DOC Hair Salon Management and Barbering Education

The Rhode Island Department of Corrections is seeking proposals from vendors to provide comprehensive hair salon and barbershop management services for incarcerated individuals. This Request for Proposals (RFP) specifically targets vendors capable of delivering hair salon management and implementing barbering education and apprenticeship programs within correctional facilities. The solicitation opened on January 13, 2026, and will close on February 11, 2026, with vendor questions accepted through January 26, 2026, at 2:00 PM EST. Proposals must be submitted electronically through Ocean State Procures, with strict prohibitions on mail, email, fax, or hand-delivered submissions. The initial contract period is expected to commence in Spring 2026 and will run for three years, with potential renewal options for up to two additional 12-month periods contingent upon vendor performance and fund availability. Evaluation criteria will include pricing submitted as a separate cost proposal, with assessments made on a lowest-cost basis, and vendors must provide detailed hourly rates or alternative fee structures to complete all project requirements.

The procurement includes specific small business enterprise (ISBE) participation requirements, mandating vendors to comply with and submit proposed utilization rates for minority-owned businesses (MBEs), women-owned businesses (WBEs), and disability business enterprises (DisBEs). Vendors must possess all required state licenses and permits and complete registration in Ocean State Procures prior to proposal submission. Insurance requirements are comprehensive, including $1,000,000 general liability per occurrence, $100,000 workers' compensation per accident, and $1,000,000 automobile liability per occurrence. The state will withhold a 0.33% contract administrative fee from all invoices effective January 1, 2026. While the exact total contract value is not specified in the documentation, the solicitation represents a significant opportunity for vendors specializing in correctional facility hair salon management and vocational education programming. No specific incumbent vendors or existing infrastructure details are provided in the available documentation, leaving the field open for potential new service providers.