Imagination Library Program

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) in Washington State intends to award a sole source contract to United Ways of the Pacific Northwest (UWPNW) for managing the Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL) program. This contract covers multiple jurisdictions across Washington, including counties such as Franklin, Grant, Grays Harbor, Chelan, and Yakima, among numerous others. The primary objective is to provide free, age-appropriate books to children ages zero to five, with books mailed monthly to registered children at no cost to families. UWPNW will be responsible for statewide program expansion, administering funds, covering book costs, and developing statewide engagement. The contract period is from August 2025 to June 30, 2026, with a specific due date of July 21, 2025, for contract-related submissions. Key deliverables include monthly book distribution, outreach efforts, and a final comprehensive report documenting program implementation and impact.

The contract is a sole source procurement specifically targeting UWPNW, which has already expanded the program into every county in Washington. In 2023, the program delivered more than 780,000 books to nearly 115,000 of Washington's youngest learners, with over 360,000 books distributed in the 2024 Winter Quarter alone. The total contract value is $2,000,000, with funding split equally between state dollars and federal funds from the Grant to States - IDEA B (CFDA #84.027A/Award #H173A250074). The contract aims to sustain current programming levels and prevent any negative impact on support for the state's youngest learners. Payment will be structured across monthly book distribution reports, outreach efforts, and a final report. No specific set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations are mentioned in the available documentation, and the procurement appears focused on continuing the existing successful partnership with UWPNW.