Early Childhood Services Bureau
Request for Information
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Services Bureau, invites interested parties to submit a written response per the attached Request for Information (RFI) # 1001.
The intent of the RFI is to obtain information about the types of research and evaluation activities available to assess infant and toddler child care demand, supply, quality, and available resources related to Montana's infant/toddler care system. These results will be used to coordinate decisions about program development and the allocation of funds, establish or use benchmarks to evaluate progress, and determine whether to issue a Request for Proposal to obtain the services of a researcher.
Any eventual research effort will take place in cooperation with a management team comprised of DPHHS staff members and other key collaborators who are familiar with the details of the Montana Infant Toddler system.
This project would be funded through the Infant Toddler Earmark of the Montana Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) block grant and would be 100 percent federally funded. A maximum of $60,000 is available for completion of this project. The department anticipates a twelve-month project beginning in April of 2005. This project may be extended if the Department deems necessary.
Background
In 1998, the United States Congress earmarked a portion of the Child Care and Development fund for infant/toddler care. Montana seized this opportunity to begin developing a comprehensive infant/toddler care system to improve the options for infant/toddler care available to families in Montana.
The key elements of the resulting system include: 1) providing high quality professional development opportunities for current and potential infant/toddler caregivers and 2) strengthening support and expanding resources for infant/toddler caregivers and their programs.
Since 1999, Montana has had a number of infant/toddler initiatives that have the potential to affect care for infants and toddlers. These initiatives are:
- Infant/Toddler Demonstration Project offered licensed or registered early childhood programs the opportunity to receive the additional support needed to make quality infant/toddler care a reality. Programs who participated completed a proposal in response to a request for proposals in a competitive grant process. Since 1999, 28 early childhood programs have participated. The goals of the Project were: 1) to expand the number of slots available for infants and toddlers. 2) To decrease the turnover rate for infant/toddler caregivers. 3) To improve the quality of care available for infants and toddlers in Montana. The Montana Infant/Toddler Demonstration Impact Report was produced on this project in 2004.
- Healthy Child Care Montana funded through HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration) and a collaborative effort of the Maternal Child Health Bureau and the Child Care Bureau to provide safe and healthy programs for children in child care.
- "Healthy Child Care America Back to Sleep Campaign" to reduce SIDS-related deaths by promoting the back -to-sleep message to caregivers of young children.
- EMSC (Emergency Medical System for Children) that seeks to link child care providers with training on injury prevention.
- State Early Childhood Comprehensive System Development in Montana launched in 2004 by the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau, which focuses on five areas for planning: 1) access to medical homes, 2) mental health and social emotional development, 3) early care and education services, 4) parent education, and 5) family support services.
- Zero to Three Technical Assistance Grant designed to help the Infant/Toddler Team develop a solid Montana infant/toddler system. The Montana Infant/Toddler Demonstration Impact Report was produced with this grant.
- Montana at-Home Infant Care Program, an eighteen-month (December 2001-May2003) pilot program, allowing low-income parents to stay at home with their infants in lieu of working and participating in the child care scholarship program.
- Infant/Toddler Merit Pay to promote professional development for infant/toddler caregivers. Merit Pay awards, funded through earmarked funds from the federal Child Care and Development Fund, are an incentive for early childhood practitioners to pursue education and training that will help them improve the quality of services provided to young children and families. Participants successfully completing the 60-hour approved West ED Infant/Toddler Training receive $400.
Although Montana has made progress in creating more positive outcomes for infants and toddlers, there remains the task of creating a comprehensive statewide system. Questions have been raised by members of the Montana Early Childhood Advisory Council and staff concerning the potential need for a researcher before continuing with this task.
Process
The Montana Early Childhood Services Bureau will review written responses to this RFI. Institutions of higher education, businesses and individuals whose primary purpose is to conduct research and evaluation, or consulting firms who specialize in social policy evaluation are encouraged to submit a response to this RFI.
Each information response must be received in its entirety no later than
5:00 p.m., March 4, 2005, in the office of DPHHS/ Early Childhood Services Bureau, Cogswell Building A-116, 1400 Broadway, PO Box 202952, Helena, MT 59620-2952.
Questions
Questions regarding this RFI must be directed to Patti Russ at the Early Childhood Services Bureau, at above address or at pruss@mt.gov
Thank you
Thank you for considering this RFI. We hope the information we receive will help us in determining whether to issue a Request for Proposal to choose a researcher that will best assist us in developing a comprehensive infant toddler statewide system.
DPHHS/ECSB RFI #1001
Summary
Please summarize your background in researching and in particular with infants and toddlers.
Description of Service Delivery
Please explain plans for service delivery, including the related matters such as coordination with other entities and quality control measures.
This section must also include a description of how collaboration and review shall take during the course of the project with the evaluation management team .
Administration
Please provide general information about the administrative features of your organization.
This section must include, but is not limited to, the following:
1) Address, telephone number, fax number and e-mail address of the applicant or the organization's corporate office and the name of the director or chief executive;
2) Names and addresses of board members, if applicable; and
3) Employer Identification Number.
Experience
Please provide information about the your general background, relevant experience, and qualifications necessary for the effective delivery of the required services.
This section must include, but is not limited to, the following:
1) A description of the primary purpose, mission or goals of the organization;
2) A description of all of the services provided by the applicant or organization, including the locations of service sites;
3) Résumé's of key personnel that may be directly involved with the project;
4) A narrative describing the your experience as it relates to this project;
5) A sample of a previously published research report and/or an on-line directory of where such materials can be viewed.
Resources / Supports
Please identify the community and organizational features to be used that are necessary to or complementary to the delivery of services.
This section must include, but is not limited to the following:
1) Staffing;
2) Computer and software capabilities; and
3) Proposed coordination and sub-contractual agreements.
Financial Information and Management
Please provide financial information and describe your financial practices by which the Department can assess the appropriateness and cost-effectiveness of service delivery.
This section must include, but is not limited to the following:
1) A budget for the project; and
2) A budget narrative specifying costs for the particulars of service delivery;
The Department will NOT pay for :
- Indirect Costs that are above 8%.
Page last updated: 06/13/2006
