Request for Proposals ? Childcare and Early Learning Provider

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS #2026-14-AD
Childcare/Early Learning Facility Design Support and Operations and Management
Date Issued
May 11, 2026
Deadline for Receipt of Proposals
June 30, 2026

I.GENERAL INFORMATION ...................................................................................... 3
A.Purpose .............................................................................................................. 3
B.Background ......................................................................................................... 3
C.RFP Schedule...................................................................................................... 4
D.Inquires .............................................................................................................. 5
E. ........................................................................................................................... 5
F.HUD/SHA Contract Requirements ........................................................................ 5
G.Contract Period ................................................................................................... 5
H.Minimum Qualifications ...................................................................................... 5
II.Scope of Work / Deliverables ................................................................................... 6
A.Overview ............................................................................................................. 6
B.Part 1 - Childcare / Early Learning Facility Design Support ...................................... 6
C. Part 2 - Childcare / Early Learning Facility Operations & Management .................... 6
III.Submission Requirements ...................................................................................... 7
A.Cover Letter ........................................................................................................ 7
B.Firm Overview ..................................................................................................... 7
C.Experience in Comparable Facility Design ............................................................. 7
D.Technical Understanding of Licensing & Regulatory Requirements ......................... 7
E.Project Approach & Methodology .......................................................................... 7
F.Qualifications of Key Personnel ............................................................................ 8
G.Organizational Capacity & Stability ....................................................................... 8
H.References ......................................................................................................... 8
I.Required Declarations .......................................................................................... 8
III.Scoring Rubric- Total Possible Points = 100 .............................................................. 8
IV.SELECTION ........................................................................................................... 9
VI.ADDITIONAL TERMS & CONDITIONS ........................................................................ 10
A.Diversity in Contracting ......................................................................................... 10

I. GENERAL INFORMATION
A. Purpose
The Spokane Housing Authority (SHA) is seeking proposals from experienced, high-
quality childcare and early learning providers to support the development and operation
of a new childcare/early-learning facility co-located with SHA's Orchard Vista affordable
housing project. SHA will select one organization to provide design support during the
architectural and engineering phase of the facility and then contract with the same
provider to lease and operate the facility upon completion of construction.
Orchard Vista is a 240-unit affordable housing complex located in the City of Spokane
Valley off Appleway (near Spokane Valley City Hall and the Spokane Valley Transit
Center). Households who will reside at Orchard Vista represent families with incomes at
or below 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI). The first units will be delivered mid-
2026 with final completion by year-end.
The site dedicated for the Orchard Vista childcare / early-learning facility is a 14 acre
parcel located on the northwest corner of Orchard Vista. It is expected that a 4,500
square foot facility with space for 2 classrooms, a kitchen/food-prep area and outdoor
play space will match with the site dimensions. The site is zoned Corridor/Mixed Use
and childcare facilities are an outright permitted use.
B. Background
SHA creates and sustains high quality affordable housing options that encourage
individual prosperity and support healthy communities. We envision a future where all
community members have access to safe, healthy, and affordable homes.
Our work includes:
* Housing Assistance Payments - We provide income-based housing assistance
payments for over 6,600 low-income families who would otherwise be unable to
afford market-rate rents. We send these payments directly to housing providers
on behalf of participating families across six counties in Eastern Washington and
statewide.
* Asset Management - We own, manage, and develop affordable multifamily
housing in Spokane County to create and preserve housing options for low-
income families. Our portfolio currently includes 758 apartments, with an
additional 366 units in our development pipeline.

* Housing Stability & Client Success - We offer person- and family-centered service
coordination, direct services, and goal coaching to program participants and
residents to encourage housing stability and self-determined success.
SHA is the joint housing authority for the City of Spokane, the City of Spokane Valley,
and Spokane County. We also provide programs and services across five additional
counties in Eastern Washington and statewide as permitted under state law and through
interlocal and cooperative agreements. SHA is one of over 3,300 public housing
authorities across the country, and the third largest in Washington state by number of
assisted households.
As a public corporation under state law, SHA performs public functions but operates like
a private company. Taking an entrepreneurial approach to this classification, we have
scaled up our housing development and statewide grant management activities in recent
years, resulting in an increasingly diverse and robust portfolio.
Our initiatives are shaped by community priorities and carried out in collaboration with a
broad network of partners, including local, state, and federal government bodies,
housing providers, nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, financial institutions, and
private enterprises.
C. RFP Schedule
Milestone Date
Date RFP Issued May 11, 2026
SHA Hosts Informational Session May 18, 2026 at 9:00 am
Deadline for Receipt of Inquiries June 5, 2026
Additional Material/Updated RFP June 12, 2026
Information Provided to Interested
Parties
Deadline for Receipt of Proposals June 30, 2026
Initial Evaluation of Proposals July 15, 2026
Interviews with Firms August 3-7, 2026
Secondary Evaluation of Proposals August 10-12, 2026
Notice of Selection August 17, 2026
An information session on the RFP will be held on May 18, 2026, at SHA's office, 25 W.
Nora Avenue, Spokane to answer questions and provide clarification. This session is
optional and may be attended in-person or virtually. The virtual link can be requested
via email to: pparr@spokanehousing.org .
SHA reserves the right to modify the RFP schedule at SHA's discretion.

D. Inquires
Any questions regarding this RFP must be sent via email to the contact below by June 5,
2026.
Pam Parr, Executive Director
Spokane Housing Authority
pparr@spokanehousing.org
If any additional material or interpretation is needed, SHA will provide an amended RFP
by June 12, 2026.
E. Eligibility to Contract with SHA
The successful firm must not be debarred, or otherwise declared ineligible to contract
with SHA, by an applicable regulatory agency. The firm must not be included on the U.S.
General Services Administration's "List of Parties Excluded from Federal Procurement
and Non-Procurement Programs" or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development's "Limited Denial of Participation" list.
The successful firm must provide SHA with a W-9 or W-9 substitution form. The
successful firm must be a responsible contractor possessing the ability to perform
successfully under the terms and conditions of the proposed procurement. Before
awarding a contract, SHA will evaluate contractor responsibility, including the personal
knowledge of, or past experience with, the vendor. SHA will utilize both state and
federal requirements in its evaluation of contractor responsibility.
F. HUD/SHA Contract Requirements
Firms should review the forms listed below and attached.
* Form HUD-5369-B, Instructions to Offerors - Non-Construction
* Form HUD-5370-C Section I, General Conditions for Non-Construction Contracts
G. Contract Period
SHA will execute a two-phase contract for the scope of work:
o Phase 1 -Work related to the design consultation requested - the expected term
of this contract is approximately 1 year. Phase 1 of the project is fully funded
with an Early Learning Facility (ELF) Planning grant from the Washington State
Department of Commerce and line item in the SHA budget.
o Phase 2 - Lease, operate and manage the childcare center following
construction. The timeline for opening the facility is anticipated to be in 2028.
H. Minimum Qualifications
Applicants must demonstrate:

Technical understanding of Washington State childcare licensing and environmental
requirements
Quality past work and references, including experience managing licensed childcare /
early learning facilities
Capacity to meet project timelines
II. Scope of Work / Deliverables
A. Overview
The role of the selected firm is to work collaboratively with SHA to design and build an
early learning / childcare facility at Orchard Vista and lease and operate the facility upon
completion of construction.
B. Part 1 - Childcare / Early Learning Facility Design Support
The selected firm will provide technical support throughout the design phase of the
early learning facility. Responsibilities include:
Programming and space planning
Advising on licensing requirements
Advising on childcare eligibility, fee structures, demand, and marketing
Recommending design concepts aligned with early learning best practices
Collaborating with selected architect/engineer
Assisting with cost estimation and site planning
Providing input on funding and construction timelines
Supporting stakeholder engagement efforts
Deliverables
Conceptual design guidance and a program summary
Detailed room and functional requirements
A compliance review against applicable licensing requirements
Recommendations for equipment, materials, and furniture
Participation in the design process through schematic design
C. Part 2 - Childcare / Early Learning Facility Operations & Management
The selected firm will serve as the licensed, independent operator for the completed
childcare facility. Responsibilities may include:
Development of the operational model, including (ages served, staffing plan,
curriculum approach)
Leading start-up operations and fulfilling all licensing responsibilities
Recruiting, training, and managing staff
Overseeing enrollment management and family communication
Managing finances, budgeting and reporting

Establishing safety, health and emergency response protocols
Providing ongoing operational oversight and continuous quality improvement
Deliverables
Comprehensive operating plan with staffing structure
Completion and submission of all licensing applications
Proof of required insurance coverage and associated cost proposals
Program policies and procedures
Operating budget and fee schedule proposal
Opening and transition plan
Annual operations and performance reporting
III. Submission Requirements
At a minimum, all proposals must include:
A. Cover Letter
Statement of interest in providing the requested services
Primary point of contact with email and telephone information
Signature of authorized representative with authority to bind the organization
B. Firm Overview
Organizational background and history
Legal structure (e.g., non-profit; corporation, partnership)
Organizational size and staffing overview
Summary of services relevant to the requested scope
C. Experience in Comparable Facility Design
Provide a description and examples of experience in the design of childcare, early
learning or comparable facilities.
D. Technical Understanding of Licensing & Regulatory Requirements
Description of your technical understanding of licensing and regulatory requirements.
Include compliance history (including Washington State regulatory or inspection reports,
if applicable and available).
E. Project Approach & Methodology
Please describe:
Approach to providing childcare/early learning facility design support, including
experience coordinated with architects, engineers, and other design partners.
Approach to staffing and supervision
Family engagement and communication strategies
Licensing preparation and readiness process

F. Qualifications of Key Personnel
Names, titles and roles of personnel assigned to this project
Brief resumes outlining relevant qualifications and experience
Organizational chart indicating reporting and lines of responsibility
G. Organizational Capacity & Stability
Please describe:
Staffing resources - anticipated availability of key staff
Financial Capacity
Describe your ability to initiate and sustain childcare operations
Confirm current workload and available capacity
Disclose any constraints that may affect participation or timely completion of work
H. References
Provide a minimum of three professional references, include name, title,
organization, telephone number, and email address.
Include a brief description of the project or relationship for each reference.
I. Required Declarations
Disclosure of any actual or potential conflicts of interest
Summary of current insurance coverage relevant to this scope
Verification of licensing eligibility
III. Scoring Rubric- Total Possible Points = 100
Evaluation Description Points
Category
Experience Operating The extent to which the Proposer demonstrates experience 20
Licensed Childcare managing licensed childcare programs, including experience with
Programs age groups and enrollment capacities similar to those proposed.
Evaluation will consider the quality, scope and relevance of prior
projects with preference for experience within the Washington
State context.
Relevant Experience in To the extent to which the Proposer demonstrates experience in 15
Comparable Facility the design of childcare, early learning, or comparable facilities.
Design Evaluation will consider the quality, scope, and relevance of prior
projects, with preference for experience within the Washington
State context.

Technical The Proposer's knowledge Washington State of childcare 15
Understanding of licensing standards and applicable health, safety, and
Licensing & environmental regulations. The evaluation will consider the
Regulatory Proposer's ability to effective guide project teams in meeting all
Requirements regulatory requirements.
Project Approach & Clarity, feasibility and completeness of proposed approach to 10
Methodology fulfilling the scope of work. This includes work planning,
coordination with stakeholders and design teams, and ability to
meet project timelines.
Qualifications of Key Relevant experience, expertise and roles of personnel assigned 10
Personnel to the project. Evaluation will consider the team's capacity to
complete the required scope effectively.
Organizational The Proposer's staffing resources, financial capacity, and 10
Capacity & Stability demonstrated ability to initiate and sustain childcare operations.
Proposed Operating Staffing clarity and feasibility of the proposed staffing plan, 10
Model management structure, family engagement strategies; and
overall operational model. All content must be original and not
copyrighted.
References Relevance and quality of references, including evidence of 10
strong partnerships and effective past performance.
TOTAL POSSIBLE 100
POINTS
To take affirmative steps and encourage the use of women- and minority-owned
businesses (WMBEs), SHA will award 3 additional points for WMBEs.
SHA will consider as WMBEs businesses that have been certified by appropriate
agencies, although SHA may also consider as WMBEs businesses that it can verify from
available information to be owned by women or minorities.
IV. SELECTION
SHA will select one firm to provide services.
An evaluation committee will conduct an initial evaluation, reviewing and scoring all
proposals that meet the submission requirements provided in Section III. Based on the
initial evaluation, SHA may invite firms to participate in interviews with the evaluation
committee.

SHA will conduct a final evaluation, then enter negotiations for fair and reasonable
compensation with the highest scoring firm to execute a contract. If negotiations are
unsuccessful, SHA may proceed to negotiate with the next highest scoring firm.
SHA reserves the right to reject any and all proposals and this RFP does not obligate
SHA to contract for services specified herein.
VI. ADDITIONAL TERMS & CONDITIONS
A. Diversity in Contracting
SHA will take affirmative steps and encourage the use of women- and minority-owned
businesses (WMBEs), businesses owned by economically disadvantaged persons, and
small businesses as contractors, subcontractors, consultants, and service providers.
For the purpose of this RFP, SHA will solicit WMBEs, businesses owned by economically
disadvantaged persons, and small businesses whenever possible.
END OF DOCUMENT