Senior Grants Consultant for ECMC and Lumina Foundation Grants for MDHEWD

The Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development is requesting bids for a Senior Grants Consultant to manage ECMC College Reconnect and Lumina Building Brands grants, with bids due July 21, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Central Time. Bonus-point preferences are available for Organizations for the Blind and Sheltered Workshops (5–15 points) and Missouri Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (3 points).

The consultant will provide grants management, stakeholder coordination, tracking, and reporting for the Office of Postsecondary Policy. The ECMC College Reconnect grant covers four metro regions (St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia, and Springfield) and focuses on reenrolling adult learners; it concludes December 2026 with a final report due January 29, 2027. The Lumina Building Brands grant continues through September 2027 and involves coordination with seven Missouri institutions on branding and digital infrastructure projects. The consultant must work 20 hours per week at the state office (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday) and is encouraged to travel for grant-related events, with travel expenses reimbursed at CONUS per diem rates or the contractor's internal policy rate, whichever is lower.

Minimum qualifications include two years in grants management and implementation services; highly desirable experience includes state-level adult learner initiatives and Missouri higher education institutions. The contract period runs from award through June 30, 2027, with one optional three-month renewal period.

Pricing is evaluated as a guaranteed-not-to-exceed total on a 40-point scale out of 200 total points. Technical evaluation spans 160 points: organization experience (50 points), past performance case studies (30 points), personnel qualifications (30 points), and methodology/approach/work plan (50 points). The contractor must comply with Missouri tax compliance, Secretary of State registration, E-Verify work authorization, and business licensing requirements. Invoicing is bi-monthly with payment due within 30 calendar days. The contractor bears the cost of background checks equal to state employee standards. Melissa Sackett (MELISSA.SACKETT@DHEWD.MO.GOV or 573-751-9294) is the procurement officer. An amendment was issued July 9, 2026 at 10:08 a.m.