully used one of the intentional strategies described above. Explain how you determined the strategy was successful, including any measurable outcomes or indicators.

Requirement 4: Ability to Deliver Transition to Adulthood Services

Describe your capacity to deliver TAP Services in the RFR, including:

i. Five Required TAP Services Describe in detail your ability to provide the core IL services described in this RFR to students with disabilities. Ensure that you address each individual service category in your response.

ii. Outreach, Marketing, and Recruitment Describe how your organization will promote TAP Services and recruit students from multiple sources, including schools, families, community organizations, and other referral partners. Include strategies for equitable access and engagement of underrepresented groups.

iii. Student Engagement and Instructional Approach Describe your approach to engaging in students and delivering both individual and group services. Describe the delivery methods you will use (in-person, remote, hybrid, community-based). Explain how you’re scheduling and format support accessibility, student needs, and family preferences.

Service Planning and Matching Services to Student Needs: Describe your process for developing individualized service plans and determining which TAP Services are most appropriate and beneficial for each student.

iv. Community-Based Learning Describe your process for developing and supporting community-based learning opportunities, how you engage with your local communities and current and past relationships you have with the wider community you serve.

v. Serving a Diverse and Geographically Broad Population Describe how your organization will deliver high-quality TAP Services across a wide geographic region. Include strategies for serving culturally and linguistically diverse students and students with varied accommodation needs and learning styles.

vi. Preparation for Transitioning into Adulthood Describe how your services prepare students for the adult world and necessary life skills, to foster independence as they transition into adulthood.

Requirement 5: Partnering with MassAbility

i. Experience Working in Multi-Disciplinary Teams Describe your organization’s experience participating in multi-disciplinary teams. Provide at least one example demonstrating effective collaboration, role clarity, communication, and shared problem-solving.

ii. Staff Preparedness for Reporting and Communication Describe the training, support, and supervision your organization provides to ensure staff consistently meet MassAbility’s expectations for timely reporting, documentation accuracy, and proactive communication.

iii. Referral Management Capacity Describe your capacity and internal processes for receiving, acknowledging, and responding to referrals in a timely manner. Outline how you track, triage, and assign referrals to ensure prompt engagement and minimize delays in service delivery.

Requirement 6: Quality Assurance and Continuous Quality Improvement

Describe your organization’s approach to ensuring high-quality service delivery and its commitment to continuous improvement. In your response, address the following:

i. CQI Framework and Data Review Processes Describe your organization’s processes for quality assurance and continuous quality improvement, including:

a. The types of data collected (e.g., performance outcomes, utilization, student feedback, timeliness, documentation accuracy).

b. The frequency with which data is reviewed.

c. The roles of staff responsible for reviewing data and making decisions (e.g., supervisors, program directors, leadership teams).

ii. Use of CQI to Improve Services Explain how your organization uses CQI data and processes to drive improvements in service delivery. Provide at least one specific example of a service improvement initiative, including:

a. The issue of data that prompted the change

b. The actions taken

c. The results or outcomes

d. How you continue to measure the impact over time

Requirement 7: Cultural and Linguistic Competency

i. Staff Cultural and Linguistic Capacity & Recruitment Strategies Describe the cultural and linguistic capacities of your current staff. Include languages spoken, cultural knowledge, lived experience, and relevant training. Additionally, describe your strategies to recruit, hire, and retain staff whose racial, ethnic, linguistic backgrounds and experience reflect the diversity of the students who will be referred for services.

ii. Experience with Language Integration Describe your staff’s experience and comfort with integrating language support into service delivery. Include specific examples of language integration support used in your organization (e.g., working with interpreters, providing bilingual services, using translated materials, or adapting communication for multilingual families and students.)

iii. Culturally Responsive Relational and Soft Skills Describe the relational and soft skills your staff demonstrate to ensure culturally competent service delivery.

INCLUDE ONLY IF PROCUREMENT VALUE IS OVER $250K ANNUALLY

Requirement 8: Supplier Diversity Program (SDP) Prompt:

1. Describe how the current or planned operation of your organization will meet the cultural/linguistic needs of consumers including times when those needs are beyond the internal capacity of your team. Also describe how your organization has handled those situations in the past and how those experiences enhance your organization’s approach to cultural/linguistic diversity?

2. Bidders are required to make a meaningful financial commitment (“SDP Commitment”) by partnering with one or more SDO-certified or recognized diverse business enterprise or non-profit organization, including a current fiscal-year commitment, and including prior year-spending information for any existing providers. It is also desirable that all Providers aim to direct at least 1% of their Commonwealth contract revenue toward spending with SDP Partners. The Provider’s percentage of spending with SDP Partner(s) for the prior fiscal year can be seen as “PERCENT (%) OF POS SPEND” on the completed “SDP Plan Form for POS”/”SDP Plan Form for Goods and Services” for that fiscal year.

· SDP Plan Form for POS: https://www.mass.gov/doc/supplier-diversity-program-sdp-form-for-purchase-of-services-pos/download

Note:

(1) This will be scored separately, as part of the SDO Plan

(2) Bidders may identify vendors for SDO partnerships, using the SDO Directory