RFP 6239 STAGE ONE CHILD CARE SERVICES FOR CALWORKS RECIPIENTS

Project Description: 1.1 Introduction/Purpose
The County of Ventura (hereinafter referred to as County) invites your organization to submit a written proposal to provide Stage One Child Care Services for CalWORKs Recipients throughout Ventura County. Proposals shall be due no later than 3:00 p.m. on February 11, 2026 for the furnishing of the services in accordance with the attached Terms and Conditions, Instructions to Offerors which by this reference are made a part hereof.
Offerors shall be skilled and regularly engaged in the general class or type of work called for in the solicitation documents. Offerors must have local knowledge of the Ventura County communities in which services are provided; must have experience recruiting and working with both licensed and license-exempt childcare providers; and must possess extensive knowledge of the California Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) where it relates to childcare providers and the CalWORKs program. Experience working with CalWORKs families is preferred.
One vendor will be selected from this RFP.
1.2 Background
California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) is a time-limited program that provides cash aid, essential services and employment assistance to eligible California families in need. The availability of quality childcare while the parent works or performs their welfare-to-work activity is essential to the success of the CalWORKs program. The CalWORKs childcare program ensures that access to stable childcare is never a barrier to fully engaging in the CalWORKs program by providing assistance to cover childcare costs, thereby allowing parents to focus on work and building the skills and experience that will help the family improve their chances for long-term employment success and self-sufficiency. The CalWORKs childcare program is administered in three different stages. This procurement opportunity is only for Stage One childcare. Stage One childcare is available to all eligible CalWORKs participants upon entering the CalWORKs program and will remain available for up to twelve (12) months while receiving aid, or until the family’s situation is deemed stable, the participant is transferred to Stage Two childcare or becomes otherwise ineligible.
In fiscal year (FY) 2024-2025, the Stage One Child Care program served an average of 514 children per month, with the length of time each child remained in the program varying from a few months to a year or longer.
The selected vendor will be expected to operate the Stage One Child Care Services for CalWORKs Recipients program in accordance with all applicable rules, regulations and policies as specified by Federal, State, and County, including but not limited to, the California Department of Education (CDE), the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), the County of Ventura Human Services Agency (HSA), and HSA’s Community Access & Engagement Department (CAE).
1.3 Pre-proposal Conference
A non-mandatory pre-proposal conference will be held via Zoom. Meeting details are: Topic: Pre-Proposal Conference – RFP 6239 Stage One Child Care Services for CalWORKs Recipients. Time: January 14th, 2026, at 9:30 am Pacific Time (US and Canada) Meeting ID: 829 0181 5397 Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82901815397 .
Attendance at the pre-proposal conference is optional, but is highly encouraged.
The purpose of this meeting is to clarify requirements and answer vendor questions. In order to provide comprehensive answers and minimize response time, Offerors are asked to submit questions in writing prior to this conference.
Pre-proposal questions should be submitted to the Buyer under the “Messages” tab of the solicitation online at: https://ventura.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=login .
1.4 Action Dates
The following is an outline of the anticipated schedule for the proposal review and contract award.
Issue Request for Proposal (RFP) December 24, 2025
Pre-Proposal conference January 14, 2026
Last day for questions February 4, 2026
Proposals Due February 11, 2026
Evaluation-award March 11, 2026
Start Work July 1, 2026
The schedule set forth above is subject to change.
1.5 Questions Regarding RFP
All questions concerning this Proposal may be directed to Pannipa Pantutamangkul, Buyer, under “Messages” tab of the solicitation online at: https://ventura.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=login .