RFI Childcare AR Army Guard

The Arkansas Army National Guard is seeking childcare services for a Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program event scheduled for February 8, 2026, at Fort Chaffee in Fort Smith, Arkansas. This is a Request for Information (RFI) pre-solicitation notice posted on December 18, 2025, with a response deadline of December 30, 2025. The contractor must provide comprehensive childcare services for approximately 50 children ages 0-5 during an event running from 0730 to 1700 hours, with child sign-in beginning at 0800. Key requirements include maintaining Arkansas Department of Human Services child-to-provider ratios, ensuring all staff have current criminal background checks, providing age-appropriate activities and snacks, and maintaining current licensure to provide childcare in Arkansas with active SAM.gov registration. The contractor will be responsible for managing sign-in and sign-out rosters, maintaining children's safety throughout the event, and providing necessary equipment such as portable cribs and toys. While specific evaluation criteria have not been detailed in the pre-solicitation notice, compliance with state childcare regulations and licensing requirements will be fundamental to contractor selection.

This opportunity is designated as a Total Small Business set-aside, meaning only small businesses are eligible to bid. No incumbent contractor or award value has been specified in the pre-solicitation materials. The statement of work does not provide a specific budget range, though the scope is limited to a single-day event on February 8, 2026. The childcare location will be determined at the conference center, and the contractor must be prepared to manage administrative requirements including emergency contact documentation and compliance with background check procedures. This RFI represents an early-stage procurement process, and interested small businesses in the childcare services sector should review the attached Statement of Work carefully and prepare to submit a formal proposal once the actual solicitation is released.