25MACISPM2 | Intro to Programming for Educators Master Agreement

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is conducting a procurement opportunity (Solicitation 25MACISPM2) to establish a Master Agreement for an Introductory Programming Course for Educators, targeting teachers of grades 5-12 who need to prepare for the Digital Literacy and Computer Science (DLCS) Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL). The procurement seeks vendors capable of delivering a comprehensive computer programming course that builds educators' computer science content knowledge, with a focus on pseudo-code design and text-based, object-oriented programming. Bidders must demonstrate experience in computer science education, particularly with underrepresented groups, and provide a detailed curriculum aligned with specific MTEL computational thinking and programming standards. Evaluation will be based on a 100-point scorecard assessing organizational service descriptions, support for underrepresented groups, anti-racist practices, course materials, financial support options, course eligibility, and documented student impact. Responses must be uploaded to the COMMBUYS website by December 31, 2026, at 12:00 PM Eastern Time, with the contract period running from the approval date to June 30, 2027.

The procurement provides preference to Small Business Purchasing Program (SBPP) participants, specifically Massachusetts-based businesses with fewer than 50 full-time equivalent employees and gross revenues under $15 million. Vendors must also demonstrate a commitment to supplier diversity, with at least 1% of contract sales allocated to diverse business enterprises or certified non-profit organizations. The master agreement has a total contract amount of $750,000 in voucher purchases, with an annual not-to-exceed amount of $250,000, though course costs will be directly paid by attendees. Bidders must comply with comprehensive state requirements, including Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) checks for personnel potentially working with children and adherence to Enterprise Information Security Policies established by the Executive Office of Technology Services & Security (EOTSS). Intellectual property developed under the contract will become DESE property, and vendors must be prepared to undergo background screenings and provide access to books and records. The procurement aims to create a pool of qualified vendors to support computer science education professional development, with potential direct contract awards between successful bidders and school districts.