RFP2026-003 Child Care Services Management and Operations

Workforce Solutions North Texas (WSNT) Board, a local 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, issued Request for Proposal #2026-003 on May 1, 2026, seeking a single qualified subrecipient to manage and operate comprehensive Child Care Services across the North Texas Workforce Development Area. The procurement encompasses full management and staffing of the Child Care Services office, including client eligibility determination, child care placement services, provider recruitment and support, financial management, data integrity, quality assurance, monitoring functions, and coordination with external agencies such as the Department of Family and Protective Services, Texas Workforce Commission, and Health and Human Services. Key performance targets include achieving a Child Care Initial Job Search Success Rate of 62.2% and serving an average of 1,268 children per day through 62 contracted child care providers. The selected contractor must assume complete responsibility for operations beginning October 1, 2026, with a transition period from September 1-30, 2026. Proposals will be evaluated on five criteria totaling 300 points: 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). A Letter of Intent to Bid is due May 14, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. CST, with written questions also due by 12:00 p.m. CST on May 14, 2026; a Q&A document will be released by May 19, 2026. Complete proposals must be submitted by June 15, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. CST as original PDFs not exceeding 100 pages, with the Board anticipating Board action and contract negotiations in July 2026.

Eligible proposers include private and public entities operating as for-profit organizations, non-profits, and community-based organizations, as well as partnerships, consortiums, joint ventures, and Managing Director/PEO models; however, individuals and entities that are debarred, suspended, or have outstanding financial obligations to the State of Texas are ineligible. The RFP does not specify set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. The contract operates as a cost-reimbursement model, though alternative contract types may be considered if more cost effective, with for-profit entities permitted to propose competitive profit that may be reinvested or subject to negotiation, and non-profit organizations allowed to propose performance bonuses under similar constraints. The subrecipient must conduct independent analysis of staffing needs and maintain current salary ranges for positions including Client Services Manager ($45,000-$70,000), Project Director ($65,000-$105,000), Provider Services Manager ($60,000-$90,000), and TRS Mentor ($60,000-$90,000), while providing benefits comparable to current Workforce Center staff such as medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; retirement plans with up to 5% employer match; and 14 annual holidays with accrued vacation and sick leave. The approximate contract total for year one is $10,500,000, contingent upon receipt of sufficient program funds from the Texas Workforce Commission, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, with administrative and indirect costs not to exceed 10 percent of the total budget. The initial contract term runs from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, with potential annual renewals for a maximum of four years subject to satisfactory performance and fund availability, and WSNT will conduct a six-month probationary period following contract award to review staffing assignments and ensure program alignment.