Consultant for School Consolidation and Closures Study for Elementary and Middle Schools and Countywide Elementary and Middle School Boundary Study

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) in Maryland is issuing a Request for Proposals to procure consulting services for a comprehensive two-phase school consolidation, closure, and boundary study at the elementary and middle school levels. The procurement seeks qualified independent consultants to conduct data-driven analysis and recommendations regarding potential school consolidations and closures in Phase 1, followed by a countywide elementary school boundary study inclusive of impacted middle schools in Phase 2. Key deliverables include portfolio reviews, interactive maps and dashboards in multiple languages, comprehensive community engagement following Board of Education Policy ABA, and coordination with multiple MCPS divisions. Required qualifications encompass expertise in data analysis using ESRI-compatible platforms, familiarity with MCPS planning zones, and demonstrated experience facilitating large-scale educational planning initiatives. The evaluation criteria allocate 30 percent to analytic approach and work plan, 25 percent to related past experience and firm qualifications, 25 percent to key personnel qualifications, and 20 percent to pricing. Questions must be submitted by May 13, 2026, at 4:00 PM EST, with a virtual pre-proposal conference scheduled for May 20, 2026, from 1:00–2:00 PM EST via Zoom. Proposals are due June 1, 2026, at 2:00 PM EST, with an anticipated award date in July 2026, subject to Board of Education approval. The contract term extends through the Board's final determination regarding boundary action, with implementation scheduled to commence in the 2029-2030 school year.

No set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types are identified in this solicitation, and no incumbent contractors or existing vendors are noted. Contractors must meet stringent cybersecurity and data privacy compliance requirements, including SOC 2 Type 2 certification, encryption of data in transit and at rest, annual penetration testing, and full compliance with FERPA, COPPA, PPRA, CIPA, and the Maryland Student Privacy Act. Contractors must maintain comprehensive general liability insurance ($1,000,000 per occurrence, $3,000,000 aggregate), professional liability insurance ($1,000,000), worker's compensation, business automobile liability ($1,000,000), and cyber/privacy liability and data breach insurance ($5,000,000 per occurrence with three-year extended reporting). Cost proposals must be submitted using the prescribed format with lump-sum amounts for six primary tasks and supporting hourly rate information by work classification, with all rates inclusive of overhead, profit, and administrative fees. The project is funded through MCPS operating budget with no federal funding source identified; specific contract value or budget range is not disclosed in the available documentation.