Human-Centered Design Training and Capacity-Building Expert Services

Background

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) is focused on enhancing early childhood systems that are intuitive, accessible, and responsive to the needs of families, providers, and communities. As part of its Reimagine & Transform initiative aimed at modernizing Maryland’s birth-to-five programs, MSDE recognizes the necessity for a department-wide understanding of human-centered design (HCD). HCD is a structured problem-solving approach that emphasizes empathy for users and involves them in the design process to create effective policies and tools. The goal is to reduce administrative burdens and improve user experiences for diverse families and providers in Maryland.

Work Details

The selected contractor will provide comprehensive HCD training and capacity-building services for staff at all levels within the Division of Early Childhood (DEC). This includes: 1. Leadership-focused training to establish shared language and vision for HCD. 2. Tailored support for various branches (e.g., Licensing, Child Care Scholarship) to apply HCD principles in daily tasks. 3. Assistance in reviewing and improving user-facing materials such as grant guides, applications, forms, and communications. 4. Facilitation of journey-mapping sessions and prototyping workshops to enhance workflows. 5. Ongoing coaching and review of materials to ensure consistent application of HCD principles across DEC work products. 6. Development of a comprehensive HCD training guide and toolkit for long-term use by DEC staff.

Period of Performance

The contract is anticipated to commence on or about May 15, 2026, and conclude on December 31, 2026.

Place of Performance

200 W Baltimore St, Baltimore, MD 21201

Bidder Requirements

Bidders must demonstrate: - Advanced expertise in human-centered design methodologies. - Experience delivering HCD training for leadership teams. - Capacity building experience within government agencies. - Proven ability to apply HCD principles to real work products through coaching. - Familiarity with early childhood systems or public sector environments. - Strong facilitation skills for interactive workshops. - Proficiency with virtual collaboration tools and standard productivity platforms.