Qualifying list for dese/DDS program - 27

The Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) are establishing a Master List of qualified providers through a rolling enrollment Request for Response (RFR) to deliver comprehensive wrap-around support services for the DESE/DDS Program. This procurement seeks qualified providers to serve families of children ages 6-21 with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with the primary objective of enabling these children to remain in home and community settings rather than requiring more restrictive educational placements. Providers must deliver Family Navigation Services and coordinate an array of services including skills training, professional services and supports, respite care, community integration supports, and family training. Qualified applicants must maintain current registration in the COMMBUYS and MMARS systems, submit organizational charts and Supplier Diversity Plans, and comply with extensive background check requirements including CORI checks, DPPC registry searches, and national criminal background checks, as well as privacy and security regulations under HIPAA and Massachusetts law. The initial submission deadline for electronic responses via COMMBUYS is March 6, 2026, at 5:00 PM EST, with rolling enrollment accepted through June 30, 2035, evaluated quarterly. The contract will commence July 1, 2026, and extend up to ten years with a final end date of June 30, 2036. Providers currently qualified under the previous DESE-19 procurement must requalify under DESE-27 to continue service delivery, as existing contracts terminate on June 30, 2026.

All bidders must submit a Supplier Diversity Plan demonstrating commitment to partnering with certified diverse business enterprises or non-profit organizations, with a minimum target of 1% of Commonwealth contract revenue directed to such entities. Reimbursement will be structured as a combination of unit rate services for Family Navigation and cost reimbursement contracts for other services, with rates established by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) serving as maximum rates that families may negotiate downward while maintaining compliance with federal minimum wage requirements. Invoicing will occur through the Enterprise Invoice Management (EIM) system with payment via Electronic Funds Transfer. The estimated annual expenditure is approximately $10 million, subject to appropriation, representing the potential contract value over the ten-year period. No specific incumbent contractors are identified in the procurement documents, indicating this represents a new competitive solicitation process for the reorganized program structure. Providers should note that the rolling enrollment format allows for continuous submission of qualified applicants beyond the initial March 6, 2026 deadline through June 30, 2035, providing extended opportunity for market participation.