Specifications include, but are not limited to: Proposer will provide pre-licensing technical assistance services to potential applicants for a family child care license or a group child care license. The proposer must establish a process to develop and implement pre-licensing technical assistance services that, at a minimum, includes all the following: The Department will provide a worksheet to be used to gather information about the potential applicant’s plans for operating a child care business and other information that will be used by the Contractor to plan the services that will be provided. The contractor must provide materials to explain the pre-licensing consultation services the potential applicant will receive from the contractor. The Department will consult with the contractor in developing materials and all materials developed by the contractor must be approved in advance by the Department. The worksheet and other materials will be included in the Department’s initial start-up packet, which the potential applicant will download electronically for free from the Department’s website or purchase a printed copy from the Department. The potential applicant will submit the completed worksheet to the contractor to begin the pre-licensing technical assistance process. It is expected the contractor’s technical consultant will use the information obtained from the worksheet to develop a technical assistance plan, which will inform the potential applicant of the process and requirements necessary for licensure and identify resources that might be helpful to the potential applicant. After the worksheet is received, the contractor’s technical consultant will initiate and maintain contact with the potential applicant to ensure the potential applicant has an opportunity to learn about requirements for licensing and operating a child care center. The contractor’s technical consultant will answer questions the potential applicant has about the licensing process or about the regulations. The technical consultant will be expected to provide resources and materials helpful to the potential applicant. Contact between the potential applicant and the contractor’s staff may be done by phone, email, or other method to meet the needs of the potential applicant. However, at least one in-person consultation is expected during the site visit, as specified in item 5 below. Proposer’s technical consultant will share information on budgeting and good business practices with the potential applicant. The technical consultant will direct the potential applicant to other resources available to the potential applicant related to startup and operation of a small business. Proposer will provide guidance and resources to the potential applicant during the development of operating policies and procedures and will conduct a review of a draft of the policies and procedures prior to completion of the pre-licensing process. The Department will provide a policy template for potential applicants for a family child care center license to use. Use of the template is not mandatory but is recommended. The Department does not have a group child care policy template available currently. Potential applicants for group child care licensure will be expected to develop operating policies and procedures for their own programs with consultation from the contractor during the pre-licensing period.
