Evaluation Services - RI Psychologists for Caregiving Youth

The State of Rhode Island, through the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (RIDE), is seeking a qualified evaluator to support the assessment and continuous improvement of school-based mental health programs aimed at serving caregiving youth in high-need Local Education Agencies (LEAs). The contract requires the vendor to track and report on specific Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) measures, including a 20% increase in school psychologists, 80% or higher MTSS fidelity scores, a 20% annual increase in access to Tier 2 and Tier 3 services, and a 15% reduction in chronic absenteeism. The evaluation must employ mixed-methods approaches, develop and implement standardized tools and data collection protocols, and ensure alignment with Rhode Island’s 2022 Secondary Regulations and RIDE’s 2024 Implementation Guidance. Performance is focused across key LEAs including Providence, Pawtucket, Woonsocket, Central Falls, and West Warwick, as well as 16 charter and state schools, with work intended to span a multi-year period tied to statewide goals through 2030. Proposals must be submitted electronically via the Ocean State Procures™ portal by July 15, 2026, and are evaluated using a trade-off methodology based on four weighted technical factors and cost. The technical proposal, limited to six pages, must demonstrate the vendor’s capability, the quality of the evaluation design, and a work plan aligned with RIDE’s objectives, with a minimum threshold of 55 out of 70 technical points required to advance to cost evaluation. Cost proposals are assessed only for those meeting the technical threshold, with awards based on the highest total score, allowing superior technical merit to justify higher costs. Additional bonus points—up to six—are available for participation by certified Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), Women Business Enterprises (WBE), or Disability Business Enterprises, contingent upon formal submission of participation plans and attestations under penalty of perjury. Vendors must also provide detailed resumes for all key personnel, three verifiable client references, and attest compliance with organizational conflict of interest provisions and data security requirements, including protocols for handling sensitive, personally identifiable information. All submission materials must be in PDF format, and no contract line items, fixed pricing, or federal accounting codes are specified, reflecting a performance-based, professional services acquisition under NAICS 541720.