City of Somerville_RFP 27-22 Youth Employment Program.pdf

SOLICITATION FOR:

RFP # 27-22 Youth Employment Program

CITY OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS

RELEASE DATE: 10/14/2026

QUESTIONS DUE: 10/21/2026 by 12PM EST

DUE DATE AND TIME: 10/28/2026 by 2PM EST

Anticipated Contract Award 11/04/2026

Est. Contract Commencement Date 12/01/2026 Est. Contract Completion Date 06/01/2027 Renewal Years Two (2) optional one (1) year renewals at the discretion of the City

DELIVER TO:

City of Somerville Procurement & Contracting Services

Attn: Cameron Moriarty Procurement Analyst cmoriarty@somervillema.gov 93 Highland Avenue

Somerville, MA 02143

CITY OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS

Enclosed You Will Find a Request for Proposal For:

RFP # 27-22 Youth Employment Program

SECTION 1.0

GENERAL INFORMATION ON PROPOSAL PROCESS

1.1 General Instructions

Copies of the solicitation may be obtained from the Procurement & Contracting Services Department on and after 10/14/2026 per the below-noted City Hall hours of operation.

All Responses Must be Sealed and Delivered To:

Procurement & Contracting Services Department City of Somerville

93 Highland Avenue Somerville, MA 02143

It is the sole responsibility of the Offeror to ensure that the proposal arrives on time at the designated place. Late proposals will not be considered and will be rejected and returned.

Proposal Format:

Submit one (1) sealed proposal package (with two sealed envelopes, one for the price and one for the technical proposal); it must be marked with the solicitation title and number and must be original.

In an effort to reduce waste, we discourage the use of 3-ring binders.

Responses must be sealed and marked with the solicitation title and number.

All proposals must include all forms listed in the Proposers Checklist (and all documents included or referenced in Sections 2.0 - 4.0). If all required documents are not present, the proposal may be deemed non-responsive and may result in disqualification of the proposal unless the City determines that such failure(s) constitute(s) a minor informality, as defined in Chapter MGL 30B.

A complete Proposal must also include a cover letter signed by an official authorized to bind the Offeror contractually and contain a statement that the proposal is firm for ninety (90) days. An unsigned letter, or one signed by an individual not authorized to bind the Offeror, may be disqualified.

The Offeror’s authorized official(s) must sign all required proposal forms.

The Price Form in Section 3.0 must be completed. No substitute form will be accepted unless otherwise stated. Pricing must remain firm for the entire contract period.

All information in the Offeror’s response should be clear and concise. The successful response will be incorporated into a contract as an exhibit; therefore, Offerors should not make claims to which they are not prepared to commit themselves contractually.

The successful Offeror must be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The City of Somerville values a diverse workforce and believes it contributes to a work product and

City Hall Hours of Operation:

Monday – Wednesday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Friday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

customer experience that best reflects the community in our city. Applicants are highly encouraged to include any certifications and documents that recognize the diversity of the Offeror’s work force, including ownership of the offering firm/organization, executive leadership, management, and employees proposed for the work in Somerville, including diversity of sub-consultants. Please use the supplier diversity form (see Section 4.0) with supporting documentation to share your diversity data with the City.

1.2 Proposal Schedule

Key dates for this Request for Proposals:

RFP Issued 10/14/2026 Deadline for Submitting Questions to RFP

10/21/2026 by 12PM EST

Proposals Due 10/28/2026 by 2PM EST

Anticipated Contract Award 11/04/2026 Est. Contract Commencement Date

12/01/2026

Est. Contract Completion Date 06/01/2027

Responses must be delivered by

10/28/2026 by 2PM EST to:

City of Somerville Procurement & Contracting Services Attn: Cameron Moriarty

1.3 Submission Instructions

If you are submitting your proposal online via Bidexpress.com, then you do not need to also submit a sealed proposal package as instructed below. Email is not an acceptable method of submission of bids.

Please submit two sealed envelopes, all within one sealed proposal package, with the following contents and marked in the following manner:

Contents of Sealed Proposal Package Marked As Envelope 1 Non-Price Technical Proposal:

Shall Include (1) original and one (1) electronic copy. [Electronic copies are to be submitted on USB drives and are to be saved in Adobe Acrobat format. (“Read only” files are acceptable.)]

To Be Marked: Non-Price Proposal RFP # 27- Youth Employment Program

Envelope 2 Price Proposal: Shall Include one

(1) original and one (1) electronic copy.

[Electronic copies of Price and Non-Price Technical proposal can be submitted on the same USB drives but as separate files]

To Be Marked: Price Proposal RFP # 27- Youth Employment Program

Please send the complete sealed package to the attention of :

Cameron Moriarty Procurement Analyst Procurement & Contracting Services Somerville City Hall

Methods of Bid Submission Bidders may submit bids in any of the following ways. All bids will be timestamped and must be received no later than due date and time.

1) Sealed bids can be sent to City Hall through the US Postal Service or other delivery service (e.g.

FedEx, UPS).

2) BidExpress.com is an online bidding platform where bidders can submit all required documents.

The fee to use this service is approximately $50.00 unless your company has a subscription with BidExpress. You can access the bid package and forms via the City of Somerville BidExpress page at: https://www.bidexpress.com/businesses/33100/home A user guide is attached for your reference.

3) For any technical assistance while submitting the online bid, please contact the BidExpress Customer support team at www.bidexpress.com. Bidders may submit bids in any of the following ways. All bids will be timestamped and must be received no later than due date and time.

(Note: Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 30B requires that price proposals must be separate from technical proposals. Therefore, please make no reference to pricing in the non-price technical proposal. Failure to adhere to this requirement will result in disqualification.

Non-Price (Technical) Proposal Format Responses must be submitted in accordance with the requirements set forth in this solicitation. Results of the http://www.somervillema.gov/BidExpress https://www.bidexpress.com/businesses/33100/home http://www.bidexpress.com/ proposal review process will be utilized to establish a preliminary ranking of the proposers. The City may interview the top ranked candidates as part of the evaluation process. All information in the technical proposal should be organized and presented as directed below. Your Non-Price Proposal response should contain all forms outlined in the Proposers Checklist (Section 4.0). Responses shall be prepared on standard 8.5 x 11 inch paper (charts may be landscaped but must be on 8.5 x 11 inch paper) and shall be in a legible font size (12). All pages of each response shall be appropriately numbered (and with consecutive page numbering across tabs).

Elaborate format and binding are neither necessary nor desirable. Each proposal shall clearly identify the Offeror’s name, solicitation number, formal solicitation title and copy number, (e.g., “Original”, “Copy”). All submissions will allow for easy removal and replacement of pages.

Cover Letter Submit a cover letter that includes the official name of the firm submitting the proposal, mailing address, e-mail address, telephone number, fax number, and contact name. The letter must be signed by an official authorized to bind the proposer contractually and contain a statement that the proposal is firm for ninety (90) days. An unsigned letter, or one signed by an individual not authorized to bind the Offeror, may be disqualified.

Qualifications & Experience The Offeror shall include qualifications and experience of the firm (or sole proprietor). The Offeror shall identify the year the firm was established, the total number of employees currently employed, and the number of employees focused on this engagement. This section should also describe work that is similar in scope and complexity that the Offeror has undertaken in the past. A discussion of the challenges faced and solutions developed are highly recommended. The Offeror may include any additional literature and product brochures.

The Quality Requirements Form (Section 2.0), or set of basic business standards, must be submitted in the sealed proposal.

References The Offeror shall list at least three relevant references, which the City can contact. The City of Somerville reserves the right to use ourselves as a reference. References shall include the following information:

●The name, address, telephone number, and email address of each client listed above.

●A description of the work performed under each contract. ●The amount of the contract.

●A description of the nature of the relationship between Offeror and the customer.

●The dates of performance. ●The volume of the work performed.

Price Proposal Format Price Summary Page (see Section 3.0)

Proposal Prices to Remain Firm All proposal prices submitted in response to this solicitation must remain firm for 90 days following the proposal opening.

Price Submission All prices must contain the unit rate as requested on the proposal price form in this solicitation. All prices are to include delivery, the cost of fuel, the cost of labor, and all other charges related to the products or services listed. Prices are to remain fixed for the contract period of performance.

1.4 Questions

Questions are due: 10/21/2026 by 12PM EST

Questions concerning this solicitation must be delivered in writing to:

Cameron Moriarty Procurement Analyst Somerville City Hall

Procurement & Contracting Services Department 93 Highland Avenue

Somerville, MA 02143 Or emailed to:

cmoriarty@somervillema.gov Or faxed to:

617-625-1344

Answers will be sent via an addendum to all Offerors who have registered as proposal holders. Proposers are encouraged to contact the Procurement & Contracting Services Department to register as a proposal document holder to automatically be alerted as to addenda as they are issued. It is the responsibility of the Offeror to also monitor the proposal portal on the City’s website for any updates, addenda, etc. regarding that specific solicitation. The web address is: https://www.somervillema.gov/procurement

If any proposer contacts City personnel outside of the Procurement & Contracting Services Department regarding this proposal, that proposer may be disqualified.

1.5 General Terms

Estimated Quantities The City of Somerville has provided estimated quantities, which will be ordered/purchased over the course of the contract period. These estimates are estimates only and not guaranteed.

Proposal Signature A response must be signed as follows: 1) if the Offeror is an individual, by her/him personally; 2) if the Offeror is a partnership, by the name of the partnership, followed by the signature of each general partner; and 3) if the Offeror is a corporation, by the authorized officer, whose signature must be attested to by the clerk/secretary of the corporation (& with corporate seal).

Time for Proposal Acceptance and City Contract Requirements The contract will be awarded within 90 days after the proposal opening. The time for award may be extended for up to 45 additional days by mutual agreement between the City of Somerville and the Offeror that is most advantageous and responsible. The Offeror’s submission will remain in effect for a period of 90 days from the response deadline or until it is formally withdrawn, a contract is executed, or this solicitation is canceled, whichever occurs first. The Offeror will be required to sign a standard City contract per the City’s general terms included herein as Appendix A.

Holidays are as follows:

New Year’s Day Martin Luther King. Jr. Day Washington's Birthday

Patriots’ Day https://www.somervillema.gov/procurement

Memorial Day Juneteenth Independence Day Independence Day Labor Day Indigenous Peoples’ Day Veterans’ Day Thanksgiving Day Thanksgiving Friday Christmas Eve (half day) Christmas Day

Please visit http://www.somervillema.gov/ for the City’s most recent calendar. *Under State Law, all holidays falling on Sunday must be observed on Monday.

If the awarded Offeror for their convenience desires to perform work during other than normal working hours or on other than normal work days, or if the Offeror is required to perform work at such times, the Offeror shall reimburse the City for any additional expense occasioned the City, thereby, such as, but not limited to, overtime pay for City employees, utilities service, etc. UNLESS otherwise specified in these provisions, services will be performed during normal work hours. When required services occur on holidays, work will be performed on either the previous or following work day, unless specified otherwise.

Unforeseen Office Closure If, at the time of the scheduled proposal opening, the Procurement & Contracting Services Department is closed due to uncontrolled events such as fire, snow, ice, wind, or building evacuation, the proposal due date will be postponed until 2:00 p.m. on the next normal business day. Proposals will be accepted until that date and time.

In the event of inclement weather, the Offeror is responsible for listening to the media to determine if the City has been closed due to weather.

Changes & Addenda If any changes are made to this solicitation, an addendum will be issued. All proposers on record as having picked up the solicitation will be alerted via email as to the posting of all addenda. The City will also post addenda on its website (https://www.somervillema.gov/procurement). No changes may be made to the solicitation documents by the Offerors without written authorization and/or an addendum from the Procurement & Contracting Services Department.

Modification or Withdrawal of Proposals, Mistakes, and Minor Informalities An Offeror may correct, modify, or withdraw a proposal by written notice received by the City of Somerville prior to the time and date set for the proposal opening. Proposal modifications must be submitted in a sealed envelope clearly labeled "Modification No.__" to the address listed in Section 1. Each modification must be numbered in sequence and must reference the original solicitation. After the proposal opening, an Offeror may not change any provision of the proposal in a manner prejudicial to the interests of the City or fair competition.

Minor informalities will be waived or the proposer will be allowed to correct them. If a mistake and the intended proposal are clearly evident on the face of the proposal document, the mistake will be corrected to reflect the intended correct proposal, and the proposer will be notified in writing; the proposer may not withdraw the proposal. A proposer may withdraw a proposal if a mistake is clearly evident on the face of the proposal document, but the intended correct proposal is not similarly evident.

Right to Cancel/Reject Proposals The City of Somerville may cancel this solicitation, or reject in whole or in part any and all proposals, if the City determines that cancellation or rejection serves the best interests of the City.

Unbalanced Proposals The City reserves the right to reject unbalanced, front-loaded, and conditional proposals.

Brand Name “or Equal” Any references to any brand name or proprietary product in the specifications shall require the acceptance of an http://www.somervillema.gov/ https://www.somervillema.gov/procurement equal or better brand. The City has the right to make the final determination as to whether an alternate brand is equal to the brand specified.

Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) For EFT payment, the following shall be included with invoices to the point of contact:

• Contract/Order number; Contractor’s name & address as stated in the contract;

• The signature (manual or electronic, as appropriate) title, and telephone number of the Offeror’s representative authorized to provide sensitive information;

• Name of financial institution; Financial institution nine (9) digit routing transit number;

• Offeror’s account number; Type of account, i.e., checking or saving.

Other Applicable Laws In addition to applicable federal and state laws, the City has several ordinances that apply to the services requested in this contract. Such ordinances include but are not limited to: living wage ordinance, ordinance to protect vulnerable road users,[1] and ordinance to protect against wage theft. Workplace safety is of paramount importance to all workers who perform services on City contracts and all bidders must certify that they will disclose any citations they may have received for OSHA violations.

[1] The ordinance to protect vulnerable road users only applies to contracts where the vendor and/or its subcontractors use large vehicles in the City of Somerville to perform the work of the contract.

Notice and Certification Pursuant to Somerville Wage Theft Ordinance All Offerors, bidders, respondents have an affirmative duty to report to the Procurement & Contracting Services Department and provide a copy of any criminal or civil judgment, administrative citation, or final administrative determination, order, or debarment, relating to wage theft, against the bidder or any of its subcontractors entered within the five years prior to bid submission.

If you are the successful bidder, you and any of your subcontractors have an affirmative duty to report any criminal or civil judgment, administrative citation, final administrative determination, order, or debarment against the bidder or any its subcontractors while your contract with the City is in effect, within five business days of receipt.

You may not contract with the City if you have been either voluntarily or involuntarily debarred by the federal government, any agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or any other state for the entire term of the debarment.

You may not use any subcontractor who has been debarred by the federal government or any state government during the period of that subcontractor's debarment.

You must post notices in accordance with M.G.L. c. 151 § 16 in a conspicuous location accessible to all of their employees in English and the primary language of the employee(s) at the particular workplace.

If not all employees would have reasonable access to the notice if posted in a single location, then you must inform the purchasing agent or other City Department of the number and location of postings in order to ensure that you provide reasonable notice to all of your employees.

As a condition of this bid, the bidder (a.k.a. Offeror, respondent) hereby certifies that neither the bidder nor any of the bidder's subcontractors have been subject to a criminal or civil judgment, administrative citation, final administrative determination, order, or debarment resulting from a https://online.encodeplus.com/regs/somerville-ma-coo/doc-viewer.aspx?secid=391&keywords=live%2Clived%2Clives%2Cliving%27s%2Clivings%2Clivings%27%2Cliving%2Cwage%27s%2Cwaged%2Cwages%2Cwages%27%2Cwaging%2Cwage#secid-391 https://online.encodeplus.com/regs/somerville-ma-coo/doc-viewer.aspx?secid=391&keywords=live%2Clived%2Clives%2Cliving%27s%2Clivings%2Clivings%27%2Cliving%2Cwage%27s%2Cwaged%2Cwages%2Cwages%27%2Cwaging%2Cwage#secid-391 https://online.encodeplus.com/regs/somerville-ma-coo/doc-viewer.aspx?secid=1533&keywords=vulnerable#secid-1533 https://online.encodeplus.com/regs/somerville-ma-coo/doc-viewer.aspx?secid=1452&keywords=wage%27s%2Cwaged%2Cwages%2Cwages%27%2Cwaging%2Cwage%2Ctheft%27s%2Cthefts%2Cthefts%27%2Ctheft#secid-1676 https://online.encodeplus.com/regs/somerville-ma-coo/doc-viewer.aspx?secid=1452&keywords=wage%27s%2Cwaged%2Cwages%2Cwages%27%2Cwaging%2Cwage%2Ctheft%27s%2Cthefts%2Cthefts%27%2Ctheft#secid-1676 violation of M.G.L. c. 149, M.G.L. c. 151, or 29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq. within five years prior to bid submission.

In the alternative, the Bidder hereby discloses a criminal or civil judgment, administrative citation, administrative determination, or debarment, within five years prior to bid submission. Included with the Bid is a copy of the same, in addition to documentation demonstrating that all damages, fines, costs, and fees have been paid.

1.6 Evaluation Methodology

Qualified proposals will be reviewed and rated by an evaluation committee ("the Committee") composed of employees of the City. The City reserves the right to involve an outside consultant in the selection process.

Comparative Evaluation Criteria The Committee shall use the comparative evaluation criteria included in Section 2.0 to evaluate the responsibility and responsiveness of all proposals that already meet the minimum quality requirements. For each proposal, the Committee will assign a rating of Highly Advantageous, Advantageous, Not Advantageous, or Unacceptable to each of the corresponding comparative evaluation criteria.

Final selection will be based upon the evaluators’ analysis of the information and materials required under the RFP and provided by the Offerors in their submissions. The City may request additional information from the Offerors to ensure that the Offeror has the necessary resources to perform the required services. The Committee may choose to interview Offerors. If interviews will be conducted, the City will notify the Offerors, either by e-mail or telephone, of the date, time, and place for their interviews and any other pertinent information related thereto.

Selection Process The City will award the contract to the most responsive and responsible Offeror whose entire proposal (technical and price) is deemed to be the most advantageous. The City reserves the right to reject any and all proposals if it determines that the criteria set forth have not been met.

RFP # 27-22

SECTION 2.0

RULE FOR AWARD /

SPECIFICATIONS/SCOPE OF SERVICES

Rule for Award The contract shall be awarded to the responsible and responsive proposer submitting the most advantageous proposal response, taking into consideration all evaluation criteria as well as price. The contract will be awarded within ninety (90) days after the proposal opening. The time for award may be extended for up to 45 additional days by mutual agreement between the City and the most highly advantageous and responsible offeror.

Introduction and Background The City of Somerville conducted a youth needs assessment that identified strengths, barriers and potential gaps of current services and structures that support the individual and collective growth of youth in the city.

Outcomes from the assessment highlighted the need for an expansion of job training and employment opportunities that include scaffolded, tailored support around career readiness skills for all youth in Somerville.

This Request for Proposal seeks an organization or organizations to recruit, hire, train and supervise youth in Somerville. The City of Somerville has a budget that is not to exceed $75,000. Proposals can be for $25,000, $50,000 or $75,000.

Scope of Work Proposals should outline how your organization will:

Provide paid employment to youth between the ages of 15-18 for the School Year 2026-2027

• Recruit, hire, train and supervise at least 5-15 youth who live in and/or go to school in the City of Somerville for at least 8 hours a week for 20 weeks or 160 hours total

• Pay an hourly rate based on the current living wage of $18.85/hr.

• Track and report detailed participant information as well as hours worked

• Ensure meaningful employment/internship opportunities that prepare youth for the workforce in at least one of the below focus areas:

o Public health & health literacy, mental health awareness, basic needs including but not limited to food security & housing, climate & environment, civic & community engagement, youth violence prevention & restorative justice, recreation & physical activity, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) and arts & communication

• Outline measurable community benefits in alignment with the focus area(s) of your program in detail

• Deliver a high-quality career development opportunity for youth that clearly defines skill development including but not limited to communication, teamwork, critical thinking & problem solving, self-management and professionalism

Specifications / Requirement

Proposals should include documentation that your organization:

• Is an established organization which has been in operation for at least three (3) years

• Is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, public institutions of higher education or has a fiscal sponsor with

501(c)(3) status

• Has a strong commitment and track record of success working with youth between the ages of 15-18 and engaging them with meaningful employment opportunities

• Has staff and organizational capacity to manage recruitment, onboarding & payroll

• Has staff and organizational capacity to supervise youth employees and/or interns

• Has a functional Board of Directors or advisory committee to provide oversight, strategic direction, and fiduciary responsibility

• Will not rely on City of Somerville as a sole funder but instead secure funding from multiple sources.

We expect that successful proposers will depend on public support (federal, state and local grants) as well as some private support

• Organization(s) must demonstrate sustainable funding and sound fiscal management

Information should be provided to demonstrate that staff have:

• A deep understanding of and training in workforce development of youth between the ages of 15-18

• Experience and expertise in youth employment

• The ability and experience to engage with diverse groups specifically marginalized youth

• Ongoing professional development opportunities in order to support youth employees

• Successfully completed a background check including fingerprinting, CORI & SORI

Proposal Submission Requirements Please include and address the following in your proposals:

• Detailed plan for recruiting, hiring, training and supervising at least 5 youth for $25,000, 10 teens for $50,000 and 15 teens for $75,000 for at least 8 hours a week for 20 weeks or 160 hours total

• Clearly describe the work youth will perform and the skills, knowledge, and competencies they will develop

• Staffing plan including roles and responsibilities as well as credentials/experience

• Documentation of being an established organization for at least 3 years with a board of directors or advisory committee

• Evidence of successful outcomes for youth employment, training and development

• Detailed budget including total youth to be hired, hourly rate, total hours per week, total weeks as well as other program and administrative costs

• Clearly outline the percentage paid directly to youth versus the percentage of funds to pay for other associated programmatic & administrative costs

• Financial documentation to demonstrate sustainable funding from multiple funding sources and sound fiscal management

Project Deliverables/Milestones/Phase

1. Successful recruitment, hiring and employment of at least 5-15 youth for at least 8 hours a week for 20 weeks or 160 hours total

2. Successful administration of pre and post surveys of youth to measure skill growth and overall experience

3. Successful completion of assessment of each youth by supervising staff to outline strengths and areas of growth

4. Successful completion of quarterly reports detailing job employment opportunities provided to youth and skill development

5. Submission of quarterly invoices in alignment with proposed budget including total hours worked by youth, the amount being paid and other program and administrative costs

6. Successful completion of final report detailing overall progress aligned with the scope of services outlined in the contract

Comparative Evaluation Criteria The Comparative Evaluation Criteria set forth in this section of the RFP shall be used to evaluate responsible and responsive proposals.

All proposals will be reviewed by an evaluation committee composed of employees of the City. Final selection will be based upon the evaluators’ analysis of the information and materials required under the RFP and provided by the proposing vendors in their submissions. The City reserves the right to involve an outside consultant in the selection process. Proposals that meet the minimum quality requirements will be reviewed for responses to the comparative evaluation criteria. The evaluation committee will assign a rating of Highly Advantageous, Advantageous, Not Advantageous, or Unacceptable to the comparative evaluation criteria.

The City will only award a contract to a responsive and responsible Proposer. Before awarding the contract(s), the City may request additional information from the Proposer to ensure that the Proposer has the resources necessary to perform the required services. The City reserves the right to reject any and all proposals if it determines that the criteria set forth have not been met. The Comparative Evaluation Criteria are:

Factor 1: Proposal Quality

Highly Advantageous

Proposal is comprehensive and outlines in detail the work youth will perform, the focus area(s) and the measurable community benefits in detail

Proposal clearly outlines a high-quality career development opportunity for youth that clearly defines skill development

Advantageous

Proposal outlines the work youth will perform, the focus area(s) and mentions the community benefits

Proposal outlines a career development opportunity for youth but lacks details about a skill development

Not Advantageous

Limited discussion of the work that will be performed, the focus area(s) and/or the community benefits

Proposal is vague or incompletely outlines a career development opportunity for youth or details about skills development

Unacceptable

No consideration or mention of the work that will be performed, focus area(s) or the community benefits

Proposal does not describe or address a career development opportunity for youth or skill development

Factor 2: Organizational & Staff Experience

Advantageous

Organization demonstrates extensive experience (at least 3-5 years) in youth mentorship & employment

Staff have extensive experience training, mentoring and supporting youth employment

Advantageous

Organization shows moderate experience (at least 3 years) as an organization with experience in youth mentorship & employment

Staff has some experience in training, mentoring and supporting youth employment

Not Advantageous

Organization has limited experience (less than 3 years) in youth mentorship & employment

Staff has limited experience in training, mentoring and supporting youth employment

Organization has no relevant experience in youth mentorship & employment

Staff have no experience in training, mentoring and supporting youth employment

Factor 3: Implementation, Evaluation & Cost

Advantageous

Proposal clearly outlines a plan for recruiting, hiring, training and supervising more than 5, 10 or 15 youth (based on amount requested, $25k, $50k, $75k respectively) for at least 8 hours a week for 20 weeks or 160 hours total

Proposal includes detailed information about a pre- and post-youth survey & youth assessment

Proposal includes a detailed budget including total youth to be hired, hourly rate, total hours per week, total weeks as well as program and administrative costs

Budget demonstrates that at least 80% of the requested funds will directly support youth wages with the remaining funds supporting associated programmatic and administrative costs

Financial documentation to demonstrate sustainable funding from multiple funding sources and sound fiscal management

Advantageous

Proposal outlines a plan for recruiting, hiring, training and supervising 5, 10 or 15 youth (based on amount requested, $25k, $50k, $75k respectively) for at least 8 hours a week for 20 weeks or 160 hours total

Proposal includes some information about a pre- and post-youth survey & youth assessment

Budget demonstrates that at least 60% of the requested funds will directly support youth wages with the remaining funds supporting associated programmatic and administrative costs

Budget is reasonable and funds align with outcomes outlined in RFP

Not Advantageous

Proposal includes a limited or unrealistic plan for recruiting, hiring, training and supervising less than 5, 10 or 15 youth (based on amount requested, $25k, $50k, $75k respectively) or for less than 8 hours a week for 20 weeks or 160 hours total

Proposal includes little information about a pre- and post-youth survey & youth assessment

Budget demonstrates that at least 40% of the requested funds will directly support youth wages with the remaining funds supporting associated programmatic and administrative

Budget lacks details or is misaligned with outcomes outlined in RFP

Proposal does not include a plan for recruiting, hiring, training and supervising youth

Proposal does not include information about a pre- and post-youth survey & youth assessment

Budget demonstrates that less than 40% of the requested funds will directly support youth wages with the remaining funds supporting associated programmatic and administrative

Budget is incomplete, unrealistic, or non-compliant with outcomes outlined in RFP

Key dates for this Request for Proposals:

RFP Issued 10/14/2026 Deadline for Submitting Questions to RFP

10/21/2026 by 12PM EST

Proposals Due 10/28/2026 by 2PM EST

Anticipated Contract Award 11/04/2026 Est. Contract Commencement Date

12/01/2026

Est. Contract Completion Date 06/01/2027

Quality Requirements

Quality requirements, or basic business requirements, are the minimum set of standards that an entity must meet and certify to be considered responsible and responsive. Please complete the Quality Requirements form, below, and submit it with your completed proposal. The City of Somerville will disqualify any response that does not meet the minimum quality requirements. A "No” response to items 1, 2, or 3, or a failure to respond to any of the following minimum standards, may result in disqualification of your proposal.

QUALITY REQUIREMENTS YES NO

1.

Proposer has at least 3 years of experience as an organization and presented documentation of successful implementation of youth internship and employment opportunities

2.

Proposer does work in Somerville and has established relationships with city, school and community organizations throughout the city

3. Proposer demonstrates sustainable funding outside/in addition to this contract and sound fiscal management

4.

Optional:

Are you a Mass. Supplier Diversity Office MBE/WBE certified minority or woman owned business? Additional diversity designations may be submitted by attaching supporting documentation.

In order to provide verification of affirmative responses to items 1, 2, and 3 under the quality requirements listed in the Quality Requirements Form, Offeror must submit written information that details the general background, experience, and qualifications of the organization. Subcontractors, if applicable, must be also included.

Period of Performance The period of performance for this contract begins on or about 12/01/2026 and ends on or about 06/01/2027. If applicable, optional renewal years may be exercised by the sole discretion of the City (see cover page for anticipated contract term).

Place of Performance All services, delivery, and other required support shall be conducted in Somerville and other locations designated by the Department point of contact. Meetings between the Vendor and City personnel shall be held at the City of Somerville, Massachusetts, unless otherwise specified.

Vendor Conduct The Vendor’s employees shall comply with all City regulations, policies, and procedures. The Vendor shall ensure that their employees present professional work attire at all times. The authorized contracting body of the City may, at his/her sole discretion, direct the Vendor to remove any Vendor employee from City facilities for misconduct or safety reasons. Such rule does not relieve the Vendor of their responsibility to provide sufficient and timely service. The City will provide the Vendor with immediate written notice for the removal of the employee. Vendors must be knowledgeable of the conflict of interest law found on the Commonwealth’s website https://www.mass.gov/info-details/gl-c-268a-the-conflict-of-interest-law-as-amended-by-c-248-acts-of- 2024. Vendors may be required to take the Conflict of Interest exam.

Vendor Personnel The Vendor shall clearly state the name of the proposed project manager. All proposed staff must demonstrate the ability to carry out the specified requirements.

Confidentiality The Vendor agrees that it will ensure that its employees and others performing services under this contract will not use or disclose any non-public information unless authorized by the City. That includes confidential reports, information, discussions, procedures, and any other data that are collected, generated or resulting from the performance of this scope of work. All documents, photocopies, computer data, and any other information of any kind collected or received by the Vendor in connection with the contract work shall be provided to the City upon request at the termination of the contract (i.e., the date on which final payment is made on the contract or at such other time as may be requested by the City or as otherwise agreed by City and the Vendor). The Vendor may not discuss the contract work in progress with any outside party, including responding to media and press inquiries, without the prior written permission of the City. In addition, the Vendor may not issue news releases or similar items regarding contract award, any subsequent contract modifications, or any other contract-related matter without the prior written approval of the City. Requests to make such disclosures should be addressed in writing to the Vendor’s point of contact.

Deliverables Vendor shall provide for all day-to-day supervision, inspection, and monitoring of all work performed to ensure compliance with the contract requirements. The contractor is responsible for remedying all defects and or omissions to the supplies or services provided to ensure that said deliverables meet the requirements as detailed in the contract specifications.

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/gl-c-268a-the-conflict-of-interest-law-as-amended-by-c-248-acts-of-2024 https://www.mass.gov/info-details/gl-c-268a-the-conflict-of-interest-law-as-amended-by-c-248-acts-of-2024

RFP # 27-22

SECTION 3.0

PRICING

By signing this Price Form, the Proposer certifies the following bulleted statements and offers to supply and deliver the materials and services specified below in full accordance with the Contract Documents supplied by the City of Somerville entitled: Youth Employment Program

• The proposals will be received at the office of the Chief Procurement Officer, Somerville City Hall, 93 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143 no later than 10/28/2026 by 2PM EST

• If the awarded vendor is a Corporation a “Certificate of Good Standing” (produced by the Mass. Sec. of State) must be furnished with the resulting contract (see Section 4.0.)

• Awarded Vendor must comply with Living Wage requirements (see Section 4.0; only for services)

• Awarded Vendor must comply with all applicable laws, including but not limited to the Somerville Wage

Theft Ordinance.

• Awarded Vendor must comply with insurance requirements as stated in Section 4.0.

• The Chief Procurement Officer reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals and/or to waive any informalities if in her/his sole judgment it is deemed to be in the best interest of the City of Somerville.

• The following prices shall include delivery, the cost of fuel, the cost of labor, and all other charges.

• This form to be enclosed in sealed proposal package.

Please provide Unit Price for the following and include any additional fees not listed:

Project Description Total Fixed Fee (not to exceed $100,000 per year) Recruitment, hiring, training and supervising of youth employees

Pricing for a project period of 1 year with 2 optional one-year renewals at the discretion of the City.

PRICING FORMATS:

Total Fixed Fee with submission of a detailed breakdown on a separate page of costs which includes youth wages. Will be paid upon completion of services after submission of quarterly invoices with supporting reports.

Year 1 (12/1/2026-5/31/2026)

Year 2 (6/1/2027-5/31/2028)

Year 3 (6/1/2028 – 5/21/2-2029)

Total $ $ $

Name of Company/Individual:

Address, City, State, Zip:

Tel # Email:

Signature of Authorized Individual Please acknowledge receipt of any and all Addenda (if applicable) by signing below and including this form in your proposal package. Failure to do so may subject the proposer to disqualification.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ADDENDA:

Addendum #1 ____ #2 ____ #3____ #4____ #5____ #6____ #7____ #8____ #9____ #10____ https://online.encodeplus.com/regs/somerville-ma-coo/doc-viewer.aspx?secid=1452&keywords=wage%27s%2Cwaged%2Cwages%2Cwages%27%2Cwaging%2Cwage%2Ctheft%27s%2Cthefts%2Cthefts%27%2Ctheft#secid-1676 https://online.encodeplus.com/regs/somerville-ma-coo/doc-viewer.aspx?secid=1452&keywords=wage%27s%2Cwaged%2Cwages%2Cwages%27%2Cwaging%2Cwage%2Ctheft%27s%2Cthefts%2Cthefts%27%2Ctheft#secid-1676

APPENDIX A

City’s General Terms and Conditions

Approved 8/27/2015 - Page 1 of 4

CITY OF SOMERVILLE STANDARD CONTRACT GENERAL CONDITIONS

1. Definitions

“City” shall mean the City of Somerville, Massachusetts.

“Contract” and “Contract Documents” shall include the following documents, as applicable: City’s Standard Contract Form; these Standard Contract General Conditions; Supplemental Conditions (if applicable); City’s Invitation for Bids, Request for Proposals, Request for Quotation, or other solicitation; the Vendor’s response to the City’s solicitation document including certifications but excluding any language stricken by City as unacceptable. Appendices are made an integral part of this Contract. The Contract documents are to be read collectively and complementary to one another; any requirement under one shall be as binding as if required by all. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the City’s Standard Contract General Conditions and the Supplemental Conditions, the Supplemental Conditions shall prevail. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of the City’s Standard Contract Form or these Standard Contract General Conditions and any other Contract Documents or appendices, the provisions of the City’s Standard Contract Form and/or these Standard Contract General Conditions shall prevail.

In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the Contract Documents and any applicable state law, the applicable state law shall prevail.

“Certify” or “Certifies” shall mean that the Vendor certifies under pains and penalties of perjury to the statement referenced.

“Vendor” shall mean the individual, corporation, partnership, or other entity which is a party to this Contract.

2. Performance; Time

The Vendor shall perform in accordance with all provisions of this Contract in a manner satisfactory to the City. The Vendor’s performance shall be timely and meet or exceed industry standards for the performance required. It is understood and agreed that all specified times or periods of performance are of the essence of this Contract.

3. Acceptance of Goods or Services

Performance under this Contract shall include services rendered, obligations due, costs incurred, goods and deliverables provided and accepted by the City. The City shall have a reasonable opportunity to inspect all goods and deliverables, services performed by, and work product of the Vendor, and accept or reject same.

4. Compensation

The City shall pay in full and complete compensation for goods received and accepted and services performed and accepted under this Contract in an amount not to exceed the amount stated on the face of this Contract paid in accordance with the rate indicated or in accordance with a prescribed payment schedule.

The Vendor shall periodically submit invoices to the City, for which compensation is due under this Contract and requesting payment for goods received or services rendered by the Vendor during the period covered by the invoice. The invoice must agree to the rates/payment schedule as indicated in this contract. The invoice shall include the following information: vendor name, vendor remit address, invoice date, invoice number, itemized listing of goods, services, labor, and expenses and indicating the total amount due. The City shall review the invoice and determine the value of goods or services accepted by the City in accordance with the Contract Documents. Payments due to the Vendor will be made within sixty (60) days from receipt and approval of an invoice. Final invoices from the Vendor are due no later than ninety (90) days from the Completion Date. Any invoice received past the ninety (90) day date will not be paid. If this Contract is extended, invoices related to the extension period are due no later than ninety (90) days from the Extended Completion Date.

The Vendor shall furnish such information relating to the goods or services or to documentation of labor or expenses as may be requested by the City. Acceptance by the Vendor of any payment or partial payment, without any written objection by the Vendor, shall in each instance operate as a release and discharge of the City from all claims, liabilities, or other obligations relating to the performance of this Contract.

In case of an error in extension prices quoted herein, the unit price will govern (Applicable To Goods Only).

5. Release of City on Final Payment

Acceptance by the Vendor of payment from the City for final delivery of goods or rendering of services under this Contract shall be deemed to release forever the City from all claims and liabilities, except those which the Vendor notifies the City in writing within three (3) months after such payment.

6. Risk of Loss

The Vendor shall bear the risk of loss, for any cause, for any Vendor materials used for this Contract and for all goods, deliverables, and work in process, until possession, ownership, and full legal title to the goods and deliverables are transferred to and accepted by the City.

The Vendor shall pay and be exclusively responsible for all debts for labor and material contracted for by the Vendor for the rental of any appliance or equipment hired by Vendor and/or for any expense incurred on account of services to be performed or goods delivered under this Contract.

The City shall not be liable for any personal injury or death of the Vendor, its officers, employees, or agents.

7. Indemnification

The Vendor shall indemnify, defend (with counsel acceptable to City, which acceptance shall not be unreasonably withheld), and hold harmless the City of Somerville, its officers, employees, agents and representatives from and against any and all claims, suits, liabilities, losses, damages, costs or expenses (including judgments, costs, interest, attorney’s fees and expert’s fees) arising from or in connection with any act or omission relating in any way to the performance of this Contract by the Vendor, its agents, officers, employees, or subcontractors.

The extent of this indemnification shall not be limited by any obligation or any term or condition of any insurance policy. The obligations set forth in this paragraph shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement.

Approved 8/27/2015 - Page 2 of 4

8. Default; Termination; Remedies

A. Events of Default

The following shall constitute events of default under this Contract: (1) The Vendor has made any material misrepresentation to the City; or (2) a judgment or decree is entered against the Vendor approving a petition for an arrangement, liquidation, dissolution or similar relief relating to bankruptcy or insolvency; or (3) the Vendor files a voluntary petition in bankruptcy or any petition or answer seeking any arrangement, liquidation or dissolution relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or other relief for debtors; or (4) the Vendor seeks or consents or acquiesces in the appointment of any trustee or receiver, or is the subject of any other proceeding under which a court assumes custody or control over the Vendor or of any of the Vendor's property; or (5) the Vendor becomes the defendant in a levy of an attachment or execution, or a debtor in an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or (6) the Vendor is involved in a winding up or dissolution of its corporate structure; or (7) any failure by the Vendor to perform any of its obligations under this Contract, including, but not limited to, the following: (i) failure to commence performance of this Contract at the time specified in this Contract due to a reason or circumstance within the Vendor’s reasonable control, (ii) failure to perform this Contract with sufficient personnel and equipment or with sufficient material to ensure the completion of this Contract within the specified time due to a reason or circumstance within the Vendor’s reasonable control, (iii) failure to perform this Contract in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the City, (iv) failure to promptly re-perform within reasonable time the Services or Supplies that were properly rejected by the City as erroneous or unsatisfactory, (v) discontinuance of the Services or Supplies for reasons not beyond the Vendor’s reasonable control, (vi) failure to comply with a material term of this Contract, including, but not limited to, the provision of insurance and nondiscrimination; or (8) any other acts specifically and expressly stated in this Contract as constituting a basis for termination of this Contract.

B. Termination Upon Default.

In the event of…