Early Childcare Provider

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Personnel Cabinet is seeking an early childcare provider to operate a comprehensive childcare center located at the Rosenwald School Building on Kentucky State University's campus. The procurement is a Request for Proposal (RFP 790 2500000252) targeting a vendor to provide full-day childcare services for children ages 1-5, with potential future expansion to include infant care. The selected provider must operate Monday through Friday, 52 weeks per year, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. minimum, and must participate in the Kentucky All Stars program, achieving a three-star rating or higher within two years. Proposals will be evaluated on a 2,750-point scale, with 1,500 points for technical factors, 500 points for cost, and 750 points potentially reserved for oral presentations. Key submission deadlines include a mandatory facility walk-through on March 19, 2025, at 1:30 PM EST, and proposal submissions due by April 30, 2025, at 4:00 PM EST. The initial contract term is anticipated from September 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, with options for three additional two-year renewal periods.

The procurement appears open to qualified childcare providers who can accept both Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and private pay families, with an expectation that program rates will be lower than the average childcare cost in Franklin County, Kentucky. The Commonwealth will provide substantial infrastructure support, including leased space, major building maintenance, snow removal, landscaping, utilities, and kitchen equipment such as commercial-grade food warmers, coolers, ovens/ranges, and dishwashers. While no specific set-aside designations or disadvantaged enterprise requirements are explicitly mentioned, providers must demonstrate capability to manage a comprehensive early childcare program. The provider will be responsible for staffing, programming, and maintaining compliance with state childcare regulations. Though a specific budget range is not detailed, the cost proposal template suggests providers will submit weekly tuition rates for different age groups, with the expectation of creating an affordable, high-quality childcare option for the community.