RFP 1164 New York State Building Opportunities in Out-of-School Time (BOOST) AMENDED 3/27/2025

Please note: The Attachment 7 - Eligible Schools and School Districts to Serve for BOOST has been amended on 3/27/2025 to clearly identify the eligible school districts in NYC District 79. Please refer to the amended Attachment 7 for more information.

Applicant Webinar:  The Applicant Webinar recording is available at this link:  https://youtu.be/qCV5G88y6Ro?si=6aCIBcyRDDIfkh-6 and the slides are available in the documents section of this ad. Please refer to RFP Section 1.3 Applicant Webinar for additional information. 

The New York State (NYS) Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) mission is to serve New York's public by promoting the safety, permanency, and well-being of our children, youth, families, and communities. Through the release of this request for proposal (RFP), OCFS is seeking competitive applications to the NYS Building Opportunities in Out-of-School Time (BOOST) initiative to serve high-school-aged youth (ages 13-21) during afternoon and evening hours, weekends, and/or school breaks, including the summer. A key principle of the BOOST initiative is strong partnerships with the school’s participants and their communities. This means the program aligns the goals and services with community and school needs to ensure effective lines of communication, share data and resources, and have a shared commitment to equity.

OCFS is seeking proposals responsive to the desired outcomes identified in RFP Section 4.1 Desired Outcomes and Program Requirements and in alignment with the OCFS mission (RFP Section 1.0 General Information/Calendar of Events) and statewide considerations (RFP Section 2.2 OCFS Statewide Considerations). Specifically, the program design must demonstrate positive youth development (PYD) features. Activities, and content must support goals and objectives designed to address the identified needs of the youth and their families and include opportunities for youth development and enrichment through hands-on, project-based activities; service learning; and other experiences that are not typically offered in a traditional classroom setting. OCFS is interested in supporting a wide variety of activities and approaches ranging from traditional to innovative and/or unique.

OCFS has released this RFP to solicit competitive applications for eligible schools, school districts, and NFP organizations to apply for the development and/or continuation of quality out-of-school-time programs for high-school-aged youth. These programs will offer PYD opportunities as part of the first NYS Building Opportunities in Out-of-School Time (BOOST) initiative. 

The BOOST initiative is a pilot approach to fostering stronger bonds between school, as a primary institution of stabilization and growth, and community programs that offer arts; science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM); civic engagement; leadership development; and career exploration opportunities. BOOST activities must be grounded in PYD and centered on normative experiences that enhance well-being and must promote prosocial, in-person connection to peers, adults, schools, and communities.

Successful applicants will demonstrate how PYD features are embedded in their program (see Attachment 4 – Optional Positive Youth Development (PYD) Worksheet. BOOST programs will focus on the strengths of youth participants and engage with and promote positive outcomes for all youth in their communities, including those with system involvement or other challenges.

Applicants may submit up to two applications for programming in NYS. Each application must propose to serve no more than two sites. Applicants may not apply to operate programming at the same site in multiple applications.  

OCFS anticipates making awards of at least $100,000 annually, and no award from this RFP will be valued at more than $250,000 annually. OCFS will make no more than one award per school district, with the exception of District 79 located in New York City (NYC). OCFS anticipates making up to three awards in NYC for programs serving high school aged youth in District 79 school(s) or programs.

In addition to the awards noted above for NYC, OCFS anticipates making at least two awards in each of the following regions (see RFP Section 6.2 Evaluation Process): Western NY, Finger Lakes, Central NY, North Country, Mohawk Valley, Capital Region, Southern Tier, Mid-Hudson, and Long Island.

Minimum Qualifications

 Eligible applicants must be one of the following entity types:

• A Not-For-Profit organization

• A public high-need high school and/or school district *

*See Section 2.3 Purpose and Funding Availability for the definition of public high-need schools and school districts. Please note: For-profit organizations, municipal agencies, and government entities (other than schools/school districts) are not eligible to apply. Schools listed on Attachment 7 – Eligible Schools and School Districts to Serve for BOOST may apply, and the school district to which those schools belong may apply on an eligible school’s behalf. Schools and school districts that are not listed on Attachment 7 – Eligible Schools and School Districts to Serve for BOOST are not eligible to apply.

Please see the RFP document located in the "Documents" tab for additional information and submission requirements.