SIPPRA Notice of Intent Posting (DRAFT)

Due Diligence Posting of Notice of Intent to Accept a Best Value Offer

The Executive Office of Economic Development announces its intent to Accept a Best Value Offer, pursuant to the Commonwealth’s Due Diligence Posting policy, to contract for the following with Opportunity Insights Capital, LLC (“Opportunity Capital” or the “Offeror”), a Delaware Limited Liability Company and based in Massachusetts, pending the results of this Notice of Intent (“Notice”). Opportunity Capital is affiliated with Opportunity Insights, a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization based at Harvard University with the stated mission of identifying barriers to economic opportunity and developing scalable solutions that will empower people throughout the United States to rise out of poverty and achieve better life outcomes.

More specifically, EOED is intending to partner with Opportunity Capital and Opportunity Insights on an application to the United States Department of Treasury requesting funding up to $11.8 million under the FY26 Social Impact Partnerships to Pay for Results Act Notice of Funding Opportunity published on March 10, 2026 (the “NOFO”). Said application for funding is referred to herein as the “Funding Application,”

Through this Notice, EOED seeks to determine whether any other interested and qualified entity can provide services and financial terms comparable to or better than the offer described below.

Description

A. Summary of the Federal Funding Opportunity

The NOFO invites eligible governmental entities to apply for awards under the Social Impact Partnerships to Pay for Results Act (“SIPPRA”). Under the SIPPRA model, private capital may be used to finance programs designed to achieve specified outcomes. Federal payment is contingent upon achievement of the applicable outcomes, as determined in accordance with the requirements of the NOFO and the SIPPRA statute.

EOED intends to submit a Funding Application on behalf of the Commonwealth for a project focused on expanding access to workforce training and improving employment and earnings outcomes for Massachusetts workers.

B. Services and Deliverables Included in the Proposed Offer

Under the proposed offer, the Offeror would serve as a partner to EOED in developing and, if the Funding Application is successful, implementing the proposed SIPPRA project.

The services included in the proposed offer are expected to include the following:

· Funding Application Development and Project Design. Work with EOED to develop the proposed SIPPRA project and prepare the programmatic, financial, implementation, and other materials required for submission of the Funding Application within Treasury’s required timeframes.

· Outcomes-Based Financing Structure. Develop and implement the financial model through which private investment will finance participating workforce training activities, with investor repayment or return dependent upon achievement of specified program outcomes.

· Private Capital. Secure and maintain commitments from private investors sufficient to finance the workforce training activities contemplated by the proposed project, subject to the final project structure and applicable federal requirements.

· Intermediary and Project Management Services. Coordinate the activities of EOED, private investors, participating workforce training programs, and other project participants necessary to develop and implement the proposed SIPPRA project.

· Evaluation Planning and Support. Through its collaboration with Opportunity Insights, provide access to and support for an evaluation methodology using a “digital twins” model to measure program impacts. The Offeror will work with EOED and the statutorily required independent evaluator to incorporate the methodology into the Funding Application and proposed evaluation framework and to support its use in a manner consistent with applicable SIPPRA and NOFO requirements. The independent evaluator will remain responsible for conducting the evaluation and making the determinations required under SIPPRA.

· Post-Award Implementation. If Treasury awards funding based on the Funding Application, Opportunity Capital will implement and manage the activities described in the Funding Application for the applicable project period, consistent with the final federal award and the resulting agreement with EOED.

C. Financial Terms of the Proposed Offer

Under the proposed project structure, private investors will provide the upfront financing needed for participating workforce-training programs; federal SIPPRA outcome payments, if earned, would be paid to EOED after independent verification of specified outcomes; EOED would then distribute the applicable proceeds pursuant to the project’s agreed payment arrangement, including repayment and any agreed return to private investors and compensation to the intermediary; investors bear the risk that outcome payments may be reduced or not earned.

EOED will not make any payment of Commonwealth Funds to Offeror.

D. Anticipated Benefits Accruing to the Commonwealth

The benefits to the Commonwealth of participating in the Funding Application accrue from the funding private investors will make available to selected workforce training programs, with the expectation of earning a return from Treasury based on program outcomes. EOED’s participation in the application will enable Massachusetts-based training providers to increase enrollment and train additional workers without any investment of state funds. Public benefits from EOED’s participation in the Funding Application include:

· Expanded access to evidence-based workforce programs that increase earnings for Massachusetts workers.

· Obtaining program evaluation data to inform future policy and investment decisions.

· Creating a foundation for future state and federal outcomes-based investment in effective workforce development programs.

Posting

EOED is posting this Notice rather than conducting a full procurement because EOED believes this opportunity represents best value to the Commonwealth and is utilizing this Due Diligence Posting to ensure that the process is open, fair and competitive.

Determination of Other Interested Parties

The intent of this posting is to determine if there are any other interested and qualified entities to prepare a Funding Application under the NOFO. Any such entities must submit documentation demonstrating that they can provide a comparable or a better offer, including details about respondent’s ability to structure and manage an outcomes-based financing model consistent with the requirements of SIPPRA and the NOFO and secure private capital for the proposed workforce training activities, including the amount of capital available or expected to be available, the status of investor commitments, and any material conditions associated with that financing, as well as complete all required Funding application work with Treasury’s applicable deadlines. Documentation must also outline respondent’s approach to designing, implementing, and managing the proposed workforce training model, and to satisfying the evaluation requirements applicable to the project, including its ability to coordinate with an independent evaluator. Complete financial terms for the respondent’s proposed services, including all fees or other compensation, the proposed source of payment, any Commonwealth funding required, and any material financial conditions or assumptions should also be provided.

EOED will consider the respondent’s ability to satisfy the applicable federal requirements, the completeness and feasibility of its proposed approach, the availability and certainty of private financing, its ability to perform within the required timeframe, the financial terms offered to the Commonwealth, and the overall value of the proposal.

Response Requirement and Deadline

All parties interested in responding to this Notice, regardless of prior communications with EOED, must submit a Response to this posting containing evidence of their qualifications and interest as detailed above. All required information must be submitted by 5:00 pm (prevailing Eastern Time) on [Friday, October 5, 2026.]

Following the response deadline, EOED will review any timely Responses received and determine whether to:

1. withdraw this Notice and conduct another procurement process;

2. proceed with the proposed offer from the Offeror;

3. accept an offer from another entity that provides comparable or better value; or

4. take another action permitted under applicable Commonwealth procurement requirements.

Additional Terms Required for Doing Business with the Commonwealth

Quote Submission Method

Online proposal submission via COMMBUYS is required. All interested parties must submit proposals 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 “Register” link on the front page. Any party that is 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.

COMMBUYS Quote Submission Training and Instructions

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

· An online job aid on How to Create a Quote;

· Webcast video on How to Find Bids (Solicitations) and Submit Quotes (Responses) through COMMBUYS;

· Instructor-led trainings (ILT) and live webinar sessions on “How to Locate and Respond to Bids” may also be available. Check the OSD Training Courses schedule for Sellers/Business Entities 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.

· Website: Go to www.mass.gov/osd/commbuys and select the COMMBUYS Resource Center link offered under Key Resources.

· Email: Send inquiries to the COMMBUYS Helpdesk at COMMBUYS@state.ma.us

· Telephone: Call the COMMBUYS 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 parties are advised that COMMBUYS will be unavailable during regularly scheduled maintenance hours of which all users will be notified.