Every year it happens - a parent who was busy, distracted, or out of their routine leaves their child in a hot car while the parent is gone. Sometimes these stories have a tragic ending. Unfortunately, these same scenarios also occur in child care. Caregivers are asked to drive a transportation route out of their normal routine because the typical driver is sick, or a teacher is busy trying to gather children to head to the park and forgets to do the name-to-face check. Whatever the reason, each of these incidents are entirely preventable.

DCDEE has revised the Request for Applications (RFA) for the “Child Care Resource and Referral Services Program” by:

1. Removing the DEI component from the selection criteria.
2. Revising the points for each component under the Selection criteria
3. Adding clarification statement regarding the application process to allow for eligible agencies to submit one application to apply to serve one or up to all four regions identified in the RFA.

Also, the Questions & Answers Document reflects the revised RFA.

Both the Revised Request for Applications document and the Questions & Answers document are posted below.

Applications are due by 5:00 PM on April 6, 2026.

REVISED RFA Document 

Questions & Answers Document

This Request for Application is to provide technical assistance to early care and education programs according to NC’s technical assistance framework: North Carolina’s Professional Development Framework for Continuous Quality Improvement and develop a professional development learning community (PLC) to increase the management skills for current and aspiring child care directors and serve as a resource hub for families receiving child care.

The  North Carolina Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) Core Services Program is designed to ensure that 1) families have access to the information needed to become informed consumers of early care and education programs; 2) early educators have access to professional development and consultation services to help them improve their instructional practices and overall operations; and 3) families have access to enroll their children in high quality child care and early education programs.

RFA will be for a 3-year funding cycle with an optional 2-year renewal term. Up to four (4) awards of up to $2,000,000 per year will be made under this RFA to provide services in each of the regions of North Carolina. Eligibility for renewals is contingent upon contract compliance, project performance, and availability of funding. The chart with the regions of North Carolina is outlined in the RFA.

Eligibility requirements are included in the RFA.

Applications are due by 5:00 pm on April 6, 2026.

Application Face Sheet RFA # 001-DCDEE-2026

REVISED RFA Document 

Attachment A CCR&R Regional Services Map 

Attachment B Line-Item Budget and Narrative Instructions

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This Request for Applications (RFA) aims to identify supports needed to increase participation in North Carolina’s modernized QRIS, Pathways to the Stars, among Family Child care Homes, Centers Located in a Residence, and small capacity centers serving 50 or fewer children, with emphasis on rural areas and counties where child care deserts exist. This will be achieved through conducting the Quality Rating and Improvement System Study. The successful applicant will create an implementation plan to conduct outreach and eligibility determination, pre and post surveys with participating providers, coordination of four webinars with participation tracking, interim and final reporting to support QRIS supplement participation.

One award of up to $955,931 will be made under this RFA to provide services set forth in the Scope of Services.  Eligibility for the renewal is contingent upon contract compliance, project performance, and availability of funding. The initial contract period is expected to be February 2, 2026 – July 31, 2026.

Eligibility requirements are included in the RFA.

Applications are due by 5:00 pm on December 22, 2025.

Application Face Sheet RFA # 007-DCDEE-2025

Request for Applications: “Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) Support Supplement Study”

Line-Item Budget and Narrative Instructions 

Attachment B Line-Item Budget Template

Questions and Answers