City of lawrence youth AI workforce training services

The MassHire Merrimack Valley Workforce Board (MMVWB), procuring on behalf of the City of Lawrence, is requesting proposals for comprehensive artificial intelligence workforce development and training services targeting eligible residents ages 18–25, with proposals due October 1, 2026 by 11:00 AM EST and a bidder's conference scheduled for September 8, 2026 at 1:00 PM EST via Zoom.

The scope encompasses recruitment and outreach, participant assessment and enrollment, intensive case management, industry-relevant AI training (fundamentals, prompt engineering, generative AI, machine learning, data analytics, cybersecurity), career readiness, work-based learning across five tiers from career exposure through employment and apprenticeship, industry credential attainment, job placement assistance, and twelve-month follow-up with employer engagement. Selected providers must deliver incentive payments to youth up to $350 per participant (enrollment $75, training milestone $75, credential milestone $75, work-based learning milestone $75, employment/career-readiness milestone $50) and hourly stipends at $15.00 per hour for in-person classroom participation, with stipends paid by MMVWB but included in the provider's budget.

MMVWB anticipates awarding one or more contracts totaling up to $100,000, subject to fund availability, with authority to make multiple awards, negotiate scope and budget, or fund partial proposals. Funding derives exclusively from City of Lawrence appropriation, not from WIOA or other federal workforce development sources. Evaluation uses a 100-point scale: organizational capacity and experience (15 points), program design and service delivery (30 points), AI training model (15 points), employer engagement and partnerships (15 points), performance management and outcomes (5 points), and budget and budget narrative (20 points). Scores of 85–100 are "Highly Advantageous," 70–84 "Advantageous," 50–69 "Not Advantageous," and below 50 "Unacceptable." Written questions are due September 22, 2026 by 11:00 AM EST. Award notification is anticipated October 28, 2026, with contract operations estimated to begin November 30, 2026. Proposals download from https://www.masshiremvwb.org.