Prepared: 4/13/2026 Issued: 5/10/2026

Fort Bend County, Texas Request for Proposals

Online Homework Tutor for Libraries

RFP 26-054

SUBMIT RFPS TO: SUBMIT NO LATER THAN:

Electronically using the Bonfire Portal : Tuesday, June 2, 2026 https://fortbendcountytx.bonfirehub.com/portal/ 2:00 PM (Central) Or Fort Bend County Purchasing Department LABEL ENVELOPE:

Travis Annex (if responding by hard copy) 301 Jackson, Suite 201 Richmond, TX 77469 RFP 26-054

ONLINE HOMEWORK TUTOR

NOTE: All correspondence must include the term “Purchasing Department” in address to assist in proper delivery.

-IF SUBMITTING A HARD COPY SEALED RESPONSE,

ALL RFPs MUST BE RECEIVED IN AND TIME/DATE STAMPED BY THE PURCHASING OFFICE

OF FORT BEND COUNTY ON OR BEFORE THE SPECIFIED TIME/DATE STATED ABOVE.

RFPs RECEIVED AS REQUIRED WILL THEN BE OPENED AND NAMES PUBLICLY READ.

RFPs RECEIVED AFTER THE SPECIFIED TIME, WILL BE RETURNED UNOPENED.

-IF SUBMITTING AN ELECTRONIC SEALED RESPONSE,

USING THE “BONFIRE” ELECTRONIC BIDDING PORTAL,

USE LINK https://fortbendcountytx.bonfirehub.com/portal/, CLICK THE HELP BUTTON PROVIDED IN THE BONFIRE WEBSITE AS NEEDED.

Results will not be given by phone. Fort Bend County is always conscious and Results will be provided after final agreement extremely appreciative of your effort in is approved by Commissioners Court. the preparation of this solicitation. Requests for information must be in writing through the Bonfire Portal and directed to:

Melissa Stavinoha Senior Buyer Melissa.Stavinoha@fortbendcountytx.gov

Vendor(s) Responsibilities:

Download and complete any addendums. (Addendums will be posted on the Bonfire Portal no later than ours prior to bid opening)

Submit response in accordance with requirements stated on the cover of this document.

DO Not submit responses via email or fax.

https://fortbendcountytx.bonfirehub.com/portal/ https://fortbendcountytx.bonfirehub.com/portal/ mailto:Melissa.Stavinoha@fortbendcountytx.gov

COUNTY PURCHASING AGENT

Fort Bend County, Texas

Vendor Information

Legal Company Name (top line of W9) Business Name (if different from legal name)

Type of Business

Federal ID # or S.S. #

Age in Business?Corporation/LLC Sole Proprietor/Individual

Partnership Tax Exempt

SAM.gov Unique Entity ID #

SAM.gov

CAGE / NCAGE

Remittance Address

City/State/Zip

Physical Address

City/State/Zip

Phone Number

Contact Person E-mail

Check all that apply to the company listed above and provide certification number.

DBE-Disadvantaged Business Enterprise ___ SBE-Small Business Enterprise ___ HUB-Texas Historically Underutilized Business __ WBE-Women’s Business Enterprise __

Certification # ___________ Certification # ___________ Certification # ___________ Certification # ___________

Cert Date Exp Date

Company’s gross annual receipts

<$500,000 _____

$5,000,000-$16,999,999 ___

$500,000-$4,999,999 _____ $17,000,000-$22,399,999 _____ >$22,400,000 _____

NAICs codes (Please enter all that apply) Signature of Authorized Representative

Printed Name

Title

Date

Brooke Lindemann Purchasing Agent Office (281) 341-8640

THIS FORM MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH THE SOLICITATION RESPONSE

Publicly Traded Business ___ Noo ___ Yes Ticker Symbol ________

Fort Bend County RFP 26-054

1.0 SCOPE OF WORK:

Fort Bend County, Texas (hereafter referred to as the “County”) seeks Proposals (“Proposals or RFP”) for selection of a Contractor (“Respondent”) to provide a live, on-demand online homework help service available seven (7) days a week for students in grades K–12, including AP and introductory college subjects, in Fort Bend County, Texas. The service shall offer one-to-one tutoring with qualified, U.S.-based tutors, available in English and Spanish, across core subjects such as math, science, social studies, and English, with additional support services as applicable. The platform must be web-based, require no downloads, and be accessible from all library locations and remotely, supporting unlimited simultaneous users. The Contractor shall ensure COPPA/CIPA compliance, real-time session monitoring, and data confidentiality. Services shall include technical setup, customer support, staff training, promotional materials, and ongoing quality assurance. Monthly reports detailing usage, performance, and user satisfaction shall be provided. The solution must scale to include future locations, meet WCAG accessibility standards, and align with agreed service hours and pricing based on historical usage.

2.0 GUIDELINES:

By virtue of submitting a proposal, interested parties are acknowledging:

2.1 The County reserves the right to reject any or all proposals if it determines that select submissions are not responsive to the RFP. The County reserves the right to reconsider any proposal submitted at any phase of the procurement. It also reserves the right to meet with select Respondents at any time to gather additional information. Furthermore, the County reserves the right to delete or add scope up until the final contract signing.

2.2 All Respondents submitting agree that their pricing is valid for a minimum of ninety (90) days after proposal submission to the County. Furthermore, the County is by statute exempt from the State Sales Tax and Federal Excise Tax;

therefore, proposal prices shall not include taxes.

2.3 This RFP does not commit the County to award, nor does it constitute an offer of employment or a contract for services. Costs incurred in the submission of this proposal, or in making necessary studies or designs for the preparation thereof, are the sole responsibility of the Respondents. Further, no reimbursable cost may be incurred in the anticipation of award. Proposals containing elaborate artwork, expensive paper and binding and expensive visual or other presentations are neither necessary nor desired.

2.4 In an effort to maintain fairness in the process, all inquiries concerning this procurement are to be directed only to the County’s Purchasing Agent in writing.

Attempts to contact any members of the County’s Commissioners’ Court or any other County employee to influence the procurement decision may lead to immediate elimination from further consideration.

2.5 When responding to this RFP, follow all instructions carefully. Submit RFPs content according to the outline specified and submit all hard copy and electronic documents according to the instructions. Failure to follow these instructions may be considered a non-responsive proposal and may result in immediate elimination from further consideration.

3.0 PROPOSAL CONTACT:

This RFP is being issued by the County Purchasing Agent on behalf of Fort Bend County, Texas.

Thus, responses should be directed to the Purchasing Agent, as outlined below. Respondents are specifically directed NOT to contact any County personnel for meetings, conferences or technical discussions that are related to this RFP other than as specified herein.

Unauthorized contact of any County personnel will likely be cause for rejection of the Respondent’s proposal. All communications regarding the RFP shall be directed to the County’s Proposal Contact, by utilizing the Q&A feature in the Bonfire portal.

Communication with the Proposal Contact is permitted via the Bonfire portal, email, or written correspondence.

PROPOSAL CONTACT:

Melissa Stavinoha Senior Buyer Melissa.Stavinoha@fortbendcountytx.gov Fort Bend County 301 Jackson, Suite 201 Richmond, Texas 77469

4.0 SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

4.1

4.1.1 Electronic Sealed Submission Requirements: Use Bonfire Portal Link https://fortbendcountytx.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities Click the help button provided in the Bonfire website as needed. Note that this is the preferred method of submission for all Fort Bend County Solicitations. Submissions are required by RFP opening time of 2:00 PM on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.

4.1.2 Hard Copy Sealed Submission Requirements: One (1) original RFP, four

(4) identical copies, and one (1) electronic response on a labeled flash drive are required by RFP opening time of 2:00 PM on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.

Flash drive must contain only one (1) file in PDF format and must match the respondent’s written/original/paper response identically. If Excel file(s) are provided with the RFP solicitation, complete the Excel file(s), and save on the flash drive as well in Excel. Respondents are not allowed to modify Excel files. Include a PDF of the completed Excel file(s) within your original response and paper copies. Failure to provide proper original, mailto:Melissa.Stavinoha@fortbendcountytx.gov https://fortbendcountytx.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities flash drive or copies is cause for disqualification. RFP shall be submitted to the address shown below.

4.1.3 Electronic and/or Hard Copy Sealed proposals shall be signed by a person having the authority to bind the firm in a contract.

Fort Bend County RFP Number: R26-054 Purchasing Department Due Date: Tuesday, June 2, 2026 301 Jackson, Suite 201 Time: 2:00 PM (CST)

Richmond, TX 77469 For: Online Homework Tutor

4.2 Respondents may submit their RFP any time prior to the Opening Date and time.

The Respondent’s name and address as well as a distinct reference to the RFP number above shall be marked clearly on the hard copy submission. All submissions are time-stamped upon receipt and are securely kept, unopened, until the Opening Date. No responsibility will attach to the County, or any official or employee thereof, for the pre-opening of, post-opening of, or the failure to open a proposal not properly addressed and identified. No oral, telegraphic, telephonic, or facsimile proposals will be considered.

4.3 Submissions may be modified or withdrawn prior to the established opening date by delivering written notice to the proposal contact. Any alteration made prior to opening date and time shall be initialed by the signer of the proposal, guaranteeing authenticity.

4.4 Submissions time-stamped after the due date and time will not be considered and will be returned to the Respondent unopened. Regardless of the method used for delivery, respondents shall be wholly responsible for the timely delivery of submitted RFPs.

4.5 The Respondent’s name and address shall be clearly marked on all hard copies of the submission.

5.0 INCURRED COSTS:

Those submitting proposals do so entirely at their expense. There is no expressed or implied obligation by the County to reimburse any individual or firm for any costs incurred in preparing or submitting proposals, for providing additional information when requested by the County or for participating in any selection interviews, including discovery (pre-contract negotiations) and contract negotiations.

6.0 ACCEPTANCE:

6.1 Submission of any proposal indicates a Respondent’s acceptance of the conditions contained in this Proposal unless clearly and specifically noted otherwise in their proposal.

6.2 Furthermore, the County is not bound to accept a proposal on the basis of lowest price, and further, the County has the sole discretion and reserves the right to cancel this Proposal, to reject any and all proposals, to waive any and all informalities and or irregularities, or to re-advertise with either the identical or revised specifications, if it is deemed to be in the County's best interests. The County reserves the right to accept or reject any or all of the items in the proposal, and to award the contract in whole or in part and/or negotiate any or all items with individual Respondents if it is deemed in the County’s best interest.

6.3 Although Fort Bend County desires to negotiate toward a contract with a selected

Respondent, the Commissioners’ Court may award the contract on the basis of the initial proposals received, without discussions. Therefore, each initial submission should contain the Respondent’s best terms.

7.0 INTERPRETATIONS, DISCREPANCIES, AND OMISSIONS:

7.1 It is incumbent upon each potential Respondent to carefully examine these specifications, terms, and conditions. Should any potential Respondent find discrepancies, omissions or ambiguities in this Proposal, the Respondent shall at once request in writing an interpretation from the County’s Proposal Contact through Bonfire. Any inquiries, suggestions, or requests concerning interpretation, clarification or additional information shall be made in writing via Bonfire only to the County’s Proposal Contact. Deadline for submission of questions and/or clarification is Tuesday, May 26, 2026 at 10:00 AM. (CST). Requests received after the deadline will not be responded to due to the time constraints of this Proposal process.

7.2 The issuance of a written addendum is the only official method by which interpretation, clarification or additional information will be given by the County.

Only questions answered by formal written addenda will be binding. Oral and other interpretations or clarification will be without legal effect. If it becomes necessary to revise or amend any part of this Proposal, notice will be given by the County Purchasing Agent to all prospective Respondents and shall be posted on the Bonfire electronic bidding platform at https://fortbendcountytx.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities.

The Respondent, in their submission, shall acknowledge receipts of amendments.

Each Respondent shall ensure that they have received all addenda and amendments to this Proposal before submitting their response.

8.0 TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:

Release of RFP: May 10, 2026 Deadline for Questions: May 26, 2026 Submission Due Date: June 2, 2026 Evaluation of Submissions: Week of June 8, 2026 https://fortbendcountytx.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities

Commissioners Court Permission to Negotiate: June 25, 2026 Negotiations: Beginning June 26, 2026 Final Contract Approval Commissioners Court: July 23, 2026

9.0 PRE-RFP CONFERENCE:

There is not a Pre-RFP conference for this solicitation.

10.0 RETENTION OF RESPONDENT’S MATERIAL:

The County reserves the right to retain all proposals regardless of which response is selected. All submissions and accompanying documents become the property of the County.

11.0 CERTIFICATE OF INDEPENDENT PRICE DETERMINATION:

By submission of a proposal, each Respondent certifies, that in connection with this procurement:

11.1 The prices in this proposal have been arrived at independently, without consultation, communication, or agreement with any other Respondent; with any competitor; or with any County employee(s) or consultant(s) for the purpose of restricting competition on any matter relating to this Proposal.

11.2 Unless otherwise required by law, the prices which have been quoted in this submission have not been knowingly disclosed by the Respondent and will not knowingly be disclosed by the Respondent prior to award directly or indirectly to any other Respondent or to any competitor; and;

11.3 No attempt has been made or will be made by the Respondent to induce any other person or firm to submit or not to submit a proposal for the purpose of restricting competition.

12.0 ASSIGNMENT:

The Respondent may not sell, assign, transfer or convey the contract resulting from this Proposal, in whole or in part, without the prior written approval from Fort Bend County Commissioners’ Court.

13.0 CONFIDENTIAL MATTERS:

13.1 All data and information gathered by the Respondent and its agents, including this

Proposal and all reports, recommendations, specifications, and data shall be treated by the Respondent and it’s agents as confidential. The Respondent and it’s agents shall not disclose or communicate the aforesaid matters to a third party or use them in advertising, publicity, propaganda, and/or in another job or jobs, unless written consent is obtained from the County.

13.2 Proposals will only be publicly received and acknowledged only so as to avoid disclosure of the contents to competing Respondents and kept secret during negotiation. However, all proposals shall be open for public inspection after the contract is awarded. Trade secrets and any material that is considered to be confidential information contained in the submission and identified by Respondent as such will be treated as confidential to the extent allowable in the Open Records Act.

14.0 LIMITS OF SUBCONTRACTORS:

14.1 The County has approval rights over the use and/or removal of all subcontractors and/or vendor(s). Subcontractors shall conform to all County policies.

14.2 Any dispute between the Respondent and subcontractors, including any payment dispute, will be promptly remedied by the Respondent. Failure to promptly remedy or to make prompt payment to subcontractor may result in the withholding of funds from the Respondent by the County for any payments owed to the subcontractor.

15.0 JURISDICTION, VENUE, CHOICE OF LAW:

This submission and any contract resulting there from shall be governed by and construed according to the laws of the State of Texas. Should any portion of any contract be in conflict with the laws of the State of Texas, the State laws shall invalidate only that portion. The remaining portion of the contract(s) shall remain in effect. Any lawsuit shall be governed by Texas law and Fort Bend County, Texas shall be the venue for any action or proceeding that may be brought or arise out of, in connection with or by reason of this Proposal process and resulting Agreements.

16.0 INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR:

The Respondent is an independent contractor, and no employee or agent of the Respondent shall be deemed for any reason to be an employee or agent of the County.

17.0 AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)

Proposals shall comply with all federal, state, county, and local laws concerning this type of products/service/equipment/project and the fulfillment of all ADA requirements.

18.0 DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE:

All Respondents shall provide any and all notices as may be required under the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, 28 CFR Part 67, Subpart F, to their employees and all sub-contractors to insure that the County maintains a drug-free workplace.

19.0 PERFORMANCE AND PAYMENT BOND:

No performance nor payment bond is required for this project.

20.0 TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION FORM 1295:

20.1 Effective January 1, 2016 all contracts executed by Commissioners Court, regardless of the dollar amount, will require completion of Form 1295 “Certificate of Interested Parties”, per the new Government Code Statue §2252.908. All firms submitting a response to a formal Bid, RFP, RFQ or any contracts, contract amendments, renewals or change orders are required to complete the Form 1295 online through the State of Texas Ethics Commission website. Please visit:

https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/filinginfo/1295/

20.2 On-line instructions:

20.2.1 Name of governmental entity is to read: Fort Bend County.

20.2.2 Identification number use: RFP 26-054.

20.2.3 Description is: Online Homework Tutor.

20.3 Highest evaluated vendor will be required to provide the Form 1295 within three

(3) calendar days from notification; however, if your company is publicly traded you are not required to complete this form.

21.0 INSURANCE:

21.1 All respondents shall submit, with RFP, a current certificate of insurance indicating coverage in the amounts stated below. In lieu of submitting a certificate of insurance, respondents may submit, with RFP, a notarized statement from an Insurance company, authorized to conduct business in the State of Texas, and acceptable to Fort Bend County, guaranteeing the issuance of an insurance policy, with the coverage stated below, to the firm named therein, if successful, upon award of this Contract.

21.2 At contract execution, contractor shall furnish County with properly executed certificates of insurance, which shall evidence all insurance required and provide that such insurance shall not be canceled, except on 30 days prior written notice to County. Contractor shall provide certified copies of insurance endorsements and/or policies if requested by County. Contractor shall maintain such insurance coverage from the time Services commence until Services are completed and provide replacement certificates, policies and/or endorsements for any such insurance expiring prior to completion of Services. Contractor shall obtain such insurance written on an Occurrence form (or a Claims Made form for Professional Liability insurance) from such companies having Best’s rating of A/VII or better, https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/filinginfo/1295/ licensed or approved to transact business in the State of Texas, and shall obtain such insurance of the following types and minimum limits:

21.2.1 Workers’ Compensation insurance. Substitutes to genuine Workers’ 3

Compensation Insurance will not be allowed.

21.2.2 Employers’ Liability insurance with limits of not less than $1,000,000 per injury by accident, $1,000,000 per injury by disease, and $1,000,000 per bodily injury by disease.

21.2.3 Commercial general liability insurance with a limit of not less than

$1,000,000 each occurrence and $2,000,000 in the annual aggregate.

Policy shall cover liability for bodily injury, personal injury, and property damage and products/completed operations arising out of the business operations of the policyholder.

21.2.4 Business Automobile Liability coverage with a combined Bodily

Injury/Property Damage limit of not less than $1,000,000 each accident.

The policy shall cover liability arising from the operation of licensed vehicles by policyholder.

21.3 County and the members of Commissioners Court shall be named as additional insured to all required coverage except for Workers’ Compensation and Professional Liability (if required). All Liability policies including Workers’ Compensation written on behalf of contractor, excluding Professional Liability, shall contain a waiver of subrogation in favor of County and members of Commissioners Court.

21.4 If required coverage is written on a claims-made basis, contractor warrants that any retroactive date applicable to coverage under the policy precedes the effective date of the contract; and that continuous coverage will be maintained or an extended discovery period will be exercised for a period of two (2) years beginning from the time that work under the agreement is completed.

22.0 INDEMNIFICATION:

Respondent shall save harmless County from and against all claims, liability, and expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees, arising from activities of Respondent, its agents, servants or employees, performed under this agreement that result from the negligent act, error, or omission of Respondent or any of Respondent’s agents, servants or employees.

22.1 Respondent shall timely report all such matters to Fort Bend County and shall, upon the receipt of any such claim, demand, suit, action, proceeding, lien or judgment, not later than the fifteenth day of each month; provide Fort Bend County with a written report on each such matter, setting forth the status of each matter, the schedule or planned proceedings with respect to each matter and the cooperation or assistance, if any, of Fort Bend County required by Respondent in the defense of each matter.

22.2 Respondent's duty to defend, indemnify and hold Fort Bend County harmless shall be absolute. It shall not abate or end by reason of the expiration or termination of any contract unless otherwise agreed by Fort Bend County in writing. The provisions of this section shall survive the termination of the contract and shall remain in full force and effect with respect to all such matters no matter when they arise.

22.3 In the event of any dispute between the parties as to whether a claim, demand, suit, action, proceeding, lien or judgment appears to have been caused by or appears to have arisen out of or in connection with acts or omissions of Respondent, Respondent shall never-the-less fully defend such claim, demand, suit, action, proceeding, lien or judgment until and unless there is a determination by a court of competent jurisdiction that the acts and omissions of Respondent are not at issue in the matter.

22.4 Respondent's indemnification shall cover, and Respondent agrees to indemnify

Fort Bend County, in the event Fort Bend County is found to have been negligent for having selected Respondent to perform the work described in this request.

22.5 The provision by Respondent of insurance shall not limit the liability of

Respondent under an agreement.

22.6 Respondent shall cause all trade contractors and any other contractor who may have a contract to perform construction or installation work in the area where work will be performed under this request, to agree to indemnify Fort Bend County and to hold it harmless from all claims for bodily injury and property damage that arise may from said Respondent's operations. Such provisions shall be in form satisfactory to Fort Bend County.

22.7 Loss Deduction Clause - Fort Bend County shall be exempt from, and in no way liable for, any sums of money which may represent a deductible in any insurance policy. The payment of deductibles shall be the sole responsibility of Respondent and/or trade contractor providing such insurance.

23.0 TAX EXEMPT:

Fort Bend County is exempt from state and local sales and use taxes under Section 151.309 of the Texas Tax Code. This project will be deemed a separate project for Texas tax purposes, and as such, Fort Bend County hereby issues its Texas Exemption for the purchase of any items qualifying for exemption under this project. Respondent is to issue its Texas Resale Certificate to vendors and subcontractors for such items qualifying for this exemption, and further, Respondent should state these items at cost.

24.0 SERVICE REQUIREMENTS:

Vendors must provide the below requirements. For each requirement listed, please give a description and reference from an entity you are currently providing the service for noting the section number.

24.1 The online homework help service must be live, on-demand and online homework help.

24.2 The online homework help service must include all present library locations in the library system and at any future locations added during the course of the contract without additional charge.

24.3 The online homework help service must be able to connect a student to a live tutor within a short period of time with a one-to-one ratio of student to tutor.

24.4 The online homework help service is to be geared towards students from elementary through 12th grade.

24.5 The online homework help service should include but not limited to the subjects of math, science, social studies, and English related to the above grade levels.

College intro subjects and AP subjects would also be preferred.

24.6 Please describe other services the online homework help vendor may offer such as skill-building, writing labs, language learning, career and adult education, and practice tests such as STAAR, ACT, SAT, ASVAB, and others.

24.7 The online homework help service must be available seven (7) days a week.

24.8 The online homework help service must allow for unlimited simultaneous users during hours of operation. Hours of operation must be negotiable and mutually agreed upon by both parties.

24.9 The online homework helps service needs to be available both in English and

Spanish during all hours of operation.

24.10 The online homework help service should deliver high-quality tutoring homework assistance using tutors that are all U.S. based, possess degrees or qualifications in their subject areas, undergone rigorous background and reference checks, screening, training and professional development and be able to work with all ages of students in an online environment in a positive, professional way.

24.11 The library’s patrons are to be able to connect to the online homework help service from the library (onsite), home, mobile devices, or any other remote location going through the library website. The use of library card authentication for remote users to enter the online homework help site should be negotiable and mutually agreed upon by both parties.

24.12 The online homework help service is required to maintain strict COPPA/CIPA compliance with respect to its services. Sessions are to be monitored in real-time by the vendor with session transcripts reviewed and archived. All user information is required to be kept confidential and not distributed to a third party.

24.13 The online homework help service is required to have a system of quality control to evaluate tutors, handle complaints and provide feedback to the library.

24.14 The online homework help service must provide the library with monthly reports that include but are not limited to:

• Total number of sessions for the month

• Total number of sessions by subject

• Total number of sessions by grade level

• Total number of sessions per branch and per remote users

• Post-session satisfaction surveys

24.15 The online homework help service will be available to students without the need for additional downloads, including plug-ins and software. It is to be designed to work across multiple platforms (Mac/PC).

24.16 The online homework help service vendor is required to provide as part of its contract, technical set-up assistance and provide the library the appropriate URL and/or IP addresses.

24.17 The online homework help service vendor must provide the library email notification of downtime during the online homework help service due to maintenance, upgrades, technical difficulties, etc.

24.18 The online homework help service vendor must provide as part of its contract customer support such as a helpline/hotline that is available during the online homework help hours to answer technical or other questions that may arise.

24.19 The online homework help service vendor is required to provide as part of its contract onsite and interactive web-based training to the Fort Bend County Library staff and presentations to the community, county officials, etc. as needed.

24.20 The online homework help service vendor is required to provide as part of its contract advertising materials such as posters, bookmarks, etc. to publicize the program in the libraries and community.

24.21 Pricing for the online homework help service is required to be based on the below historical data of past usage of this library system, hours of service, and the actual cost of the tutors. This contract is intended to extend four (4) years past the initial 12-month term.

24.21.1 Total usage (Homework help, Skills Building, Writing Lab, Test Center

Visits and Database Usage) based on an average 12-months = 2,435 tutoring sessions per month.

24.21.2 Homework help, Skills Building, Writing Lab, Test Prep Sessions based on an average 12-months = 2,154 per month.

24.21.3 Hours = 2:00 PM through 11:00 PM, seven (7) days a week.

24.22 The online homework help service vendor is required to provide a list of current public library clients as references.

24.23 The online homework help service vendor website must meet the current standards of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

25.0 EVALUATION CRITERIA:

In order to facilitate the analysis of responses to this Request for Proposal, Respondents are required to prepare their submissions in accordance with the instructions outlined in this part.

Proposals should be prepared as simply as possible and provide a straightforward, concise description of the Respondent’s capabilities to satisfy the requirements of the Proposal. Emphasis should be concentrated on accuracy, completeness, and clarity of content. All parts, pages, figures, and tables should be numbered and clearly labeled.

25.1 Respondents are required to follow the outline below when preparing their submission. Tabs are to be utilized to identify each section.

Tab Title Page Letter of Transmittal Table of Contents Executive Summary

1 Understanding of Requirements 2 Experience with Projects of Similar Size and Complexity 3 Pricing 4 Overall Completeness of Proposal

25.2 Any exceptions to the Proposal requirements shall be identified in the applicable section.

25.3 Executive Summary - This part of the response to the Proposals should be limited to a brief narrative highlighting the Respondent’s proposal. This section should not include cost quotations. Note that the executive summary should identify the primary contacts for the Respondent.

25.4 Respondents will be evaluated utilizing the factors, as weighted below:

Tab 1 Understanding Requirements (weight factor = 45%)

The Respondent must clearly and in detail demonstrate their understanding of the project, the proposed services, and their ability to successfully deliver the requirements set forth in this RFP under 24.0.

Tab 2 Experience with Projects of Similar Size and Complexity (weight factor = 40%)

Firm Experience with Projects of Similar Size and Complexity:

Such experience must be in the form of providing understanding of the public library system as it relates to Online Homework Tutor.

List only projects completed/references within the last 5 years;

provide the name and location of each project, the client, and a contact person, email address and phone number.

Tab 3

Pricing (weight factor = 10%)

Provide detailed pricing in Respondents’ proposal.

Tab 4 Overall Completeness (weight factor = 5%)

Provide required completed forms. Well organized and well written proposals, responding coherently to this Request for Proposal will be given preference. Statement must clearly identify contact person responsible for the submission, giving individual’s name and employer, address, and telephone number.

26.0 EVALUATION PROCESS:

26.1 After the proposals are received, the evaluation team shall evaluate each proposal that was submitted on time, and the evaluation shall be based on the criteria listed in the proposal. Selection committee members will conduct a quantitative evaluation according to a numerical ranking system and a qualitative evaluation for overall proposal content and its conformance to requirements. The entire evaluation committee will then meet to discuss the strong and weak points of each proposal to assure that it has been evaluated fairly, impartially and comprehensively. Following this initial evaluation, the evaluation team may recommend contract award without further discussion with proposers, or the firms submitting the top rated proposals may be asked to make an oral presentation to the evaluation team for the propose of further clarification and evaluation of the proposals.

26.2 If oral presentations are scheduled, the representatives of the firm who will be directly assigned to the account must be present at the interview. During the interview portion of the meeting, the evaluation team shall advise the proposer of deficiencies in the proposal and shall allow the proposer to satisfy the requirements, questions, or concerns by submitting a final offer. The proposer may decide not to modify their proposal and may inform Fort Bend County that the offer is firm and final.

26.3 The evaluation team shall not disclose any information included in a firm’s proposal to another firm during the RFP process and shall not disclose any information for the purpose of bringing one firm’s proposal up to that of a competitor’s proposal.

26.4 After final offers are received, the evaluation team shall reevaluate each of the final offers, including those deemed final at the interview. The final offers shall be evaluated on the same criteria used in the first evaluation.

26.5 Fort Bend County reserves the right to reject any and all proposals received for any reason that would be to the benefit of Fort Bend County.

26.6 All proposals submitted are to be valid for a period of ninety (90) days

27.0 TERM:

The agreement term is for the period from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, renewable annually for four (4) years (through September 30, 2031) under the same terms and conditions if mutually agreeable by both parties. Either party for any reason may terminate this agreement by giving thirty (30) days written notice of the intent to terminate.

The term of this agreement shall also be subject to the availability of funds to be appropriated in the Library’s budget.

28.0 AWARD:

Proposals will be opened on the date specified on the cover page and kept confidential until the Fort Bend County Commissioners Court awards a final negotiated contract. Only the names of the respondents will be read aloud during the opening. Proposals will be evaluated by a committee comprised of County staff. The committee will forward their recommendations to the Fort Bend County Commissioners Court.

29.0 VENDOR STATUS:

The awarded vendor is required to hold an active status on the SAM.gov website, if applicable, https://sam.gov/content/home and with the Texas Comptroller Taxable Entity website https://mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us/coa/.

30.0 STATE LAW REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTRACTS:

The contents of this section are required by Texas Law and are included by County regardless of content.

30.1 Agreement to Not Boycott Israel Chapter 2271 Texas Government Code:

Contractor verifies that if Contractor employs ten (10) or more full-time employees and this Agreement has a value of $100,000 or more, Contractor does not boycott Israel and will not boycott Israel during the term of this Agreement.

30.2 Texas Government Code Section 2251.152 Acknowledgment:

By signature on vendor form, Contractor represents pursuant to Section 2252.152 of the Texas Government Code, that Contractor is not listed on the website of the Comptroller of the State of Texas concerning the listing of companies that are identified under Section 806.051, Section 807.051 or Section 2253.153.

31.0 HUMAN TRAFFICKING:

By acceptance of this contract, Contractor acknowledges that Fort Bend County is opposed to human trafficking and that no County funds will be used in support of services or activities that violate human trafficking laws.

32.0 REQUIRED FORMS:

All respondents submitting shall complete the attached and return with submission:

32.1 Vendor Information Form

32.2 W9 Form

32.3 Tax Form/Debt/Residence Certification

https://sam.gov/content/home https://mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us/coa/

Form W-9 (Rev. March 2024) Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service

Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification

Go to www.irs.gov/FormW9 for instructions and the latest information.

Give form to the requester. Do not send to the IRS.

Before you begin. For guidance related to the purpose of Form W-9, see Purpose of Form, below.

1 Name of entity/individual. An entry is required. (For a sole proprietor or disregarded entity, enter the owner’s name on line 1, and enter the business/disregarded entity’s name on line 2.)

2 Business name/disregarded entity name, if different from above.

3a Check the appropriate box for federal tax classification of the entity/individual whose name is entered on line 1. Check only one of the following seven boxes.

Individual/sole proprietor C corporation S corporation Partnership Trust/estate

LLC. Enter the tax classification (C = C corporation, S = S corporation, P = Partnership) Note: Check the “LLC” box above and, in the entry space, enter the appropriate code (C, S, or P) for the tax classification of the LLC, unless it is a disregarded entity. A disregarded entity should instead check the appropriate box for the tax classification of its owner.

Other (see instructions)

3b If on line 3a you checked “Partnership” or “Trust/estate,” or checked “LLC” and entered “P” as its tax classification, and you are providing this form to a partnership, trust, or estate in which you have an ownership interest, check this box if you have any foreign partners, owners, or beneficiaries. See instructions

4 Exemptions (codes apply only to certain entities, not individuals;

see instructions on page 3):

Exempt payee code (if any)

Exemption from Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) reporting code (if any)

(Applies to accounts maintained outside the United States.)

5 Address (number, street, and apt. or suite no.). See instructions. Requester’s name and address (optional)

6 City, state, and ZIP code

7 List account number(s) here (optional)

Part I Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Enter your TIN in the appropriate box. The TIN provided must match the name given on line 1 to avoid backup withholding. For individuals, this is generally your social security number (SSN). However, for a resident alien, sole proprietor, or disregarded entity, see the instructions for Part I, later. For other entities, it is your employer identification number (EIN). If you do not have a number, see How to get a TIN, later.

Note: If the account is in more than one name, see the instructions for line 1. See also What Name and Number To Give the Requester for guidelines on whose number to enter.

Social security number or

Part II Certification Under penalties of perjury, I certify that:

1. The number shown on this form is my correct taxpayer identification number (or I am waiting for a number to be issued to me); and

2. I am not subject to backup withholding because (a) I am exempt from backup withholding, or (b) I have not been notified by the Internal Revenue

Service (IRS) that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c) the IRS has notified me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding; and

3. I am a U.S. citizen or other U.S. person (defined below); and

4. The FATCA code(s) entered on this form (if any) indicating that I am exempt from FATCA reporting is correct.

Certification instructions. You must cross out item 2 above if you have been notified by the IRS that you are currently subject to backup withholding because you have failed to report all interest and dividends on your tax return. For real estate transactions, item 2 does not apply. For mortgage interest paid, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, contributions to an individual retirement arrangement (IRA), and, generally, payments other than interest and dividends, you are not required to sign the certification, but you must provide your correct TIN. See the instructions for Part II, later.

General Instructions Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise noted.

Future developments. For the latest information about developments related to Form W-9 and its instructions, such as legislation enacted after they were published, go to www.irs.gov/FormW9.

What’s New Line 3a has been modified to clarify how a disregarded entity completes this line. An LLC that is a disregarded entity should check the appropriate box for the tax classification of its owner. Otherwise, it should check the “LLC” box and enter its appropriate tax classification.

New line 3b has been added to this form. A flow-through entity is required to complete this line to indicate that it has direct or indirect foreign partners, owners, or beneficiaries when it provides the Form W-9 to another flow-through entity in which it has an ownership interest. This change is intended to provide a flow-through entity with information regarding the status of its indirect foreign partners, owners, or beneficiaries, so that it can satisfy any applicable reporting requirements. For example, a partnership that has any indirect foreign partners may be required to complete Schedules K-2 and K-3. See the Partnership Instructions for Schedules K-2 and K-3 (Form 1065).

Purpose of Form An individual or entity (Form W-9 requester) who is required to file an information return with the IRS is giving you this form because they

Cat. No. 10231X Form W-9 (Rev. 3-2024)

Employer identification number

Sign Signature of Here U.S. person

Pr in t o r t yp e.

Se e Sp ec ifi c In st ru ct io ns o n pa ge http://www.irs.gov/FormW9 http://www.irs.gov/FormW9

Job No.: RFQ _________

TAX FORM/DEBT/ RESIDENCE CERTIFICATION

(for Advertised Projects)

Taxpayer Identification Number (T.I.N.):

Company Name submitting Bid/Proposal:

Mailing Address:

Are you registered to do business in the State of Texas? Yes No

If you are an individual, list the names and addresses of any partnership of which you are a general partner or any assumed name(s) under which you operate your business

I. Property: List all taxable property in Fort Bend County owned by you or above partnerships as well as any d/b/a names. Include real and personal property as well as mineral interest accounts. (Use a second sheet of paper if necessary.)

Fort Bend County Tax Acct. No.* Property address or location**

* This is the property account identification number assigned by the Fort Bend County Appraisal District.

** For real property, specify the property address or legal description. For business personal property, specify the address where the property is located. For example, office equipment will normally be at your office, but inventory may be stored at a warehouse or other location.

II. Fort Bend County Debt - Do you owe any debts to Fort Bend County (taxes on properties listed in I above, tickets, fines, tolls, court judgments, etc.)?

Yes No If yes, attach a separate page explaining the debt.

III. Residence Certification - Pursuant to Texas Government Code §2252.001 et seq., as amended, Fort Bend County requests Residence Certification. §2252.001 et seq. of the Government Code provides some restrictions on the awarding of governmental contracts; pertinent provisions of §2252.001 are stated below:

(3) "Nonresident bidder" refers to a person who is not a resident.

(4) "Resident bidder" refers to a person whose principal place of business is in this state, including a contractor whose ultimate parent company or majority owner has its principal place of business in this state.

I certify that is a Resident Bidder of Texas as defined in Government Code [Company Name] §2252.001.

I certify that is a Nonresident Bidder as defined in Government Code [Company Name]

§2252.001 and our principal place of business is .

[City and State]

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