RFQ - ROU Strategic Plan Update - PDG

RFQ - ROU Strategic Plan Update - PDG

Update the statewide early learning system plan Raise Up Oregon

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Last Updated: 9/24/2024


REQUEST FOR QUOTES (RFQ)
Best Value Analysis (BVA)
# S-58800-00016080

Oregon Statewide Strategic Plan Update

Issue Date: Friday, February 20, 2026

Issued in: OregonBuys

Additional Direct Notices Provided to:

Harriet Dichter
Alvarez & Marsal (A&M)
School Readiness Consulting


Issuing Office: Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC or Authorized Purchaser)

RFQ (Authorized Representative): Ashley Griffin

Address: 700 Summer Street
Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 971.240.2426
E-mail: Ashley.griffin@delc.oregon.gov

OFFER DUE DATE AND TIME: Wednesday, March 4, 2026

EVENTS SCHEDULE

EVENT DATE TIME
RFQ Release 2/20/2026
Due Date for Questions/Clarifications 2/24/2026 5:00 PM PST
Answers to Questions/Clarifications (Approximately) 2/26/2026
RFQ Closing (Proposed quotes due) 3/4/2026 5:00 PM PST
Issue Intent to Award 3/6//2026 5:00 PM PST


1. Introduction

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Department of Early Learning and Care (“DELC” or “Authorized Purchaser”), is issuing this
Request for Quote (“RFQ”) to solicit competitive quotes from a qualified early childhood system
building vendor to support updating the Raise Up Oregon strategic plan.

DELC intends to contract with a vendor to update the statewide early learning system plan, Raise Up
Oregon in partnership with the Oregon Early Learning Council (ELC) who has the responsibility to
coordinate a unified and aligned early childhood system. In addition to partnering with the ELC, the
vendor will also engage with the multiple agencies that contribute to building Oregon’s early
childhood system, These agencies include the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC),
Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC), Oregon Department of Education (ODE),
Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Oregon Health Authority (OHA), and Oregon
Housing and Community Services (OHCS). The selected vendor will assess the current plan and
develop an updated Raise Up Oregon plan to reflect the Council and agency partners continued
vision to support children and families.

This procurement is focused on both the planning and execution of an updated plan, and providing
consultation and technical assistance on the plan’s implementation. The final product will reflect the
Early Learning Council’s vision and goals for Oregon’s early childhood system.

Additional details on the Scope of goods or services or both are included in Sections 2 and 3 (System
Requirements and Scope of Services).


DELC anticipates the Award of one Contract.


2. Scope of Services
The selected vendor will work with DELC to plan and execute an updated plan for Raise Up Oregon,
the state’s early childhood system plan. The work will include assessment, planning, facilitation, and
engagement in order to deliver an updated plan. The scope of services includes but is not limited to
the following:

2.1 Technical Assistance
The vendor shall participate in weekly technical assistance calls with Council and DELC staff
that focus on updating the Raise Up Oregon (RUO) plan and its implementation.

Technical assistance calls must include meeting and agenda planning, timeline development
and coordination with DELC staff, coordination and engagement with state agency partners,
and engagement with council members.

Technical assistance offered will also include the vendor’s knowledge and skills in state early
childhood system-building, bringing several state agencies together to partner and improve
their efforts together, and knowledge of other states’ early childhood system-building efforts
and how to apply lessons learned in the Oregon context.

2.2 Facilitation

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The selected vendor will facilitate quarterly meetings with the council(s) at a minimum.
Meetings may be held virtually or in a hybrid format; however, the vendor is required to
attend up to two council meetings in person.

2.3 Update Raise Up Oregon
The vendor shall execute a final updated plan of Raise Up Oregon. The vendor will
provide technical assistance on implementation once the plan is updated.

The selected vendor will be required to partner with DELC staff to develop a timeline,
engagement plan, coordinate with cross system partners and council(s).

The vendor shall deliver a detailed updated Raise Up Oregon plan.



3. Questions and Requests for Clarification:

All questions and requests for clarification regarding this RFQ must be submitted in writing by e-
mail, to the Authorized Representative and must be received no later than 2/24/26 at 5:00 PM
PST.

DELC may issue revisions, substitutions or clarifications of the RFQ. DELC will send revisions,
substitutions or clarifications, if any, electronically to the above referenced Contract holders.

4. Offer Submittal:

Offers must be received on or before the Offer Due Date and Time at the location identified
above to be considered. DELC may extend the Offer Due Date and Time. Offers will be
accepted by e-mail to the Authorized Representative identified above.

Offers will not be accepted after the Offer Due Date and Time.

5. Submittal Requirements:

a. Offeror must provide a description of the proposed approach for providing the Scope of
Services described in the RFQ, including a comprehensive description of the proposed
implementation methodology for Project, in phases for DELC. The description should
include how the Offeror has developed this methodology to incorporate lessons learned from
experiences, as well as to meet the needs described in the RFQ.

b. Offeror must provide a draft Scope of Work using the information from Section 2, Scope of
Services.

c. Offer must include submission of the Price Offer on the form or forms attached hereto as
Exhibit 1 detailing all costs associated with the System(s) and Services.

d. Experience: Offerors responding to this RFQ must have a current understanding and
expertise around early childhood system building in Oregon and at least 7 years’ experience
providing these services.

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e. Organization and Personnel: Offers must include a description of Offeror’s
organization, Key Persons, other staff or personnel (including subcontractors, if
applicable), and their experience.
i. Key Person(s). Specify Key Person(s) to be assigned to this Project and include a current
resume (not to exceed 2 pages each) for each individual that demonstrates qualifications
and experience for the Services proposed.
Key Person(s) Requirements and Preferences are:
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in Oregon’s early childhood system;
• Demonstrated knowledge and key experience, in last 5 years, and knowledge
serving as key advisor and partner around early childhood system building and
policy development including: reviewing, making recommendations, and drafting
policies to implement early childhood systems, and meet state and federal
requirements
• Recent experience, in last 5 years, facilitating early childhood system building
activities is required.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in public administration, business management or
another relevant field is preferred
• Strong understanding of public sector environment is preferred.
Due to the nature of services, Key Person(s) must be available to work on-site as agreed upon
between all parties, subject to all facilities access rules and procedures. Work site is designated
as DELC’s headquarters office in Salem, Oregon.
ii. Organization and Organizational Chart. Provide a description of Offeror’s organization
and provision of products and services, including a narrative that describes the
organization’s security program as it relates to the proposed solution. As an organization
that shares in the responsibilities to protect the state’s data, it is important to understand
how cybersecurity principles at an architectural and organizational level will be applied.
iii. Subcontractors. If Proposer intends to work with subcontractor(s), Proposer shall
include a statement detailing any subcontracting firms or individual subcontractors that
may be engaged as part of the Proposal to this RFQ, with those entities and the
Services they will provide clearly identified.

f. Offeror must provide a list of 3 governmental or educational entities using Offeror’s
proposed system as references using the Reference Check Form attached hereto as Exhibit
No. 2.
DELC may check to determine if references provided support Offeror’s ability to comply with the
requirements of this RFQ. DELC may use references to obtain additional information, or verify
any information needed. DELC may contact any reference (submitted or not) to verify Offeror’s
qualifications.

g. Offer must include any underlying agreements, including license agreements, subscription
agreements, maintenance, service level agreement and security/privacy agreements that will
be required to use the System.

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6. Evaluation and Award:

DELC may reject all Offers or cancel this RFQ at any time.

Submissions will be reviewed to determine if all Submittal Requirements have been met. Those
meeting the Submittal Requirements will be evaluated to determine the “Best Value” for DELC,
as set forth in this Section 8.
8.1 Evaluation of Written Offers
The evaluation of Offers will be done by an evaluation team assembled by DELC. The
evaluation team may include Authorized Purchaser business and program personnel, as well as
subject matter experts and/or representatives from other agencies or other authorized users.

Scoring Criteria (BVA) and Points

Best Value Analysis Maximum Points
Available
Experience and Capabilities 30
Organization and Personnel 20
Scope of Services 20
Pricing 20
References 10
Total Score 100

Based on scores from the evaluation, DELC will select one or more of the top-scoring Offerors
as finalists..

9. Protest of Intent to Award. An Affected Offeror shall have 7 calendar days from the date of the
Intent to Award notice to file a Written protest. An Offeror is an Affected Offeror only if the
Offeror would be eligible for Contract award in the event the protest was successful and is
protesting for one or more of the following reasons as specified in ORS 279B.410:

• All higher ranked Offers are non-Responsive.
• DELC has failed to conduct an evaluation of Offers in accordance with the criteria or
process described in the RFQ.
• DELC abused its discretion in rejecting the protestor’s Offer as non-Responsive.
• DELC’s evaluation of Offer or determination of award otherwise violates the terms of
the Participating Addenda.

Protests must:

• Be delivered to the RFQ contact via email
• Reference the RFQ number
• Identify Offeror’s name and contact information

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• Be signed by an Authorized Representative
• Specify the grounds for the protest
• Be received within 7 calendar days of the Intent to Award notice

Response to Protest. DELC will address all protests submitted in accordance with this Section 9
within a reasonable time and will issue a Written decision to the respective Offeror. Protests that
do not include the required information prescribed in Section 9 may not be considered by DELC.

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EXHIBIT NO. 1

PRICING




*Please include a budget breakdown of all proposal costs as well as a total proposal cost.

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EXHIBIT NO. 2

REFERENCE CHECK FORM


Customer Contact
Name
Phone
Number
Email

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