Governor's Fellowship Program Fall 2025

The State of Connecticut, through the Department of Administrative Services, is conducting a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to recruit qualified individual contractors to serve as fellows in the Governor's Fellowship Program Fall 2025. The primary agency procuring this service is the Governor's Office, with at least one confirmed placement available at the Department of Social Services (DSS), though fellows may be assigned to support various Connecticut executive branch agencies on high-priority strategic initiatives. The fellow assigned to DSS will be responsible for implementing responsive solutions to federal policy changes, specifically monitoring, analyzing, and executing time-sensitive policy and process updates for Medicaid and SNAP programs while partnering with agency leadership and communications teams to inform stakeholders of federal policy shifts. Additional fellow responsibilities include providing strategic advice to agency leadership, crafting and improving policies, coordinating across agencies, supporting grant program implementation planning, conducting data collection and analysis, and developing partnerships with agencies, municipalities, nonprofits, and other organizations. Candidates must possess a bachelor's degree as a minimum requirement, with preference for advanced degrees (MBA, JD, MPP, MPA, MPH, MEd, or MSW), and must demonstrate three to eight years of relevant work experience with proven ability to work independently, manage projects, and deliver results in fast-paced environments. Required qualifications include quantitative and qualitative analysis skills, commitment to program accessibility for diverse stakeholders, relevant subject matter expertise, strong written and verbal communication abilities, and demonstrated passion for public service. The RFQ was released on October 20, 2025, with an initial deadline of November 2, 2025, which was extended to November 9, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST. Applicants will be evaluated on a 1-3 scale across seven core categories including professional experience, analytical skills, commitment to accessibility, subject matter expertise, passion for public service, and communication abilities.

This procurement has no stated set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond, and all vendors are eligible to apply. The solicitation documents do not identify any incumbent vendors or current contractors, nor do they reference existing infrastructure or technology requiring integration. Contracted fellows will not be considered state employees and are therefore ineligible for employee benefits. The contracts will be structured as personal service agreements for a twelve-month term with a maximum value of $110,000 per fellow, with an anticipated start date in late November to early December 2025, though the timeline is not guaranteed. A sample contract is available in Appendix A of the RFQ for prospective applicants' review. For inquiries regarding this opportunity, interested parties should contact Melissa Conway at the DAS Commissioner's Office at 860-713-5095 or melissa.conway@ct.gov.