DCF Parenting Capacity Evaluation

The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) is seeking proposals from qualified bidders to conduct culturally and linguistically competent and impartial parenting capacity evaluations. Approved bidders will form a pool of provider resources across the Commonwealth available to conduct these evaluations in response to referrals submitted by DCF's 29 Area Offices. The contract requires bidders to demonstrate professional competence, impartiality, and cultural and linguistic competence in performing the evaluations. Bidders must indicate which regions they can serve, and DCF may negotiate defined service areas. The initial contract term is up to 6 years, with one 3-year renewal option. DCF will pay hourly rates ranging from $125-$138 per hour for services and $31.25-$34.50 per hour for travel, depending on the fiscal year. Bidders must make a meaningful financial commitment to partner with one or more certified diverse businesses or non-profit organizations, with a minimum commitment of 1% of contract sales. DCF anticipates total expenditures of approximately $9.2 million over the potential 12-year contract duration.

The procurement requires bidders to submit an SDP (Supplier Diversity Program) plan detailing their commitment and supplier diversity efforts, which will account for 25% of the total evaluation score. After contract award, the selected contractor must meet its SDP commitment annually and report quarterly on SDP spending. The RFR does not specify any incumbent vendors or current contractors, and no existing infrastructure or technology requiring integration is mentioned. The contract is open to all qualified bidders, and DCF does not impose any set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond.