Child Care Services Management and Operations

Workforce Solutions North Texas (WSNT) Board is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP #2026-003) to procure comprehensive management and operation of Child Care Services (CCS) for the North Texas Workforce Development Area. The procuring agency seeks a qualified subrecipient to manage child care placement, provider support and mentorship, Texas Rising Star quality improvement activities, and client services, including eligibility determination, provider recruitment and reimbursement, financial processing, and compliance monitoring across rural and urban areas. The selected contractor will assume responsibility for serving approximately 1,032 children daily through 62 contracted providers and must achieve performance targets including a 62.2 percent Child Care Initial Job Search Success Rate and an average of 1,268 children served per day. Key evaluation criteria include Organizational Capacity and Capability (60 points), Child Care Services (100 points), Demonstrated Experience and Effectiveness (55 points), Financial Management (35 points), and Cost Analysis/Cost Reasonableness (50 points), with additional bonus points available for VetHUB certification (10 points) and interviews (100 points); proposals must achieve a minimum score of 210 points (70 percent) to be considered. Critical deadlines include a Letter of Intent due May 14, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. CST, question submission deadline of May 14, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. CST, and proposal submission deadline of June 15, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. CST, with evaluation beginning June 16, 2026, potential interviews commencing June 26, 2026, and Board action anticipated in July 2026. The selected contractor will transition services beginning September 1, 2026, with a contract start date of October 1, 2026.

Eligible proposers include for-profit entities, nonprofits, community-based organizations, partnerships, consortiums, joint ventures, and Managing Director/Professional Employer Organization model proposals; however, individuals and debarred entities are ineligible. Proposers must demonstrate compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including requirements under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, nondiscrimination laws, and Texas Workforce Commission policies, and must disclose and resolve any outstanding monitoring, audit, or legal concerns prior to contract award. The contract is structured as a one-year annual award with potential renewals subject to satisfactory performance and fund availability, for a maximum term of four years, with an approximate first-year value of $10,500,000 funded through allocations from the U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and U.S. Department of Agriculture distributed via the Texas Workforce Commission. Proposed budgets must not exceed 10 percent for combined administrative and indirect expenses and should include personnel wages, benefits, and insurance, while excluding facility-related costs, technology infrastructure, equipment, and certain maintenance services covered by WSNT; for-profit entities may include profit in their budgets, with amounts to be negotiated based on performance benchmark attainment. The incumbent contractor currently manages child care services with approximately 81 positions across WSNT locations, with salary ranges provided for key roles such as Project Director ($65,000-$105,000), Provider Services Manager ($60,000-$90,000), and Client Services Manager ($45,000-$70,000). The successful proposer must provide benefits comparable to current WSNT offerings, including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; retirement plan matching up to 5%; and paid leave including 14 holidays annually with accrued vacation and sick leave.