The State of North Carolina is seeking a qualified evaluation contractor or research team for Phase 1 of the Rural Child Care Pilot Evaluation. The work will develop an evaluation plan and initial design for two rural child care pilot models: Building Supply in a Child Care Desert and Child Care as Rural Infrastructure.
Current Phase 1 budget: $30,000–$90,000. The broader project materials discuss approximately $300,000–$500,000 for the full two-phase evaluation effort; that figure is not the current Phase 1 award ceiling. Future Phase 2 work is contingent on future funding or appropriations and partner support.
Deadline: September 7, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. The expected Phase 1 period is approximately September 15 through November 20, 2026. The official Q&A permits indirect or administrative costs up to 10% with justification.
Atlas Opportunity Score: 82/100. N9+ Direct Vendor Fit: 2/100 (LOW FIT). The core procurement is independent program evaluation, not connected diagnostics, clinical telehealth, remote patient monitoring, or technology deployment, so no N9+ direct-vendor capture is recommended.
Official source: https://governor.nc.gov/rural-child-care-project-2026
Official Q&A: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tienVxfaqEMP6kwaTwcxxXYStO0wwqaZspRJlac1B7M/edit?tab=t.0