Child Care Workforce Survey

The South Dakota Department of Social Services (DSS) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a comprehensive Child Care Workforce Survey, targeting firms capable of conducting an in-depth study of the state's child care workforce challenges and opportunities. The primary objectives include collecting and analyzing workforce demographics, assessing current workforce capacity versus forecasted demand, examining barriers to workforce entry and retention, conducting a pay equity analysis, and exploring the economic impacts of childcare workforce shortages. Key deliverables will include a detailed study examining the current state of child care employees in South Dakota, with a focus on strategies for supporting, recruiting, and retaining workers. The RFP requires a representative sample of the state's child care employee population, with data collection methods to include surveys and potentially case studies. Proposal submissions are due by June 8, 2023, at 5:00 PM CST, with a contract period spanning from August 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024. Potential offerors were required to submit any clarification questions by May 9, 2023, with the state's responses posted on the DSS website by May 23, 2023.

The RFP does not specify any specific set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types, nor does it provide a defined budget range for the project. While the state can provide contact information for state-registered child care providers, it cannot provide information for non-registered providers, which may impact the scope of data collection. The document outlines several compliance requirements for the potential contractor, including restrictions on contracting with entities owned or controlled by certain foreign governments and prohibitions on boycotting Israel. No incumbent vendor is mentioned, and no existing infrastructure or technology integration requirements are specified. Contractors will be expected to negotiate final contract terms with the state, and the proposal will likely be evaluated based on the comprehensiveness of the proposed study methodology, the demonstrated expertise of the research team, and the potential for generating actionable insights into South Dakota's child care workforce challenges.