2-NC2616-Mental Health Consultation Services for Child Dev. Lab Schools RFP (FINAL).pdf

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) #NC2616

Mental Health Consultation Services for Child Development Laboratory Schools

The District will only accept proposals electronically uploaded to the EUNA Procurement System (formerly

Bonfire) at: https://ccc.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities

City Colleges of Chicago will issue email alerts via EUNA for all published RFPs.

EUNA Vendor Support: access the EUNA Customer Hub

Proposal Due Date: Proposals must be submitted in the CCC EUNA Procurement portal no later than 12:00 p.m. Central Time, Friday, August 7, 2026

Pre-Proposal Conference: A pre-proposal conference is scheduled for Monday, July 13, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. to discuss the Scope of Services and the Minority and Women Business Enterprise Contract Participation Plan

(MBE/WBE).

MEETING LINK:

https://cccedu.zoom.us/j/95820348158?pwd=NvNd9YTVw5NGqWig20pBeLxsnDpvb4.1&from=addon

Questions: All questions regarding this solicitation should be submitted via the CCC EUNA Portal at:

https://ccc.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities.

Questions Deadline: The deadline for submitting final questions via EUNA is Thursday, July 16, 2026, by 12:00 p.m. Central Time.

https://ccc.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities https://customer.eunasolutions.com/public/s/ https://cccedu.zoom.us/j/95820348158?pwd=NvNd9YTVw5NGqWig20pBeLxsnDpvb4.1&from=addon

RFP #NC2616

Mental Health Consultation Services for Child Development Laboratory Schools RFP

C I T Y C O L L E G E S O F C H I C A G O

Contents

1. BACKGROUND

2. INTENT TO SUBMIT

3. BUSINESS GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

4. SCHEDULE

5. SCOPE OF SERVICES

5.1. INTERROGATORIES

6. SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITION

6.1. Insurance Requirements

6.2. Federal/State Funding

6.3. Participation by other Local Government Agencies

6.4. Payment

6.5. Termination

6.6. Indemnity

6.7. Non-Discrimination

7. SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS (Required Proposal Content)

7.1 Table of Contents

7.2 Cover Letter

7.3 Executive Summary

7.4 Response to the Scope of Services

7.5 Qualifications of the Proposer and References

7.6 Proposed Team Structure/Key Personnel

7.7 MBE/WBE Participation (Subcontracting or Teaming)

7.8 Joint Ventures

7.9 Fee/Cost Proposal

7.10 Financial Statements

7.11 Insurance Requirements

7.12 Legal Actions

7.13 CCC Ethics Orientation Contractors/Vendors

7.14 Disclosure

7.15 Debarment

7.16 Economic Disclosure Statement

7.17 IRS W-9 Form

7.18 Addenda

8. EVALUATION CRITERIA

8.1. Responsiveness of Proposal

8.2. Qualitative Criteria

8.3. Technical Evaluation

9. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

9.1. Time for Receiving Proposals

9.2. Communications and Inquiries

9.3. Pre-proposal Conference (if applicable)

9.4. Preparatory Cost

9.5. Contract Award

9.6. Contract Term

9.7. Conflicts

9.8. Withdrawal of Proposals

9.9. Ownership and Confidentiality

9.10. Addenda to this RFP

10. APPENDIX I – ADDENDA ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM

1 . B A C K G R O U N D

City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) consists of seven (7) community colleges which are all located within the city limits of Chicago. In addition, there are five (5) satellite locations that are affiliated with the colleges. A seven-member board of trustees, who are appointed by the Mayor of Chicago, governs the system. The chief administrative officer of the system is the Chancellor, who is appointed by the Board of Trustees. Each college has its own President, who reports to the Chancellor, and its own administrative staff which is responsible for policy administration in the areas of human resources and staff development, finance, academic affairs, administrative services and information technology. Each of these areas is headed by a Vice Chancellor that reports to the Chancellor.

2 . I N T E N T T O S U B M I T

Vendors who intend to submit a proposal in response to this solicitation should indicate their intent to submit in the EUNA portal, https://ccc.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities , no later than Wednesday, August 5, 2026, by 12:00 p.m. If proposers fail to declare their intent, they must do so as part of their submission.

3 . B U S I N E S S G O A L S A N D O B J E C T I V E S

The City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) is soliciting proposals from Vendors (“Vendor”) qualified to provide Mental Health Consultation Services.

CCC intends to award one thirty-six (36) month contract for the requested services with an additional two (2) one-year renewal options based on satisfactory performance, and continued funding availability. The Board of Trustees may elect to extend at a renewal rate not to exceed 4% per fiscal year of the contract or as negotiated per industry standards. Vendors may agree to maintain the current rate and terms.

A multi-year contract is recommended to ensure continuity of mental health consultation services, consistency of care for children and families and stability of staffing.

Through the provision of the services identified in this RFP, the selected proposer shall assist in meeting the following business goals and objectives:

Goal 1: Ensure Head Start–Compliant, High-Quality Mental Health Consultation Across All Programs

Provide comprehensive Mental Health Consultant (MHC) services that meet Office of Head Start Performance Standards and support the social-emotional development and mental wellness of children across all Child Development Laboratory Schools.

Objectives:

• Deliver prevention-focused, relationship-based mental health consultation services in alignment with

Office of Head Start requirements.

• Provide consultation services to all five (5) Child Development Laboratory School campuses, serving a total of sixteen (16) classrooms, ensuring consistency and equity across sites.

• Collaborate with program leadership and staff to support compliance, documentation, and monitoring related to mental health service delivery.

• Participate in program planning and continuous quality improvement activities related to children’s social-emotional and mental health outcomes.

Goal 2: Build Capacity of Staff and Strengthen Classroom and Program-Level Practices

Strengthen the ability of school leaders, educators, and support staff to implement developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive social-emotional practices.

Objectives:

• Provide reflective consultation, coaching, and guidance to support positive classroom environments and effective behavior support strategies.

• Support staff understanding of child development, social-emotional learning, and mental health promotion aligned with early childhood best practices.

• Assist educators and administrators in responding to challenging behaviors through preventive, instructional, and relational approaches rather than exclusionary practices.

• Promote staff wellness and reflective practice as essential components of high-quality early childhood programs.

Goal 3: Deliver Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Services that Engage Families as Partners

Ensure mental health consultation services are inclusive, accessible, and responsive to the cultural, linguistic, and community contexts of children and families served.

Objectives:

• Provide mental health consultation services that are culturally sustaining and responsive to the diverse backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences of children and families.

• Ensure the availability of Spanish-speaking Mental Health Consultants to support effective communication and family engagement.

• Demonstrate a preference and capacity for providing or coordinating additional language supports as needed.

• Support meaningful family engagement by collaborating with staff to partner with families on children’s social-emotional needs while honoring confidentiality, trust, and family voice.

Goal 4: Ensure Full Compliance with Personnel, Background Check, and Program Requirements

Maintain safe, compliant, and authorized delivery of mental health services across all sites.

Objectives:

• Ensure that all Mental Health Consultants assigned under this contract successfully complete and maintain Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) [pg. 12 https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/fss/supp_info/ChildrenServices/CELUpdates2020/C ELSManualJanuary2020.pdf], The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) [https://dcfs.illinois.gov/for-providers/background-checks-for-licensed-and-unlicensed-providers/background-check-portal-for-licensed-providers.html], Chicago Public Schools (CPS) [https://accuratebiometrics.com/specific-cps-instructions] and district-required background checks and clearances prior to service delivery.

• Maintain adequate staffing, supervision, and documentation to meet contractual and regulatory expectations.

• Comply with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations related to confidentiality, ethics, and professional practice.

4 . S C H E D U L E

CCC anticipates the following schedule.

Activity Estimated Date RFP posted to the procurement portal June 29, 2026 Pre-Proposal conference and/or site visit July 13, 2026 Proposer Questions Deadline July 16, 2026 CCC response to Proposer Questions– Tentative July 27, 2026 Intent to Submit Proposal August 5, 2026 Proposal Due Date August 7, 2026

5 . S C O P E O F S E R V I C E S

The RFP and all attachments are available for download from the City Colleges of Chicago EUNA Portal, https://ccc.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities. Proposers are responsible for checking the EUNA Portal for required forms, templates, clarifications, and/or addenda.

https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/fss/supp_info/ChildrenServices/CELUpdates2020/CELSManualJanuary2020.pdf https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/fss/supp_info/ChildrenServices/CELUpdates2020/CELSManualJanuary2020.pdf https://dcfs.illinois.gov/for-providers/background-checks-for-licensed-and-unlicensed-providers/background-check-portal-for-licensed-providers.html https://dcfs.illinois.gov/for-providers/background-checks-for-licensed-and-unlicensed-providers/background-check-portal-for-licensed-providers.html https://accuratebiometrics.com/specific-cps-instructions https://headstart.gov/policy/45-cfr-chap-xiii/part-1302-program-operations https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/ILCS/Articles?ActID=2043&ChapterID=57&Print=True https://www.naeyc.org/sites/default/files/wysiwyg/user-174467/naeyc_code_of_ethics_for_early_childhood_educators.pdf https://www.naeyc.org/sites/default/files/wysiwyg/user-174467/naeyc_code_of_ethics_for_early_childhood_educators.pdf

Mental Health Consultant (MHC) Services

The Child Development Laboratory Schools seek a qualified Contractor to provide Mental Health Consultant (MHC) services that are consistent, equitable, culturally and linguistically responsive, and fully compliant with Office of Head Start (OHS) Performance Standards.

Historically, the program has experienced challenges including:

• Difficulty securing and retaining Spanish-speaking Mental Health Consultants, limiting equitable access for families;

• Administrative and service delivery challenges related to multiple contracts across sites, resulting in fragmented coordination; and

• Variability in service quality and approach across campuses and classrooms.

This RFP is intended to establish a single, coordinated contract that addresses these challenges and ensures high-quality, consistent mental health consultation services across all five (5) Child Development Laboratory School campuses.

Richard J. Daley College 7500 S. Pulaski Rd., Chicago IL 60652

Kennedy-King College 710 W. 65th St., Bldg. Z, Chicago IL 60620

Malcolm X College 1900 W. Jackson, Chicago IL 60612

Olive-Harvey College 10001 S. Woodlawn Ave., Chicago IL 60628

Truman College 1145 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago IL 60640

1. Program Coverage and Service Delivery

The Contractor shall:

• Provide Mental Health Consultant services to all five (5) Child Development Laboratory School campuses, serving a total of sixteen (16) classrooms under a unified, coordinated service model.

• Ensure consistency in service delivery, consultation approach, and quality across all sites, while remaining responsive to site-specific needs.

• Ensure mental health consultations are available at a frequency of at least twice a month per campus.

• Eliminate fragmentation associated with multiple site-based contracts by providing centralized coordination, communication, and oversight.

• Work collaboratively with program leadership to develop and maintain a cohesive service schedule and consultation model.

2. Head Start–Compliant Mental Health Consultation

The Contractor shall:

• Deliver Mental Health Consultant services that meet all applicable Office of Head Start Performance

Standards, with an emphasis on prevention, early intervention, and relationship-based practice.

• Provide consultation that supports social-emotional development, mental wellness, and classroom climate rather than primarily reactive or crisis-based services.

• Partner with program leadership to support compliance monitoring, documentation, and continuous improvement related to mental health services.

3. Classroom and Staff Consultation and Capacity Building

The Contractor shall:

• Provide consistent, high-quality consultation and coaching to educators and administrators across all sites to reduce variability in service quality.

• Support staff in implementing developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive behavior guidance and social-emotional strategies.

• Assist staff in understanding and responding to challenging behavior through preventive and instructional approaches.

• Promote reflective practice and staff wellness as key components of effective early childhood mental health support.

The Contractor shall also provide:

• A minimum of 2 all-staff professional development sessions annually

• Written recommendations following classroom observations when requested

• Quarterly reflective consultation opportunities for leadership teams

• Support plans for classrooms experiencing persistent behavioral challenges

4. Family Engagement and Collaboration

The Contractor shall:

• Support programs in strengthening partnerships with families around children’s social-emotional development and mental health.

• Provide consultation that respects family culture, language, values, and confidentiality.

• Collaborate with staff to ensure families receive consistent, accurate, and accessible information and support regardless of campus location.

5. Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Services

The Contractor shall:

• Deliver culturally sustaining services responsive to the diverse backgrounds, languages, and lived experiences of children and families served.

• Provide Spanish-speaking Mental Health Consultants as a required component of service delivery to address previously identified gaps in language access.

• Demonstrate the capacity and preference to provide or coordinate additional language supports beyond Spanish as program needs evolve.

• Ensure linguistic access is built into service delivery models rather than addressed on an ad hoc basis.

6. Collaboration, Planning, and Continuous Improvement

The Contractor shall:

• Collaborate with program leadership to identify trends, strengths, and areas for improvement across sites and classrooms.

• Participate in regular planning and review meetings to support alignment, consistency, and quality improvement.

• Use consultation insights to inform program-level recommendations that address systemic needs, including consistency of practice and service effectiveness.

7. Documentation, Reporting, and Communication

The Contractor shall:

• Maintain clear, consistent documentation of consultation services across all sites.

• Provide periodic summaries or reports that support program oversight, quality assurance, and Head

Start compliance.

• Communicate proactively with designated program contacts to ensure transparency and alignment of services across campuses.

Required reporting shall include:

• Monthly service logs

• Quarterly trend summaries

• Professional development attendance records

• Aggregate referral and consultation data

• Program-level recommendations

• Response timelines of 3-5 business days for standard reports

8. Staffing Qualifications and Compliance Requirements

The Contractor shall:

• Ensure all Mental Health Consultants are state-licensed professionals (such as social workers, psychologists, or counselors), have specialized experience and training in early childhood mental health consultation.

• Ensure all personnel assigned to this contract successfully complete and maintain DFSS, DCFS, CPS, and district-required background checks and clearances.

• Maintain adequate staffing, supervision, and succession planning to prevent service disruptions and inconsistencies.

9. Contract Term and Continuity of Services

The Contractor shall:

• Provide services for a three (3) year contract term, with the potential for two (2) one-year extensions, subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability.

• Ensure continuity and consistency of services across the full contract term, including during any staff transitions.

The contractor must also comply with all applicable confidentiality, FERPA, HIPAA, and data privacy requirements.

Future State: Centralized Mental Health Consultation Model

The Child Development Laboratory Schools seek to establish a single, centrally managed Mental Health Consultant contract that provides consistent, high-quality, and culturally and linguistically responsive services across all five (5) campuses. This centralized model is designed to address prior challenges related to fragmented contracts, inconsistent service quality, and limited access to Spanish-speaking consultants.

Through a unified approach, Mental Health Consultant services will be coordinated, equitable, and aligned with Office of Head Start Performance Standards, while remaining responsive to the unique needs of each school community. Spanish-speaking consultants will be embedded into the service model, and additional language supports will be strategically planned as needed.

Anticipated Impact

This centralized contract model is expected to:

• Improve consistency and quality of mental health services across all sites

• Close gaps in language access and culturally responsive service delivery

• Reduce administrative complexity and improve coordination and oversight

• Strengthen staff capacity and confidence in supporting children’s social-emotional development

• Enhance compliance, sustainability, and long-term stability of mental health services

• Support children, families, and staff through a unified consultation framework.

5.1. INTERROGATORIES

Must Have Requirements

1. Estimated Onsite Support o What are the estimated monthly onsite consultation hours?

2. Staffing Plan o What staffing ratios are you proposing?

3. Classroom Observation Schedule o How frequently will classroom observations be conducted?

4. Staff Consultation Schedule o How frequently will staff consultations occur?

5. Urgent Response Expectations o What are your expected response times for urgent consultation requests?

6. Virtual Consultation Availability o What availability will you have for virtual consultation when appropriate?

7. Office of Head Start Compliance o How will you ensure that Mental Health Consultant (MHC) services fully comply with Office of

Head Start Performance Standards, including prevention-focused and relationship-based consultation?

8. Multi-Site Service Delivery Capacity o How will you deliver coordinated, consistent services across five campuses and sixteen classrooms under a single centrally managed contract?

9. Spanish-Speaking Consultant Availability o How will you guarantee the availability of qualified Spanish-speaking MHCs to support communication with Spanish-speaking children, families, and staff?

10. Consistency and Quality Assurance o How will you implement a standardized consultation approach that maintains consistent quality across all sites while accommodating site-specific needs?

11. Early Childhood Mental Health Expertise o What credentials, licensure, and early childhood mental health experience do your consultants possess, particularly in Head Start or early learning settings?

12. Culturally Responsive and Trauma-Informed Practice o How will you ensure that services are culturally sustaining and trauma-informed, responsive to diverse cultural, linguistic, and community contexts?

13. Staff Capacity-Building and Classroom Support o How will you provide reflective consultation, coaching, and guidance to educators and administrators to support classroom climate, social-emotional development, and non-exclusionary practices?

14. Family Engagement Support o How will you support programs in partnering with families around children’s social-emotional and mental health needs in alignment with Head Start family engagement principles?

15. Background Checks and Clearances o How will you ensure that all consultants complete and maintain Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) [pg. 12 https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/fss/supp_info/ChildrenServices/CELUpdates 2020/CELSManualJanuary2020.pdf], The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) [https://dcfs.illinois.gov/for-providers/background-checks-for-licensed-and-unlicensed-providers/background-check-portal-for-licensed-providers.html], Chicago Public Schools (CPS) [https://accuratebiometrics.com/specific-cps-instructions] and district-required background checks and clearances prior to service delivery?

16. Documentation and Reporting Systems o How will you maintain required documentation and provide reports or summaries that support program oversight, compliance, and continuous quality improvement?

17. Staffing Credentials o How will you ensure all Mental Health Consultants are state-licensed professionals (such as social workers, psychologists, or counselors), have specialized experience and training in early childhood mental health consultation?

Nice to Have Requirements

1. Additional Language Capacity o How will you provide or coordinate consultation services in languages other than English or Spanish as program needs evolve?

2. Centralized Staffing and Succession Planning o What staffing model do you use to ensure continuity of services during consultant absences or turnover?

3. Experience with Laboratory Schools or Higher Education Programs o What prior experience do you have supporting child development laboratory schools or comparable higher education–affiliated instructional settings?

4. Program-Level Data Analysis and Trend Reporting o How will you analyze service data and identify cross-site trends to inform program-level planning and improvement?

5. Professional Learning Facilitation o What capacity do you have to provide structured professional development sessions or learning modules aligned with mental health consultation goals?

6. Flexible Service Modalities o How will you offer a mix of in-person and virtual consultation options when appropriate and aligned with program needs?

6 . S P E C I A L T E R M S A N D C O N D I T I O N

6.1. Insurance Requirements

The Proposer shall procure and maintain at all times, at Proposers own expense, until final acceptance of the Work covered by this Agreement, and if required to return during the warranty period, the types of insurance specified below, with insurance companies authorized to do business in the State of Illinois covering all operations under this Agreement, whether performed by the Proposer or by subcontractors.

The kinds and amounts of insurance required are as follows:

1. Worker's Compensation and Occupational Disease Insurance. Workers Compensation and Occupational Disease Insurance, in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, or any other applicable jurisdiction, covering all employees who are to provide a service under this contract.

Employer’s liability coverage with limits of not less than $1,000,000.00 each accident or illness shall be included.

2. Commercial Liability Insurance (Primary and Umbrella). Commercial Liability Insurance or equivalent with limits of not less than $5,000,000.00 per occurrence, combined single limit, for bodily injury, personal injury, and property damage liability. Products/completed operations, explosion, collapse, underground, independent contractors, broad form property damage and contractual liability coverages are to be included. City Colleges of Chicago is to be named as an additional insured without recourse or right of contribution for any liability arising from this work.

3. Automobile Liability Insurance. When any motor vehicles are used in connection with work to be performed, the Contractor shall provide Automobile Liability Insurance with limits of not less than $1,000,000.00 per occurrence combined single limit, for bodily injury and property damage. The City Colleges of Chicago is to be named as an additional insured.

4. Cyber Liability. A Cyber and Privacy Policy shall be maintained with limits of not less than $5,000,000.00 to address liability for a data breach which may result in the compromise of personal data pertaining to District Trustees, Employees, Students, Administrators, Staff, Visitors and Guests.

The Policy shall cover a variety of expenses associated with data breaches, including, but not limited to:

notification costs, credit monitoring, costs to defend claims by state regulators, fines and penalties, and loss resulting from identity theft.

5. Fidelity, EPLI and Professional Liability (E&O). Professional liability insurance covering errors, omissions or negligent acts must be maintained with limits of not less than $5,000,000.00. Coverage must include contractual liability. When policies are renewed or replaced, the policy retroactive date must coincide with, or precede, start of work on this Agreement. A claims-made policy, which is not renewed or replaced, must have an extended reporting period of two (2) years.

The Contractor will furnish City Colleges of Chicago original Certificates of Insurance evidencing the required coverage to be in force on the date of this contract, and Renewal Certificates of Insurance, or such similar evidence, if the coverage has an expiration or renewal date occurring during the term of this contract. The Contractor shall submit evidence of insurance prior to contract award. The failure of City Colleges of Chicago to obtain such evidence from Proposer before permitting Proposer to commence work shall not be deemed to be a waiver by City Colleges of Chicago, and the Proposer shall remain under continuing obligation to maintain the insurance coverage.

The insurance herein specified shall be carried until all work required to be performed under the terms of the Agreement is satisfactorily completed and formally accepted. Failure to carry or keep such insurance in force may constitute a violation of the Agreement, and City Colleges of Chicago maintains the right to stop work until proper evidence of insurance is provided.

The insurance shall provide for 60 days prior written notice to be given to City Colleges of Chicago Procurement and Business Services Department in the event coverage is substantially changed, canceled, or non-renewed.

The Proposer shall require all subcontractors to carry the insurance required herein, or Proposer may provide the coverage for any or all subcontractors, and, if so, the evidence of insurance submitted shall so stipulate.

Any and all deductibles on referenced insurance coverage shall be borne by Proposers.

Proposer expressly understands and agrees that any insurance coverage and limits furnished by Proposer shall in no way limit the Proposer’s liabilities and responsibilities specified within the contract documents or by law.

The Proposer and each subcontractor agree that insurer shall waive their rights of subrogation against City Colleges of Chicago.

The Proposer expressly understands and agrees that any insurance maintained by City Colleges of Chicago shall apply in excess of and not contribute with insurance provided by the Proposer under the contract.

If the Proposer, or its subcontractors desire additional coverage, higher limits of liability, or other modifications for its own protection, the Proposer and each of its subcontractors, shall be responsible for the acquisition and cost of such additional protection.

City Colleges of Chicago maintains the right to modify, delete, alter or change these requirements.

6.2. Federal/State Funding

If funding for the Deliverables in this Subgrant Agreement derive from federal funding sources, then the terms set forth in this Addendum/Section shall apply and are hereby incorporated into the Subgrant Agreement. For purposes of this section, references to the “CCC” mean Chicago City Colleges and all its offices. References to “Entity” refers to “Subgrantee/Subgrantee”. References to “Contract” or “Agreement” refers to this Subgrant Agreement.

1. Compliance with Federal Law, Regulations, and Executive Orders. Entity will comply with all applicable federal statutes, regulations, executive orders, and other federal requirements in carrying out any project supported by federal funds. The Entity recognizes that federal laws, regulations, policies, and administrative practices may be modified from time to time and those modifications may affect project implementation. The Entity agrees that the most recent federal requirements will apply to the project.

2. Debarment and Suspension. Entity is not presently debarred, suspended, proposed, for debarment, declared ineligible or voluntarily excluded form covered transactions by any federal Agency or agency;

b) within a three-year period preceding this Agreement have not been convicted of or had a civil judgment rendered against it for commission of fraud or a criminal offense in connection with obtaining, attempting to obtain or performing a public (federal, state or local) transaction or contract under a public transaction, violation of federal or state antitrust statutes or commission of embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records making false statements receiving stolen property; c) are not presently indicted for or otherwise criminally or civilly charged by a governmental entity (federal, state, or local) with commission of any of the offences enumerated in subsection (b), above; d) have not within a three-year period preceding this Agreement had one or more public transactions (federal, state, or local) terminated for cause or default.

3. Lobbying and Political Activities. In signing this Agreement, Entity certifies, to the best of his or her knowledge and belief, that:

a. No federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid, by or on behalf of the undersigned, to any person influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of an agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with awarding any federal contract, the making of any federal grant, the making federal loan, the entering into any cooperative agreement, and the extension, continuation, renewal, amendment, or modification of any federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement.

b. If any funds other than federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress relating to this federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement, the undersigned shall complete and submit Standard Form-LLL, “Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying”, in accordance with its instructions.

c. The undersigned shall require that the language of the foregoing two subsections be included in the award documents for all subcontracts at all tiers and that all subcontractors shall certify and disclose accordingly.

This certification is a material representation of fact upon which reliance was placed when this transaction was made or entered into. Submission of this certification is a prerequisite for making or entering into this transaction imposed by section 1352, title 31, U.S. Code. Any person who fails to file the required certification shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $10,000 and not more than $100,000 for each such failure.

The Entity certifies or affirms the truthfulness and accuracy of each statement of its certification and disclosure, if any. In addition, the Entity understands and agrees that the provisions of 31 U.S.C. Chap.

38, Administrative Remedies for False Claims and Statements, apply to this certification and disclosure, if any.

4. DHS Seal, Logo, and Flags. Entity shall not use the DHS seal(s), logos, crests, or reproductions of flags or likenesses of DHS agency officials without specific FEMA preapproval.

5. Records Retention. Entity shall maintain for three (3) years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report, adequate books, all financial records and, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to the Subaward, adequate to comply with 2 C.F.R. § 200.333, unless a different retention period is specified in 2 C.F.R. § 200.333. If any litigation, claim or audit related to the purchases contemplated herein is started before the expiration of the retention period, the records must be retained until all litigation, claims or audit exceptions involving the records have been resolved and final action taken.

6. No Obligation by Federal Government. The Federal Government is not a party to this Agreement and is not subject to any obligations or liabilities to the non-Federal entity, Entity, or any other party pertaining to any matter resulting from the Agreement.

7. Program Fraud and False or Fraudulent Statements or Related Acts. Entity acknowledges that 31 U.S.C.

Chap. 38 (Administrative Remedies for False Claims and Statements) applies to the Entity’s actions pertaining to this Agreement.

6.3. Participation by other Local Government Agencies

Other local government agencies (“Local Government Agencies”) may be eligible to purchase Services pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Contract if such agencies are authorized, by law or their governing bodies, to execute such purchases, and if such authorization is allowed by the City Colleges of Chicago’s District Director of Business & Procurement Services, and if such purchases have no significant net adverse effect on the City Colleges of Chicago and result in no observed diminished ability on the Bidder to provide the Services to the City Colleges of Chicago or user departments pursuant to such purchases. Local Government Agencies shall include without limitation: City of Chicago, Chicago Park District, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago Housing Authority, Chicago Board of Elections, Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority (McCormick Place, Navy Pier), and the Municipal Courts. All purchases and payment transactions shall be made directly between the Bidder and the requesting Local Government Agency; City Colleges of Chicago shall not be responsible for payment of any amounts owed by any Local Government Agency to Bidder. The City Colleges of Chicago assumes no authority, liability or obligation on behalf of any Local Government Authority.

6.4. Payment

The selected proposer will not be entitled to demand or receive payment under this Agreement until all of the stipulations, provisions and conditions set forth in the Agreement have been complied with. Invoice(s) should be transmitted to the Accounts Payable Department via e-mail (preferred method) to accountpayableservices@ccc.edu or in duplicate hard copy to CCC, Accounts Payable Department, 3901 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60609. CCC offers expedited payment terms to its suppliers for accepting electronic payments, as follows:

Net 15 days or less - CCC utilizes an electronic payment method leveraging unique and secure card-less payment accounts which allows for placement of funds for approved payment transactions on a Visa Single Use Account (“SUA”) administered through U.S. Bank via the Payment Plus program.

Net 45 days - CCC also utilizes Automatic Clearing House (“ACH”) as a method to pay suppliers. This requires completion of a form indicating Bank routing and account number information authorizing CCC to deposit funds into your Bank account.

Net 60 days – CCC will issue traditional checks to suppliers unable to accept one of the preferred electronic methods.

6.5. Termination

1. Termination for Convenience. This contract can be terminated upon ten (10) days written notice by

City Colleges of Chicago on the grounds of Proposer’s violation of any terms and conditions of the Contract, procedures or guidelines or inadequacy of Proposer’s performance or if there is no further need for the requirements. In the event that no funds or insufficient funds are appropriated and budgeted in any fiscal period of the City Colleges of Chicago for payments to be made under this agreement, then the City Colleges of Chicago will notify the contractor of such occurrence and this agreement shall terminate on the earliest of the last day of the fiscal period for which sufficient appropriation was made or whenever the funds appropriated for payment under this Agreement are exhausted. No payments will be made or due to the contractor under this contract beyond those amounts appropriated and budgeted by the City Colleges of Chicago to fund payment under this contract.

City Colleges of Chicago may terminate this Contract, or any portion of the Services to be performed under it, at any time for convenience by a notice in writing from CCC to the Proposer when the Contract may be deemed no longer in the best interest of CCC.

2. Termination for Default. Subject to Section 10(a) herein, this Agreement may also be terminated for default. Each of the following shall constitute an event of default by Consultant (“Default”).

a. Any material misrepresentation, whether in the inducement or in the performance, made by the Consultant to the Institution; and

b. A breach of a representation or warranty contained in this Agreement; and

c. The insolvency, bankruptcy or committing of any act of bankruptcy or insolvency, or making an assignment for the benefit of creditors; and

d. Failure to comply with or perform any material provision of this Agreement; and

e. Failure or refusal to provide enough properly skilled personnel, adequate supervision, or adequate materials and equipment of the proper quality to perform the Services;

f. Causing, by any action or omission, the stoppage, delay of, or interference with, the work of any other Consultant or subconsultant.

If a court of competent jurisdiction rules that termination of this Agreement by the Institution for default of Consultant was wrongful, then the termination shall be deemed to have been a termination for convenience

3. Curable and Incurable Defaults. Time-sensitive defaults (e.g., failure to meet deadlines) are not curable unless the Institution, in its sole and absolute discretion, extends the deadline. Such extension, however, does not relieve Consultant of liability for any damages the Institution may suffer. Consultant shall cure any default that is not time-sensitive with ten (10) calendar days after Consultant is given notice of the default.

4. Remedies. In addition to any other remedies contained herein, the Institution may invoke any or all of the following remedies for a Default:

a. Complete the Services at Consultant’s expense, either directly or through the use of contractors and subcontractors; or

b. Receive a refund or withhold all or any portion of the Fee; or

c. Demand specific performance, an injunction or any other appropriate equitable remedy; or

d. Terminate this Agreement.

5. Right to Offset. All costs incurred by the Institution due to: (i) termination of this Agreement for default; or (ii) Consultant’s performance of the Services; or (iii) Institution’s exercise of any of the remedies available herein, may be offset by: (i) any credits due to or overpayments made by the Institution; or (ii) any payments due to Consultant for Services completed. If such amount offset is insufficient to cover those excess costs, Consultant shall be liable for and promptly remit to the Institution the balance upon written demand. This right to offset is in addition to and not a limitation on any other remedies available to the Institution.

No remedy hereunder is exclusive of any other remedy, but each remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to any other remedies at law, in equity or by statute existing now or hereafter. No delay or omission to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Default shall impair any such right or power nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any Default or acquiescence therein, and every such right and power may be exercised periodically and as often as may be deemed expedient. If the Institution considers it to be in the Institutions best interest, it may choose not to declare a default or terminate the Agreement. The parties acknowledge that this provision is solely for the benefit of the Institution and that if the Institution permits Consultant to continue providing Services despite one or more events of default, the Consultant is in no way relieved of any of its duties and obligations under the Agreement and the Institution does not waive or relinquish any of its rights.

6. Additional Provisions. The parties further agree the following provisions:

a. Cooperation with Successors. If this Agreement expires or is terminated for any reason, Consultant shall use its best efforts to assure an orderly transition to Institution and to the successor consultant, if any. Consultant must make an orderly demobilization of its own operations, provide the Services uninterrupted until the effective day of such termination or expiration, and otherwise comply with the reasonable requests and requirements of the Institution in connection with the termination or expiration.

6.6. Indemnity

Notwithstanding any other terms and conditions, including any obligations regarding insurance coverage, Vendor agrees to defend, indemnify, save and hold harmless fully the Board of Trustees of Community College District No. 508, its colleges, satellite campus’, officers, employees, agents, students, volunteers and contractors against any and all claims, suits or judgments, costs or expenses, including attorney’s reasonable fees, (collectively (“Loss”)) in connection with this Agreement. This indemnification obligation does not extend to that portion of a Loss caused by Institution’s negligence, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, non-appealable judicial order. The firm must acknowledge in their submission their willingness to indemnify City Colleges of Chicago.

The requirements listed below are mandatory for protecting the interests of the City Colleges of Chicago.

1. The successful Proposer shall indemnify and hold CCC harmless from all providers’ performance or failure of performance under the resulting contract.

2. The successful Proposer shall keep CCC free and clear from all liens asserted by any person or firm for any reason arising out of the furnishing of services or materials by or to the provider.

3. The action of the successful Proposer with third parties is not binding upon CCC.

Minimum Wage

Effective December 11, 2014, City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) adopted Mayoral Executive Order 2014-1 which provides for a fair and adequate Minimum Wage to be paid to employees of CCC contractors and subcontractors performing work on CCC contracts. A copy of the Order may be downloaded from the Chicago City Clerk's website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/bacp/supp_info/minimumwageinformation.html#:~:text=Starting %20July%201%2C%202024%20the,with%204%20or%20more%20workers.

The selected Proposers must comply with Mayoral Executive Order 2014-1 and any applicable regulations issued by the Vice Chancellor of Business and Procurement Services. The minimum wage in Chicago (for city contracts) is posted to the City’s website:

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/bacp/supp_info/minimumwageinformation.html

The Minimum Wage must be paid to:

a. All employees regularly performing work on CCC property or at a CCC jobsite.

b. All employees whose regular work entails performing a service for CCC under a CCC contract.

The Minimum Wage is not required to be paid to employees whose work is performed in general support of contractors’ operations, does not directly relate to the services provided to CCC under the contract, and is included in the contract price as overhead, unless that employee's regularly assigned work location is on CCC property or at a CCC jobsite. It is also not required to be paid by employers that are 501(c)(3) not-for-profits.

Except as further described, the Minimum Wage is also not required to be paid to categories of the Illinois Minimum Wage Law, 820 ILCS 105/1 et seq., in force as of the date of this Contract or as amended.

Nevertheless, the Minimum Wage is required to be paid to those workers described in subsections 4(a)(2)(A) and 4(a)(2)(B) of the Illinois Minimum Wage Law.

Additionally, the Minimum Wage is not required to be paid to employees subject to a collective bargaining agreement that provides for different wages than those required by Mayoral Executive Order 2014-1, if that collective bargaining agreement was in force prior to December 11, 2014, or if that collective bargaining agreement clearly and specifically waives the requirements of the order.

If the payment of a prevailing wage is required and the prevailing wage is higher than the Minimum Wage, then the Contractor must pay the prevailing wage.

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/bacp/supp_info/minimumwageinformation.html#:%7E:text=Starting%20July%201%2C%202024%20the,with%204%20or%20more%20workers https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/bacp/supp_info/minimumwageinformation.html#:%7E:text=Starting%20July%201%2C%202024%20the,with%204%20or%20more%20workers https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/bacp/supp_info/minimumwageinformation.html

Prevailing Wage

As required by the Illinois Revised Statutes, Chapter 48, Sections 39s-1 -39s-11, Prevailing Wage Act, as amended, requires that all wages paid to laborers, workers or mechanics performing work under this contract be in accordance with the general prevailing hourly rate of wages for persons engaged in the construction of public works in this locality as determined by the Department of Labor of the State of Illinois. The Contractor and its subcontractors shall provide all labor compliance data via CCC’s electronic monitoring system, LCPTracker at https://fortifyv2.lcptracker.net/ Payroll information and labor hours shall be submitted weekly in the system. Failure to properly and timely record certified payroll data in LCPTracker will delay vendor payments.

6.7. Non-Discrimination

A Contractor, in performing under this Agreement, shall not discriminate against any worker, employee or applicant, or any member of the public, because of race, creed, color, sex, age or national origin, nor otherwise commit an unfair employment practice.

This article will be incorporated by Contractor in all agreements entered into with supplier of materials or services, Contractors and Subcontractors and all labor organizations, furnishing skilled, unskilled and craft union skilled labor, or who may perform any such labor or services in connection with this contract.

Attention is called to Executive Order 11246 issued September 24, 1965, 3 CFR p. 567, 1966; The Civil Rights Act of 1964, Pub. L. 88-352, July 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 241 et sub; to the

State Acts approved July 28, 1961, Ill. Rev. Stat. 1967, CH. 38, Secs. 13-3 to 13-4 inclusive; July 8, 1933, Ill. Rev. Stat. 1967, CH. 29, Secs. 17 to 24 inclusive: July 21, 1961, Ill. Rev. Stat. 1967, CH. 48, Secs. 851 to 866 inclusive, and July 26, 1967, Ill. Rev. Stat. 1967, CH. 48, Secs. 881 to 887 inclusive, and an ordinance passed by the City Council of the City of Chicago, August 21, 1945, page 3877 to the Journal of the Proceeding.

When requested to demonstrate compliance, the Contractor and Subcontractors will furnish such reports and information as requested by the Chicago Commission on Human Relations.

https://fortifyv2.lcptracker.net/

7 . S U B M I T T A L R E Q U I R E M E N T S ( R e q u i r e d P r o p o s a l C o n t e n t )

Proposers will be required to submit proposals in two formats:

a. Full PDF response, excluding excel files;

b. Each response section (submittal requirement) separately into EUNA (formerly Bonfire).

7.1 Table of Contents

To provide uniformity and to facilitate comparison of proposals, CCC is requesting that all proposals include a table of contents. CCC reserves the right to waive minor variances or irregularities.

7.2 Cover Letter

Please limit this to one page. The cover letter must contain the following information on company letterhead:

a. Proposer’s commitment to provide the required services at the proposed price and schedule, indicating that the offer is valid for one hundred-eighty (180) days from proposal deadline due date.

b. Contact Person’s Name, Title and contract information (for this RFP);

c. Acknowledgement that it has read and understands this RFP’s Terms and Conditions;

d. Signatures by a principal and if applicable, a joint venture partner (wet ink signature(s)).

7.3 Executive Summary

Please limit this section to 2 pages. The Executive Summary shall include the following sections:

a. Brief project overview;

b. Key team members and Partners (subcontractors and/or partners) and respective project alignment;

c. Brief statement of the proposed team’s strengths.

7.4 Response to the Scope of Services/Interrogatories

This section must provide a detailed response to the Scope of Services Section of this RFP in PDF format. This section should also include a response to the interrogatories listed in section 5.1, in PDF format.

7.5 Qualifications of the Proposer and References

Firms must meet the following requirements:

a. Proposer has been in business for a total of at least two (2) full calendar years.

b.…