Background

This initiative, funded through a Massachusetts workforce development investment and administered by Commonwealth Corporation (CommCorp), will establish a new program. The program is intended to help Massachusetts employers recruit and hire the skilled workers they need to grow, while expanding pathways for eligible residents to build skills, access careers in high-demand industries, and create economic opportunity.

The investment is part of a broader state workforce development strategy involving the Executive Offices of Economic Development, Labor and Workforce Development, Education, and Health and Human Services – together comprising the Workforce Skills Cabinet.

Massachusetts has a large population of international students and graduates, as well as employers seeking access to highly skilled talent. However, many employers, particularly startups and small and mid-sized businesses, lack the awareness, expertise, or capacity to navigate the processes involved in recruiting, hiring, and retaining international talent.

The initiative is intended to increase Massachusetts employers’ capacity and confidence to recruit, hire, and retain international students and other skilled international talent, including by helping employers better understand and navigate available talent and employment pathways. The pilot is expected to include three employer-facing components:

• Awareness and outreach: a statewide employer education campaign, partnerships, and practical resources.
• Employer education: webinars and guidance on international hiring pathways and requirements.
• Direct employer support: one-on-one technical assistance delivered through trusted partners.

Consulting Engagement

CommCorp seeks a consultant to lead the next phase of program development. This will include conducting basic engagement and research to understand the relevant provider landscape for supporting international student hiring; managing the day-to-day process of procuring one or more subcontractors to deliver related services statewide; establishing subcontractor requirements; and preparing a smooth transition to CommCorp staff for long-term program management. The consultant will translate the program concept into an implementable model, conduct the procurement process through subcontractor selection and contracting readiness, help establish a cooperative program marketing strategy, and support early implementation planning.

The consultant will work in close coordination with a CommCorp designee. CommCorp will retain final approval, selection, and contracting authority.

Estimated contract period: October 26, 2026 – August 31, 2027

Maximum budget: $100,000, inclusive of all fees and expenses

Scope of Work

1. Program Development

• Refine the program model, including target employers, services, the employer experience, partner roles, and referral and coordination processes.
• Recommend how the three program components should be divided among one or more subcontractors.
• Help determine the deliverables and related performance measures that will apply to the program subcontractor or subcontractors.
• Work with CommCorp Marketing/Communications to develop marketing strategies and prepare a business outreach plan for this program using CommCorp’s resources (e.g., WTFP business contacts) and those of the subcontractors selected through the procurement process.
• Recommend a practical framework for subcontractor information management, data collection, and reporting to CommCorp.
• Define program milestones, budgets, dependencies, and key risks.
• Coordinate input from CommCorp and relevant state, workforce development, higher education, business, and international talent stakeholders, including legal and policy review as directed.
• Develop an implementation workplan through subcontractor onboarding and early program launch.
• Advise CommCorp on program outreach strategies and define roles and expectations for CommCorp and the subcontractor(s) selected through the program procurement process.

2. Subcontractor Procurement

• Develop the procurement strategy and schedule and identify qualified potential providers likely to deliver the required services.
• Draft the solicitation package, including scopes of work, deliverables, qualifications, pricing requirements, evaluation criteria, and reporting expectations.
• Conduct targeted outreach to potential bidders and support a bidder conference, written responses to bidder questions, and any formal updates to the solicitation.
• Determine a protocol for program staff to use for proposal intake, compliance review, and technical review.
• Coordinate the proposal review, evaluation, and selection process, including review tools, evaluator orientation, interviews, and selection documentation.
• Support scope and budget negotiations, contract exhibits, subcontractor onboarding, and handoff to CommCorp staff.
• Maintain a fair, well-documented process consistent with CommCorp and funder requirements.

3. Project Management and Coordination

• Meet regularly with the CommCorp designee and maintain the project schedule, decision log, action items, and risk list.
• Prepare and facilitate stakeholder meetings; provide concise status updates; maintain organized project and procurement files; and provide a complete handoff at the end of the engagement.

Expected Deliverables

• Final program design, subcontractor scopes, deliverables, metrics, budgets, and implementation workplan.
• Support program staff in developing Salesforce reporting and a dashboard.
• Procurement strategy, schedule, and potential-provider market scan.
• Final solicitation package, bidder outreach, conference, question-and-answer materials, and addenda.
• Evaluation tools, selection record, and recommendation materials.
• Contract exhibits, subcontractor information-management and reporting framework, onboarding plan, and project handoff package.

Consultant Qualifications

Strong existing knowledge of Massachusetts' workforce-development landscape, state government, and Commonwealth Corporation is a central qualification for this engagement. The selected consultant should be able to identify the relevant players, understand institutional roles, and navigate relationships with limited ramp-up.

• Current knowledge of Massachusetts workforce and economic-development organizations, including state agencies, workforce intermediaries, chambers and employer associations, higher-education partners, and employer networks.
• Demonstrated familiarity with CommCorp's role, programs, stakeholder relationships, and operating environment.
• Experience designing and launching workforce-development or related public initiatives and managing competitive procurements or subcontractor selection.
• Strong project-management, facilitation, and concise writing skills.
• Working knowledge of international-talent and employer hiring pathways is preferred.

Proposal Requirements

Interested consultants should submit the following:

• A narrative of no more than three pages describing the proposed approach, workplan, timeline, and relevant experience, including at least one comparable engagement.
• Resume(s) or summary of experience that reflects the consultant's experience in the Massachusetts workforce-development landscape, state government, and/or CommCorp.
• Names and resumes of staff assigned to the project, confirmation of availability, and two references for relevant consulting engagements.
• A cost estimate detailing anticipated hours, rates, and expenses, not to exceed $100,000.
• Disclosure of any potential conflicts involving program subcontractors.

Selection Criteria

CommCorp may invite finalists to an interview and may contact references before making a selection.

Submission Instructions

Deadline for submission: Monday, October 19, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. ET

Acceptable form of delivery: Email

Send complete proposal to: Rob Duncan: rduncan@commcorp.org

Questions should be directed to: Rob Duncan: rduncan@commcorp.org

RFQ Timeline

Commonwealth Corporation reserves the right to seek clarification or negotiate with applicants, revise any deadline, and reject any or all responses when doing so is in the best interest of the Commonwealth or CommCorp.