Early Childcare Provider

The Commonwealth of Kentucky, Personnel Cabinet, is soliciting Request for Proposal (RFP) 790 2500000344 for an Early Childcare Provider to operate the Team Kentucky Childcare Center at the Rosenwald School Building on the Kentucky State University campus in Frankfort. The solicitation seeks a qualified provider to operate a 12-month, year-round childcare facility serving children ages 1-5 years old, with an optional expansion to include infants, Monday through Friday for 52 weeks annually (excluding Commonwealth Executive Branch full-day holidays, with exceptions for election days and Good Friday) from a minimum of 7:00 a.m. through 5:30 p.m. Key qualifications required include holding an active childcare license from the Division of Regulated Child Care with no Type A civil penalties in the past five years, accepting both Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and private pay families, and participating in the Kentucky All Stars program with a goal of reaching a three-star rating within two years. The deliverables include comprehensive childcare services across multiple age groups with submitted weekly tuition rates that will be annualized by multiplying by 52 weeks; providers must also submit minimum occupancy counts used for rate modeling to support proposed pricing structures. The Commonwealth will provide the leased facility space, major building maintenance, snow removal, landscape services, utilities, and specified kitchen equipment in "as is" condition, while the provider assumes responsibility for furniture, kitchen supplies, janitorial services, pest control, general maintenance, liability insurance, and all other operational expenses. Proposals will be evaluated on a maximum of 2,750 points, comprised of 1,500 points for technical proposal (qualifications and experience, high quality rating, description of services, staffing and recruitment plans, and timeline), 500 points for cost proposal, and up to 750 points for oral demonstrations or presentations if required. Critical deadlines include a facility walk-through scheduled for July 14, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. EST (highly encouraged but not mandatory), written questions due by July 18, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. EST, and proposals due by August 8, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. EST, with an anticipated contract term beginning September 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, and potential renewal for up to three additional two-year periods subject to approval by the Secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet and the Legislative Research Commission Government Contract Review Committee.

The RFP does not specify designated set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises or restrictions limiting the types of organizations that may respond; however, all interested parties must meet the active childcare licensing requirement from Kentucky's Division of Regulated Child Care. No incumbent vendor or current contractor information is provided in the solicitation documents. The floorplan attachment, which delineates the spatial layout and dimensions of the Rosenwald School Building facility with annotated square footage measurements for each room or area, provides critical facility specifications enabling accurate cost estimation and resource allocation. The Commonwealth has indicated an intent to negotiate fair and reasonable compensation based on submitted pricing and to achieve childcare program rates lower than the average cost of childcare in Franklin County, Kentucky; however, specific award values or budget ranges are not disclosed in the available solicitation materials. Providers may include value-added services subject to prior approval by the Personnel Cabinet, with formal contract modifications required before any additional services commence, and may list supplementary fees and discounts for informational purposes only, though these non-evaluated line items will not factor into the procurement decision. The Commonwealth reserves the right to negotiate rates based on the provider's pricing submission, reject any or all proposals, and requires that providers obtain licensure within 30 days or forfeit the award.