The Metropolitan Area Planning Council issued a Request for Information (RFI), looking for organizations that could host or supervise a team of "Digital Navigators."

About 20% of households in Massachusetts Gateway Cities do not have internet access at home, while 30% lack access to computing devices. When households do have service, it's often expensive or slow.

To tackle this digital access deficit, MAPC has partnered with the Massachusetts Broadband Institute to deploy free or low-cost wifi networks in five gateway cities. When these new networks are installed, MAPC is interested in establishing digital equity/literacy programs, made up of representatives embedded in the communities they service, equipped with resources to support learners.

With this RFI, we're looking responses from organizations interested in hosting and/or supervising a team of these "digital navigators." Sound like something your organization may be interested in? Read and respond to the full RFI today!

Key Dates

• Respondent Conference: Thursday, August 12, 1 to 2:30 p.m.
• Last Day to Submit Written Questions: Wednesday, August 18 at 5 p.m.
• Responses to Written Questions Posted: Friday, August 20. Click here to download.
• Submission Due Date: Tuesday, August 31 at 1 p.m.
• Anticipated Follow-Up: September 2021

Please note: this RFI is issued solely for the purpose of obtaining information. Nothing in this RFI shall be interpreted as a commitment on the part of MAPC to procure or enter into a contract with any Respondent.

Respondents are responsible for entering content suitable for public viewing, as all of the responses and questions are accessible to the public. Respondents must not include any information that could be considered personal, security sensitive, inflammatory, incorrect, collusive, or otherwise objectionable, including information about the Respondent’s company or other companies.