What the buyer needs
AI summaryThe Maryland State Department of Education is seeking short-term, specialized capacity-building and transition support services for its Office of Early Childhood. The selected vendor will assist with strategic communications, field engagement, continuous quality improvement frameworks, landscape reviews of program portfolios, and a comprehensive fiscal analysis of early childhood funding streams across the state. Bidding is open to onshore US organizations, with small, minority, and veteran-owned businesses encouraged to apply. Proposals must include a letter of interest, a resume demonstrating required qualifications, and a signed Exhibit A bid form containing all final costs. Submissions must be uploaded electronically via eMaryland Marketplace Advantage by November 5, 2026, at 2 PM, with written questions due by November 2, 2026, at 2 PM. Awards will be based on the lowest bid price among vendors meeting all mandatory evaluation requirements. The contract features monthly billing for completed work and carries a maximum total cost limit of $100,000.00 for the contract term.
Scope of work
- Assess current OEC communications practices and public-facing materials
- Review and draft MSDE/OEC early childhood website content and messaging templates
- Develop field-facing communication standards and map communication pathways
- Produce narrative materials and identify national speaking engagements
- Develop internal CQI tools, frameworks, and progress monitoring routines
- Design processes for step-back audits and draft internal policy memos and SOPs
- Conduct a comprehensive landscape review of OEC program portfolio
- Perform an ecosystem fiscal analysis of early childhood funding streams
How proposals are evaluated
| Criterion | Weight / scoring |
|---|---|
| Mandatory Requirements Pass/Fail | Not specified |
| Lowest Total Bid Price | Not specified |
Minimum qualifications
- Completed at least 3 statewide early childhood system transformation projects in last 10 years
- Team includes at least 4 key personnel with minimum 8 years experience each, including 2 former state agency leaders
- Supported at least 2 states in aligning two or more early childhood program types
- Completed at least 2 projects involving braided/blended funding analysis or unified governance structures
- Conducted at least 2 statewide fiscal analyses involving multiple funding streams
- Developed at least 4 statewide communications plans or stakeholder engagement strategies
- Completed at least 3 website assessments or digital content modernization initiatives
- Designed or implemented at least 2 CQI frameworks
Documents to include with your response
- Letter of interest
- Resume demonstrating required qualifications
- Signed Exhibit A Bid Form including all final costs
- W-9 form if applicable
- Consultant log with invoices
How to submit
- Method
- Electronic via eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA)
- Instructions
- Submit electronically following eMMA QRG for single envelope submissions. Include a letter of interest, resume, and signed Exhibit A Bid Form. Faxed or mailed bids are not accepted.