The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is seeking partners with experience working with youth between the ages of 10-21 to provide programming for the 2024 Urban Summer Youth Initiative, entitled DCR Summer Nights. The initiative is focused on providing urban youth of all abilities with a variety of cultural, recreational, and educational experiences during the summer months of July and August.  
 
DCR invites youth organizations serving all urban Massachusetts communities to apply, with a focus on the following areas: Attleboro, Barnstable, Boston, Brockton, Chelsea, Chicopee, Everett, Fall River, Fitchburg, Gardner, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Methuen, New Bedford, Peabody, Pittsfield, Quincy, Revere, Salem, Springfield, Taunton, Westfield, and Worcester. Partners may offer programs at selected DCR, municipal, and partner sites. Authorized use of non-DCR sites will be the responsibility of the partner and will incur no risk of liability to DCR. 
 
If organizations are interested in submitting a proposal for DCR’s 2024 Summer Nights program, please note there is a new 2-step process for this year:

STEP 1: Organizations must submit a bid on CommBuys in response to the DCR-937 RFR for Youth Programming in order to be awarded a master contract. The deadline for submitting a bid response in CommBuys for DCR-937 is March 29, 2024 at 4:00PM. If organizations have not submitted a bid response in CommBuys by this date, DCR will not be able to accept proposals for Summer Nights programming.

STEP 2: Submit a proposal specifically for DCR’s 2024 Summer Nights program. To submit a proposal, organizations must complete the attached Summer Nights Proposal Form. Completed proposals must be submitted via email to [email protected].  

Proposals for Summer Nights are due by April 1, 2024.  Please note, this deadline must be adhered to in order to allow sufficient time to review bids and award organizations in a timely manner.     
Should you have questions please feel free to reach out.