3-Part 8 Form- Public Posting.pdf

PDF 214 KB Posted

Attached to
Homeless Training Academy
Solicitation number
CS27-2
Issued by
Utah

About this file

This is a Notice of Intent to Award a Contract Without Engaging in a Standard Procurement Process issued by the Utah Department of Government Operations, Division of Purchasing and General Services, on behalf of the Department of Cultural and Community Engagement. The procurement involves homeless training for library staff through a sole-source award to Empathy Studios, LLC. The Homeless Library Training Institute offers specialized training designed specifically for librarians serving patrons experiencing homelessness, consisting of a 4.5-hour core de-escalation training, 48 recorded training sessions covering sensitive topics, and new monthly live virtual sessions with recordings maintained in an archive. Training sessions are approximately one hour in length and include supplemental learning materials, with Ryan Dowd serving as the creator and instructor of core sessions and monthly webinars. The training will be accessible to librarians and library staff across Utah through Niche Academy, the State Library's learning management system subscription. No specific response dates, due dates, site visits, or bidder meetings are identified in this notice. The contract term and renewal options are not specified in the document.

The estimated contract value is $5,865.00 with no freight costs. The procurement unit is pursuing a sole-source award based on the determination that Ryan Dowd is the sole creator and provider of this specialized training program designed specifically for library professionals, with no competing vendors offering comparable archived and ongoing monthly training sessions on serving homeless patrons in library settings. Market research conducted through searches in Niche Academy and online confirmed no other vendors provide this specialized service combination. The justification explicitly notes that while general homeless services training exists, this is the only training program designed specifically for library professionals and other staff in public or academic library settings with the archived sessions and ongoing monthly format. No transitional costs analysis, cooperative contract search results, or competing vendor contact information are provided, as the procurement does not rely on transitional cost or impracticality justifications.

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Department of Government Operations Division of Purchasing and General Services

4315 S 2700 W, FL 3, Taylorsville, UT 84129-2128 Phone: 801-957-7160 www.purchasing.utah.gov

Issuing Procurement Unit: Division of Purchasing

Conducting Procurement Unit:

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

The Division of Purchasing is publishing this notice pursuant to the Utah Procurement Code. The Conducting Procurement Unit submitted this form to the Division of Purchasing claiming that it intends to award a contract without competition if it is determined by the Division of Purchasing, 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 procurement unit.

In the subsequent pages the Conducting Procurement Unit has identified its justification for wanting to award a contract without engaging in standard procurement process.

Determination of Other Interested Vendors

If the procurement item identified in this notice is to be awarded as a sole source (only one source for the procurement item), then this notice will help 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 person; and

● A detailed explanation of the challenge, including documentation showing that there are other competing sources for the procurement item.

In addition, a vendor should include:

● Documentation that your firm can provide a comparable or better procurement item that meets or exceeds the specifications;

● Documentation that your firm 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 your firm’s anticipated transitional costs.

Regardless of any prior communications with the Division of Purchasing or the State, 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 Division of Purchasing during the publication period. No action is required if you agree with this Notice.

If the purpose of this notice is an intent to award a sole source, after the public notice period has passed, and the Division of Purchasing determines that there are other interested and qualified vendors that meet the specifications of this notice, then the Division of Purchasing will not award a contract pursuant to this notice. An award without competition may still be made even if there are other interested vendors when the basis for the award is due to transitional costs or impracticality as stated above.

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

Department of Cultural and Community Engagement

Read the entire form very carefully before responding to this notice.

It is anticipated that this procurement will result in a:

RESULT ACTION

☐ Agency Contract The term of this contract (or extension) will be: and renewal options: .

The agency may not make the procurement until the solicitation process is completed and a contract is written and signed by the agency, the vendor, and the Division of Purchasing.

Purchase Order The agency may not make the procurement until the solicitation process is completed, the purchase order is signed by the Division of Purchasing and delivered to the agency and the vendor.

Description of procurement item to be purchased: Homeless training for library staff

Estimated value of the contract/purchase order/increase: $5865.00

Freight Cost (F.O.B. Destination, Freight Prepaid): $0.00

Vendor Name: Empathy Studios, LLC

Explain in detail the service or product to be procured (additional information included in attached Scope of Work):

The Homeless Library Training Institute from Empathy Studios, LLC offers training sessions specifically designed for librarians who often find themselves responding to and helping patrons who are experiencing homelessness. This type of training is not currently the norm in library degree programs, which has created a need for training to support this vulnerable population. The Homeless Library Training Academy consists of a basic 4.5-hour Homeless De-escalation Core Training, 48 other recorded training sessions that touch on sensitive topics from body odor to trauma and will also include new monthly training sessions, plus a series of 11 five-minute training sessions for staff. The new training sessions are live virtual, and recordings of past training sessions are available in an archive. Typically, the training sessions are about an hour in length with time for questions and come with supplemental learning materials. Ryan Dowd is the creator and teacher of core training sessions with monthly webinars including special guest speakers. Ryan Dowd has decades of experience working with people who are homeless because he has been working in a homeless shelter for much of his adult life. Access to these training sessions will provide vital information and assistance to librarians and library staff across the state.

CHECK THE BOX THAT IDENTIFIES WHY A CONTRACT SHOULD BE AWARDED WITHOUT ENGAGING IN A STANDARD

PROCUREMENT PROCESS:

☒ Sole Source - There is only one source for the procurement item. Complete Section A

Transitional Costs - 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

Impracticality - 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 procurement unit.

Complete Section C

Trial use contract for a new or innovative procurement item, or for a procurement item with a novel or unproven use or application.

Complete Section D

Extension of a contract without engaging in a standard procurement process. If extension will result in a request to increase the contract total, then also complete Section F below.

Complete Section E

☐ Request to increase total contract amount. Complete Section F

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, product, etc. is only available from a single supplier.)

Utah State Library continues to receive requests and inquiries from librarians across the state about continuing to provide access to the Homeless Library Training Academy. The Homeless Library Training Academy was created by and is taught by Ryan Dowd who has experience living in and running a homeless shelter. Dowd provides recorded and archived training sessions and new monthly on-going training sessions designed specifically for librarians on the topic of library services for people who are homeless. These training sessions are archived in Niche Academy, a learning management system, which the Utah State Library has a subscription to and to which Utah librarians and library staff can access. Niche Academy itself does not provide this specialized training, nor are there other vendors within Niche

Academy who are offering this same specialized ongoing and archived service.

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

No

3. Explain the market research performed.

Ryan Dowd is the creator of the Homeless Library Training Academy. Although there are many sources for training tools designed to teach how to work with homeless individuals in general, this specialized training subscription is the only one we are aware of that is designed specifically for library professionals and other staff working in a public or academic library setting and which includes archived training sessions and new monthly, on-going training sessions. When a search is performed in Niche Academy there are no other vendors who are providing this same specialized ongoing and archived service on the topic of serving homeless patrons in the library.

4.

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

In a search performed in Niche Academy as well as online- there are no other vendors or search results that offer the amount of training sessions specific to supporting patrons visiting the library who are unhoused as well as the background understanding of Homeless Training Academy.

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.

None

SECTION B: TRANSITIONAL COSTS

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.

2. Supply the following:

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

b

Solicitation number, RQS number, or sole source number for the existing equipment:

c. Contract number for the existing equipment:

3.

Attach the cost-benefit analysis, as required by Utah Code Section 63G-6a-802, that demonstrates that transitional costs are unreasonable or cost-prohibitive.

SECTION C: STANDARD PROCUREMENT PROCESS IMPRACTICABLE

1.

Review R33-108-101c and provide supporting justification why awarding the contract through a standard procurement process is impractical and not in the best interest of the procurement unit under the circumstances; including any supporting documentation.

2. Supply the following, if applicable:

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

b. Solicitation number, RQS number, or sole source number for the existing equipment:

c. Contract number for the existing equipment

SECTION D: TRIAL USE CONTRACT

1. Describe how this trial use contract for the new or novel procurement item will benefit your agency.

2.

Describe how the procurement item is new or innovative, or how the procurement item has a proposed use/application that is novel or unproven.

3.

Describe why a trial use contract exception is necessary for this procurement item at this time as opposed to conducting a standard procurement process to procure the procurement item.

4.

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

5.

How long does the agency need to test the procurement item and what quantities of the procurement item (if applicable) will be necessary to test this procurement item? Note trial use contracts generally cannot exceed a period of 24 months.

SECTION E: EXTENSION OF CONTRACT WITHOUT ENGAGING IN A STANDARD PROCUREMENT PROCESS

The procurement official may extend a contract up to 120 days. For extensions beyond 120 days, the procurement official may extend the contract after consulting with legal counsel.

Contract Start Date: Enter date. Current End Date: Enter date.

Proposed End Date: Enter date. Contract Number: Enter text.

1.

Is this request for a contract extension the result of a protest, appeal or court action? If yes, agency does not need to complete items 2-5 below. Provide the solicitation number that resulted in a protest and date of the protest, appeal or court action.

2.

Describe why extending this contract without engaging in a standard procurement process is necessary to avoid a lapse in a critical government service, OR to mitigate a circumstance that is likely to have a negative impact on public health, safety, welfare, or property.

3.

Confirm the procurement unit is currently engaged in a standard procurement process for the procurement item that is subject to the contract extension request and that the standard procurement process is delayed due to an unintentional error.

4.

Justification for Extension: check all that apply:

☐ The standard procurement process is delayed due to an unintentional error.

☐ A change in an industry standard requires one or more significant changes to specifications for the procurement item.

☐ To prevent the loss of federal funds.

☐ To mitigate the effects of a delay of a state or federal appropriation.

☐ To enable the procurement unit to continue to receive a procurement item during a delay in the implementation of a contract awarded pursuant to a procurement that has already been conducted.

☐ To enable the procurement unit to continue to receive a procurement item during a period of time during which negotiations with a vendor under a new contract for the procurement item are being conducted.

5. For the selection(s) above, provide any additional details regarding the circumstances justifying a contract extension.

SECTION F: REQUEST TO INCREASE TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT

If the original solicitation type was an ACWESPP (e.g. sole source) and the additional amount will make the contract total go above $50K, then a public notice is required to increase the contract total. This public notice is not necessary if the procurement official waives the public notice requirement in accordance with R33-108-101e.

Contractor Name: Enter text. Contract Number: Enter text.

Original Contract Total: Enter text. Current Contract Total: Enter text.

Proposed Contract Total: Enter text. % Increase from Original: Enter text.

Solicitation Number: Enter text. Solicitation Type: Enter text.

Product or Service Description:

Click to enter text.

Why is the contract total being increased? Check all that apply.

☐ The term of the contract is being extended (also complete Section E above if extending).

☐ The quantity of products or services needed has increased.

☐ The price, rate, or fee for a product or service has increased.

☐ A new or upgraded product or service is needed.

Provide details for the answer that was selected in the previous question. Provide any reasons for the increase.

Click to enter text.

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