Funding Opportunity: Massachusetts Department of Youth Services- Skills Up- Rolling Due Date

The Massachusetts Department of Youth Services (DYS) is seeking proposals through a rolling solicitation for career, technical, and workforce training programs to support youth in both residential and community-based settings across the state. The initiative, identified as RFR #2023-07 and listed on COMMBUYS under solicitation number BD-26-1035-DYS01-DYS01-129836, invites vocational institutions, unions, nonprofits, businesses, and community organizations to provide high-quality services designed to prepare DYS youth for employment through work-based learning, vocational training, pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs, social enterprises, and consulting. The base contract period extends through June 30, 2025, with the potential for up to four one-year renewal options, and proposals may be submitted at any time due to the rolling nature of the solicitation. Performance will occur across all five DYS regions—Boston, Southeast, Northeast, Central, and Western—with services delivered in secure residential facilities and community settings including Taunton, Springfield, Brockton, and other locations detailed in appendices. Proposals will be evaluated on a 100-point scale with emphasis on the clarity of the project description, a detailed line-item budget, the number and demographic profile of youth to be served, and evidence of organizational capacity to serve BIPOC and LGBTQ+ populations. Additional weight is given to the respondent’s existing relationships with DYS programs and prior experience working with DYS youth. Participation in the Supplier Diversity Program is mandatory but un-scored. All contractors must comply with state labor laws, DYS policies, and requirements for background checks including CORI, SORI, DCF, RMV, and multi-state fingerprinting. Performance outcomes must be measured through credential attainment, paid employment placements, and participation in wage-earning activities. Invoicing must be submitted electronically via COMMBUYS, and payments are processed exclusively through Electronic Funds Transfer to the Office of the State Comptroller in Boston. Contractors are also required to adhere to HIPAA standards and Executive Order 509 nutrition guidelines if applicable, with oversight managed by DYS’s Procurement Management Team and Operational Services Division. There is no published contract value, and funding is contingent on state appropriations and grant allocations.