FY27 STEM Regional Network RFP~2.pdf

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MAURA T. HEALEY

GOVERNOR

KIMBERLEY L. DRISCOLL

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

STEPHEN K. ZRIKE JR., Ed.D

SECRETARY

THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

EXEC U T I VE OFFI C E O F EDUCA T I O N

ONE ASHBURTON PLACE ROOM 1403

BOSTON, MA 02108

TEL: (617) 979-8340

FAX: (617) 727-0049

www.mass.gov/education

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF EDUCATION

Regional STEM Networks FY27

FY27 FC 10RN STEM Regional Network - COMP NEW

BID: BD-27-1036-EDU02-EDU02-130928

Amendment: Extended Due date: Monday, August 3rd by 5:00 PM EST

Program Overview

Purpose:

The Executive Office of Education (EOE), in collaboration with the Department of Higher

Education (DHE) and the Massachusetts STEM Advisory Council, seeks proposals to lead and coordinate Regional STEM Networks across the Commonwealth. These networks serve as regional conveners and connectors, working to align efforts, share best practices, and expand access to high-quality STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) learning and workforce opportunities.

Since their creation resulting from planning grants in 2004 through the Massachusetts STEM

Pipeline Fund, Regional STEM Networks have served as a collaborative infrastructure that connects early education and care providers, schools, higher education institutions, afterschool programs, employers, nonprofit organizations, workforce boards, and community partners to strengthen the Commonwealth’s STEM education and workforce pipeline. The Regional STEM Networks are charged with unifying local and regional systems, communicating and scaling up best practice experiences, and sustaining collaboration performance improvement.

The purpose of this grant is to support regional leadership that advances statewide STEM priorities by:

Coordinating partnerships across education, industry, and community organizations Expanding STEM learning opportunities for students across early education, elementary and secondary education, higher education, and adult education Supporting career awareness and workforce pathways in STEM fields Connecting and lifting up STEM educators Organizing regional activities during Massachusetts STEM Week and contributing to the statewide STEM Summit

Through this funding, EOE seeks organizations capable of convening regional stakeholders, promoting collaboration, and advancing the Commonwealth’s STEM education and workforce goals.

Eligible Applicants:

Where applicable, applicants must be in compliance with the Massachusetts General Laws, including G.L. c. 40A, § 3A, the MBTA Communities Act in order to be considered for funding.

Compliance with the MBTA Communities Act is determined by the Executive Office of

Housing and Livable Communities

Community Based Organizations, Institutions of Higher Education, as well as other nonprofits or workforce boards may apply.

Eligible applicants must represent a collaboration of public and private partners including:

Early Education and Care programs/providers PK–12 schools and districts Public or private higher education institutions STEM Focused Workforce Training Programs Business and industry partners Nonprofit organizations and community-based organizations

Applicants must also:

Demonstrate the capacity to serve as a regional convener and coordinate stakeholders across education and workforce sectors.

Provide a lead/host institution capable of supporting the Network with infrastructure such as staffing, fiscal management, meeting space, data, and communications.

Demonstrate experience managing partnerships or networks that advance STEM education and workforce development goals and have a strong lead partner with a history of commitment to regional collaboration and STEM education.

Massachusetts Small Business Purchasing Program (SBPP) –

EOE encourages all non-profit grant applicants to become certified in the Massachusetts

Small Business Purchasing Program (SBPP).

Schools do not qualify for the SBPP program and may disregard this section.

Applying for certification is easy; it only takes a few simple steps, and approval is received within 48 hours.

While all non-profit applicants, regardless of size or principal place of business, may submit grant applications, the issuing department may give a scoring preference to non-profit applicants that have received SBPP certification.

To apply, go to this site: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/supplier-diversity-office-sdo. Further details are below. Once certified, please upload a copy of your certification letter or COMMBUYS Profile to your Grant Application.

SBPP Compliance Requirements. The applicants are responsible for ensuring that their SBPP status is current at the time of grant application and throughout the life of any resulting grant. To learn more about SBPP, including how to apply, visit the SBPP Webpage.

Program Resources and Assistance. Applicants and grantees seeking assistance regarding S BPP may visit the SBPP webpage, http://www.mass.gov/sbpp, or contact the SBPP Help Desk at sbpp@mass.gov.

Goals of Funding:

Funded Regional STEM Networks will support statewide priorities including:

1. Strengthening foundational STEM skills

Ensuring that students develop strong STEM competencies starting throughout their early education, K–12, higher education, and adult education experience(s) through hands-on and applied learning.

2. Expanding STEM career awareness

Increasing awareness of STEM careers and pathways among students and families, including connections to postsecondary education and technical careers.

3. Strengthening workforce pathways

Deepening partnerships among employers, vocational schools, community colleges, universities, and adult education providers to support STEM career pathways.

4. Supporting statewide STEM initiatives; coordinating regional participation in:

Massachusetts STEM Week

The Massachusetts STEM Summit

Other statewide STEM initiatives led by the Executive Office of Education.

These goals align with the priorities of the Massachusetts STEM Advisory Council.

Grant Targeted Population:

Regional STEM Networks serve a broad population including:

Early Education and Care Programs

PK–12 students across Massachusetts

Educators and school districts

Postsecondary institutions

STEM Focused Workforce Training Programs

Employers and workforce partners

Adult learners and incumbent workers

Community organizations supporting STEM learning

Regional Coverage:

The Commonwealth intends to ensure that all nine designated STEM Network regions are supported through this funding opportunity.

Applicants may apply to serve as the lead organization for a specific region. Proposals will be evaluated with the goal of achieving full geographic coverage across all regions.

In the event that a region does not receive a qualified application, the Executive Office of

Education reserves the right to:

Award additional funding to an adjacent or nearby Regional STEM Network with demonstrated capacity to expand its geographic scope; or

Reassign regional coverage to ensure continuity of STEM Network activities statewide.

Priority should be given to expanding STEM opportunities for students and communities historically underrepresented in STEM fields.

Funding and Deadlines

Funding: Approximately $350,000 is available. Individual base awards are expected to range from $30,000 to $35,000 per Regional STEM Network awardee, depending on the size and scope of the proposed regional activities. On top of the base award, network applicants may request up to $5,000 in additional funds specifically for student internships that the network manages, which should be outlined and justified in their proposal with measurable estimated impact.

Funding is contingent upon availability. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change. If more funding becomes available, it will be distributed under the same guidelines that appear in this RFP document.

Funding Type: 7066-0109 STEM Pipeline

Fund Use: Allowable expenditures may include:

Network staffing and administration

Convening and coordination activities

Regional STEM programming and outreach

Communications and engagement activities

STEM Week and STEM Summit coordination

Travel for regional coordination activities (including student travel)

Supplies and materials related to STEM programming

Data collection and analysis on STEM programming

Unallowable expenditures include:

Gifts, gift cards or cash incentives

Expenses unrelated to STEM Network activities

Costs not aligned with grant goals

Gifts and gift cards are not allowed to be purchased with grant funds, as they do not provide the required audit trail. The reason for this is to maintain transparency and accountability in public spending and ensure that funds are utilized for their intended, appropriate purposes.

Project Duration: Year 1: Upon Approval – June 30, 2027

Pending appropriation, available funding, and satisfactory performance, awarded grantees may be eligible for continuation funding in subsequent fiscal years.

Year 2: July 1, 2027 – June 30, 2028*

Year 3: July 1, 2028 – June 30, 2029*

Year 4: July 1, 2029 – June 30, 2030*

*Continuation funding for Years 2–4 is contingent upon legislative appropriation, the availability of funds, and the grantee's successful completion of all grant requirements, including closeout reports.

Date Due:

Timeline:

Monday, August 3rd by 5:00 PM EST*

Proposals must be received by 5:00 PM EST.

All responses must be received by the due date listed above. Failure to do so will result in disqualification. Responses not received on time will not be reviewed. Applications must be submitted as directed in the

Submissions Instructions below. Failure to do so may result in disqualification. If you need assistance with submitting your application, please reach out to the contact person listed on this funding opportunity.

EOE Grant application system setup will disallow submission after the due date and time. A competitive grant is considered submitted once the Grantee Superintendent / Chief Executive Approved step is completed.

Timeline:

For any assistance in navigating the EOE Grants site, please view the webinar.

Friday, July 17, 2026, by 12:00 PM EST*: Programmatic questions may be submitted to eoegrants@mass.gov, and responses will be posted at the beginning of the following week

Monday, August 3, 2026, by 5:00 PM EST*: Final proposal is due *A competitive grant is considered submitted once the Grantee Superintendent / Chief Executive Approved step is completed.

EOE Grants Submission Instructions:

Webinar:

The FY27 FC10RN STEM Regional Network will be submitted in the EOE Grants Management system. EOE Grants is a cloud-based fiscal and program management grant system.

EOE Grants Management System

Competitive grant applications are considered submitted when the

Superintendent / Chief Executive approves the application in EOE

Grants. In order to be considered for competitive funding, applicants must submit a grant application by the due date listed in the RFP.

The Superintendent/Chief Executive Approved Step allows the organizational lead to review and approve the grant application. Any grant budget changes requiring a signature will re-execute this step upon amendment, signifying that the organization lead is approving these changes.

Please Note: Grant Submission requires applicants to have their organization established in EOE Grants. Entities that do not have an organization must email: eoegrants@mass.gov at a minimum of five business days prior to the grant due date for temporary organization access.

Failure to provide EOE with User Access Administrator Set Up Form at least 5 business days prior to the due date may result in not meeting the submission due date listed above. EOE cannot accept or review applications after the due date.

For any assistance in navigating the EOE Grants site, please join the webinar on July 7, 2026 at 1:30 PM EST.

Additional Information:

Questions and Answers – Applicants can find all the questions asked regarding this funding opportunity and EOE’s response under the EOE

Resources page.

Programmatic questions may be submitted to eoegrants@mass.gov on a rolling basis through July 17, 2026, by 12:00 PM EST*. Please be advised that after this deadline, responses to programmatic questions are not guaranteed. Questions and responses will be posted regularly in EOE

Grants.

As a reminder, failure to provide EOE with the User Access

Administrator Set Up Form at least 5 business days prior to the due date may result in not meeting the submission due date listed above. Please refer to the guidance under EOE Resources for instructions on setting up the user access administrator account for your organization.

Review of Applications

Step 1: Threshold Criteria Screening Submissions will be screened for completeness, conformity to the program requirements, and timeliness of response. Reviewers will determine the eligibility of each applicant, evaluate applications and confirm the alignment to posted RFP. Submissions that are incomplete, non-conforming, or late may not be considered.

Step 2: Compliance Screening

Ensure applicants are in good standing with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.

Commonwealth Corporation will conduct this screening by uploading the Certificate of Good Standing (C.O.G.S.) submitted in the Qualifications Submission Package. Please note that community colleges, public vocational technical high schools, and public state universities serving as the lead applicant do not need to submit a Certificate of Good Standing.

Please follow this guidance when requesting and submitting a Certificate of Good Standing from the Department of Revenue:

o The Certificate of Good Standing from the Department of Revenue is NOT the same and should not be confused with a Certificate of Incorporation from the Secretary of State o C.O.G.S. must be less than six months old o Please visit the Department of Revenue’s website:

(http://www.mass.gov/dor/businesses/programs-and-services/certificate-of-good-standing.html) for more information about the C.O.G.S. and to complete an online application to obtain a Certificate o Applications for a C.O.G.S. can take 4-6 weeks to be processed

Step 3: Review Committee A review committee will review and score all eligible submissions, and recommendations will be presented for final approval. The Executive Office of Education reserves the right to request additional information from any applicant to ensure that the review committee has a complete understanding of the program concept. The review committee may be comprised of designees from the Executive Office of Education and its partner agencies.

Step 4: Notification of Grant Award Status All applicants will be notified of their award status through their EOE Grants accounts. Applicants who are identified for an award may be required to submit a copy of the organization’s most recent audited financial statement prior to the grant announcement. In addition, prior to the grant award, Executive Office of Education staff may review an organization’s fiscal systems and internal controls to verify that the organization has the capacity to manage public grant funds and administer the program.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be reviewed and scored based on the following selection criteria, with a possible total of 100 points (105 with a bonus question).

Section Max Points

I. Programmatic Focus 20

II. Governance & Communications Structure 20

III. Regional Partnerships & Coverage 15

IV. STEM Week & Program Implementation 15

V. Sustainability & Growth 20

VI. Budget & Resource Alignment 10

Optional STEM Internship Proposal (Up to 5) 5

Max Total Score 105

Additional Evaluation Notes: In addition to the scoring system outlined above, the Executive Office of Education reserves the right to consider only submissions that, in our sole judgment, are complete and responsive to the solicitation’s requirements and include all required application components.

STEM Regional Network Grant Questions – must be submitted through EOE Grants. Any other form will not be accepted.

Application Requirements:

Applicants must submit the following materials. Narrative responses should clearly address each section below.

Project Overview

Network name

Network Director contact information - 500 characters max

Brief description of key partners - 1500 max

Summary of the Network’s vision and goals - 1000 max

I. Programmatic Focus

Describe the Network’s vision, strategic priorities, and programmatic approach for advancing

STEM education, workforce development, and career pathways within the region.

Applicants should address:

Vision and goals for the Regional STEM Network - 1,750 characters max

Alignment with statewide STEM priorities and workforce needs - 1,750 characters max

Regional challenges, opportunities, and needs informing the proposed work - 1,750 characters max

Existing data, stakeholder input, or needs assessment activities used to inform priorities -

1,750 characters max

Planned initiatives, programs, and activities that will advance STEM engagement and outcomes - 1,750 characters max

Measurable objectives and anticipated impact during the grant period - 1,750 characters max

Proposed approach to evaluation, continuous improvement, and reporting - 1,750 characters max

II. Governance & Communications Structure

Describe the organizational structure that will support implementation of the Regional STEM

Network.

Lead Institution Capacity

Description of the lead/host institution and its role as the Network’s home base - 1,750 characters max

Evidence of leadership support and institutional commitment- 1,750 characters max

Faculty, staff, and departmental engagement in Network activities- 1,750 characters max

In-kind contributions and resources supporting Network operations- 1,750 characters max

Network Management

Qualifications and experience of the proposed Network Manager and key staff - 750 characters max

Capacity to manage communications, membership engagement, reporting, evaluation, and fiscal oversight - 750 characters max

Resumes of key personnel (Upload)

Governance Structure

Description of the Advisory Council or partnership body and how decisions are made -

1,750 characters max

Membership composition and representation across stakeholder sectors - 2,500 characters max

Processes for strategic guidance, accountability, and decision-making - 750 characters max

Communications Infrastructure

Website and digital communications capacity - 750 characters max

Plans for newsletters, stakeholder engagement, and information sharing - 1,750 characters max

Methods for communicating opportunities, resources, grants, events, and statewide

STEM initiatives - 1,750 characters max

Approach to maintaining consistent communication among Network members and partners - 750 characters max

III. Regional Partnerships & Coverage

Describe the Network’s regional reach and partnership strategy.

Applicants should address:

Geographic coverage and communities served - 1,750 characters max

Strategies for recruiting, engaging, and retaining members - 1,750 characters max

Representation across key sectors, including: 1,750 characters max o Higher Education o K–12 Education o Early Education and Care o Business and Industry o Workforce Development o Nonprofit and Informal STEM Learning Organizations

Description of key regional partnerships and their roles - 1,750 characters max

Plans for expanding participation and strengthening employer engagement - 1,750 characters max

Partner list identifying participating organizations and sectors represented (Upload)

IV. STEM Week & Program Implementation

Describe how the Network will implement activities and programming within the region.

Applicants should address:

Regional Network Activities - 1,750 characters max

Approach to convening regular Network meetings - 1,750 characters max

Plans for sharing best practices, identifying regional needs, and advancing statewide

STEM priorities - 1,750 characters max

Membership engagement and outreach activities - 1,750 characters max

Coordination with statewide STEM Network initiatives and reporting requirements -

1,750 characters max

Regular services and programming of the Network - 1,750 characters max

STEM Week Planning and Coordination

Strategy for building awareness and participation across the region - 1,000 characters max

Capacity to organize and confirm at least eight STEM Week activities that meet Executive

Office of Education requirements - 1,500 characters max

Plans to ensure at least one school-based activity occurs each day of STEM Week - 1,750 characters max

Approach to developing high-rigor, high-engagement events suitable for media coverage and participation by Administration officials and STEM Council members - 1,500 characters max

Timeline for STEM Week planning and activity submissions - 1,500 characters max

Participation in statewide planning meetings and coordination activities - 1,500 characters max

STEM Week Communications and Media Outreach

Plans to promote STEM Week activities through regional communications channels -

1,500 characters max

Coordination with the Executive Office of Education and local media partners - 1,500 characters max

Reporting and Documentation

Approach to documenting participation, outcomes, lessons learned, and best practices -

1,750 characters max

Capacity to meet all required reporting deadlines and deliverables - 1,750 characters max

V. Sustainability & Growth

Describe the long-term strategy for sustaining and expanding the Network beyond the grant period.

Applicants should address:

Long-term vision and goals for the Regional STEM Network - 1,750 characters max

Strategies for maintaining and growing partnerships - 1,750 characters max

Plans for increasing membership and regional engagement - 1,750 characters max

Institutional and partner commitments supporting sustainability - 1,750 characters max

Opportunities for leveraging additional funding and resources - 1,750 characters max

Estimated growth projections and anticipated future impact - 3,500 characters max

VI. Budget & Resource Alignment

Submit a proposed budget and budget narrative demonstrating how requested funds will support the Network’s goals and required activities.

Applicants should include:

Detailed budget by category/object code

Narrative justification for all proposed expenditures

Alignment of expenditures with proposed activities and outcomes

Description of leveraged resources, matching support, and in-kind contributions

Explanation of how funds will support Network management, communications, partnership development, STEM Week implementation, evaluation, and sustainability efforts

Optional: STEM Internship Program Expansion Funding - 3,500 character max

Applicants may request up to $5,000 in additional funding to create, expand, or scale STEM internship opportunities managed through the Regional STEM Network.

Applicants seeking these funds should provide:

Description of the proposed internship initiative

Number and type of students anticipated to be served

Employer and partner involvement

Expected outcomes and impact

Budget and justification for requested funds

Requests must support new or expanded internship opportunities and may not be used solely to maintain existing programs at current levels.

Application Forms and Guidance

A complete proposal will be submitted online through the EOE Grants Management system. Unless otherwise indicated, all sections must be completed. Complete instructions on how to use the online application system are found here: Webinar for Applicant Guidance and Training for EOE

Grants. https://masseoe.egrantsmanagement.com/DocumentLibrary

STEM Education History The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has long been a national leader in STEM education. This work began in 2004, when the state issued a planning grant to establish a system of PreK–16 Regional

STEM Networks—a collaborative, statewide infrastructure designed to connect education, workforce, and industry partners around shared STEM priorities.

For more than a decade, Regional STEM Networks have advanced the Commonwealth’s STEM education and workforce agenda. Schools, higher education institutions, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and policymakers rely on the Networks to align regional efforts, expand access to high-quality STEM experiences, and scale effective practices across communities.

In May 2018, the Commonwealth launched the first Massachusetts STEM Week, held October 22–

26, 2018. Regional STEM Networks played a central role in coordinating this effort, supporting more than 500 events statewide. Engagement grew significantly in 2019, with over 1,000 events held during the second annual STEM Week—demonstrating the Networks’ capacity to mobilize partners and expand statewide impact.

Applicants responding to this RFP should align proposed activities with the current priorities of the

STEM Advisory Council and the Commonwealth’s education agencies, as outlined in subsequent sections.

Regional STEM Networks

The Regional STEM Network model was first established in 2004 through the Department of Higher

Education’s STEM Pipeline Fund, which supported planning grants to create a statewide system of regional partnerships. This approach was designed to advance three core goals: increasing student interest in STEM majors and careers, strengthening the STEM educator workforce, and improving the quality of STEM education.

In January 2007, the Department of Higher Education formalized seven Regional STEM Networks through three-year grants totaling $1.9 million. Two additional Networks—Boston and Metro

North—were later established, completing statewide coverage.

Following the initial grant period, funding continued annually at reduced levels, reflecting a strategic shift in the role of the Networks. Rather than directly managing programs, Networks increasingly focused on convening partners, coordinating regional efforts, and supporting collaboration across education, workforce, and industry sectors. This transition reinforced the Networks’ role as regional backbone organizations advancing the Commonwealth’s STEM and workforce priorities.

Over time, the Regional STEM Networks have proven effective in aligning diverse stakeholders around a shared goal: strengthening Massachusetts’ pipeline of STEM-skilled workers. Evaluations, including reports from the UMass Donahue Institute, have identified several key conditions for success:

A well-resourced and committed host institution

Strong, effective leadership to drive alignment, accountability, and innovation

An engaged and active regional membership

These findings continue to inform the Commonwealth’s approach to supporting and strengthening Regional STEM Networks.