50-S6705-24-CP281_Sole Source - FOCUS Training FY25 - signed.pdf.PDF

2021 Sole Source Form

STATE OF NEW MEXICO

SOLE SOURCE REQUEST AND DETERMINATION FORM

A sole source determination is not effective until the sole source request for determination has been posted for thirty (30) calendar days without challenge, and subsequently approved in writing by the State Purchasing Agent or, for Professional Services Agreements, the Secretary of the

General Services Department. The foregoing requirement is regardless of whether the sole source request for determination has been signed by the Agency and/or the Contractor.

I. Name of Agency: Southwest Regional Education Cooperative

Agency Chief Procurement Officer: Erica Reyes

Telephone Number: 575-546-5951

Agency Contact for this request: Lauren Verduzco

Telephone Number & Email Address 575-546-5951, purchasing@swrecnm.org

II. Name of prospective Contractor: FOCUS Training

SHARE Vendor Number (must be active):

Address of prospective Contractor:

531 S. Water Street

Milwaukee, WI 53204

Contact Name, Telephone Number and Email Address:

Todd Gehrman

414-273-4670 info@focustraining.com

Amount of prospective contract before tax: $790,000.00

Estimated tax amount (tax is subject to change): N/A

Term of prospective contract: August 2024 – August 2025

Note: For terms longer than one year, Request for Policy Exemption from DFA MUST be included.

III. Agency is required to state purpose/need of purchase and thoroughly list the services (scope of work), construction or items of tangible personal property of the prospective contract (if this is an amendment request to an existing contract, include current contract number issued by SPD):

FOCUS Training will collaborate with GEAR UP NM (GUNM) a division of the New

Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED) on the following events:

1. GUNM Beginning of Year Collaborative for staff

2. GUNM College Bus Tours for high school students and chaperones; six (6) comprehensive three-day tours mailto:info@focustraining.com

3. GUNM Workforce Development Bus Tours for high school students and chaperones; two (2) comprehensive three-day tours

4. GUNM Conferences; three (3) comprehensive three-day conferences for middle or high school students, educators, and staff.

5. GUNM College Advantage Camp; one (1) comprehensive three-day camp for high school students and chaperones.

Key components are included for each program below-

1. FOCUS Training will collaborate with GEAR UP NM to provide the two-day

Beginning of Year Collaborative/Meeting for staff.

FOCUS will:

a. customize sessions for 40 participants over two days focusing on team building connectivity and organizational alignment.

b. emcee services throughout the program.

c. design and deliver event-branded materials. Provide event branding services, imagery, and a theme for printed materials and/or PowerPoint.

d. organize, provide, and run the Microsoft PowerPoint presentation for the two-day meeting.

e. provide seminar handouts related to the FOCUS Training sessions.

f. provide transitional and end-of-day wrap-up activities, such as icebreakers, energizers, team challenges, and a wrap-up and reflection session.

g. provide and disseminate program evaluation to attendees and compile results for GUNM Leadership.

h. provide a meeting for a debrief with GUNM Leadership.

i. provide a 1:1 match.

2. FOCUS Training will work with GEAR UP NM to provide six (6) comprehensive college bus tours in New Mexico for high school students and their chaperones. The curricula will focus on college and career counseling and academic support.

a. provide six (6) comprehensive three-day and two-night college bus tours for 51 participants.

b. be fully insured and disclose the insurance policy to the GUNM director.

c. provide and coordinate a bus route in collaboration with GUNM

Leadership at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year. Participants will visit up to four (4) campuses in session and cultural stops in New Mexico.

All sites must be confirmed in collaboration with GUNM staff.

d. Arrange for pick up and drop off in Santa Fe, Bernalillo, and Albuquerque as needed and determined by GUNM.

e. coordinate all pre-program logistics. Pre-arrange visits at designated colleges/universities, each lasting 2-4 hours. College visits must be confirmed with the college/university at least two months before the travel date and conveyed to the GUNM director. They should not conflict with the fall, winter, or spring breaks of the districts that GUNM works with.

f. provide GUNM Leadership with the agenda six weeks before each tour.

g. provide registration services. Provide GUNM Leadership registration process and website four weeks before each tour.

h. facilitate on-bus activities. Customize the curriculum by providing college readiness programming, icebreakers, and student leadership activities while students are on the bus.

i. coordinate all on-site logistics. Organize campus visits to include a guided tour. Arrange informational sessions with admissions, financial aid, housing, student support services, and campus life. Visits should include time in a classroom with a faculty member and a student panel.

j. make arrangements for college tour materials for all students.

University/college promotional items from each postsecondary institution include no less than the following: T-shirts, pennants, pens, and drawstring/tote bags. Student packets will include university/college information for each postsecondary institution visited. These packets shall include tuition rates, housing costs, meal plans, financial aid options, programs, and degrees available, as well as the admissions process.

k. design, order, and provide GUNM customized T-shirts for college tour attendees. FOCUS will submit the design three weeks before the bus tour.

GUNM branded lanyards and double-sided name badges for attendees.

l. provided printed promotional material with detailed information regarding the college bus tour for students and parents, e.g., hotel information, names of postsecondary institutions, and sites to be visited.

m. provide three (3) FOCUS Training team members; one who is bilingual and speaks both Spanish and English fluently. Designate a staff member to serve as tour manager throughout the entire trip.

n. submit a crisis management plan to the GUNM Director two weeks before each bus tour.

o. provide all FOCUS Trainer travel, meals, hotels, rental car, and service fees.

p. provide all materials & supplies.

q. design, distribute, and collect student and staff evaluations for all tours.

r. charter bus rental, service fee, and driver accommodations. The coach will be safe and fully operable. If a minor accident should occur, the motor coach should be repaired, or a replacement motor coach/tour bus shall be provided so as not to interrupt the college bus tour schedule or the onboard workshop, activities, and/or events. The coach must include luggage storage and a bathroom. The bathroom is to be fully functioning and serviced daily. Ensure the motor coach is cleaned daily and this process does not interfere with the scheduled activities.

s. provide hotels at a Holiday Inn Express or comparable hotel-

Two students per hotel room/one chaperone per hotel room. Males and females are to stay in separate hotels if possible, or on separate floors.

t. Provide private bonded nightly security at each hotel—a minimum of two security guards. One will secure the floor assigned to males, and one will secure the floor assigned to females. In the morning following the overnight stay, a security report shall be provided to the GUNM-designated project lead.

u. provide meals and snacks, including service fees (up to $45/day/person).

v. allow adding historical/education stops determined by schedule and fees.

w. provide event branded materials.

x. provide lodging and Meals (breakfast on-site at the hotel, lunch on campus or boxed, dinner restaurant style, and snacks provided on the bus)

y. provide a meeting for a debrief with GUNM Leadership.

z. provide a 1:1 match.

3. FOCUS Training will work with GEAR UP NM to provide two (2) workforce development bus tours in New Mexico for high school students.

Students focus on workforce initiatives that educate and train them to meet the needs of current and future businesses and industries to maintain a sustainable, competitive economic environment.

a. provide two (2) comprehensive three-day and two-night college bus tours for 51 participants.

b. be fully insured and disclose the insurance policy to the GUNM director.

c. provide and coordinate a bus route in collaboration with GUNM

Leadership at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year. Participants will visit up to four (4) campuses/workplaces in session/operation and cultural stops in New Mexico. All sites must be confirmed in collaboration with

GUNM staff.

d. arrange for pick up and drop off in Santa Fe, Bernalillo, and Albuquerque as needed and determined by GUNM.

e. coordinate all pre-program logistics. Pre-arrange visits at designated universities/workplaces, each lasting 2-4 hours. College/workplace visits must be confirmed with the college/workplace at least two months before the travel date and conveyed to the GUNM director. They should not conflict with the fall, winter, or spring breaks of the districts that GUNM works with.

f. provide GUNM Leadership with the agenda six weeks before each tour.

g. provide registration services. Provide GUNM Leadership registration process and website four weeks before each tour.

h. facilitate on-bus activities. Customize the curriculum by providing college/career readiness programming, icebreakers, and student leadership activities while students are on the bus.

i. coordinate all on-site logistics. Organize campus/workplace visits to include a guided tour. Arrange informational sessions with admissions, financial aid, housing, student support services, and campus life. Visits should include time in a classroom with a faculty member and a student panel. Visits to workplaces can include time with human resources or designated employees.

j. make arrangements for college tour materials for all students.

University/college promotional items from each postsecondary institution include no less than the following: T-shirts, pennants, pens, and drawstring/tote bags. Student packets will include university/college information for each postsecondary institution visited. These packets shall include tuition rates, housing costs, meal plans, financial aid options, programs, and degrees available, as well as the admissions process.

k. design, order, and provide GUNM customized T-shirts for workforce development tour attendees. FOCUS will submit the design three weeks before the bus tour. GUNM branded lanyards and double-sided name badges for attendees.

l. provided printed promotional material with detailed information regarding the college/workforce development bus tour for students and parents, e.g., hotel information, names of postsecondary institutions, and sites to be visited.

m. provide three (3) FOCUS Training team members; one who is bilingual and speaks both Spanish and English fluently. Designate a staff member to serve as tour manager throughout the entire trip.

n. submit a crisis management plan to the GUNM Director two weeks before each bus tour.

o. provide all FOCUS Trainer travel, meals, hotels, rental car, and service fees.

p. provide all materials & supplies.

q. design, distribute, and collect student and staff evaluations for all tours.

r. charter bus rental, service fee, and driver accommodations. The coach will be safe and fully operable. If a minor accident should occur, the motor coach should be repaired, or a replacement motor coach/tour bus shall be provided so as not to interrupt the college bus tour schedule or the onboard workshop, activities, and/or events. The coach must include luggage storage and a bathroom. The bathroom is to be fully functioning and serviced daily. Ensure the motor coach is cleaned daily and this process does not interfere with the scheduled activities.

s. provide hotels at a Holiday Inn Express or comparable hotel-

Two students per hotel room/one chaperone per hotel room. Males and females are to stay in separate hotels if possible, or on separate floors.

t. Provide private bonded nightly security at each hotel—a minimum of two security guards. One will secure the floor assigned to males, and one will secure the floor assigned to females. In the morning following the overnight stay, a security report shall be provided to the GUNM-designated project lead.

u. provide meals and snacks, including service fees (up to $45/day/person).

v. allow adding historical/education stops determined by schedule and fees.

w. provide event branded materials.

x. provide lodging and Meals (breakfast on-site at the hotel, lunch on campus or boxed, dinner restaurant style, and snacks provided on the bus)

y. provide a meeting for a debrief with GUNM Leadership.

z. provide a 1:1 match.

4. Focus Training will work with GEAR UP NM to provide students, educators, and chaperones with the following educational opportunities Student

Leadership Conference for 150-200 participants, a STEM Conference for 120-

170 participants, and a Pathways to Success Conference for 165 - 200 participants.

FOCUS Training will:

a. provide three (3) comprehensive three-day conferences for middle or high school students, educators, and staff. Provide event management services that include agenda planning, on-site registration, coordination with

SREC regarding hotel and banquet services, and rooming assignments.

b. provide GUNM Leadership with the agenda six (6) weeks before each conference.

c. provide registration services. Provide GUNM Leadership registration process and website four (4) weeks before each conference.

d. provide hotel room assignments: two students per hotel room/one chaperone per hotel room. Males and females are to stay on separate floors, preferably by school.

e. provide private bonded nightly security at each hotel—a minimum of two security guards. One will secure the floor assigned to males, and one will secure the floor assigned to females. In the morning following the overnight stay, a security report shall be provided to the GUNM-designated project lead.

f. arrange for catering for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for all attendees.

g. provide three (3) FOCUS Training team members; one who is bilingual and speaks both Spanish and English fluently. Designate a staff member to serve as tour manager throughout the entire event.

h. facilitate and deliver student programming in designated sessions, with a focus on college/career readiness and social-emotional skill development.

i. facilitate and deliver professional development if requested.

j. deliver evening activities and age-appropriate entertainment.

k. create a curriculum that aligns with session content and may include additional resources.

l. create conference branding, imagery, signage, and SWAG.

m. design, order, and provide GUNM customized T-shirts for college tour attendees. FOCUS will submit the design three weeks before the bus tour.

GUNM branded lanyards and double-sided name badges for attendees.

n. create and deliver conference materials, including certificates, signage, etc.

o. provide a hospitality table and manage it for attendees.

p. provide and set up a photo booth and gallery.

q. administer post-program evals and compilation for GUNM Leadership.

r. provide a meeting for a debrief with GUNM Leadership.

s. provide a 1:1 match.

5. FOCUS Training will collaborate with GEAR UP NM to provide students and staff with a three-day college readiness summer camp on a college campus.

The camp aims to develop skills and awareness related to college choice, college preparation, and financial planning for college.

Focus Training will:

a. provide one (1) comprehensive three-day camp for high school students, and staff. Provide event management services that includes agenda planning, registration services, arranging catering (breakfast, lunch, dinner), snacks, and dorm rooming assignments.

b. create and provide the agenda and camp curriculum to enhance 21st Century Skills in students.

c. provide GUNM Leadership with the agenda six (6) weeks before each conference.

d. provide pre-program coordination promotional materials.

e. design, order, and provide GUNM customized T-shirts for college tour attendees. FOCUS will submit the design three weeks before the bus tour.

GUNM branded lanyards and double-sided name badges for attendees.

f. provide GUNM Leadership registration process and website four (4) weeks before each conference.

g. provide dorm room assignments: two students per dorm room/one chaperone per dorm room. Males and females are to stay on separate floors, preferably by school.

h. provide private bonded nightly security at each dorm- a minimum of two security guards. One will secure the floor assigned to males, and one will secure the floor assigned to females. In the morning following the overnight stay, a security report shall be provided to the GUNM-designated project lead.

i. provide students with a camp program and resources.

j. provide on-site coordination of the program.

k. communicate and coordinate with the host facility.

l. deliver evening activities and age-appropriate entertainment.

m. administer post-program evals and compilation for GUNM Leadership.

n. provide a meeting for a debrief with GUNM Leadership.

o. provide a 1:1 match.

IV. Provide a detailed explanation of the criteria developed and specified by the agency as necessary to perform and/or fulfill the contract and upon which the state agency reviewed available sources. (Do not use “technical jargon;” use plain English. Do not tailor the criteria simply to exclude other contractors if it is not rationally related to the purpose of the contract.)

The GEAR UP New Mexico (GUNM) is a federally funded grant program designed to increase the number of low-income students prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. The primary goal of GUNM is to provide support, resources, and services to students from disadvantaged backgrounds for students in grades 7 – 12. The program aims to help these students excel academically, develop critical thinking skills, and become aware of postsecondary education opportunities.

It also seeks to foster a college-going culture in schools and communities. By offering early intervention and support, GUNM aims to address the barriers that might prevent low-income students from pursuing higher education, such as lack of information about college options, financial challenges, and limited academic preparation. The ultimate objective is to increase college enrollment and graduation rates among these students and provide them with greater opportunities for success.

Establishing bus tours, conferences, and camps to guide participants (i.e., students, staff, and district professionals) in exploring colleges and understanding their academic, financial, and social fit. The programs aim to offer valuable experiences, helping students and professionals make informed decisions about college and career paths. Participants will visit multiple colleges, assessing academic programs, extracurricular activities, and support services to find the best fit for their needs.

Financial aspects, including aid options and scholarships, will be explored to ensure wise financial planning. Overall, these programs intend to equip participants with the necessary tools and information to make educated decisions about their future education and careers.

V. Provide a detailed, sufficient explanation of the reasons, qualifications, proprietary rights or unique capabilities of the prospective contractor that makes the prospective contractor the one source capable of providing the required professional service, service, construction or item(s) of tangible personal property. (Please do not state the source is the “best” source or the “least costly” source. Those factors do not justify a “sole source.”)

FOCUS Training has been providing interactive leadership development training for over 30 years. They have developed unique training experiences using experiential education to enhance the learning process. Through their innovation process

(methodology, tools, documentation, techniques), they have created a portfolio of intellectual property rights, including copyrights and trademarks. FOCUS

Training’s College Readiness Programs include interactive training with a customized curriculum, specifically for institutions and programs funded by GEAR

UP and TRIO grants. College Readiness Programs include pre-program design, customization, logistics planning, registration and promotion services, facilitation, curriculum development and delivery, and post-program assessment.

VI. Provide a detailed, sufficient explanation of how the professional service, service, construction or item(s) of tangible personal property is/are unique and how this uniqueness is substantially related to the intended purpose of the contract.

FOCUS Training’s programs are interactive multi-day training experiences with customized curricula for institutions like GEAR UP. Their facilitators are experts in student transition, engagement, and retention. This program includes pre-program design, customization, logistics support, on-site facilitation, curriculum development

& delivery, and post-program assessment. A competitor that incorporates all the deliverables provided by FOCUS training does not exist.

VII. Explain why other similar professional services, services, construction or item(s) of tangible personal property cannot meet the intended purpose of the contract.

FOCUS Training has been providing interactive leadership development training for over 30 years. They have developed unique training experiences using experiential education to enhance the learning process. Through their innovation process (methodology, tools, documentation, techniques), they have created a portfolio of intellectual property rights that include copyrights and trademarks that other vendors do not possess.

FOCUS Training developed all activities, curriculum, training techniques, and systems are unique to FOCUS Training, and are the sole property of FOCUS

Training. They cannot be used, replicated, or distributed by unauthorized entities or institutions.

VIII. Provide a narrative description of the agency’s due diligence in determining the basis for the procurement, including procedures used by the agency to conduct a review of available sources such as researching trade publications, industry newsletters and the internet;;

contacting similar service providers; and reviewing the State Purchasing Divisions’

Statewide Price Agreements. Include a list of businesses contacted (do not state that no other businesses were contacted), date of contact, method of contact (telephone, mail, e-mail, other), and documentation demonstrating an explanation of why those businesses could not or would not, under any circumstances, perform the contract; or an explanation of why the agency has determined that no businesses other than the prospective contractor can perform the contract.

*See Internet searches on page 10

Internet searches were conducted on the following similar vendors:

Services Offered Reservations goCampusing goCAMPUSing works with school districts, individual middle & high schools, non-profit organizations and local, state and federal college awareness programs, like TRiO, Upward Bound, GEAR UP, and AVID, to develop customized in-person college campus tours & virtual customized college campus tours. goCAMPUSing also offers an online college awareness streaming video program for in school or remote learning

This organization doesn’t facilitate conferences and camps for middle and high school students. GEAR UP

New Mexico requires a vendor who can provide college bus tours, camps, and conferences for middle and high school students.

This organization doesn’t have experience with colleges and universities in New Mexico.

College Campus

Tours

Over the past 24 years, College Campus

Tours has mentored over sixty thousand students during their transition to higher education. The College Campus

Tours Program is designed to empower young people to be better decision makers. While touring, students are captivated by carefully planned lessons that inspire creativity and critical thinking skills. This program has three components: College Readiness, Leadership Development, and Life

Skills.

This organization doesn’t facilitate conferences and camps for middle and high school students. GEAR UP

New Mexico needs a vendor who can provide college bus tours, camps, and conferences for middle and high

This organization is not affiliated with GEAR UP.

Educational

Destinations

Educational Destinations is a travel company that puts together customized trips for its clients. Since 1987, led by accomplished scholastic educators, Educational Destinations has become the first choice for student group tours by listening to customers, providing industry-leading online services and by having professional Tour Directors conduct most trips.

This organization doesn’t provide college campus bus tours, conferences and camps for middle and high school students. GEAR UP

New Mexico needs a vendor who can provide college bus tours, camps, and conferences for middle and high

This organization is not affiliated with GEAR UP.

Certified by: Date:____________________

Agency Chief Procurement Officer

Agency Approval by: Date: ____________________

Cabinet Secretary/Agency or Entity Head or Designee

APPROVED: Date:____________________

__N/A__________________________________________

State Purchasing Agent

If this sole source is being submitted by a governmental agency or governmental entity not under the final authority of the State Purchasing Agent, the State Purchasing Agent’s signature is not required. The signature line may be removed from this form or marked as N/A. Hard Copy

Documentation for Courtesy Postings do not need to be submitted to SPD for approval.

07/17/2024

07/17/2024

Sole Source - FOCUS Training FY25 Final Audit Report 2024-07-17

Created: 2024-07-17

By: Lauren Verduzco (lverduzco@swrecnm.org)

Status: Signed

Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAAEzFRuPPEPUwyOxT6payxHbCHeUGadtsX

"Sole Source - FOCUS Training FY25" History Document created by Lauren Verduzco (lverduzco@swrecnm.org)

2024-07-17 - 6:16:22 PM GMT

Document emailed to Erica Reyes (ereyes@swrecnm.org) for signature

2024-07-17 - 6:16:27 PM GMT

Email viewed by Erica Reyes (ereyes@swrecnm.org)

2024-07-17 - 7:11:46 PM GMT

Document e-signed by Erica Reyes (ereyes@swrecnm.org) Signature Date: 2024-07-17 - 7:12:13 PM GMT - Time Source: server

Document emailed to Valerie Brea (vbrea@swrecnm.org) for signature

2024-07-17 - 7:12:14 PM GMT

Email viewed by Valerie Brea (vbrea@swrecnm.org)

2024-07-17 - 7:43:49 PM GMT

Document e-signed by Valerie Brea (vbrea@swrecnm.org) Signature Date: 2024-07-17 - 7:44:24 PM GMT - Time Source: server

Agreement completed.

2024-07-17 - 7:44:24 PM GMT