M-09-26 Child Care Services

Bristol Community College, an agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts located in Bristol County, has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to procure year-round child care services for its Fall River campus. The procurement seeks a qualified community-based child care provider to operate a dedicated facility serving children ages 2 years 9 months through 6 years with a capacity of up to 20 full-time equivalent children. The provider will occupy approximately 1,266 square feet of space in Building C (the Siegel Health Technologies Building), plus restrooms, kitchen facilities, and an adjacent fenced playground, with the College providing rent-free premises and covering heat, lighting, electricity, trash collection, water, telephone service, and Wi-Fi. The selected provider must be responsible for all supplies, equipment, staffing, operational costs, and must maintain full compliance with Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care licensing requirements and City of Fall River standards. Evaluation criteria emphasize the provider's experience operating child care services in Massachusetts, demonstrated commitment to quality and diversity in hiring, financial viability, best practices in child care delivery, capability in technology integration, and preference for providers offering subsidized or contracted slots and referral services. The provider must submit comprehensive proposals including detailed pricing structures differentiated for Bristol students, faculty and staff, and community members, along with four professional references and evidence of compliance with background checks, CORI screening, and federal requirements including the Clery Act and Title IX. Key deadlines include a pre-bid conference and facility tour on March 12, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.; a question submission deadline of March 19, 2026, with responses provided by March 26, 2026; and a proposal due date of April 2, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, with public opening immediately thereafter in Room F103 of the Physical Plant Building.

The RFP does not specify any set-aside designations or restrictions limiting participation to particular categories of organizations, suggesting the procurement is open to all qualified providers. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available documentation. The selected provider must maintain comprehensive insurance coverage of at least $1,000,000 in general liability, worker's compensation insurance, and an umbrella policy of $5,000,000. Bristol students receive priority enrollment preference, followed by faculty and staff, then community members on a space-available basis. The initial contract term runs three years from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029, with an option to renew for an additional three-year term from July 1, 2029, through June 30, 2032, contingent upon fiscal funding, provider performance, and College interest, with an estimated contract award date of April 30, 2026. While the RFP does not explicitly state a budget or award value range, the College's provision of rent-free space and utilities indicates the financial burden for all operational costs falls entirely on the selected provider.