Annual Analysis and Cost of Care Model Development for Vermont's Early Childhood Education Programs

The Vermont Department for Children and Families (DCF), through its Child Development Division (CDD), is committed to enhancing access to high-quality early childhood and afterschool programs to support children's development and family stability. A key initiative under this effort is the Child Care Financial Assistance Program (CCFAP), which helps families manage child care costs. Following the passage of Act 76 in July 2023, which aims to strengthen and expand Vermont’s early childhood education system through policy reforms and increased funding, CDD is responsible for annually evaluating and modeling the cost of care within the state. This process informs policy decisions and funding allocations, with findings reported to the Governor and Legislature. Additionally, CDD co-manages Vermont’s Universal Prekindergarten program in collaboration with the Agency of Education, further emphasizing the state's focus on early childhood education. The contract involves the development of a comprehensive framework for a cost of care model and conducting annual analyses of Vermont’s early childhood and afterschool programs. The selected contractor will research and build this model to accurately reflect the costs associated with providing quality care and education, supporting the state's efforts to optimize program funding and policy planning. The project is valued between $500,000 and $1,500,000, with a deadline for responses set for July 12, 2024. The primary point of contact for this solicitation is Katherine Wooten, and interested parties can find additional details through the Vermont Business Registry.