2490-20260814151502 SDSD.pdf

South Delta School District

P. O. Box 219

106 Athletic Drive

Rolling Fork, Mississippi 39159

Telephone: (662) 873-4302

Fax: (662) 873-6114

Contact: Eddwin Smith, Federal Programs Director

RFP 2027

Request for Proposals for Professional Development and Job-Embedded

Coaching for Teachers: Grades K-12

Issue Date: August 13, 2026

Submission Deadline: September 1, 2026, at 10:00 AM CST

SDSD RFP for Professional Development and Job-Embedded Coaching for Teachers: Grades K-12

SOUTH DELTA SCHOOL DISTRICT

Request for Proposals for Professional Development and Job-Embedded

Coaching for Teachers: Grades K-12

The South Delta School District (the “District”) invites sealed proposals from qualified vendors to provide professional development and job-embedded coaching services for teachers in grades K–12. The purpose of this procurement is to strengthen teacher effectiveness and improve student academic achievement.

Proposals may be submitted in either hard-copy or electronic form.

Hard Copy Submission

Vendors submitting hard-copy proposals shall provide five (5) complete copies addressed to:

Mr. Eddwin Smith, Federal Programs Director

P. O. Box 219

106 Athletic Drive

Rolling Fork, Mississippi 39159

Proposals may be hand-delivered or sent by U.S. mail or private carrier. The vendor is solely responsible for ensuring that its proposal is received by the submission deadline.

Electronic Submission

Vendors submitting electronically shall email their complete proposals to eddwinsmith@sdelta.org.

Questions

All questions concerning this RFP shall be submitted in writing to Eddwin Smith, Federal Programs

Director, at the address listed above. Oral statements, interpretations, or clarifications shall not bind the

District.

Written questions must be received no later than August 25, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. CST. The District will issue written responses to questions and any amendments to this RFP.

Only written responses issued by the District shall be considered official and binding. The District reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to determine the appropriate response to any request for clarification.

All addenda, notices, and official correspondence concerning this RFP shall be issued exclusively by the South Delta School District.

mailto:eddwinsmith@sdelta.org

1.0 Background

The South Delta School District, located in the Mississippi Delta region, serves approximately 550 students across three campuses. The District’s elementary school, located in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, serves students in pre-kindergarten through grade 5. The middle school, also located in Rolling Fork, serves students in grades 6 through 8. The high school, located in Anguilla, Mississippi, serves students in grades

9 through 12.

This Request for Proposals (RFP) is issued to procure evidence-based professional development and coaching services that strengthen teacher effectiveness through research-based instructional practices and improve student achievement in English Language Arts (ELA), mathematics, and science. Vendors must demonstrate relevant experience and measurable results.

Any contract awarded pursuant to this RFP shall be funded exclusively with federal funds. The successful vendor shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and grant requirements.

2.0 Overview

The District invites proposals from qualified vendors to provide direct, high-impact, evidence-based professional development and job-embedded coaching for teachers in grades K–12 in ELA, mathematics, and science. The objective of this procurement is to strengthen teacher efficacy and improve student academic achievement.

Each proposal shall demonstrate alignment with District goals and address research-based best practices in professional learning. Proposals shall describe evidence-based practices designed to produce measurable gains in teacher efficacy, as reflected in classroom observations, Mississippi Academic Assessment

Program results, and District benchmark assessments. Vendors shall clearly explain the methods, strategies, use of student data, and coaching processes they will employ to accelerate teacher growth and improve academic outcomes.

The successful vendor shall serve as a strategic service partner to the District and collaborate with District personnel to monitor student progress, evaluate program effectiveness, and make instructional adjustments as necessary to support the desired outcomes.

3.0 Scope of Work

3.1 Timeline for Services

All services shall be performed during the 2026–2027 school year, excluding District and state testing windows and scheduled holidays, unless otherwise approved in writing by the District.

3.2 Services

The District shall identify the teachers who will receive services under any resulting contract. The list of teachers selected to receive services may be revised during the school year at the District’s discretion and in the best interests of the District.

At the District’s discretion, services may be delivered in the regular classroom, in small-group settings for teachers with similar needs, or through structured professional learning sessions.

3.3 Implementation and Expectations

The District, in collaboration with the principal, shall establish implementation expectations consistent with evidence-based best practices. The District encourages vendors to propose innovative methodologies and value-added components that support measurable student outcomes.

The successful vendor shall ensure that services focus on job-embedded Professional Learning practices that increase teacher efficacy, including but not limited to:

• Classroom management and student discipline, including time management, organization, and procedures.

• Alignment of instructional practices to the Mississippi College and Career Readiness Standards.

• Standards-based lesson planning and instructional delivery.

• Student engagement, differentiated instruction, and scaffolding of instruction.

• Effective assessment practices and use of student data.

• Special education procedures, accommodations, and modifications.

• Multi-Tiered Systems of Support procedures and best practices.

• Selection and utilization of High-Quality Instructional Materials.

• Instructional modeling.

• Professional responsibilities, ethics, and educator expectations.

• Parent and family communication and engagement.

• Technology integration.

• School and district policies and procedures.

4.0 Vendor Deliverables

The successful vendor shall perform all services and furnish all labor, supervision, materials, and incidental items necessary to satisfy the requirements set forth in the Scope of Work. In addition to the foregoing, the vendor shall:

• Meet with the principal daily to review the work plan and conduct an end-of-day debrief.

• Meet with District administrators as requested by the Superintendent.

• Sign in and sign out each day.

• Submit daily work reports to the principal, Federal Programs Director, and Superintendent in a timely manner.

• Submit invoices to the Federal Programs Director, or designee, and to Accounts Payable in accordance with the District’s Accounts Payable schedule.

5.0 Data Privacy and Security Compliance

The District and the vendor acknowledge that the effective implementation of this project may require the timely exchange of data necessary for decision-making, service delivery, and payment processing.

5.1 Data Privacy and Security Compliance

The vendor shall comply, and shall assist the District in complying, in all material respects with applicable federal and state laws and regulations governing information privacy and the confidentiality of student records, including, without limitation, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act

(COPPA). The vendor shall implement and maintain appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards, consistent with industry standards and current best practices, to protect District data from unauthorized access, disclosure, use, acquisition, destruction, or modification.

5.2 School Official

To the extent that the vendor has a legitimate educational interest in, and requires access to, student education records or information to provide services to the District, its employees, agents, teachers, or students, the District designates the vendor as a “school official” within the meaning of FERPA. The vendor shall remain under the District’s direct control with respect to the use and maintenance of personally identifiable information and education records, as those terms are defined under FERPA. The vendor may use such information and records solely to perform its obligations under the resulting contract and as authorized by applicable state and federal law.

5.3 Data Ownership

All student and staff data remains the sole property of the District and shall be used exclusively for purposes of performing under this RFP and any resulting contract. Upon completion of the contract, all data must be returned to the District, and any unofficial documents containing such data must be destroyed.

5.4 Data Breach

The vendor or contractor shall immediately notify the District in the event of a data breach.

6.0 Contract Timeframe

A contract may be awarded to the responsible vendor whose proposal is determined to be most advantageous to the District, taking into consideration price and the evaluation factors set forth in this RFP. Any resulting contract shall become effective upon approval by the South Delta School District Board of Education, execution by all required parties, and the issuance of a District Purchase Order.

The total number of contractual days will be determined by the vendor’s per-day cost and the availability of Federal Funds, as approved by the Mississippi Department of Education. A contract day shall be defined as a regular school day and, at a minimum, must encompass the times students are at school.

Services may begin upon contract execution as defined above and must be completed within the District’s established timeline prior to the spring 2027 MDE MAAP administration. Final invoices are due no later than five business days after the last date of service.

7.0 Acceptance of Proposals

The District reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to waive minor informalities or irregularities in any proposal received, provided such waiver does not prejudice the interests of the District or provide an unfair competitive advantage to any vendor.

8.0 Selection Criteria and Procedures

All proposals received by the deadline shall be evaluated in accordance with the evaluation criteria set forth herein. Proposals shall be reviewed and scored by an Evaluation Committee designated by the District.

Each vendor shall submit its best and final pricing with its proposal. The District reserves the right to conduct discussions, request clarifications, or negotiate with one or more responsible vendors after receipt of proposals and prior to award; however, the District may make an award based solely on the initial proposals received.

The District reserves the right to award one contract, multiple contracts, or no contract, as determined to be in the best interest of the District.

PROPOSAL EVALUATION CRITERIA

Maximum

Number of

Points

Points

Earned

1. Detailed implementation plan for building teacher efficacy and increasing student academic achievement, aligned with research-based best practices that encompasses:

• Classroom management and student discipline, including time management, organization, and procedures.

• Alignment of instructional practices to the Mississippi College and

Career Readiness Standards.

• Standards-based lesson planning and instructional delivery.

• Student engagement, differentiated instruction, and scaffolding of instruction.

• Effective assessment practices and use of student data.

• Special education procedures, accommodations, and modifications.

• Multi-Tiered Systems of Support best practices.

• Utilization of High-Quality Instructional Materials.

• Instructional modeling.

• Professional responsibilities, ethics, and educator expectations.

• Parent and family communication and engagement.

• Technology integration.

• School and district policies and procedures.

2. Measurable goals to quantify effectiveness of support services. 10

3. Organized system of feedback. 10

4. Organizational structures for completion of work as it relates to scheduling of consultants, submission of services reporting, availability to provide technical assistance, communication with the District and school leaders, and project management systems.

5. Proven track record with references and documented outcomes from similar implementations.

6. Cost Efficiency and Service

Lowest cost = 20 pts; others proportional (Lowest Cost / Vendor Cost) x 20

TOTAL 100

9.0 Exceptions

The District reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive minor informalities or irregularities, to request clarifications, to negotiate with one or more vendors, and to award a contract or contracts as determined to be in the best interest of the District.

10.0 Conditions of Request for Proposal

The issuance of this Request for Proposals does not constitute an award commitment by the District, nor does it obligate the District to pay any costs incurred in the preparation or submission of a proposal.

11.0 Format and Procedure for Delivery of Proposals

Proposals must be complete, clearly organized, and submitted in accordance with the requirements of this

RFP.

The proposal must be prepared in an 11- or 12-point font, single-spaced, and bound without staples, clips, or rubber bands. Each page of the proposal and all attachments must identify the vendor’s name. The proposal must be organized in the order set forth in this RFP.

The proposal shall consist of seven parts as follows:

1. Part I Proposal Cover Page: The Cover Page is included in this RFP and shall serve as the Cover

Page of the vendor’s proposal (one page only).

2. Part II Vendor Certification and Acceptance: The vendor’s signature serves as agreement with the terms and conditions as set forth in the RFP. If the vendor objects to any of the Standard Terms and Conditions, such objection may constitute an adequate cause for rejection without further negotiation.

3. Part III Vendor Profile: The vendor shall provide sufficient evidence of the vendor’s qualifications, organizational capacity, and ability to perform the services described in this RFP in a timely and satisfactory manner. The Vendor Profile shall include: (a) the vendor’s background;

(b) the vendor’s relevant experience related to the specific service area(s) of this RFP; (c) the vendor’s knowledge and application of the Mississippi College and Career Readiness Standards;

(d) a description of at least three successful experiences in demographically similar school districts;

(e) a plan for performing the required services; and, (f) procedures and organizational structures proposed for completion of the work as it relates to scheduling of consultants, performance of services, reporting, availability to provide technical assistance, communication with the District and school leaders, and project management systems.

4. Part IV Program Narrative: The vendor shall provide a clear and concise plan describing (a)

Professional Development and Job-Embedded Coaching services the vendor is proposing, (b) how the services will be managed, delivered, and evaluated to meet the identified needs of the District,

(c) the process for submitting reports, (d) the process for communicating with the District, and (e) the process for evaluating services rendered. The Program Narrative may not exceed ten pages.

Vendors may include a menu of services in an appendix; however, the appendix will not replace the Program Narrative.

5. Part V Budget: The vendor shall include the vendor’s complete cost proposal and shall encompass all requirements of this RFP. To be considered responsive, the vendor shall submit a budget narrative/cost proposal for a daily rate that includes all service expenses. The daily rate stated in the cost proposal shall constitute the vendor’s total proposed compensation. The District shall not be responsible for any costs exceeding the amount proposed. Indirect costs shall not be allowed.

6. Part VI Personnel: The vendor shall provide resumes for all personnel involved in the delivery of the service (from principals to field technicians), including their experience in this area of service delivery. Indicate the level of involvement by principals of the company in the day-to-day operations of the contract.

7. Part VII References/Resumes: The vendor must provide at least three references for contracts of similar size and scope to those that will be implemented in the District. References must be from contracts awarded during the past three years. Include the name of the school district, date and length of the contract, a summary of the work, and the name and telephone number of a contact in the district.

12.0 Disposition of Proposals

All submitted proposals become the property of the District and shall not be returned to the vendor.

13.0 Notice of Intent to Award

The District shall notify the vendor whose proposal is determined to be the most advantageous to the

District, taking into consideration evaluation factors set forth in the RFP.

14.0 Right to Protest

14.1 Interested Party

An actual or prospective vendor whose direct economic interest may be affected by the terms of this RFP, the award of a contract, or the resolution of a protest.

14.2 Protestor

An actual or prospective vendor that is aggrieved in connection with this RFP or the award of a contract and that submits a protest in accordance with the procedures set forth below.

14.3 Protest Procedures

A protest shall be submitted in accordance with the following procedures and in the sequence stated:

1. The vendor shall submit a formal letter of protest to the District Superintendent of Education, detailing the exact nature and reason(s) for the protest. The letter shall specify precisely which terms in the RFP and/or decisions related to the award are being challenged, stating the reason for each protest.

2. The letter shall state the title of the RFP at issue in the protest and shall be signed by the vendor representative who signed the bid proposal documents.

3. No verbal protest shall be acknowledged by the District.

A review committee shall be appointed by the District Superintendent to review each valid protest submitted by a vendor that has followed the established procedures. A decision regarding the protest shall be made in a timely manner. The review committee shall base its recommendation on the written evidence presented by the vendor and the Superintendent or designee. The review committee’s recommendation shall be submitted to the Superintendent for approval. The protesting vendor shall be informed of the decision in writing at the earliest practicable date. The decision of the review committee, as approved by the

Superintendent, shall be final.

PART I

PROPOSAL COVER PAGE

Name of Vendor

Contact Person and Title

Phone Number

Mailing Address

Email Address

Daily Rate for a Full

Workday

By signing below, the undersigned certifies that he or she is duly authorized to bind the vendor to the terms of the proposal submitted in response to this RFP; that the vendor has reviewed the RFP requirements; and that, if selected for award, the vendor agrees to perform the services in accordance with the requirements set forth herein.

Authorized Signature Date

Proposal Due Date and Time: September 1, 2026, at 10:00 AM CST

ATTN: Mr. Eddwin Smith, Federal Programs Director

PART II

VENDOR CERTIFICATION AND ACCEPTANCE

The vendor certifies and represents that the information provided in this section is complete and accurate and acknowledges that the representations made herein may be incorporated into any resulting contract awarded by the District.

1. Contractor Violation or Breach of Contract Terms and Remedies

Any contract exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, currently $250,000, shall specify the administrative, contractual, or legal remedies available when a contractor violates or breaches contract terms and shall provide for appropriate sanctions and penalties.

This RFP is based on the District’s anticipated needs and does not guarantee the award of a contract.

Any resulting contract shall provide for termination for cause and for convenience by the non-federal entity and shall specify the manner in which termination will be effected and the basis for settlement.

2. Lists of Parties Excluded from Federal Procurement or Non-Procurement Program

The vendor certifies that neither the vendor nor any of its principals is presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation in District, state, or federal procurements or contracts. The vendor further certifies that neither the vendor nor its principals appears on an applicable federal exclusion list. The vendor shall immediately notify the

District if it or any principal is subsequently listed in the System for Award Management (SAM), debarred, suspended, excluded, or declared ineligible under applicable statutory or regulatory authority.

3. Non-Collusion Certification

Vendor certifies and represents that it has not violated any state, federal, or local law, regulation, or ordinance relating to bribery, coercion, improper influence, collusion, or similar conduct and that the vendor will not, in the future, offer, confer, or agree to confer any pecuniary benefit or other thing of value to any officer, trustee, agent, or employee of the South Delta School District in return for that person exercising official discretion, power, or duty concerning this RFP, the submission of a proposal, the award of a contract, or the performance, delivery, or sale under a contract.

4. Record Retention Requirements for Contract Paid for with FEDERAL FUNDS – 2 CFR §

200.334 through 200.338

When federal funds are expended under any contract resulting from this procurement, the vendor shall comply with the record-retention requirements set forth in 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.334–200.338. The vendor shall retain all required records for three years following submission of the applicable final expenditure report or quarterly or annual financial report, as appropriate, and until all pending matters are resolved.

Federal funds will be the sole source of funding for all contracts associated with this RFP.

5. Access to Records – 2 C.F.R. § 200.337

The vendor shall provide the Superintendent of the South Delta School District and any duly authorized representative with timely and reasonable access to books, documents, papers, and records directly pertinent to the vendor’s performance under any awarded contract for purposes of audit, examination, excerpting, or transcription. This right of access also includes reasonable access to the vendor’s personnel for interviews and discussions concerning such records.

6. Appendix II to Part 200—Contract Provisions for Non-Federal Entity Contracts Under Federal

Awards

Vendor shall comply with the contract provisions set forth in Appendix II to Part 200, as applicable, to any resulting contract:

• Equal Employment Opportunity

• Davis-Bacon Act

• Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act

• Rights to Inventions Made Under a Contract or Agreement

• Clean Air Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act

• Debarment and Suspension

• Byrd Anti-Lobbying Amendment

7. Independent Contractor

The contractor shall perform all services as an independent contractor and shall be solely responsible for reporting compensation and paying all applicable federal and state taxes. Upon request, the contractor shall provide evidence of compliance with such obligations. No act or representation, whether oral or written, made by the contractor to a third party shall bind the District.

The contractor shall discharge all obligations and liabilities arising from its status as an independent contractor. The contractor shall not act as an educational advocate or representative for any District student, parent, or instructional staff member. The contractor shall manage its time and schedule to achieve the service objectives within the constraints of the instructional day while students are present.

8. Indemnification

The vendor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the South Delta School District Board of Education and the District, including its officials, agents, employees, and volunteers (collectively, the

“Indemnitees”), against any and all claims for injury, death, property damage, liabilities, judgments, costs, and expenses that may otherwise accrue against the Indemnitees as a result of the acts or omissions of the vendor’s employees or agents in the performance of an awarded contract.

9. Non-Discrimination

The vendor shall comply with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. §2000d et seq.), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.), Title IX of the Education

Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681-1688), the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. 6101-

6107), and other civil rights laws applicable to recipients of Federal financial assistance.

10. Financial Stability and Insurance

Vendors shall demonstrate sufficient financial stability and staffing capacity to manage the project. If awarded a contract, the vendor shall, at its own expense and throughout the contract term, maintain comprehensive general liability insurance, including personal injury coverage; commercial automobile liability insurance; and contractual liability coverage, each with minimum limits of One Million Dollars

($1,000,000.00).

The South Delta School District and its Superintendent shall be named as additional insureds on the required policies. Such policies shall not be modified or canceled without at least 30 days’ prior written notice to the District. Evidence of insurance shall be provided at the time of contract execution.

Vendors shall, at all times during the contract term, and at their own expense, keep in full force and effect a policy of workers’ compensation insurance for coverage in Mississippi with an employer’s liability limit of:

A. Bodily Injury by accident - $500,000.00 each employee Bodily Injury by disease - $500,000.00 policy limit

B. Bodily Injury by disease - $500,000.00 each employee

11. Applicable Law

If selected, the vendor agrees to execute a contract governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Mississippi, excluding its conflict-of-law provisions. Any related litigation shall be brought in the courts of the State of Mississippi. The vendor shall comply with all applicable federal, State of Mississippi, and local laws and regulations, including all FERPA and HIPAA requirements and all policies of the South Delta School District Board of Education, as they may be amended from time to time.

12. BACKGROUND CHECK

Contractors’ staff involved in this project may be required to undergo a criminal background check as prescribed by the District.

The undersigned certifies that he or she is authorized to submit this proposal and the accompanying assurances on behalf of the vendor and further certifies that all information contained herein is true, correct, and complete to the best of his or her knowledge and belief. The vendor acknowledges that materially false or misleading information may result in rejection of the proposal or termination of any resulting contract.

Name of Organization

Printed Name of Authorized Representative

Signature of Authorized Representative Date

PART III

VENDOR PROFILE

At a minimum, the vendor must address the following areas in the Vendor Profile section:

• vendor’s background,

• vendor’s relevant experience as related to the specific area of focus for which the vendor is applying,

• vendor’s knowledge and application of the Mississippi College and Career Readiness Standards,

• description of at least three successful experiences the vendor has had in demographically similar districts within the past three years,

• a plan for performing the required services, and

• procedures and organizational structures proposed for completion of the work as it relates to scheduling of consultants, submission of services reporting, availability to provide technical assistance, communication with District and school leaders, and project management systems

The Vendor Profile shall not exceed seven pages. Resumes and prior work samples may be included as an appendix.

PART IV

PROGRAM NARRATIVE

The Program Narrative may not exceed ten pages. Vendors may include a menu of services in an appendix;

however, the appendix will not replace the Program Narrative.

1. Provide a clear and concise plan for building teacher efficacy and increasing student academic achievement that is aligned with research-based best practices, state and district assessment data, and the Mississippi College and Career Readiness Standards that incorporates the following components:

• Classroom management and student discipline, including time management, organization, and procedures.

• Alignment of instructional practices to the Mississippi College and Career Readiness Standards.

• Standards-based lesson planning and instructional delivery.

• Student engagement, differentiated instruction, and scaffolding of instruction.

• Effective assessment practices and use of student data.

• Special education procedures, accommodations, and modifications.

• Multi-Tiered Systems of Support best practices.

• Utilization of High-Quality Instructional Materials.

• Instructional modeling.

• Professional responsibilities, ethics, and educator expectations.

• Parent and family communication and engagement.

• Technology integration.

• School and district policies and procedures.

2. Describe how the services will be managed, delivered, and evaluated to meet the identified needs of the District, including the process for submitting reports, communicating with school and District leaders, and how services will be evaluated.

PART V

BUDGET

The vendor shall provide a concise, detailed budget narrative explaining the basis of all proposed costs.

The cost proposal shall encompass every requirement of this RFP and include all services, expenses, and products necessary for complete performance. The amount stated in the budget narrative shall represent the vendor’s total proposed compensation, and the District shall not be responsible for costs exceeding that amount. Unallowable costs include, but are not limited to, indirect costs and costs associated with proposal preparation or submission.

PART VI

PERSONNEL

Provide resumes for all individuals involved in service delivery, from company principals to field staff, including their experience in this area. Indicate the level of involvement of company principals in the day-to-day operations of the contract.

PART VII

REFERENCES

The vendor must provide at least three references for contracts of similar size and scope to those that will be implemented in the District. References must be from contracts awarded during the past three years.

Include the name of the school district, date and length of the contract, a summary of the work, and the name and telephone number of a contact in the district.