27ECD2529a_Aug_24_26_solicitation_doc.pdf

This is a Request for Proposal (RFP) issued by Connecticut's Office of Workforce Strategy to develop a comprehensive statewide strategic plan for a police officer and firefighter career pipeline program. The solicitation, numbered 27ECD2529a, seeks proposals from eligible higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations located in Connecticut only. The scope of work requires research and stakeholder engagement to assess current and projected workforce demand, identify recruitment and retention barriers, evaluate existing recruitment and training efforts, recommend statewide and regional pipeline strategies, identify youth and young-adult engagement opportunities, estimate implementation costs, and develop an implementation roadmap. The RFP opened August 19, 2026 at 11:05 AM EDT with proposals due September 11, 2026 at 5:00 PM EDT. Questions from potential bidders are due by August 25, 2026, with answers provided by August 28, 2026. The final draft report is due December 1, 2026, and the report to the Connecticut General Assembly is due no later than January 1, 2027. A single award will be granted.

Total funding available is $200,000 from the state general fund, deployable immediately through December 31, 2026. Payment terms will be determined during the contracting stage. Proposers must demonstrate expertise in workforce development research, labor market analysis, public safety workforce issues, strategic planning, facilitation, public policy, economic analysis, data analytics, and program evaluation, with prior experience working with state agencies preferred. Evaluation criteria are weighted as follows: Executive Summary (10%), Demonstrated Experience (25%), Scope of Work (45%), Staffing Plan (10%), and Budget (10%). Proposals must be submitted directly to grace.suh@ct.gov and must include a signed cover page, conflict of interest disclosure statement, statement of assurances, and declaration of confidential information if applicable. The Agency Head makes the final selection decision. Unsuccessful proposers may request a debriefing within ten days or file an appeal within thirty days of notification.