27OECPJ1 - Q and A - 7.15.26.docx

This Questions and Answers document is related to a Statewide Early College Growth Plan Request for Response (RFR 27OECPJ1) issued by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Department of Higher Education (DHE). The document addresses three substantive inquiries submitted by potential bidders on the COMMBUYS platform prior to the July 15, 2026 Q&A closing deadline. The first answer provides access to an existing data dashboard and outlines nine key performance indicators tracked by the Office of Early College, including enrollment prioritization of underrepresented students, program persistence rates, college credit achievement, grade performance, financial aid completion, college enrollment rates, and degree attainment within six years. The second answer confirms that the Commonwealth has established stakeholder groups from previous initiatives available to support consultant engagement throughout the project, with the selected consultant expected to collaborate with the state in leveraging these existing networks. The third answer clarifies that while historical designation applications from the 75 current Early College partnerships are not fully available due to age, the consultant will receive the current Early College Designation Plan, related materials reflecting updated processes, and program progress reports from Years 3 and 5 of designation to inform implementation insights.

The Q&A document does not address pricing, set-asides, or funding information, as these details are contained in the separate RFR. The responses demonstrate the Commonwealth's commitment to providing consultants with accessible data systems, established stakeholder infrastructure, and current documentation to support the development of an evidence-based roadmap for scaling Early College participation from approximately 10,000 students to 100,000 by 2036, with responses due July 22, 2026.