RIDE Child Nutrition, School Health, Career and Tech Programs Education Support

The Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is seeking a vendor to provide comprehensive support services for the administration of federally funded Child Nutrition Programs, School Health Programs, and Career and Technical Education initiatives across the state. The vendor will be responsible for managing support professionals to ensure compliance with federal regulations including 7 CFR Parts 210, 215, 220, 225, and 226, as well as alignment with the Rural Health Transformation Program under Public Law 119-21. Key deliverables include developing job descriptions by January 1, 2026, recruiting and deploying qualified staff upon contract award, conducting quarterly assessments of program needs, and submitting annual summative reports by June 30 of each year. All services must be performed within Rhode Island, and the vendor will be expected to collaborate directly with RIDE staff, participate in required meetings, and utilize the CNP Connect data tracking system. The contract is estimated at $3.6 million over a five-year term, based on an annual cost of $80,000 per position for an estimated nine roles. Proposals must be submitted electronically through Ocean State Procures™ by July 14, 2026, and are subject to a rigorous evaluation process that prioritizes technical merit before considering cost. The technical evaluation, worth 70 points, requires a minimum score of 55 to advance to cost consideration, assessing the vendor’s organizational experience, work plan, methodology, and staff qualifications. The cost proposal, worth 30 points, will be evaluated based on administrative and overhead charges as a percentage of direct costs and the total five-year administrative fee. An additional six bonus points are available for participation by Minority Business Enterprises, Women Business Enterprises, and Disability Business Enterprises, verified through state-certified documentation. Proposers must also complete and submit two mandatory forms: the Supplemental Bidder Attestation confirming no conflict of interest under Rhode Island law, and the MBE/WBE/Disability Business Enterprise Participation Plan. Failure to submit either form results in automatic disqualification. Invoicing will be handled through Ocean State Procures™, and payment is administered by the State of Rhode Island under agency code a23d9ae7. No formal contract type, FAR clauses, packaging requirements, or CAGE/UEI mandates are specified, but strict adherence to federal and state program compliance, quality standards, and reporting obligations is mandatory throughout the performance period.