REQUEST FOR QUALIFIED SERVICES

K-12 Science Curriculum Implementation Support

Due: July 16, 2026 - 2 pm MST

SECTION I: PROCUREMENT SCOPE AND OBJECTIVE

1.1 District Context Tooele County School District (the “District” or “TCSD”) is soliciting competitive qualifications from qualified individuals or agencies with documented expertise in providing high-quality, standards-aligned primary instructional resources and professional learning. It is the intent of this Request for Qualified Services (RFQS) to secure an independent contractor or service provider (“Vendor” or “Respondent”) to support the District’s multi-year implementation of the OpenSciEd curriculum for grades K-8, as adopted by the Board of Education on June 10, 2026.

1.2 Core Objective The District’s goal is to provide research-based, relevant, and appropriate materials that effectively support teaching and learning practices in alignment with the Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) standards. The selected vendor will support and facilitate the implementation of OpenSciEd materials and deliver a comprehensive, curriculum-based professional learning program for the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 school years.

SECTION II: SCOPE OF WORK — MATERIALS ADAPTATION AND ORGANIZATION

2.1 OpenSciEd Customization and Utah SEEd Alignment The vendor shall be responsible for the technical adaptation of OpenSciEd units (K-8) to ensure alignment with Utah SEEd standards.

· Resource Leveraging: The vendor will utilize and modify existing OpenSciEd resources developed by the Alpine School District (Utah). This includes rebranding all materials with TCSD logos while maintaining appropriate intellectual property recognition of Alpine School District.

· Completion Timeline: Vendor must coordinate the work with the understanding that Alpine-sourced materials are expected to be 100% finalized by the end of the 2026-27 school year.

· Grade 7-8 Specifics: The vendor will work with TCSD Teachers/Staff to identify OpenSciEd units that align with secondary SEEd standards (accounting for units utilized in 6th grade) and produce corresponding teacher manuals, student handouts, and equipment/consumable materials lists.

2.2 Digital Infrastructure and Accessibility The vendor will develop and organize a District OpenSciEd Website page with links to Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) course materials to serve as the central repository for instructional assets, including:

· Digital Assets: Lesson presentations, student handouts (formatted for high-fidelity printing), and comprehensive supply lists (categorized by one-time equipment and annual consumables).

· Equitable Learning Supports: The vendor will develop specialized materials for students with diverse needs, specifically including resources for students who are blind or deaf and tiered reading supports for students with low literacy proficiency.

2.3 Curriculum Integration and Deliverables with TCSD Core Instructional Practices The vendor will support the development of district instructional tool examples for each grade level:

· District Curriculum Guides: High-level pacing, standard unpacking, and description of available resources in each grade level.

· Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum (GVC): Specific pacing guides for each grade that meet requirements outlined in the District Guide for Unit Design manual.

· Assessment Examples: For one unit per grade level, the vendor must provide:

· Common Formative Assessments (CFA) and Summative Assessments.

· Data collection tables and/or grading rubrics for team data analysis.

· Exemplar prevention, intervention, and enrichment activities for the unit.

· Sharing Systems: A digital framework for schools to share locally developed resources and assessments organized by grade level, standard, and curriculum unit.

SECTION III: SCOPE OF WORK — PROFESSIONAL LEARNING (PL) DELIVERY

3.1 Multi-Phase Implementation Schedule The vendor will manage a tiered professional development rollout totaling approximately 120 days of delivery over a two-year period.

· Phase 1: 2026-27 Grade 3-6 Pilot Program with curriculum based professional learning (40 half-days of PD for all pilot teachers) to support the classroom implementation of the OpenSciEd curriculum in each grade level.

· Phase 2: 2027-28 Full Implementation and Expansion

· Grades 3-6 Full Adoption: 40 half-days of PD for all non-pilot teachers.

· Grades K-2 Pilot: 40 half-days of PD for new K-2 pilot school teams.

3.2 PD Methodology and Modality

· Curriculum-Based Model: Training must follow a "teachers as students" approach. Participants will engage in lessons as learners before reflecting on pedagogical roles and student actions.

· Unit Breakdown: 10 half-days per cohort (Intro/Unit 1: 4 half-days; Units 2, 3, and 4: 2 half-days each).

· Modality: Initial training for each cohort must be face-to-face and in-person. Subsequent units may transition to online or asynchronous formats, as needed.

· Administrative Oversight: The vendor is responsible for supporting district staff with "Principal Approval and Agreements" to ensure pilot teachers are granted sufficient time for implementation fidelity.

3.3 Coaching and Support Systems The vendor must establish a robust teacher check-in system. This may include a schedule of classroom observations, a structured coaching model, and/or the maintenance of Canvas-based reflection courses and discussion boards.

SECTION IV: INSTRUCTIONAL PHILOSOPHY AND TECHNICAL EXPECTATIONS

4.1 Three-Dimensional Learning and Student Agency All materials and training must emphasize the three dimensions of science found in the Utah SEEd Standards and described in Framework for K-12 Science Education (NRC, 2012). The three-dimensions of science are also carefully utilized in the OpenSciEd curriculum. The Three-Dimensions of Science are:

1. Science and Engineering Practices: Engaging students in the "doing" of science.

2. Crosscutting Concepts: Providing a framework for connecting knowledge across disciplines.

3. Disciplinary Core Ideas: Deepening explanatory knowledge in science. Instruction must be Phenomenon-Based, centering on student agency and the use of authentic, real-world problems to drive inquiry.

4.2 Technical Requirements and LMS Integration: All technical adaptation of OpenSciEd materials will be made available and fully compatible with the Canvas (LMS).

SECTION V: MANDATORY VENDOR QUALIFICATIONS

To be eligible for evaluation, respondents must provide evidence of the following Mandatory Qualifications. This section will be scored as a pass/fail:

· Standards Expertise: Proven history of adapting NGSS-designed curriculum (e.g., OpenSciEd) to the specific requirements of Utah SEEd standards.

· Service History: Documented success in providing curriculum support to public school districts similar to the size of TCSD, preferably districts in Utah.

· Management Capability: Demonstrated experience in conducting weekly project management meetings with District-level Science Directors.

· Legal Standing: Vendors must act as independent contractors and provide a completed W-9.

SECTION VI: QUALIFICATION FORMAT AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

6.1 Structural Organization Qualifications must be organized into the following distinct sections:

1. Letter of Interest (Max 2 Pages): Narrative of the agency's philosophy, alignment with Utah SEEd, and intent of service.

2. Agency Profile/Qualifications: Summary of experience including up to three District references.

3. Technical Qualification (Max 10 Pages): Detailed narrative of the K-12 Science Curriculum Support and PD plan aligned to requirements outlined in Sections II - V of this RFQS.

SECTION VII: ONGOING EVALUATION AND CONTRACT TERMS

7.1 Performance Monitoring The selected vendor will meet weekly with the TCSD Science Curriculum Director. Furthermore, a formal performance evaluation and work progress review will occur every three (3) months to ensure project milestones are met in alignment with agreed goals.

7.2 Contract Duration and District Rights

· Term: Two (2) years (2026-27 and 2027-28 School Years)

· The Contract will be for a period of one year, renewable each year through the life of the two-year program (ending June 30, 2028)

· The District reserves the right to review contract(s) on a regular basis regarding performance and cost analysis and may negotiate price and service elements during the term of the contract. A review will be performed at the end of school year one (end of the 2026-2027 school year) and year two (at the end of the 2027-2028 school year). We reserve the right to negotiate the year’s services, agreeable to both parties.

· Right of Refusal: Tooele County School District reserves the right to reject any and all qualifications, to waive any non-statutory informality or technicality, and to act in the best interest of the District regardless of committee scoring.

SECTION VIII: Evaluation Process and Criteria

8.1 Multi-Step Evaluation Process Qualifications will be evaluated using a multi-step process where only the top respondents in each stage will continue to the subsequent stage of review.

1. Stage 1 - The initial review will be based on the Section II: Scope of Work-Materials Adaptation and Organization, Section III: Scope of Work - Professional Learning (PL) Delivery, and Section IV: Instructional Philosophy and Technical Expectations following the evaluation rubric. Qualification with an overall score of 70 or higher will move to Stage 2. Categories will be evaluated on a 1-5 force choice scale (the 3 value is removed) and some categories are weighted by 2-4 to demonstrated added value.

Scoring will utilize the following scale:

0 = No response 1 = Poor (Does not meet any requirements) 2 = Partially responsive (Does not meet all requirements) 4 = Average Response (meets all requirements) 5 = Excellent

Stage 1: Initial Review (Technical & Capability) Evaluation Rubric

Category

Section II: Materials Adaptation

Total __________ / 35

· Acknowledges Alpine School District (ASD) Materials and how those materials will be adapted for TCSD use.

· Plan describes how they will utilize the ASD materials to create materials for grades 7 and 8.

· Curriculum Guides

· Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum

· Common Formative Assessment (CFA) examples with associated prevention and enrichment lessons

· Unit Assessment examples with associated intervention and enrichment lessons.

Section III: Professional Learning Delivery

Total __________ / 30

· Describes professional learning as curriculum based with “teachers-as-students”

· Outlines face-to-face and online, and asynchronous professional learning options

2. Stage 2 - If necessary, based on the results of the Stage 1 evaluation, to identify a clear rank for the available qualification, respondents may be contacted for a video interview where additional questions will be asked to clarify the qualifications and to make final determinations to perceive which respondents will best be able to accomplish the scope of service.

3. Stage 3 - Fee Negotiations will begin with the highest scoring vendor. If a fair and reasonable contract cannot be negotiated with the highest scoring vendor, negotiations will move to the next highest scoring vendor, and so on until a fair and reasonable contract can be established

8.2 Award Determination Award shall be made to the respondent deemed most capable of accomplishing the Scope of Services required, taking into account the qualifications and evaluations factors here outlined.

SECTION IX: Qualification Submission and Project Contact Information

9.1 Qualification Submission

· Qualifications must be submitted electronically, through BONFIRE. Upload all documents in the Requested Information section of BONFIRE. When submitting a qualification electronically through BONFIRE, please allow sufficient time to complete the online forms and to upload qualification documents. The RFQS will end at the deadline. If a responder is in the middle of uploading a qualification when the deadline arrives, the system will stop the upload process and the qualification will not be accepted by BONFIRE, and the attempted submission will be considered late and ineligible for consideration.

· Qualifications must be submitted and received no later than 2:00 PM MST on July 16, 2026.

9.2 Timeline

· RFQS Advertised: June 25, 2026

· Deadline for Questions: July 9, 2026 at 12:00 PM MST

· RFQS Deadline: July 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM MST

· Respondent Interviews (if needed): Week of July 20th, 2026

· Contract Effective Date: August 12, 2026

· First Meeting with TCSD Science Director: August 12, 2026

9.3 Questions and Contact Information

· Responders are prohibited from communications regarding this RFQS with the Procurement Unit staff, evaluation committee members, or other associated individuals EXCEPT the procurement officer overseeing this RFQS.

The Question and Answer period closes on the date and time specified in Utah’s Public Procurement Place (BONFIRE, formerly known as SciQuest or U3P). All questions must be submitted through BONFIRE during the Question and Answer period. Answers from the School District will be posted on BONFIRE. Questions may include notifying the School District of any ambiguity, inconsistency, scope exception, excessively restrictive requirement, or other errors in this RFP. Questions are encouraged.

Answers from the Procurement Unit will be posted on Bonfire. Questions may be answered individually or may be compiled into one document.

Questions may also be answered via an addendum. An answered question or an addendum may modify a requirement of this RFQS. It is the responsibility of the Responder to submit their response as required by this RFQS, including any requirements contained in an answered question and/or addenda.

Responders should periodically check Bonfire for answered questions and addendums before the closing date. It is the responsibility of the Responder to submit their responses as required by this RFQS, including any requirements contained in an answered question and/or addendums.

9.4 Terms and Conditions

Any contract resulting from this RFQS will include, but not be limited to the Standard Terms and Conditions. The Standard Terms and Conditions can be found on the State's Purchasing website: Purchasing.utah.gov - Forms -Terms and Conditions.

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