23SFSKM4 - Bidders Conf Q and A - Final.docx

75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148 | 781.338.3000 | TTY: N.E.T. Relay (800).439.2370

Questions and Answers

Alternate ID #: 23SFSKM4 COMMBUYS Bid #:

The following are the questions that were asked/answered during the Bidder’s Conference on March 9, 2023 from 2-3 PM

During the session, the team shared an overview of what DESE is seeking in a vendor partner and the requested information to be submitted by bidders (also outlined in Attachment A posted with this opportunity), and brief tips on navigating COMMBUYS, the forms required, etc. We then provided an opportunity for participants to ask questions.

1. BiddersIs this a one-year contract with an option to renew?

We have this set with an initial duration for the remainder of this fiscal year (through June 30, 2023) with an option for two renewals, based on performance (though fiscal year 2025)

2. Will this be for 15 books per quarter?

The number of books will vary since not everyone in the book club will need a physical copy. We are also building a library in our office so there is potential for purchasing additional books.

3. Is this for staff spread across the Commonwealth or just DESE? We are a nonprofit based Waltham and have worked with BPS and are used to working with federal and state grants so were wondering how far DESE is looking to expand its reach.

At this time, this is for staff at DESE so we are looking for approximately 15 books per discussion. So far, we have partnered with student advisory groups and have done some staff partnerships. In addition, we also hold virtual book clubs with principals and partners from other book clubs within the Secretariat. Some of our staff members also sometimes purchase books for professional development. We are very open to partnering with additional student groups in the future.

4. Where have you been sourcing books up to this point? It looks like you have been running your book club for some time now.

Our current options are limited and typically include purchasing from Amazon, Barnes and Noble or other online sites.

5. Have we gotten any other responses from other sellers?

Due to the way bids are posted in COMMBUYS, we are not able to see submissions until the bid opening date (March 17th). Anyone that is under the Small Business Purchasing Program and the list of small bookstores should have gotten a notification to submit to the bid and we sent the information to the list of independent bookstores in Massachusetts.

6. Is there anything else we should know about this BID?

This bid is unique because there is no set budget, and this will be based on need. The contract could be anywhere between the thousand-dollar range to several thousand-dollar range each year.

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