Federal Worker Loan Program – IT and Customer Support Services

The Maryland Department of Labor is soliciting proposals for IT and customer support services to build and maintain an individual management software solution that provides financial assistance to eligible current and former federal employees under the Protect Our Federal Workers Act of 2025, with written questions due November 4, 2026 and proposals due November 17, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Local Time. The solicitation carries an MBE subcontracting goal of 17.4% and a VSBE goal of 10.6%, and it is not designated SBR-restricted. MBE and VSBE subcontractors must be registered with the Maryland Department of Transportation at proposal submission and cannot be in pending status.

The vendor must provide an existing, fully tested system that can be customized to state requirements, with implementation completed before April 1, 2027, allowing overlap with the current contract. Services span application software platform development, customer support, project management, automation and engineering, and repayment platform maintenance. Customer support runs year-round for emergency loans and repayment, with anticipated volume of 3,000 to 5,000 applications during shutdowns and state staff engagement of 20 to 30 individuals depending on volume. Bidders must identify two key personnel by exact job title. Vendors proposing interns or apprentices must document compliance with eligible internship or apprenticeship standards, including participant counts, work descriptions, work locations with zip codes, and durations. Interns must be paid W-2 wages at least the greater of the applicable minimum or living wage.

The contract runs five phases from April 1, 2027 through March 31, 2032, comprising a base year and four option years. Firm fixed prices apply to each phase, with an evaluated total not to exceed $2.9 million across all five phases. Prior-year funding for both programs combined was approximately $2.5 million. The contract is designated Tier 1 under Maryland's Living Wage requirements, meaning 50 percent or more of services are provided from Tier 1 jurisdictions (Montgomery, Prince George's, Howard, Anne Arundel, and Baltimore Counties, and Baltimore City). Covered employees must receive at least the higher of the living wage rate or the applicable minimum wage, and violations carry liquidated damages of $20 per day for each underpaid employee.

MBE participation may be met through MDOT-certified firms, and an MBE prime may count up to 50% of the MBE goal through its own workforce. A VSBE prime may satisfy up to 100% of the VSBE requirement. Bidders must either commit to the goals or request a waiver with documented good-faith efforts. Omitting or incompletely submitting Attachment D-1A may result in rejection of the entire bid, which cannot be cured. Recommended awardees must submit compliance documentation within ten business days of notification.

The Economic Benefit Factors narrative is scored, and proposals with contractually enforceable commitments receive more favorable ratings. Qualifying benefits include Maryland subcontract dollars, Maryland job creation with payroll commitments, and tax revenue forecasts, while generic performance statements do not qualify. Proposals must be submitted exclusively through eMMA, and late proposals are not accepted.