DHE E2WM_RFI_FY27.pdf

THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

One Ashburton Place, Suite 1401, Boston, MA 02108

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION:

Education to Workforce Marketplace (E2WM)

COMMBUYS BID #: BD-27-1088-RGT01-RGT01-133080

Education to Workforce Marketplace Supports and Services

September 9, 2026 https://www.commbuys.com/bso/bid/bidSummary.sda?docId=BD-27-1088-RGT01-RGT01-133080&mode=initial

Respondents to this Request for Information (RFI) are invited to respond to any or all of the questions in this document. Responses to this RFI shall serve solely to assist the Commonwealth in understanding the current state of the marketplace with regards to the solicited information or to inform the development of a possible solicitation for a Request for Responses (RFR) or Request for Quotes (RFQ) in the future. This RFI does not in any way obligate the Commonwealth to issue or amend a solicitation or to include any of the RFI provisions or responses in any solicitation.

Responding to this RFI is entirely voluntary and will in no way affect the Commonwealth’s consideration of any proposal submitted in response to any subsequent solicitation, nor will it serve as an advantage or disadvantage to the respondent in the course of any RFR or RFQ that may be subsequently issued or amended.

1. Introduction The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to elicit the advice and best analysis of knowledgeable persons in the vendor community to enable the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE) to craft a potential future solicitation to support a statewide Education to Workforce Marketplace (E2WM). Responses to this RFI should include information that will be useful to DHE in subsequently drafting more detailed procurement solicitation(s) related to the E2WM.

2. Agency The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE) is the state agency responsible for coordinating the Commonwealth’s system of public higher education and serving as the staff to the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education (BHE).

The Board of Higher Education is responsible for defining the mission of and coordinating the Commonwealth’s public higher education system, including:

• Fifteen community colleges

• Nine state universities

• Five University of Massachusetts campuses

The Board and Department work to ensure that Massachusetts residents have access to high-quality, affordable public higher education opportunities that support:

• Economic mobility

• Workforce development

• Civic participation

• Research and innovation

• Educational equity and student success

DHE works collaboratively with public institutions, state agencies, employers, workforce partners, and community organizations to support statewide higher education priorities and improve student outcomes.

Through this RFI, DHE seeks information regarding solutions capable of supporting statewide coordination of student reengagement, enrollment, persistence, completion, and workforce transition activities for stopped-out residents.

3. Purpose of RFI The purpose of this RFI is to obtain information from qualified vendors regarding the design, implementation, operation, scalability, and cost structure of E2WM models focused on stopped-out students with some college credit and no credential (SCNC).

Specifically, DHE seeks information regarding:

• Proven SCNC reengagement models that have been scaled statewide

• Integrated student support ecosystems

• Student-facing technology platforms

• Data-driven outreach methodologies

• Coaching and persistence support models

• Institutional partnership structures

• Longitudinal analytics and reporting capabilities

• Workforce alignment strategies

• Implementation timelines and operational considerations

• Budgetary structures and pricing models

The Commonwealth is particularly interested in bundled service models that provide a seamless and coordinated experience for both students and institutions.

4. Information Solicited

Background

Massachusetts seeks to improve educational attainment and workforce participation among residents who have earned college credits but have not completed a credential. The Commonwealth recognizes that many stopped-out students are now positioned to benefit from expanded financial aid opportunities, enhanced student supports, and more flexible higher education pathways.

The Commonwealth seeks information regarding comprehensive, technology-enabled solutions that support statewide coordination of:

• Student outreach

• Reengagement

• Enrollment

• Persistence

• Credential completion

• Workforce transition

DHE is particularly interested in solutions capable of operating at scale across public two-year and four-year institutions while providing personalized and holistic supports for students.

Below is a select list of questions vendors may consider addressing in the RFI. No vendor is expected to answer all questions within its response.

• Organizational Experience and Capacity

1. Describe your organization, including:

Years in operation Organizational size Relevant experience serving higher education institutions Experience serving adult learners and SCNC populations

2. Describe your organization’s experience implementing statewide SCNC-focused initiatives in one or more states.

3. Describe your experience coordinating across multiple public two-year and four-year higher education institutions.

4. Provide examples of similar statewide initiatives your organization has successfully implemented, including measurable outcomes.

5. Describe your organization’s staffing model and operational capacity to support a statewide initiative in Massachusetts.

• Student-Facing Technology Platform

1. Describe the student-facing platform or technology solution your organization provides.

2. Describe how the platform is specifically designed to support adult learners and stopped-out students.

3. Describe the platform’s capabilities related to:

Student onboarding Degree planning Financial aid guidance Career and workforce alignment Behavioral nudges and engagement tools Communication tools Mobile accessibility

Accessibility compliance

4. Describe how the platform personalizes student engagement using:

Data analytics Behavioral insights Artificial intelligence Machine learning

• Data Analytics and Outreach

1. Describe your organization’s approach to identifying and engaging SCNC learners.

2. Describe the data sources utilized to support outreach and engagement efforts.

3. Describe your use of predictive analytics, behavioral analytics, machine learning, or other data-driven methodologies.

4. Describe your organization’s outreach strategy, including:

Communication channels Frequency and cadence of outreach Persona-based or segmentation strategies Evidence of effectiveness

5. Describe your organization’s ability to support longitudinal tracking of students from reengagement through completion.

6. Describe your reporting and dashboard capabilities for institutions and state agencies.

7. Describe your ability to benchmark performance across institutions or states.

• Coaching, Persistence, and Student Support

1. Describe your coaching model, including:

Staffing structure Coach-to-student ratios Modes of engagement Training provided to coaches

2. Describe how coaching services are integrated into the student-facing platform.

3. Describe how your organization supports students through:

Reengagement Enrollment Persistence Degree completion Workforce transition

4. Describe how your organization addresses holistic student needs, including:

Basic needs Child care Transportation Technology access

Financial aid navigation Academic readiness Student belonging and engagement

• Institutional Partnerships and Service Delivery

1. Describe how your organization partners with colleges and universities throughout the student lifecycle.

2. Describe how your organization coordinates institutional communication, data sharing, and student referrals.

3. Describe your implementation process and anticipated timeline for launching a statewide initiative.

4. Describe any third-party vendors, subcontractors, or strategic partnerships required to support your solution.

5. Describe how your organization ensures seamless integration of:

Outreach Technology Coaching Analytics Institutional coordination

• Budget and Pricing Information

1. Please provide general pricing information and budget structures for statewide implementations.

2. Describe the pricing methodology utilized by your organization, including:

Per-student costs Institutional pricing Subscription models Licensing costs Service fees Overhead

3. Describe how many institutions and students could reasonably be supported under a statewide initiative budget of approximately $2 million annually.

4. Describe any available pricing discounts, volume pricing, or multi-year pricing structures.

• Training, Maintenance, and Support

1. Describe training provided for institutions, administrators, and users.

2. Describe available maintenance and support services, including:

Hours of operation Helpdesk support Escalation procedures Product updates Technical support response times

3. Describe your organization’s approach to ongoing product improvements and platform updates.

• Accessibility, Privacy, and Compliance

1. Describe how your solution complies with accessibility standards, including Web

Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) compliance and support for users with disabilities.

2. Describe your organization’s approach to:

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) compliance Data privacy Cybersecurity Data governance

3. Describe any certifications, audits, or security frameworks your organization maintains.

5. General Instructions Please note that this RFI is issued solely for the purpose of obtaining information. Nothing in this RFI shall be interpreted as a commitment on the part of DHE to enter a contract with any respondent of to make any procurement.

a. This RFI is being made available on September 9, 2026. Please see below for the Estimated Calendar of Events:

Event Date Announcement & Release of RFI Posting Wednesday, 9/9/2026 by 5 pm ET

Deadline for Respondents’ written questions

Monday, 9/21/2026 by 5 pm ET

Answers to questions posted on COMMBUYS (estimate)

Friday, 9/25/2026

Close date for Posting and Responses Friday, 10/2/2026 at 5 pm ET

b. Respondent Questions. Potential respondents who have questions regarding this RFI may e-mail them to the contact listed in (g) below by 5 PM EST on September 21, 2026.

Respondents may only make inquiries and request clarification concerning this RFI by written questions via e-mail. Responses to inquiries and clarification questions will be provided electronically to all interested parties via a posting on COMMBUYS.

c. Informational Sessions. There will be no informational session associated with this RFI.

d. Response Submission. All responses to this RFI are due no later than 5 PM ET on October

2, 2026. Respondents should submit one (1) electronic copy by submitting materials through COMMBUYS. All responses must include on the first page the official name (if any) of the firm or entity submitting the response. Please consecutively number all pages of the response.

e. Response Format. DHE requests that responses clearly address at least one question in each of the categories set forth in Section 4 above and Section 9 below. If a respondent opts not to respond to any item(s) in Section 4, please note and include an explanation for the lack of response when possible.

f. Response Content. Vendors should include a response to each of the questions set forth in section 9 of this RFI.

g. DHE Contact Information. Please direct all communications, questions, and responses to the following contact:

Name: Allison Little Title: Assistant Commissioner of P16 Alignment and Outreach Email: alittle@dhe.mass.edu

h. Additional Information. DHE retains the right to request additional information from respondents. DHE may, at its sole discretion, elect to request formal presentations from certain vendors and/or create an RFR or RFQ which will include the detailed requirements and key success criteria for the procurement and be based, at least in part, on the responses received from this RFI. DHE may request further explanation or clarification from any and all respondents during the review process.

6. Costs.

By submitting a response, respondents agree that any cost incurred in responding to this RFI, or in support of activities associated with this RFI, shall be the sole responsibility of respondent. DHE shall not be held responsible for any costs incurred by respondents in preparing their respective responses to this RFI.

7. Review Rights.

Responses to this RFI may be reviewed and evaluated by any person(s) at the discretion of DHE, including independent consultants retained by DHE now or in the future.

8. Public Record.

All responses to this RFI will be public record under the Commonwealth’s Public Records Law, M.G.L. c. 66, s. 10, regardless of confidentiality notices set forth on such writings to the contrary.

9. Information Requested.

a. Company Name (please list parent company as well)

b. Company Address

c. Company Website

d. Contact name and information (e-mail address required)

e. Provide a description of your company and the basis of your expertise in offering a response to this RFI.

mailto:alittle@dhe.mass.edu

f. Please provide responses to questions identified in Section 4 of this RFI.

5. General Instructions