Independent Living Supports 2027

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS) is issuing a Request for Response (RFR) to establish a Master List of qualified providers for Independent Living Supports (ILS) services, also known as In Home Supports. ILS comprises one-to-one support services delivered less than 24 hours per day that enable individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, traumatic brain injuries, blindness, deafness, or multiple disabilities to live independently in community settings. The services will be available for use by DDS, MassAbility (MBY), and the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB). Key qualifications for providers include DDS Licensing & Certification approval, active MMARS registration with a Vendor Customer Code, annual submission of Uniform Financial Statements and Independent Auditor Reports, and compliance with all EOHHS standards and 115 CMR 8.00 requirements. Staff must meet minimum age requirements, pass CORI checks and national criminal fingerprint-based background checks, and complete mandatory trainings in first aid, incident reporting, PBS universal supports, human rights, DPPC/mandated reporter training, safety planning, and fire safety. Services are reimbursed on a unit rate basis at rates established by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services per 101 CMR 423.00, with payments made on a 15-minute incremental basis for direct in-person service time. The priority response deadline is February 27, 2026 by 5:00 PM EST, with a mandatory provider conference scheduled for February 25, 2026 at 2:00 PM EST via Zoom and a question submission deadline of February 27, 2026 by 5:00 PM EST. After the priority deadline, providers may submit proposals quarterly through the contract period. The contract will commence July 1, 2026, and continue through June 30, 2036, representing a ten-year service delivery period.

All responding providers must submit a Supplier Diversity Plan (SDP) committing to spending at least 1% of Commonwealth contract revenue with Supplier Diversity Office (SDO)-certified diverse business partners, though no specific set-asides or restrictions limiting organizational type are identified in the procurement documents. Current contracts awarded under the predecessor IHS-16 program will terminate on June 30, 2026, and existing providers must qualify under ILS-27 to continue service delivery. Multiple contractors will be awarded to the Master List of qualified providers; however, awards do not guarantee specific funding levels or volume commitments. Invoicing is conducted through the Enterprise Invoice Management (EIM) system, with Service Delivery Reports submitted monthly by the 21st of the following month, and Electronic Funds Transfer is required for all payments. The estimated total procurement value is $950 million over ten years, subject to annual appropriation and available funding. All submission documents, including required forms contained in the ILS-27 RFR Forms package, must be submitted electronically through COMMBUYS, the Commonwealth's online procurement platform.