Professional Development Network Service Delivery

The State of Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child and Family Services is requesting proposals for professional development network service delivery under RFP 202605092, with proposals due July 23, 2026 and written questions due July 1, 2026. The Department will award one contract with an initial two-year performance period (January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2028) and two optional renewal periods extending through December 31, 2031.

The scope covers delivery of approximately 30 facilitated training courses offered through an average of 100 virtual and in-person sessions annually, plus approximately 15 on-demand trainings aligned with core knowledge areas including healthy and safe environments, observation and assessment, child development, developmentally appropriate practice, family relationships, and business/professional development. The awardee must manage Department-approved credentials, support Maine's Early Care and Education Registry and Quality Rating and Improvement System (Rising Stars for ME), collaborate with the University of Southern Maine, and maintain and update the Consumer Education website (Maine Child Care Choices). The contract requires employment of no more than 10 staff and establishment of an advisory structure with external partners convening at least three times annually.

Mandatory performance measures include providing 100 percent access to required core knowledge trainings for Child Care Affordability Program providers within 90 days, achieving 90 percent participant knowledge increase through pre- and post-training surveys, and processing 100 percent of submitted provider information into registry systems within five business days. The awardee must submit quarterly provider packets and data reports and an annual program evaluation and needs assessment report.

Proposals will be scored on a 100-point scale: Organization Qualifications and Experience (25 points), Proposed Services (40 points), and Cost Proposal (35 points). Cost scoring awards full points to the lowest proposal with others scored proportionally. Pricing must be submitted as a fixed amount for the initial period. Primary funding is the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF). No best and final offer process will be conducted. Responses are submitted through the Vendor Self Service (VSS) system. The RFP coordinator is Casandra Manson, Procurement Administrator.