SOI 1276 Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in New York City
Closed State & local contract opportunity Posted
- Solicitation number
- 2138350
- State
- New York
- Responses due
Opportunity facts
- Jurisdictions
- Point of contact
-
- Director of Contracts funding@ocfs.ny.gov (518) 486-7224
Updated .
About this opportunity
The New York State Office of Children & Family Services (OCFS) is soliciting applications for participation in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (DPIL) across New York City's five boroughs, with applications due September 28, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. OCFS has approximately $395,000 available to fund multiple qualified organizations as new Local Program Partners or to expand existing partners' enrollment and service areas.
Eligible applicants are New York State 501(c)(3) libraries, public library systems, not-for-profit organizations, and NYC school districts located within the five boroughs. All applicants must be authorized to do business in New York; not-for-profit organizations must be prequalified in the New York State Finance System at time of application. Applicants must obtain or agree to obtain a Memorandum of Agreement with the Dollywood Foundation within 60 days of selection.
The scope is funding community-based book distribution: each Local Program Partner receives grant funding to mail one high-quality, age-appropriate book per month to registered children from birth through age five at no cost to families. The state's grant covers up to 50 percent of a partner's monthly costs; the partner must match dollar for dollar. Total monthly cost is approximately $2.60 per child per month for wholesale books and mailing; the state funds up to $1.30 per child per month.
Individual grants are capped at a minimum of $2,000 and a maximum of $50,000. Applications will be evaluated based on the highest percentage of below-poverty-level populations proposed to be served, then by order of receipt. The contract term is anticipated to begin no earlier than November 1, 2026 and no later than February 28, 2027 for up to one year.
Written questions are due September 4, 2026; responses will be posted by September 14, 2026. Application submission opens September 14, 2026. Applicants must submit the completed Application Form (Attachment 1), NYS Grants for DPIL Participation Certification (Attachment 2), and a signed MOA to funding@ocfs.ny.gov.
Opportunity text
The New York State Office of Children & Family Services (OCFS) announces a Solicitation of Interest (SOI) for qualified entities to participate in the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (DPIL) (https://imaginationlibrary.com/). The Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is a community-based program mailing free, high-quality, age-appropriate books to registered children from birth until their 5th birthday. Please refer to the SOI document's Eligibility Criteria section for additional information. This advertisement is public notice that OCFS is seeking to contract with organizations to provide financial assistance to allow additional organizations to participate in the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library as new Local Program Partners and for established Program Partners to be able to increase their enrolled members in existing coverage areas and/or expand into new areas to provide one (1) high-quality, age-appropriate book per month to children from birth until their 5th birthday, free of charge. The purpose of this solicitation is to invite any eligible and interested entities that believe they can satisfy this program's needs to inform OCFS by submitting an application. To be considered responsive, your organization's Attachment 1 - Application Form should be received no later than the deadline specified on the first page of this announcement. OCFS intends to fund multiple qualified organizations based on the criteria outlined in this announcement. Please see the How to Respond section of the solicitation for additional information and submission requirements. Scope of Work To encourage participation in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program, the New York Office of Children and Family services has approximately $395,000 to be awarded through the release of this grant opportunity. Individual grants will be limited to a maximum of $50,000 to pay up to 50% of a Local Program Partner's cost from the Imagination Library. Local Program Partners will enroll children within their selected coverage area and pay, on average, $2.60 per child/per month towards wholesale book and mailing costs, the grant can be used to fund up to 50% of these monthly costs that the Local Program Partners incur. Additional program details that must be followed can be found on the DPIL website and in your Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with DPIL. Please refer to the SOI document's Scope of Work section for additional information and submission requirements. Eligability Criteria Interested parties who meet the following criteria are eligible to respond: Are authorized to do business in the State of New York Have a MOA with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (DPIL) to serve NYS youth for participation as a Local Program Partner in the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library at the time of application, or agree to obtain one within 60 days, if selected for award. Are either a New York State 501(c)(3) library, public library system, or not-for-profit organization located within the five boroughs (Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island) of NYC OR a NYC school district* If the entity is a non-profit organization, they must be prequalified in the New York State Finance System (SFS), if not exempt, at the time of application. For additional information regarding the prequalification process, please refer to the Prequalification Process section of the SOI document. *For entities serving areas located outside the five boroughs of New York City, see SOI 1266 Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (Round 1.2) in the NYS Contract Reporter or on the OCFS Website. Please see the SOI document located on the "Documents" tab for additional information and submission requirements. Business enterprises awarded an identical or substantially similar procurement contract within the past five years: As of 8/20/2026, the awards are still being determined for the original Dolly Parton Imagination Library Solicitation of Interest (SOI 1234), when the awards are finalized and released, they will be posted at http://ocfs.ny.gov/main/contracts/awards Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOB) SDVOB Goal: 0.00% Minority / Women Business Enterprise contracting goals (MWBE) MBE Goal: 0.00% WBE Goal: 0.00% Disadvantaged Business Enterprise contracting goals (DBE) DBE Goal: 0.00%
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