Project Information

Bid Title

CalWORKS Childcare Stage One Subsidized Childcare Program

Issuing Agency

Mariposa County

Location

California

Published Date

Feb 26, 2026

Closing Date

Mar 26, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

Bid Title:	CalWORKS Childcare Stage One Subsidized Childcare Program
Category:	Professional Services
Status:	Open

Description: NOTICE TO BIDDERS Mariposa County Health and Human Services Agency Invites proposals from qualified individuals, firms and agencies to oversee, refer and manage California Work Opportunity and Responsibility for Kids (CalWORKs) Stage One subsidized childcare program. The availability of quality childcare is essential to the success of the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) childcare program. The program helps families access immediate childcare as the parent or caretaker works or performs their welfare-to-work activity. The purpose of the program is to support parents or caretakers as they transition to the stable, long-term childcare necessary for the family to leave and remain off aid. Work contracted under this RFP will not exceed $275,000. This project is funded by the CalWORKs program. The term of the Agreement will be for a period of one year beginning on July 1, 2026, thorough June 30, 2027. All communications concerning this RFP shall be directed to: Health and Human Services Agency Attn: Dawn Garcia PO Box 99 Mariposa, Ca 95338 (209)742-8251 (fax) For security reasons, you must enable JavaScript to view this E-mail address. All questions regarding this RFP shall be submitted in writing. Publication Date/Time: 2/26/2026 8:00 AM Closing Date/Time: 3/26/2026 5:00 PM Contact Person: All communications concerning this RFP shall be directed to: Health and Human Services Agency Attn: Dawn Garcia PO Box 99 Mariposa, Ca 95338 (209)742-8251 (fax) dgarcia@mariposacounty.org All questions regarding this RFP shall be submitted in writing. Related Documents: CalWORKS Childcare RFP FY 2627

Attachment Preview

Request For Proposals (RFP)

I. INTRODUCTION:

The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to solicit proposals from qualified

individuals, firms and agencies to oversee, refer and manage California Work

Opportunity and Responsibility for Kids (CalWORKs) Stage One subsidized childcare

program.

Work contracted under this RFP will not exceed $275,000. This project is funded by the

CalWORKs program.

The term of the Agreement will be for a period of one year beginning on July 1, 2026,

thorough June 30, 2027.

II. BACKGROUND:

The availability of quality childcare is essential to the success of the California Work

Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) childcare program. The program

helps families access immediate childcare as the parent or caretaker works or performs

their welfare-to-work activity. The purpose of the program is to support parents or

caretakers as they transition to the stable, long-term childcare necessary for the family

to leave and remain off aid.

Current or former CalWORKs cash aid recipients are eligible to receive assistance with

paying for childcare with a provider of their choice when they are employed or

participating in county approved Welfare-to-Work activities. Pregnant and parenting

teens in the Cal-Learn program are also eligible to receive CalWORKs childcare.

Childcare is provided for children through the age of 12, and for exceptional needs and

severely disabled children up to age 21.

CalWORKs Stage One childcare program begins when a family starts receiving

CalWORKs cash aid. Former CalWORKs clients are also eligible to receive childcare

services in Stage One and/or Stage Two for a total of no more than 24 months after

they leave cash aid.

Immediate and continuous childcare eligibility is part of a two-generational approach to

disrupt the cycle of poverty by simultaneously focusing on the needs of parents and

children. Workforce development and childcare assistance programs paired together

increase the value of both services and lead to better outcomes for families. Pairing

workforce programs with childcare or early education programs helps parents improve

Request For Proposals (RFP)

life opportunities while supporting the developmental needs of their children are both

essential to ending intergenerational poverty.

III. TIMELINE:

The timeline outlined below represents the tentative schedule for this RFP. Any change

in the scheduled dates for the RFP will be advertised.

RFP Schedule

Request for Proposals (RFP) Posted

Proposal Submission Deadline

Initial Screening of Proposals – to determine eligibility

Notice of disqualifications sent to proposers

Evaluation of Eligible Proposals

Award Determinations & Notifications

Final Date to Submit Protests

Response to Protests

Contract Negotiations

Intent to Award Issued

Board of Supervisor Approval

Contract Start Date

Date

2/26/2026

3/26/2026

3/27/2026

3/31/2026

4/7/2026

4/10/2026

4/17/2026

4/20/2026

4/21/2026

4/21/2026

5/12/2026

7/1/2026

IV: ELIGIBILITY TO APPLY REQUIREMENTS:

• Knowledge and understanding of CalWORKs Stage One childcare program.

• Ability to deliver services to clients in a culturally competent manner, including

those with limited English proficiency and diverse cultural and ethnic

backgrounds, and criminal involvement.

• Ability to deliver services to clients ensuring that employment practices and the

administration of public assistance and social services programs are

nondiscriminatory, to the effect that no person shall because of ethnic group

identification, age, sex, color, disability, medical condition, national origin, race,

ancestry, marital status, religion, religious creed or political belief be excluded

from participation in or be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subject to

discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal or state financial

assistance

• Must identify and be able to execute all aspects of the Service Locations listed in

the Scope of Services.

Request For Proposals (RFP)

• Must identify and be able to execute all aspects listed in Hours of Operations

under the Scope of Services.

• Must identify and be able to execute all aspects of the Program Design and

Objectives listed under the Scope of Service.

V. SCOPE OF SERVICES:

Program Design and Objectives – Bidder must devise and implement a mechanism

that provides swift communication between Health and Human Services staff and bidder

staff that results in the best service for the client.

Provide childcare information, education and training to Health and Human Services to

ensure continuity of information and services to clients, as well as collaboration to

support family success.

Provide orientations to parents or caretakers either in group settings or individually, that

include education on childcare choices and assessing their childcare needs, including

all types of appropriate childcare. Every effort will be made to have orientation in the

language of the participant and will be adapted to meet any special learning needs of

the participant.

Connection to the local childcare resources and referral program which provides free

information on choosing childcare and gives referrals to childcare centers, family

childcare homes, and other childcare settings.

Meet with parent or caretakers to develop family file, determine family needs, make

referrals to childcare, discuss parenting and/or child development concerns, as well as

program participation requirements.

Work with Health and Human Services staff to develop forms that ensure family

eligibility, such as income verification or need for care.

Work with parents or caretakers to implement TrustLine registration process procedure

for license-exempt providers.

Contact childcare provider to orient to program requirements and complete the childcare

agreement.

Provide ongoing support and assistance to the parent or caretaker and childcare

provider.

Maintain a participant list for each Stage as well as other childcare funding.

Transition parents or caretakers between CalWORKs childcare Stages One, Two and

Three and other subsidized childcare programs based on stability of their situation and

Request For Proposals (RFP)

funding, with the intent that families experience no break in their childcare services due

to a transition between Stages.

Receive all required documentation such as attendance and claim sheets, and institute

payment process for tallying, verifying and authorizing payment issuance.

Pay childcare provider within 15 days from receipt of claim for prior month service

providing that paperwork is received in a timely and accurate manner.

Advise Health and Human Services Agency of any apparent improper or fraudulent use

of CalWORKs funds which may come to the bidder's attention.

Health and Human Services staff will refer all CalWORKs participants needing childcare

in order to work or participate in approved training or work activities to bidder though the

automated childcare administrator portal. Health and Human Services staff will notify

bidder though the automated childcare administrator portal when client is no longer

eligible for Stage One childcare services.

Individuals Served – All Mariposa County CalWORKs parents and caretakers in need

of childcare

Services Location – All services are to be provided within Mariposa County

Hours of Operations- Bidder agrees to offer equal availability during normal business

working hours and advise Health and Human Services Agency regarding observed

holidays and days office will be closed.

Program Staffing – Bidder will ensure that adequate staffing and maintain basic

statutory Worker’s Compensation, General Liability and Unemployment Insurance for all

employees working within the contract.

Data Gathering, Outcomes, Reports – Submit billing statements to Health and Human

Services Agency by the 30th of each month for reimbursement of program costs.

Submit information for California Department of Social Services reports regarding Stage

One funds expended to Health and Human Services Agency by the 10th of the following

month.

Submit childcare payment projection worksheets to the Health and Human Services

Agency upon request.

Complete and file all required California Department of Education reports and provide a

copy to Health and Human Services Agency.

Bidder shall submit to Health and Human Services Agency a year-end report of services

rendered within 30 days after end of each fiscal year.

Request For Proposals (RFP)

Cultural Competence Compliance - The program must serve clients regardless of

diverse racial/ethnic or cultural and linguistic characteristics and offer culturally specific

approaches.

Budget – Mariposa County Health and Human Services Agency shall award the bidder

a maximum amount of $275,000 for Stage One childcare services, as established by AB

1542, provided to CalWORKs participants. This is for childcare paid for the months of

July 2026 through June 2027.

The bidder will pay childcare providers for Stage One services and transition to Stage

Two, Stage Three or other programs when appropriate. The cost of childcare

reimbursement to providers must be within the regional market rate (RMR) (Education

Code [EC] Section 8357) and may not exceed the fee charged to private clients for the

same service (EC Section 8357[b]).

Compensation shall be based on Stage One childcare funds expended by the bidder

and shall include no more than a 25% administrative fee to cover the bidder’s

administrative and childcare program support costs.

VI. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION:

Proposal submissions must include a complete Proposal Package. Complete Proposal

Packages includes the following:

Section 1 - Cover Letter

All proposals must be accompanied by a cover letter not exceeding one page and

should provide propose information and contact information as follows:

i. Contact Information – The name, address, telephone number, and fax number of

proposers primary contact person during the RFP process.

ii. Proposer Information – Description of the type of organization (corporation,

partnership, sole, etc.) and how many years it has been in existence.

iii. Proposers must submit a current organizational chart that includes the placement

of the program as described in this RFP.

iv. Proposal packages should include a copy of any applicable License or

Certification.

Section 2 - Proposal Package Checklist

All items included in the proposal package must be submitted in order listed on the

Proposal Package Checklist. The Checklist must be submitted with the proposal. (See

exhibit A)

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