Social Capital

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) issued solicitation 245-092226 to establish a Social Capital initiative aimed at expanding equitable access to high-quality, credit-bearing internship opportunities for Virginia college students. The program specifically focuses on bridging the professional network gap for first-generation, Pell-eligible, and underserved student populations by integrating career readiness, mentorship, and experiential learning into academic structures. The selected contractor must provide all labor, staffing, and technical resources to operationalize the program, with core functions required to be fully active within 90 days of the award. Key deliverables include needs assessments, student readiness tools, professional development resources for faculty, a professional engagement strategy for alumni and industry partners, and an evaluation framework to measure student impact. The contract is for a one-year term, approximately from November 15, 2026, to November 14, 2027, with four optional one-year renewals. Proposals are due by October 22, 2026, via the eVA portal. Award selection is based on the best proposal, evaluated on a 100-point scale focusing on experience and qualifications (40 points), specific methodology and plans (30 points), and proposed price (10 points). Compliance requirements include adherence to the Prompt Payment Act of Virginia, Section 508 and ADA accessibility standards for web resources, and strict safeguarding of personally identifiable information. Additionally, contractors must comply with Executive Order 61 regarding non-discrimination and provide a Small Business Subcontracting Plan.