FIRST 5 Santa Clara County (FIRST 5) is seeking proposals from qualified agencies to provide project and program management services for implementation of the Quality Matters Stipend Program (QMSP), an effort within the Santa Clara County Quality Matters…a Strong Start for Kids (Quality Matters) initiative, co-led with the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE).
CONTENT:
- Request for Proposal Document
- Attachment A: Cover Page, Narrative and Budget
- Attachment B: Approved Training
SUBMISSION:
Questions and Answers Questions are accepted via email at [email protected] Deadline: March 22, 2023 RFP Questions and Answers Document: view link
The purpose of the Quality Matters Stipend Program is to promote continuous quality improvement in the field of early learning and care (ELC), by providing accessible career pathways and professional growth opportunities to those who work with young children, birth to five years old. This includes those who work in Center-based preschools, Family Child Care Homes, and license-exempt and informal care settings. The stipend program serves to incentivize, recruit, and retain professionals in the field of early learning and care and assist them in pursuing their career goals, including expanding their knowledge base, and/or attainment of a Child Development permit, degree, or credential.
FIRST 5 Santa Clara County intends to award one contract to provide the services described in this RFP.
PROPOSAL DUE: April 19, 2023 at 4:00 p.m., Pacific Standard Time (PST)
ESTIMATED TIME PERIOD FOR CONTRACT: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024
PROPOSER ELIGIBILITY: This procurement is open to Proposers that satisfy the minimum qualifications stated herein and are available for work in the state of California.
Funding Availability
Funding is available through this RFP in the amount ranging between $400,000 – $700,000 annually for one year with an option to renew for 3 additional years based on program performance, continued availability of funding, and demonstrated community need. The amount set aside for this RFP described above does not include the individual stipends that will go out to participants.
Consistent with the intent of the California Children and Families Act of 1998, no monies from this program may be used to supplant state, county or local monies available to the agency for any purpose. Funds are not allocated for capital improvements.
| EVENTS | DESCRIPTION | DATE |
|---|---|---|
| Request for Proposals Released | FIRST 5 issues RFP Packet and is available online at www.first5kids.org. | March 13, 2023 |
| RFP Questions Deadline | Questions regarding the RFP may be addressed via email to [email protected]. | March 22, 2023 |
| Mandatory Proposer Conference | Mandatory Proposer Conference will be held virtually on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88131390131?pwd=ZDVuMHB4TmNndDVRVFpVZ0NYYk5Gdz09 Meeting ID: 881 3139 0131 Passcode: 320722 | March 23, 2023 |
| Written Response | A written response to RFP questions is issued on FIRST 5’s website. | March 31, 2023 |
| Letter of Intent | A letter of intent is mandatory and required of all Proposers intending to apply for the RFP. | April 7, 2023 |
| Proposal Submission Deadline | The completed proposal packet must be submitted through this link. | April 19, 2023 at 4:00 pm Proposals received after the deadline will not be reviewed or considered. |
| Interviews | Interviews for highest ranked Proposers may be conducted. | May 1 – 12, 2023 |
| Notification of Recommendation of Funding | The selected proposal will receive an initial award recommendation by email. Those Proposers who are not selected to move forward in the process will also receive notice via email. | May 17, 2023 |
| Appeal Process | Proposers who are not recommended for funding but who wish to appeal the decision have three working days from receipt of the email notifying Proposers of the initial award recommendation to file an appeal in writing. The written appeal needs to document the reason for the appeal and must be sent via email to: [email protected] and addressed to Melissa Hong, Program Director. Grounds for appeal are limited to a violation of a FIRST 5 Santa Clara County procedure, law, rule, or regulation regarding this RFP process. Appeals will not be accepted on any other grounds. Decision on appeal is final. | May 22, 2023 |
| Commission Approval | FIRST 5 Santa Clara County Commission Approves Awards of Funding | June 22, 2023 |
| Contract Development & Negotiations Period | Contract Development & Negotiations Period | June 2023 |
| Contract Start | Contract Term begins on July 1, 2023 | July 1, 2023 |