1651-25-R-RFIN-00001

The Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) has issued a Request for Information (RFI #3150005998) for Matched Savings Services targeting low-income parents in Hinds County and across Mississippi. The RFI seeks to explore the establishment of a program that helps qualifying participants gain and maintain access to reliable transportation by establishing a savings mechanism where individuals can contribute funds to an account with matching contributions. The primary objective is to support employment by enabling vehicle purchases or repairs, with program administrators directly providing combined funds to approved vendors. Respondents are required to demonstrate capabilities in critical service areas including participant recruitment, eligibility verification, account management, vendor validation, and financial literacy training. The RFI response is due by February 6, 2025, at 2:00 PM CT, with MDHS explicitly stating this is an informational request and not a competitive procurement, meaning no direct contract will be awarded from this RFI. The agency notes that 62% of carless households in Mississippi currently have no workforce participation, underlining the strategic importance of this potential program. Evaluation will focus on organizations' comprehensive capabilities to effectively administer a matched savings initiative that supports low-income workforce development.

The RFI indicates a welcoming stance toward minority business participation, though no specific set-aside designations are currently detailed. MDHS is not seeking to operate under Section 404(h) of the Social Security Act, which traditionally limits qualified purposes to education, home purchase, and business capitalization. While no specific budget ranges are provided, the agency has clarified that any future procurement would require respondents to propose budgets that demonstrate operational feasibility, fiscal responsibility, and compliance with federal and state regulations. If MDHS proceeds with a formal procurement, they intend to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) before the end of 2025. Interested organizations are encouraged to sign up for notifications regarding future MDHS procurements. The current RFI serves as a market analysis tool to understand potential program implementation strategies, vendor capabilities, and programmatic approaches to addressing transportation barriers for low-income workforce participants. No incumbent vendors are mentioned, and no specific technology integration requirements are outlined in the current documentation.