27RFQTALAB1 | Newcomer and SLIFE Curriculum Support | RFQ | 25MASSSMS1

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is requesting quotes for Newcomer and SLIFE Curriculum Support services under RFQ 27RFQTALAB1, with responses due July 20, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time and questions due July 13, 2026. This RFQ is restricted to vendors previously awarded under the 25MASSSMS1 statewide contract framework, as listed in Attachment A — a hard eligibility gate. SBPP (Small Business Program Plan) registered bidders receive preference; non-SBPP bidders are evaluated only if no qualified SBPP bidder meets procurement needs.

Scope encompasses four service areas: implementation support for districts using DESE-developed newcomer and SLIFE ELA/ELD curriculum (up to fifteen office hours, site-based coaching for up to three districts, and individual coaching for up to two educators); development of two additional middle- and high-school mathematics units integrating Massachusetts Mathematics Curriculum Frameworks and WIDA English Language Development Standards; research and stakeholder engagement to inform future foundational literacy curriculum development; and project management and coordination. All deliverables become DESE property with full rights to reproduce, modify, and disseminate statewide.

The initial contract year (SY2026-2027 through June 30, 2027) is funded at $125,000, allocated as $35,000 implementation support, $60,000 SLIFE math unit development, $20,000 research and foundational literacy development, and $10,000 project management. Anticipated renewal budgets are $175,000 for FY2028 and $175,000 for FY2029, with total anticipated expenditures of $475,000 across the contract period. Two one-year renewal options are available through June 30, 2029, subject to funding and DESE approval.

Evaluation is weighted 100 points across expertise in multilingual and SLIFE instruction, curriculum development for multilingual and adolescent learners, WIDA standards familiarity, project management capacity, educational equity and cultural responsiveness, language-content integration, instructional coaching and professional learning, and Massachusetts Digital Accessibility Standards compliance. Submissions require a ten-page narrative, personnel resumes, work samples, detailed budget by service area and fiscal year, and a one-page equity commitment statement through COMMBUYS. The contract manager is Allison Balter at Allison.E.Balter@mass.gov or 781-338-3571. All inquiries and submissions must be conducted through COMMBUYS; email responses are not accepted.