The Petey Greene Program 
Request for Qualifications 2026
GED and English Language Learning Programs at Rikers Island

  To watch the info session about this RFQ, see links for the recording and slides.

1. INTRODUCTION 

The Petey Greene Program (PGP) seeks proposals from qualified organizations for the purpose of providing high-quality GED and English Language Learning (ELL) programming to people incarcerated at Rikers Island under the New York City Department of Correction’s (NYCDOC).

The PGP is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Princeton, NJ, with programming in six states and Washington, D.C. The Petey Greene Program supports the academic and career goals of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people through high-quality tutoring and other educational programs while serving to educate our volunteers and the public on the manifest injustice in our carceral system.

The PGP was awarded a supplemental education contract by the NYCDOC and is tasked with increasing the number of students ready to take and pass the GED exam, improving student performance in academic courses, increasing the number of college credits earned by people in custody, and broadly tutoring to the educational needs of the population.

2. SCOPE OF WORK 

The PGP invites high-performing, fiscally responsible, providers to apply for this bidding process. Organizations applying must demonstrate experience managing high-quality GED in English, GED in Spanish, and/or ELL programming for adults. Organizations with experience working in secure facilities will be prioritized. 

2. 1 Contract Period

The contract period will take place December 2026 - December 2027. Due to the clearance process required to enter secure facilities, applicants should be prepared to identify staff members and begin required clearances and trainings at least two months prior to the start of the contracted programming. Applicants should offer at least 35 weeks of programming. Successful organizations will be eligible to renew their contracts for a second year of year-round programming.

2.2. Programming Period

The initial programming period will take place January 2027 - December 2027.

2.3 Target Population and Location  

Students eligible for GED and/or ELL programming under this grant will be aged 21 years and older. Because the population is highly variable and transient, the population fluctuates frequently and the length of stay varies. Based on the PGP’s initial discovery process,  surveyed students at Rikers Island are interested in GED classes (50%) and ELL classes (30%) while one-third would like to receive services in Spanish. 

DOC facilities, students are grouped in residential units, with approximately 20-50 persons per unit. Students from different residential units cannot attend programming together. The program should be prepared to serve, but not limited to the populations listed below:  

• Individuals serving a city sentence

• Individuals awaiting trial

• Individuals housed in male-designated units

• Individuals housed in female-designated units

• Individuals identifying as LGBTQ+ 

• Individuals in enhanced supervision
  

  2.4 Programming Structure, Curriculum, and Dosage 

The PGP anticipates running small group GED or ELL classes, with an average of between 2-10 students per instructor. Classes will take place on housing units for at least 35 weeks in the programming year stated above. Classes are approximately 75 minutes in duration. GED classes must operate at least two times per week and ELL classes must operate at least three times per week. The PGP aims to provide at least one day per week of tutoring to supplement the subcontractor’s instructor-led programming. 

Subcontractors will be responsible for providing and adapting their own GED or ELL curriculum, but the PGP will provide direction and support in scheduling, logistics, and program structure to meet the needs and constraints of providing programming at Rikers Island. 

Organizations that can provide the equivalent of 5 FTE instructors, through full-time and/or part-time hires, will be prioritized. At maximum, organizations may propose providing the equivalent of 12 FTE instructors, total across all subject areas. One FTE GED  instructor will work with six units per week, with each unit receiving instruction two times per week. One FTE ELL instructor will work with four units per week, with each unit receiving instruction three times per week.

Additional priority will be assigned to organizations with the ability to provide instructors for all four sections of the GED, GED instruction in both English and Spanish, and/or qualified instructors for ELL programs. These priorities can be met through a collectively qualified cohort of instructors, or individual instructors with the ability to teach multiple subjects. 

2.5 Expected Outcomes

Subcontractors will work with the PGP to improve educational outcomes of students at Rikers. For GED providers, the expected outcomes of programming will be to increase the number of students ready to take and pass the GED exam. ELL providers will be expected to improve students’ individual mastery of the English language, as measured by standardized pre- and post-assessment tools. 

2.6 NYC DOC Background clearance and training requirements 

All subcontractor staff who will be at Rikers two or more times will be required to secure clearance to operate in secure facilities. Staff are required to be at least 21 years old to access NYCDOC Facilities. The PGP will provide technical assistance and support through the clearance and training process, but subcontractors are responsible for monitoring and ensuring completion of required clearances and trainings for their staff. NYCDOC clearance requirements include background checks, fingerprinting, and PREA training. There are at least 15 hours of training and orientation required by NYCDOC including 3 in-person trainings at NYCDOC locations as well as asynchronous virtual trainings 

2.7 Mandatory trainings and meetings with The Petey Greene Program

In addition to NYCDOC requirements, all subcontractor staff who will interact with students (including instructors, facilitators, and coordinators) will be required to participate in three PGP trainings before providing services:

1. Attend a virtual synchronous training of Modules 1 and 2 of PGP’s National Pre-Service Training to learn more about teaching in the carceral context. (Estimated 2-3 hours)

2. Attend a virtual synchronous subcontractor training for working at Rikers Island, led by the Petey Greene Program. (Estimated 1-2 hours)

3. Attend an in-person orientation held inside the correctional facilities where each subcontractor will operate, led by the Petey Greene Program and relevant facility staff. (Estimated 3-5 hours)

All on-site subcontractor staff will be required to participate in the following meetings throughout the duration of the contract:

1. Subcontracted instructors will meet in person daily with on-site PGP Staff for a brief check in or check out procedure to exchange information about logistics and any time-sensitive details . 

2. Subcontracted instructors and/or instructional supervisors will meet virtually weekly with the PGP’s Program Manager for GED or ELL programming as well as the Educational Support Manager to review the schedule and delivery of classes, discuss student progress, coordinate around tutoring support, and troubleshoot any issues

   1. Subcontractor administrative staff or management staff will meet monthly with the PGP’s Program Manager for GED or ELL programming and the PGP’s Associate Director of Rikers Island Programming to discuss overall progress toward meeting goals of the subcontract.

      2.8 Staffing requirements

All subcontractors are required to designate at least one administrative contact and one instructional oversight contact for the organization. If applicable, these may be the same individuals.

Instructor requirements:

Responsibilities

• Lead classes of approximately 2-10 students on a given housing unit, working with each unit two times per week for GED (FTE instructors working with 6 units total) or three times per week for ELL (FTE instructors working with 4 units total) 

• Administer pre, mid, and end of semester academic assessments and share relevant data with the PGP

• Complete a daily instructional log at the conclusion of their instructional day before they leave the island to ensure continuity of support between instructor and tutors

• Maintain accurate attendance records on official sign in sheets according to NYCDOC protocol

• Attend weekly meetings with PGP staff and fellow instructors as needed

• Respond to PGP staff communications via email including time-sensitive messages outside of scheduled hours if needed (typically only for facility lockdowns or unexpected class cancellations)

Availability

• Must complete all NYCDOC clearance and training requirements and PGP training requirements as described above

• Must be able to deliver programming between 9:00am and 3:00pm

• Must be available for one hour before their first scheduled class and one hour after their last scheduled class of the day to allow for timely processing and entry and exit to and from assigned facilities on Rikers Island.

• Must be available for both sessions of a class on a given housing unit each week and throughout the semester, e.g. Tuesdays and Thursdays 9-10:15, unless reassigned by the PGP.

• Must be available to teach a minimum of two classes per day and two days per week

Qualifications

• GED instructors must be qualified and prepared to teach either GED Math and GED Science or GED RLA and GED Social Studies. Instructors with credentials in all subject areas are welcome. 

• GED instructors must meet the minimum qualifications of a Bachelor’s degree, at least one year of experience providing direct GED or high school-level instruction, and familiarity with adult learning theory, culturally responsive pedagogy, and trauma-informed teaching practices. 

• GED instructors in Spanish must be fluent in Spanish and are preferred to have previous experience teaching in Spanish (GED or other levels)

• ELL instructors must meet the minimum qualifications of a Bachelor’s degree, certification or degree in TEFL, TESOL, or CELTA, at least one year of experience providing direct ELL instruction for adults, and familiarity with adult learning theory, culturally responsive pedagogy, and trauma-informed teaching practices.

Instructor oversight requirements

• Responsibilities

• Instructional supervisors must be designated by the subcontractor to meet regularly with subcontracted instructors to provide instructional supervision and professional development including support with lesson planning and adapting lessons and instructional practice to the carceral environment

• Conduct regular teaching observations and monitor program data to ensure consistent implementation of processes and accurate data across programs, as well as timely collection, reporting, and sharing of data with the PGP

• Meet regularly with the PGP’s Program Manager for GED or ELL programming to review the schedule and delivery of classes, discuss student progress, coordinate around tutoring support, and troubleshoot any issues

Administrative contacts are responsible for:

• Following up with organizational staff to ensure that clearances and trainings are submitted by agreed-upon deadlines

• Submitting timely invoices to the PGP, ensuring accuracy of all submitted information

• Participate in weekly meetings with the Petey Greene Program staff in the lead-up to program launch

• Liaising with the PGP to receive approval for as well as communicate in a timely manner any changes in staffing, supplies, and schedule, or to handle any incidents

3. ELIGIBILITY 

Organizations applying must demonstrate experience managing high-quality GED in English, GED in Spanish, and/or ELL programming for adults. Organizations with experience working in secure facilities will be prioritized.

The PGP supports fiscally responsible organizations. Organizations shall establish and maintain books, records, and documents (including electronic storage media) in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and Practices (GAAP) and which sufficiently and properly reflect all revenues and expenditures of funds.

Subcontractors will need to be approved by the New York City Department of Corrections before finalization. Organizations will also need to enroll in the City’s Payee Information Portal (PIP) and to become prequalified in New York City’s PASSPort.

4. APPLICATION SUBMISSION 

4.1 Important dates 

• 9/28/26: Application opens

• UPDATED: 10/26 at 5:00 PM Eastern: Deadline for questions to be submitted using this form.

• 10/14, 10:00 AM Eastern: Information session. Register here.

• 10/30/26 at 5:00 PM Eastern: Deadline to submit applications. All applications submitted by this deadline will be reviewed. 

  4.2 Submission Requirements  

Complete applications must be submitted through the application portal by the deadline. Late or incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Submissions with any missing application attachments are considered incomplete and will not be reviewed. Additional documents not requested will not be reviewed and will be removed from the application materials. Documents that exceed the page limitations will not be reviewed.  Questions will be answered at the information session or can be submitted here.

4.3 Required Documents

In addition to answering questions in the online application form, applicants will be required to provide the following documents:

• Income Statement and Balance Sheet for last completed fiscal year 

• Up to 3 resumes of key programmatic staff (Program Director, current instructional supervisor, and/or program managers for GED or ELL programming, etc).

5. TIMELINE 

Proposals will be evaluated according to the following process. Timelines are estimated and subject to change:

• October-early November:

• Administrative review. The PGP staff will review proposals to determine whether they meet all eligibility criteria.

• Evaluation. Eligible proposals will be vetted using the rubric attached (Attachment A).  

• Mid to late November

• Interviews. Finalists will be interviewed by a committee of PGP staff members. In this phase, finalists may be required to submit additional documentation.

• Conditional awards announced. Subcontractors will need to be approved by the New York City Department of Correction before finalization.

• December: 

• Completion of NYC Health & Human Services (HHS) Contract requirements. Subcontractors are  required to enroll in the City’s Payee Information Portal (PIP) and to become prequalified in HHS Accelerator.

• Staffing, training, and clearances. Subcontractors complete hiring, staff training with the PGP, and NYCDOC clearances and trainings.

• January: Goal for program launch

6. REQUIREMENTS FOR SUBCONTRACTORS

6.1 Records & Confidentiality

Subcontractors agree to hold confidential, both during and after the completion or termination of any agreement, all of the reports, information, or data, furnished to, or prepared, assembled or used by, the subcontractor under the agreement. The Contractor agrees to maintain the confidentiality of such reports, information, or data by using a reasonable degree of care, and using at least the same degree of care that the Contractor uses to preserve the confidentiality of its own confidential information. The subcontractor agrees that such reports, information, or data shall not be made available to any person or entity without the prior written approval of the PGP and the NYCDOC.

In addition, where performance of the agreement involves use of any City books, records, documents, or data at City facilities or offices, the subcontractor shall not remove any such items or material from such facility or office without the prior written approval of the NYCDOC’s designated official.

6.2 Data

Subcontractors may be required to collect consent forms from students and participate in research and evaluation activities commissioned by the PGP.  Subcontractors will submit requested data directly to the PGP. These activities include but are not limited to enrollment and demographics of participants, attendance, and distribution of student surveys. Subcontractors must complete NYCDOC attendance sheets for every class including obtaining student signatures and noting reasons for absences, collecting and return to PGP staff daily. Subcontractors must support the completion of the PGP student intake form within the first week of instruction and thereafter within a week of a new student.

For any NYCDOC books, records, documents, or data (in hard copy, or electronic format), subcontractor may not remove any such items or material from NYCDOC premises without the prior written approval of the NYCDOC’s designated official. 

6.3 Program Reporting

 Subcontractors will report session activities and track student attendance on a daily basis through forms provided by the PGP and NYCDOC. The PGP will also work with subcontractors to collect semesterly academic progress data through pre, mid, and end of semester academic assessments.

6.4 Disbursement of funds 

All invoices must comply with the requirements included within the City of New York Health and Human Services Cost Policies and Procedures Manual.

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