Immigration Legal Services: Legal HelpDesk

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants is soliciting proposals for one or more contractors to provide limited immigration legal services and a virtual legal Help Desk for income-qualified immigrants in Massachusetts, with responses due September 9, 2026 and a virtual bidders' conference on August 10, 2026.

Bidders must be legally incorporated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with experience providing immigration legal services. A minimum 1% Supplier Diversity Program (SDP) commitment is mandatory, with evaluation allocating at least 25% of available points to SDP plans; Small Business Purchasing Program (SBPP) participants meeting best value criteria receive award preference. All proposed SDP partners must be certified through the Supplier Diversity Office Directory of Certified Businesses or SBA Veteran Small Business Certification directory in eligible categories including MBE, WBE, SDVOBE, VBE, DOBE, or LGBTBE.

The scope requires a licensed immigration attorney dedicated at least 1.0 FTE or 0.75 FTE minimum to staff the Help Desk at least one day per week, providing legal advice and limited assistance through phone or online appointments, with remaining time dedicated to follow-up services including work authorization applications and asylum filings. An optional component allows full representation services for former Temporary Protected Status holders pursuing alternative work authorization pathways. All legal services must be provided at no charge to clients. Contractors must carry malpractice insurance for all attorneys, comply with Massachusetts legal ethics and confidentiality rules, and provide language translation and accessibility services.

The estimated per-provider cost is $135,000 for Help Desk services only or $205,000 with optional full representation services for the initial one-year term through June 30, 2027. The contract commences October 1, 2026, with potential extensions through June 30, 2031 in one-year increments at ORI's sole discretion. ORI anticipates awarding four to eight contracts, subject to available funding. Compensation is paid on a cost-reimbursement basis through Electronic Funds Transfer monthly. Performance below 75% of stated performance measure goals triggers potential payment reduction and corrective action plans. Questions are due August 21, 2026 at 5:00 PM.