27TALLB2 |Mentor Training for Registered Teacher Apprentices | RFR

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is requesting responses for mentor training services for the Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program (RTAP) under RFR 27TALLB2, with proposals due October 20, 2026 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time through COMMBUYS. This procurement gives preference to Small Business Purchasing Program (SBPP) registered bidders; non-SBPP bidders will be evaluated only if SBPP bidders cannot meet all procurement needs.

The scope requires the vendor to train approximately 60 mentors across two cohorts in culturally responsive, equity-driven coaching and feedback practices. Key deliverables include reviewing and refining 19 asynchronous Articulate Rise 360 mentor learning modules, delivering eight monthly 90-minute virtual coaching sessions for new journeyworkers (Cohort 1) from September through April, facilitating three quarterly collaboration sessions for returning journeyworkers, conducting two in-person convenings (Fall 2026 and Spring 2027) with 45–50 participants each, performing four site visits to Cohort 1 districts, providing technical assistance for Cohort 2 planning-year districts, and developing assessment tools for mentor-apprentice relationships and coaching practices. Services support approximately 41 apprentices with corresponding journeyworkers across seven Cohort 1 districts and 10 Cohort 2 planning-year districts.

The maximum budget for FY2027 is $150,000, covering all deliverables including module refinement, professional learning, convenings, site visits, technical assistance, assessment activities, materials, travel, and indirect costs. The contract runs through June 30, 2027, with an option to renew through June 30, 2028, pending available funding, satisfactory performance, and continued program need.

Vendors must demonstrate expertise in providing professional learning to K-12 districts or state education agencies, possess specialized knowledge of culturally responsive and linguistically sustaining mentorship practices, and have experience designing professional learning through asynchronous, virtual, hybrid, and in-person formats. Preferred qualifications include familiarity with Massachusetts Standards for Effective Practice and the Candidate Assessment of Performance tool. Responses must include a narrative (up to 10 pages), staff resumes or CVs, a detailed FY2027 timeline, and an all-inclusive FY2027 budget not exceeding $150,000, plus a proposed FY2028 renewal budget. Questions were due October 13, 2026 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time. Performance measures include 90% participant knowledge and confidence gains, 85% demonstration of high-quality mentoring practices, and 95% on-time service delivery.

All vendor staff and subcontractors with direct student contact or work at DESE offices are subject to Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) background checks. All digital deliverables must comply with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 levels A and AA.