FFY27-RCAADM-RCM-NOI-V02-ORI20260821.pdf

Office for Refugees and Immigrants (ORI)

ORI-FFY27

Due Diligence Posting of Notice of Intent

The Office for Refugees and Immigrants (“ORI” or “Department”) of the Commonwealth of

Massachusetts announces its intent to purchase a service that is proprietary, pursuant to the

Commonwealth’s Due Diligence Posting policy, from the Resettlement Agencies located in

Massachusetts (“Offerors”), pending the results of this Notice of Intent (“Notice”). ORI issues this notice to confirm the Resettlement Agencies listed below are the sole vendors under applicable federal and state law and requirements which may provide the required services described herein.

Description

Background. ORI is the Massachusetts state agency responsible for administering Refugee Cash

Assistance (RCA), a federally funded short-term financial assistance program to help refugees

(and certain other populations) ineligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to meet basic needs in connection with resettlement services. RCA is administered through the

Refugee Case Management (RCM) program in Massachusetts. The federal Office of Refugee

Resettlement (ORR) is the federal agency responsible for overseeing the RCM program as part of the national refugee resettlement program, defined by federal statute, regulation and policy. (See

ORR’s website at ORR Refugee Resettlement Program). In accordance with federal regulation, ORI administers RCA through a public/private partnership program model. (See applicable 45

CFR §§ 400.56-400.63). Under the federally defined public/private partnership program model, only those organizations that qualify as “Local Resettlement Agencies” may administer RCA in a public/private partnership. (See e.g. 45 CFR § 400.56). Massachusetts additionally must administer the RCA program in accordance with the state plan approved annually by ORR. See 45 CFR 400.4-

400.09.

Massachusetts Resettlement Agencies. Massachusetts resettlement agencies are designated non-profit agencies in Massachusetts that provided initial resettlement and placement services for refugees upon entering the country, as well as additional resettlement services to certain other eligible immigrant populations. Such services include arranging food and housing, enrolling in employment services, registering youth for school, applying for Social Security cards, and facilitating connections with necessary social or language services. Due to their designation, Resettlement Agencies are the sole entities that are permitted to administer the RCA program pursuant to federal requirements. The federal government is in the process of changing many aspects of the Refugee Resettlement Program. Based on most recent guidance, ORI is intending to contract with those agencies recognized historically as Resettlement Agencies which may provide

RCA and accept applications for the MRRP, subject to approval by ORR. The historically recognized Resettlement Agencies in Massachusetts are:

1. Ascentria Community Services, Inc. (2 sites)

2. Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Boston, Inc.

3. International Institute of New England. Inc. (2 sites)

4. Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts, Inc.

5. Jewish Family Service of Metrowest, Inc.

https://acf.gov/orr/programs/refugees

6. Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success

7. Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Center, Inc.

The Department seeks to contract with the seven Resettlement Agencies listed above to provide

Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) to eligible populations within the time eligibility period determined by ORR (currently the first 8 months of their date of entry) and Refugee Case

Management services, including enrollment in the MRRP. Under the RCA/RCM program, Resettlement Agencies determine eligibility for the MRRP and RCA and authorize and provide payments to eligible refugees. In connection with administering RCA, the Resettlement Agencies must additionally monitor their refugee clients’ compliance with RCA requirements for participation in employment services, and related case management functions (known as Refugee

Case Management or RCM). The Refugee Resettlement Program helps refugees and other eligible individuals (as determined by ORR) to achieve economic self-sufficiency, well-being, and successful assimilation in the United States. The Department anticipates that each contract will have a one-year term, with an option to renew for one additional one-year term, or other time period as required to comply with ORR requirements. The Department anticipates allocating between $7,000 –$135,000 for each Resettlement Agency by site for the first contract year. The

Resettlement Agencies vary in size and capacity, and the final amount will be scaled within that range based on the Resettlement Agency’s projected new arrivals eligible for RCM/RCA services and additional factors.

The Department is posting this Notice rather than conducting a full procurement because the

Department believes this opportunity represents a proprietary purchase of service to the

Commonwealth and there are no other Resettlement Agencies permitted by federal requirements to perform these functions, and the Department is utilizing this Due Diligence Posting to ensure that the process is open, fair, and competitive.

Determination of Other Interested Vendors

The intent of this posting is to determine if there are any other interested and qualified Resettlement

Agencies, which the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) recognizes and approves for administration of the RCM/RCA program described above. Any such vendors must submit a letter, and supporting documentation, that they are a qualified and designated Resettlement Agency, such that meet the requirements set by the federal government to perform initial resettlement services and administer RCA and RCM under ORR requirements. Any such vendor must additionally agree to accept the Commonwealth Terms and Conditions for Human and Social Services Contracts.

Response Requirement and Deadline

All Interested Vendors and Offerors interested in responding to this Notice, regardless of prior communications with the Department, must submit a Response to this posting in the form of a letter signed by an individual with authority to sign a contract for the Interested Vendor or Offeror that contains evidence of their qualification and interest. This letter must demonstrate that (1) the

Interested Vendor or Offeror is a Resettlement Agency, as that term is defined in federal regulation cited above, or is otherwise authorized by ORR to administer the RCA/RCM program; (2) the

Interested Vendor or Offeror is interested in and capable of providing the services described above;

and (3) the Interested Vendor or Offeror has read and agreed to the documents identified in the table below. All required information must be submitted via COMMBUYS by 4:00 p.m.

(prevailing Eastern Time) on September 11, 2026.

If, after the posting deadline has passed, interest is generated by this Notice, the Department will review all Responses and will determine whether they will: (i) withdraw the notice and not accept the Offeror’s offer (and cancel the Notice of Intent) or (ii) accept the offer from the Offeror or (iii) accept the offer from the Offeror and from any other Vendors meeting the qualifications set forth above.

Additional Terms Required for Doing Business with the Commonwealth:

Names of Standard Forms Instructions

Prompt Payment Discount Form Complete electronically and submit as an attachment to the Response.

Instructions for Vendors Responding to Bids

Electronically

Read and agree prior to submitting a

Response.

RFR - Required Specifications Read and agree prior to submitting a

Response.

Commonwealth Terms & Conditions Read and agree prior to submitting a

Response.

Standard Contract Form Instructions and

Contractor Certifications and Contractor

Certifications

Read and agree prior to submitting a

Response.

Standard Contract Form

Read and agree prior to submitting a

Response. Sign and submit upon Award, if any.

Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification (W-9)

Read and agree prior to submitting a

Response. Sign and submit upon Award, if any.

Contractor Authorized Signatory Listing

Read and agree prior to submitting a

Response. Sign and submit upon Award, if any.

Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)

Authorization Agreement Sign and submit upon Award, if any.

Quote Submission Method

Online Quote Submission via COMMBUYS is required. All Interested Vendors and Offerors must submit the Response containing the information required above (referred to on COMMBUYS as a “Quote”) online using tools available only to Vendors registered in COMMBUYS.

COMMBUYS provides vendor registration functionality at no charge. To register, go to www.COMMBUYS.com and click on the “Supplier Registration” link on the front page. All

Interested Vendors and Offerors who are awarded a contract resulting from this Notice, if any, will be required to maintain an active account during the duration of the Contract, by reviewing their registration information regularly and maintaining its accuracy.

https://www.macomptroller.org/wp-content/uploads/form_prompt-pay-discount.pdf http://www.mass.gov/anf/docs/osd/forms/instructions-for-vendors-responding-to-bids.docx http://www.mass.gov/anf/docs/osd/forms/instructions-for-vendors-responding-to-bids.docx https://www.mass.gov/lists/osd-forms https://www.macomptroller.org/wp-content/uploads/form_commonwealth-terms-and-conditions.pdf https://www.macomptroller.org/wp-content/uploads/instructions_standard-contract-form.pdf https://www.macomptroller.org/wp-content/uploads/instructions_standard-contract-form.pdf https://www.mass.gov/lists/osd-forms http://www.mass.gov/osc/docs/forms/vendorcustomer/newmass-w9.doc http://www.mass.gov/osc/docs/forms/vendorcustomer/newmass-w9.doc https://www.macomptroller.org/announcement/new-contractor-authorized-signatory-listing-casl-forms/ http://www.commbuys.com/

COMMBUYS Quote Submission Training and Instructions

The following resources are provided to assist Interested Vendors and Offerors in submitting

Quotes:

• An online job aid on How to Create a Quote in COMMBUYS;

• Webcast video on How to Locate and Respond to Bid Solicitations;

• Instructor-led trainings (ILT) and live webinar sessions on “How to Locate and

Respond to Bid Solicitations” may also be available. Check the Vendor Training

Courses schedule for available locations, dates and times. Note that space is limited and pre-registration for trainings is required to attend. Follow instructions on the course schedule to register.

COMMBUYS Support

Technical assistance is available during the procurement process. Every effort is made to respond to inquiries within one business day.

• Job Aids for Vendors: Go to https://www.mass.gov/lists/job-aids-for-vendors-using-commbuys

• Learn about COMMBUYS Resources: Go to www.mass.gov/osd/commbuys

• Email: Send inquiries to the OSD Helpdesk at OSDHelpDesk@mass.gov

• Telephone: Call the OSD Help Desk at 1-888-MA-STATE (1-888-627-8283). The

Help Desk is staffed from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday Eastern

Standard or Daylight time, as applicable, except on federal and state holidays.

Interested Vendors and Offerors are advised that COMMBUYS will be unavailable during regularly scheduled maintenance hours of which all users will be notified.

https://www.mass.gov/doc/how-to-create-a-quote-in-commbuys/download https://www.screencast.com/t/GMJLKkilF12 https://www.mass.gov/service-details/vendor-training-courses https://www.mass.gov/service-details/vendor-training-courses https://www.mass.gov/lists/job-aids-for-vendors-using-commbuys https://www.mass.gov/lists/job-aids-for-vendors-using-commbuys http://www.mass.gov/osd/commbuys mailto:OSDHelpDesk@mass.gov