Office of Head Start - National Interim Management Program

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Head Start (OHS), through the Program Support Center (PSC), has a requirement to procure the services of an organization to serve as the National Interim Management (NIM) contractor. The mission of the interim management project is to avoid interruption of critical Early Head Start (EHS) and Head Start (HS) services in low-income communities (nationwide in 30 communities simultaneously) when there is a loss of local grantee sponsorship either through summary suspension, termination or relinquishment. As the NIM contractor, the organization will provide oversight and administration of the day-to-day Early Head Start (EHS) and Head Start (HS) programs where a grantee has either relinquished their grant, is under suspension, or whose grant has been terminated by the ACF, OHS. Additionally, the NIM contractor will support successful grantee operation transitions for up to 20 communities simultaneously when a new organization is being awarded an EHS and/or HS grant as a result of competitive funding opportunities. In these cases the contractor will work with both incumbent grantees and newly awarded agencies to ensure orderly transition of operations. Based on OHS' determination of need in a community, contract services shall be delivered in one of the following two service delivery models to ensure continuity of services, to the extent possible, as well as technical assistance for the transition of operations from former grantees to newly awarded grantees. OHS will determine which option to use based on each circumstance and the availability of resources. A brief description of the two service delivery models is provided below: 1. Grantee Interim Management In cases where OHS has determined there is a need for interim management of Early Head Start and/or Head Start services in a local community in order to avoid interruption in services, the Contractor shall serve as interim management for up to one year, or until such time as permanent grantee sponsorship for the service area is resolved. As interim management, the Contractor shall provide for the oversight and administration of the day-to-day operation of Early Head Start and/or Head Start programs as assigned. The Contractor shall work with prior grantees and replacement grantees, as appropriate, to ensure orderly transition of sponsorship to include on-site technical assistance on transition activities, licensing, property transfers, vehicle transfers, hiring of staff, lease agreements, inventory transfers and ensure timely and orderly transition of grantee operation with minimal or no disruption of services to children and families. 2. On-site Grantee Transition Support In cases where a new grantee is awarded and there shall be a transition of grantee business to a new entity, the Contractor shall serve as technical assistance and support during transition of operations from a former grantee to a newly designated grantee. Upon assignment and when appropriate this may include deployment of a small transition assistance team to support the organizational transition of operations from the former grantee to the newly designated agency. The on-site transition assistance team shall work with the newly designated agency to develop a transition plan and timeline that addresses licensing, property transfer, vehicle transfer, hiring of staff to ensure an orderly transition of grantee operations with minimal or no disruption of services to children and families. It is anticipated that one time and materials (T&M) type contract will be awarded for a base period of 12 months with Four (4) 12-month option periods. Responses to the Request for Proposal package will be due within 45 calendar days following the actual date of issuance of the RFP. Award of this requirement is anticipated by September 30, 2017. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the PSC. For further information, contact Paula Conner at 7700 Wisconsin Ave., 8th floor, Bethesda, MD 20857; or paula.conner@psc.hhs.gov, or alternate Alicia Allen at Alicia.allen@psc.hhs.gov.