Specifications include, but are not limited to: The State is seeking a vendor to help accomplish its goals to streamline processing and data access across early learning programs to address gaps that exist in current disparate systems. 1. Ensure a seamless experience for early learning providers across the mixed-delivery system by improving coordination between DHS, RIDE, and BrightStars. • Make it easy for any partnering state agency to convey key information about the provider and their application processing, preferably within a centralized database that can be accessed by all parties. • Allow all agencies to communicate directly to providers through this database so that providers are not duplicating efforts amongst various State programs. 2. Improve standardized data capture, data sharing, and data use for: • Applications and Processing • Consumer Search • Repeat applications (previous data should be accessible by both State staff and the provider or workforce member) 3. Enable ongoing engagement with the early learning workforce and insight into the status of the workforce • Allow for direct communication with workforce members • Enable aggregate reporting on workforce credentials, turnover, and demographics • Verification of employment status and employer In order to accomplish these goals, the state is seeking a vendor to: • Develop, operate, host, and maintain a web-based system that supports the ability for DHS, RIDE, and BrightStars to process, approve, deny, track and manage applications and award licensure as well as ratings. This includes providing a technology platform that streamlines communications and creating a longitudinal provider record that identifies all program certifications, ratings and application processing for each provider. The system and all associated data must be hosted and remain within the continental United States. • Provide project management services. Preference will be given to proposals that, where feasible: • Demonstrate experience working in Rhode Island and an understanding of the early learning and child care provider market • Demonstrate experience integrating separate functionalities that are currently managed by multiple State agencies or State-approved parties. • Propose a system that is largely configurable, without significant rebuilds
