1-WK2659-EMCE-SS Eureka Math Curriculum Extension Sole Source.pdf

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Attached to
Notice of Proposed Sole Source Procurement - Eureka Math Curriculum Extension Sole Source
Solicitation number
WK2659-EMCE-SS
Issued by
Salt Lake County, Salt Lake City, Utah

About this file

This is a Notice of Intent to Award a Contract Without Engaging in a Standard Procurement Process issued by the Salt Lake City School District (SLCSD) Purchasing Department for the continuation of an elementary mathematics curriculum. The procurement seeks one additional year of Eureka Math curriculum with Great Minds, the current adopted K-6 mathematics program used across all elementary classrooms. The contract was originally awarded following an RFP process in March 2017 under bid number WK2435-MCESS, with an initial contract period ending June 30, 2026. This sole source extension (WK2659-EMCE-SS) is requested to extend the contract one additional year beyond the current expiration date. The contract term for this extension is five years with no renewal options specified. No specific response date, bidder's conference, or site visit requirements are outlined in the document.

The estimated contract value for the one-year extension is $151,427 with no freight costs. The SLCSD justifies this sole source procurement under Section B (Transitional Costs) rather than Section A (Only One Source), demonstrating through a cost-benefit analysis that transitioning to a new curriculum provider would cost $1,820,650 compared to $151,427 for continuation with Great Minds. Significant transitional costs include $642,000 in teacher training expenses and implementation costs for a new program. The primary justification for the extension is to allow the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) to finalize pending Core Revisions to mathematics standards that will significantly impact curriculum requirements for fiscal year 2027, ensuring the district can select a new program better aligned with finalized standards rather than implementing a new curriculum during a transition year. The vendor is Great Minds (Federal Tax ID 943785772), a for-profit corporation, with Shawn Walker listed as the vendor contact.

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Salt Lake City School District Purchasing Department 995 West Beardsley Place, Salt Lake City, UT 84119 Phone: 801-974-8368 Fax: 801-974-8375 www.slcschools.org

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A CONTRACT WITHOUT ENGAGING IN A STANDARD PROCUREMENT

PROCESS

The Salt Lake City School District (SLCSD) Purchasing Department is publishing this notice pursuant to the Utah Procurement Code. The requesting department submitted this form to the Purchasing Department claiming that it intends to award a contract without competition if it is determined by the Purchasing Department, in writing, that:

• there is only one source for the procurement item;

• transitional costs are a significant consideration in selecting a procurement item; or

• the award of a contract is under circumstances, described in rules adopted by the applicable rulemaking authority, that make awarding the contract through a standard procurement process impractical and not in the best interest of the

SLCSD.

In the subsequent pages, the requesting department has identified its justification for wanting to award a contract without engaging in standard procurement process.

Determination of Other Interested Vendors

The intent of this notice is to determine if there are any other interested and qualified vendors that meet the specifications of this notice. Any such vendors must submit the following information:

• The name of the contesting qualified vendor; and

• A detailed explanation, including documentation, showcasing any other competing sources for the procurement item.

In addition, a qualified vendor should include:

• Documentation that vendor can provide a comparable or better procurement item that meets or exceeds the specifications;

• Documentation that vendor can also provide the same proprietary procurement item or an equivalent procurement item; and

• If transitional costs are identified as the justification for this notice, submit a cost comparison of the identified transitional costs with vendor’s anticipated transitional costs.

Regardless of any prior communications with SLCSD or the Purchasing Department, all vendors interested in responding to this notice must submit a response to this posting containing complete responses to all of the information requested above.

DO NOT CONTACT THE CONDUCTING PROCUREMENT UNIT. Any questions regarding this notice, including obtaining additional information, can be obtained through the Purchasing Department during the publication period. No action is required if you agree with this Notice.

If, after the public notice period has passed, the Purchasing Department determines that there are other interested and qualified vendors that meet the specifications of this notice, the Division of Purchasing will not award a contract pursuant to this notice.

If, after the public notice period has passed, no valid challenges have been received, then the Purchasing Department may award a contract to the identified vendor without competition.

Please read the entire form very carefully before responding to this notice.

http://www.slcschools.org/

Department/School Contact Information Department/Division Name: Teaching and Learning

Contact Person and Title: Dr. Tiffany Hall, Executive Director

E-mail Address: tiffany.hall@slcschools.org Telephone Number: 801-578-8206 Does the requestor or anyone at the requesting department/school have any personal, financial, or fiduciary relationship with the proposed vendor? No

Item or Service

Description of procurement item to be purchased: One additional year of elementary Eureka Math with Great Minds contract

Estimated value of the contract/purchase order:

Freight Cost (F.O.B. Destination, Freight Prepaid): 0

Contract

1. Insert requested term of contract: 5 and renewal options: 0 (The standard contract term is five (5) years. If the requested term will be longer than five years, written justification is required.)

2. The Department/School may not make the procurement until the solicitation process is completed and a contract is written and signed by the Department/School, the vendor, and the Purchasing Department.

Purchase Order 1. If the total purchase will be greater than $1,000.00 the Department/School may not make the procurement until after the solicitation process is completed, the PO is signed by the Purchasing Department, and the PO is delivered to both the Department/School and the vendor.

Vendor Information

Vendor Name: Great Minds Vendor Contact Person: Shawn Walker Vendor E-mail Address: shawn.walker@greatminds.org Vendor Telephone Number: 801-703-3661 Vendor Ordering Address: Great Minds PBC

PO Box 200283 Pittsburg, PA 15251-0283

Vendor Remittance Address:

All items in the above section are required.

Complete the following if no vendor number exists in BusinessPLUS (IFAS):

Vendor Federal Tax ID# (TIN): (9 Digits): 943785772

Type of Vendor: For-Profit Corporation

CHECK THE BOX THAT IDENTIFIES WHY A CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER SHOULD BE AWARDED

WITHOUT ENGAGING IN A STANDARD PROCUREMENT PROCESS:

There is only one source for the procurement item. Complete section A x

Transitional costs are a significant consideration in selecting a procurement item and the results of a cost-benefit analysis demonstrate that transitional costs are unreasonable or cost-prohibitive, and that the award of a contract without engaging in a standard procurement process is in the best interest of the procurement unit

Complete section B

The award of a contract is under circumstances, described in Utah Administrative Code R33-8, that make awarding the contract through a standard procurement process impractical and not in the best interest of the procurement unit.

Complete section C

SECTION A: ONLY ONE SOURCE

1. What is unique about this procurement item to justify an award of contract without engaging in a standard procurement process? (Explain in detail why the service or product is only available from a single supplier.)

2. Could the procurement item be reasonably modified to allow for competition?

3. Explain the market research performed.

4. What research have you conducted to ensure the requested procurement item is not available on an existing district or state cooperative contract?

5. If there is only one source for the procurement item, list the names of other similar vendors contacted, contact person, and a summary of their response, SECTION B: TRANSITIONAL COSTS – If you have selected Section B you must also complete Attachment A – Cost Benefit Analysis

1. Describe the existing equipment, technology, software, accessories, replacement parts, or service, hereafter referred to as equipment; include the original purchase price and date of purchase for the existing equipment.

SLCSD uses Eureka Math with Great Minds as the adopted curriculum for K-6 instruction in mathematics. The Notice of Intent to Select was posted on March 1, 2017. The contract period ends June 30, 2026 WK2435-MCESS. This curriculum and its necessary manipulatives are used in all elementary classrooms to teach mathematics. The program includes online teacher resources.

2. Please supply the following:

a. Procurement method that was used to purchase the existing equipment/service? (IFB, RFP, Sole Source): RFP Sole Source

b. Bid number, P.O. number, Requisition number, or sole source number for the existing equipment/service: WK2435-

MCESS

c. Contract number for the existing equipment/service: WK2435-MCESS

3. Complete “Attachment A - Cost-Benefit Analysis”, as required by Utah Procurement Code §63G-6a-802 that demonstrates transitional costs are unreasonable or cost-prohibitive.

SECTION C: STANDARD PROCUREMENT PROCESS IMPRACTICABLE

1.

Cite the applicable rule from Utah Administrative Code R33-8 that provides awarding the contract through a standard procurement process as impractical and not in the best interest of the procurement unit under the circumstances; including any supporting documentation.

2. Please supply the following, if applicable:

a. Procurement method that was used to purchase the existing equipment? (IFB, RFP, Sole Source):

b. Bid number, P.O. #, Requisition #, or sole source number for the existing equipment/services:

c. Contract number for the existing equipment/services

Administration Approval:

Authorized Department/School Administrator Date

Recommend Award: Final Approval by Purchasing Director:

SLCSD Purchasing Agent Date Tyler Barnes, Asst. Director of Purchasing (or designee) Date

Salt Lake City School District Purchasing Department 995 West Beardsley Place, Salt Lake City, UT 84119 Phone: 801-974-8368 Fax: 801-974-8375 www.slcschools.org

ATTACHMENT A – COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS

Utah Code Annotated §63G-6a-802 (Utah Procurement Code) anticipates instances where the cost to transition from a product or services is unreasonable or cost-prohibitive. These costs are referred to as transitional costs by definition.

Transitional costs means the costs of changing from an existing provider of a procurement item to another provider of that procurement item; or from an existing type of procurement item to another type; includes training costs; conversion costs;

compatibility costs; costs associated with system downtime; disruption of service costs; staff time necessary to implement the change; installation costs; and ancillary software, hardware, equipment, or construction costs; and does not include the costs of preparing for or engaging in a procurement process; or contract negotiation or drafting costs.

Because there are vendors who “could” compete for the product or service (this request is not a sole source) if not for the transitional costs, the law requires additional details to support the determination in the form of a cost benefit analysis. The purpose is to flush out the figures to support the determination. This form is to be completed for all proposed contracts/purchases where transitional costs (Section B) are cited for not competing the opportunity. The form must be completed in its entirety and be submitted with the main form above.

Original Purchase of Current Product/Service

Continuation with Current Provider

(no transition costs)

Costs to Transition to New Product/Service

Acquisition Price 942,919 151,427 1,178,650

Training Costs 379,640 0 642,000

Implementation Costs

Conversion Costs

Compatibility Costs

System Downtime Costs

Staff Time

Other Cost

Total $1,322,559 $151,427 $1,820,650

Comments to support the figures provided.

SLCSD awarded the original contract TF1701-MC to Eureka Math with Great Minds as the adopted curriculum for K-6 instruction in mathematics. The Notice of Intent to Select was posted on March 1, 2017, and initially expired on 03/01/2024. A Sole Source posting WK2529-EMCE-SS was necessary to extend the contract an additional year due to the Utah State Board of Education making Core Revisions that would change the curriculum Standards. This contract period ends June 30, 2026. A new Sole Source posting WK2659-EMC-SS is needed to extend the existing contract one additional year due to additional Utah State Board of Education Core Revisions that have not been finalized and will significantly impact the curriculum standards for this coming fiscal year 2027. This curriculum and its necessary manipulatives are used in all http://www.slcschools.org/ elementary classrooms to teach mathematics. The program includes online resources. In order to stay in alignment with the current curriculum standards and ensure financial efficiency and continuity, it is necessary to extend the current contract and continue with Eureka Math with Great Minds for an additional year allowing the Utah State Board of Education time to approve additional core revisions.

During the 2024-22027 school years, the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) is revising the Utah Core Standards for Mathematics. These standards define the content and topics taught at each grade level and the topics on which students will be assessed during high stakes end of year testing. Waiting one more year until we know what changes USBE is making to each grade level math core is critical to selecting a math program that closely matches the new standards, deepens mathematical understanding, and prepares students for high stakes testing.

Attempting to implement a new math program in 2026-27 would be expensive. Teacher would need ongoing training on a new program and additional contracted professional development days are not in the contract calendar. We would have to contract with each teacher and pay them to attend professional development for 3-4 days outside of the contract calendar. We could not require teachers to attend so professional development would be optional and less well attended. As a result, our implementation of a new program would be less cohesive and less effective.

To implement a new program and train teachers we would have to pay additional days for teachers to participate in training.

The professional development rate is $30 per hour, and usually it takes 4-5 days of training to bring in a new program. This would be, at the least, $30 x 8 hours x 4 days x 650 teachers = $624,000. Therefore, the total price just for an initial set of professional development around a new program in a year with no additional professional learning days would be at least $624,000.

The RFP committee needs to include elementary teachers to make decisions about the new math curriculum. Allowing teachers an additional year would ensure they have time to learn about the new changes in the math core and make a better choice for a curriculum that matches the new core standards and would move student learning forward.

Extending the contract with Eureka Great Minds for one year will allow us the necessary time to know the changes USBE is making to the math core. It will allow our teachers time to become familiar with those changes, so we are prepared to make a thoughtful, well-informed decision for a new math program.

THIS SECTION TO BE FILLED OUT BY SLCSD PURCHASING DEPARTMENT

The public notice period shall be (Check the box that applies):

a. If the cost of the procurement exceeds $50,000 then the publication of the notice must be made in accordance with Section 63G-6a-112.

b.

Procurements under $50,000.00 are not required to be published, but may be published at the discretion of the SLCSD Director of Purchasing Published: Not Published:

c. Publication is not required for a procurement pursuant to a trial use contract.

d.

Publication is waived for an award of contract without engaging in a standard procurement process procurement:

For any procurement item identified in Utah Administrative Code R33-8-101(7)(b)(i-viii);

For award to a specific supplier, service provider, or contractor is a condition of a donation that will fund the full cost of the supply, service, or construction item;

For other circumstances as determined in writing by the chief procurement officer or head of a procurement unity with independent procurement authority.

The Terms and Conditions that will be attached to the awarded agency contract/purchase order:

District Contract: Goods Services IT for DTS only Att. B IT Non-DTS (include DTS Exception Form, if applicable) Purchase Order: Goods Services IT for DTS only Att. B IT Non-DTS (include DTS Exception Form, if applicable)

For Purchasing Department Use After the Public Posting Period: Agent: Wendy Kemp Notice#: WK2659-EMC-SS

Commodity Code(s):

# of Vendors Sent To:

Additional Research & Comments:

Summary of Contest(s) Received & Determination:

SECTION A: ONLY ONE SOURCE
SECTION B: TRANSITIONAL COSTS – If you have selected Section B you must also complete Attachment A – Cost Benefit Analysis

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