RFP 006. 27. B8 for Staffing Agencies to Provide Non-Medical Personal-Care Support Staff to HCPSS Students

The Howard County Board of Education is soliciting proposals for staffing agencies to provide non-medical personal-care temporary support staff to assist Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) students with moderate to severe cognitive, medical, physical, and behavioral disabilities under RFP 006.27.B8, with proposals due September 30, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. EDT and questions due August 26, 2026. HCPSS intends to award to multiple vendors—no more than five contractors—at fixed-hourly billing rates.

The scope covers temporary staffing providing non-medical personal-care support to students aged 3–21 across 42 elementary schools, 20 middle schools, and 13 high schools. Estimated staffing need is 40–50 temporary personnel (approximately 30–35 supporting elementary students, 10 supporting middle school students, and 5 or fewer supporting high school students), typically 24 hours per week, Monday through Friday, during the HCPSS school year. Services are performed entirely within Howard County, Maryland. Contractors must comply with Maryland Education Article 6-113.2 screening requirements, including employment history review, Maryland State Department of Education certification verification, and written consent forms from applicants for child sexual abuse or misconduct records. All contractor employees working on HCPSS property must undergo fingerprint-based background checks at contractor expense. Contractors are responsible for payroll, workers' compensation, and professional liability insurance; general liability of $500,000 (with HCPSS as additional insured) and commercial general liability of $1,000,000 are mandatory.

The contract term is one year initial with six potential one-year renewal options contingent on performance and funding availability. Invoices, supported by timesheets subject to HCPSS approval, are due by the 15th of each month. Proposals are evaluated on 100 points: Personnel & Organizational Experience (35 points), Technical Capability & Approach (35 points), and Proposed Cost (30 points). Only proposals achieving a minimum 70 percent technical score proceed to price evaluation. No pre-proposal meeting will be held.