Autism Housing Support Pilot

Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services is soliciting responses to RFR AHS-27 for housing navigation, stabilization, and tenancy preservation services for adults with autism, with a provider conference on November 5, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. EST via Zoom, questions due November 6, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. EST, and electronic submissions due through COMMBUYS on December 2, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. EST. Every bidder must partner with at least one SDP-certified or recognized diverse business enterprise or non-profit organization, with a minimum goal of 1% of Commonwealth contract revenue directed to SDP partners. The SDP component carries 25% of total evaluation points.

The Department will establish five programs: two in DDS Central West and one each in DDS Northeast, Southeast, and Metro. Providers may select one or more regions. Services serve adults with autism without co-occurring intellectual disability diagnoses and include housing navigation, housing skill development, tenancy preservation, and potential remote supports and monitoring. Each program maintains an active caseload of approximately 30 adults, with approximately 10 individuals per site receiving financial assistance for housing costs. Staff must clear CORI checks, national criminal background checks, and CPPD Registry searches, and providers must comply with HIPAA requirements. Successful bidders must enroll in Electronic Funds Transfer and file Uniform Financial Statements and Independent Auditor's Reports for the most recently completed fiscal year before contract execution.

The estimated total value of the procurement, including renewal options, is $4.0 million. The initial term is two years and six months, with two options to renew for one year each, for a total of up to four years and six months and a final end date of June 30, 2031. Pricing uses a monthly accommodation rate set at the Executive Office of Health and Human Services rate-setting level, calculated on one Housing Case Manager per program, with rates adjusted if additional case managers are authorized. That rate is payment in full for staffing, supervision, travel, training, and administration. All services are subject to appropriation.

The Project Management Team will apply consensus scoring to each question on a four-point scale, considering understanding of service scope, operational strength, feasibility, innovation, and the provider's history serving similar individuals and past performance with the Department. The SDP component includes a Supplier Diversity Program Plan Form for POS, scored up to 6 points by committed spending level, and a one-page equity narrative scored up to 4 points. OSD specifications allow up to an additional 10% of points for equity and inclusion criteria addressing racial disparities and health equity. The response document contains five substantive questions with page limits of one to three pages each.

Bidders must register and maintain active accounts in COMMBUYS. Accommodation requests go to DDSPOSProcurement@mass.gov. The conference prohibits recording by any means, including artificial intelligence applications, without prior written permission.