NOFA- Early Childhood and Out-of-School Time Services (ECOSTS) Program for Children Experiencing Homelessness and Children with Special Education and Physical Needs

The City of Dallas is seeking to procure early childhood and out-of-school time services through a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Fiscal Year 2025-2026. The contract opportunity targets nonprofit organizations capable of providing specialized childcare services for two specific populations: families experiencing homelessness and families with children who have special educational and physical needs. These needs include developmental disabilities, physical impairments, behavioral/emotional difficulties, sensory impairments, and chronic illnesses. Evaluation of proposals will be conducted using a scoring sheet (Attachment B), which will assess various aspects of the proposed service delivery. The procurement is specifically for Dallas County, with proposals due on September 19, 2025. Interested organizations must complete multiple required attachments, including the Application Form (Exhibit 1), Organization Information Form (Exhibit 3), and Budget Worksheet, to be considered responsive to the solicitation.

The procurement appears to be open to nonprofit organizations with demonstrated experience in providing specialized childcare services. While no specific set-aside designations are explicitly mentioned, the NOFA suggests a preference for organizations with expertise in serving vulnerable populations. The contract will be funded through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) resources, as evidenced by the attached CDBG-related documents. Respondents must meet specific insurance requirements outlined in Attachment C and provide detailed documentation of their organizational capacity, including board information and a statement of services. Though the exact award value is not specified, the comprehensive documentation requirements and focus on specialized services suggest a substantial and potentially multi-year funding opportunity. Interested organizations will need to demonstrate their ability to provide high-quality, targeted childcare services that support families facing significant socioeconomic and developmental challenges.