Project Information

Bid Title

Childcare Navigation Technology Platform

Issuing Agency

County of San Mateo

Location

California

Published Date

Dec 17, 2025

Closing Date

Jan 16, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

Project ID:

Title: Childcare Navigation Technology Platform

Addenda: 0

Release Date: 12/17/2025

Due Date: 1/16/2026

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Childcare Navigation Technology Platform

Request for Proposals

County Executive's Office

92000

Project ID: 2026-RFP-00227

Release Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2025

· Due Date: Friday, January 16, 2026 5:00pm

Posted Wednesday, December 17, 2025 4:54pm

All dates & times in Pacific Time

Draft Response Events RSVP No Bid29 days, 23 hours, 36 minutes

Post Information

Posted At:Wed, Dec 17, 2025 4:54 PM
Sealed Bid Process:Yes (Bids Sealed / Pricing Sealed)
Private Bid:No

Overview

Summary

The County of San Mateo, County Executive's Office, is issuing this Request for Proposals (RFP) to procure a technology solution as part of a comprehensive, countywide childcare navigation system. The technology should provide a user-friendly interface that is accessible for families, childcare providers and other stakeholders representing the diversity of San Mateo County's population. It is anticipated that the technology solution will be integrated with existing childcare resource and referral supports and be accompanied by robust community outreach and engagement, as well as marketing and branding. The resulting system should improve the ability of all families to identify appropriate childcare opportunities for their children and reduce the number of vacancies being held by providers. Ideally, the solution also will be flexible enough to add supplemental features, should the County choose to do so, to support expanded access to childcare for San Mateo County families.

Background

Myriad research shows that access to high quality early education and care can have critical impacts on children’s brain development and thus on later life success. Concurrently, the ability to enroll children in trusted programs often determines employment and career choices for parents, notably for mothers, which in turn impacts the local economy.

Like elsewhere in California and across the country, San Mateo County faces a childcare “crisis,” where many families struggle to find and afford childcare that meets their individual needs. Although there are many contributing factors (cost of care, especially infant care; access to subsidies; supply of seats; location; hours; etc), the navigation of the local childcare industry has been identified as a particularly unique challenge for San Mateo County, where many families say they cannot find care, while many providers have open slots that go unfilled. Creating efficiencies in the navigation system is anticipated to help close this unique supply-and-demand gap.

In addition to navigation, the County may wish to employ the technology solution to address additional goals, such as, but not limited to, the following:

• Support for low-income families whose experience with navigation may be complicated further by differing eligibility requirements for financial subsidies;
• The potential for the development of new local subsidies or programs, should additional funding become available;
• A method for tracking educator credentials and/or a substitute pool; and
• Support for childcare providers, especially family home care providers, to maintain sustainable businesses.

The technology solution being sought through this RFP would be accompanied by a robust outreach and engagement program for both families and providers and would be integrated with existing resource and referral supports.

Timeline

RFP Released:

December 17, 2025

Pre-Proposal Meeting (Non-Mandatory):

January 9, 2026, 1:00pm

Zoom TBD

Deadline for Questions, Comments and Contract Exceptions:

January 12, 2026, 5:00pm

Question Response Deadline:

January 13, 2026, 5:00pm

Proposal Due Date and Time:

January 16, 2026, 5:00pm

Demonstrations (tentative):

January 23, 2026

Anticipated Contract Award Date:

February 27, 2026

Commodity Codes

• NAICS 541512Computer Systems Design Services

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