DCY-C-2627-0007 - Powering Optimal Wages and Encouraging Retention (POWER) Ohio

The Powering Optimal Wages and Encouraging Retention (POWER) Ohio program, established by a coalition of state agencies and early childhood stakeholders and updated in 2024, is designed to boost pay and retention of early care and education professionals working at Child Care Centers and Family Child Care Homes throughout Ohio. The program allocates approximately $1,300,000 in funds, which the selected contractor will manage and distribute. The contractor’s primary duties involve overseeing the application and award process for these funds, including developing eligibility criteria, ensuring accurate disbursement, preventing duplicate awards, maintaining payment schedules, and managing a waitlist when needed. A critical aspect of this contract is the requirement for comprehensive monthly reporting on application numbers, approvals, denials, and total funding distributed to inform the state on the program’s performance. The contract allows for an initial period commencing upon award, with potential renewals at the discretion of the State in one-month increments based on funding availability. All services are to be conducted within Ohio, and bidders must be registered with Ohio Shared Services. Additionally, the contractor must provide and maintain insurance coverage for employee dishonesty, professional liability, and cyber liability, as specified within the contract. This procurement opportunity is managed by the Department of Children & Youth and targets vendors capable of handling large-scale grant management, eligibility assessments, and compliance with robust financial oversight requirements.