50-U5700-24-CP349_FVSSW DOL FFE New 003413-SOLESOURCE-812201520839 8.21.2024.pdf.PDF

NMHU PURCHASING DEPARTMENT

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FORM

A sole source procurement is one for which only one vendor is capable of or allowed to perform a particular service and/or construction or for a tangible item that can be offered by only one vendor. A sole source procurement must comply with §13-1-126 and §13-1-128 N.M.S.A. 1978 and all other state statutes and federals pertaining to sole source procurements.

Submittal of this form is one of the steps required prior to approval of the procurement (approved via issuance of a purchase order). If this procurement is approved by the NMHU Purchasing Department it will then be posted onto the University’s website and the State of New Mexico’s Sunshine Portal. The posting will be for no less than thirty (30) calendar days. If a potential vendor submits a protest against a sole source procurement within that timeframe, the sole source will not be awarded until, and if the protest is resolved.

This form must be completed in its entirety. If it is not completed in its entirety it will not be accepted and will be returned to the requestor.

Describe the tangible item(s), construction and/or service(s) you would like to procure.

In support of the U.S. Department of Labor Congressionally Direct Spending Limited Action Project, Foundations for Growing Our Own, the Contractor will: a. Identify an FFE employee who will consistently attend biweekly planning meetings with Center and SWEEP-Raíces Directors to develop a workplan, identify and select a Workforce Consultant, and select four training sites based on New Mexico Counties designated as social work deserts; b. Provide four Youth Mental Health First Aid trainings for up to 120 participants; c. Identify and facilitate one convening with youth engaged in FFE activities to provide training curricula feedback; d. Assist in identifying key leadership and stakeholders in youth-serving, education and child welfare organizations to participate in a Social Work Workforce Coalition; e. Provide expert consultation the development of unique pathways to social work as a career, to include youth certification for college credit; f. Beginning September, 2024, attend 8 Social Work Workforce Coalition monthly meetings; g. Provide technical assistance to Workforce Consultant in the development of Report and Recommendations summarizing the work of the Coalition

Provide the following:

Vendor Name Future Focused Education (FFE) Address

Attn: Ali Sillas, Director of Social Emotional Learning for New Mexico 200 3rd St. NW, 20 First Plaza Center, Ste. 306, Albuquerque, NM, 87102

Name of Company Representative Company Contact Information

Email Telephone

Fax ali@futurefocusededucation.org 505.216-6765 n/a

Amount of Proposed Sole Source $ 49,500.00 mailto:ali@futurefocusededucation.org

Can this procurement be made by the regular Invitations for Bids (lowest bid amount) or Request for Proposals (qualifications-based) process? If not, explain why.

No. Future Focused Education (FFE) services are unique and highly specialized to this organization. FFE engages educators, students, and community stakeholders in transforming education toward equity, culturally- and linguistically-grounded teaching, learning and assessment. FFE also creates paid, workplace learning opportunities for students that can lead to unique pathways for behavioral health careers. Finally, FFE is a certified provider for Youth Mental Health First Aid, an evidenced approach to training family and community members, school personnel and educators, and health and social service providers to identify young people with behavioral health needs or in crisis, linking them to vital services.

What other tangible items, services or construction methods did you consider? Specify the specifications, sources, technical data and any other non-tangible factors that you considered.

There are no comparable services to consider. Because FFE is the only New Mexico-based organization that provides these services, they were specifically identified in the U.S. Department of Labor Congressionally Direct Spending Limited Action Project, Foundations for Growing Our Own project as a funded partner to achieve the aims of this grant.

Which other companies did you contact for the tangible item(s), construction and/or service(s)? Provide the name of the company, representatives you spoke to and contact information.

No other companies with social workers provide this service.

Did you rely on information from other individuals to make your determination, if so by who and what information did they provide?

In preparation for this proposal, the Director for the Center for Excellence in Social Work extensively researched organizations that may be working on youth apprenticeships and workforce development to create unique pathways for social work and child welfare careers. The Director identified that no other single organization provides these services. In addition, no other organization employs social workers who are certified and have the capacity to train 120 people in Youth Mental Health First Aid.

Provide any additional information that may be useful in making a determination.

The lead project coordinator for this initiative is Ali Sillas, LCSW, Director of Social Emotional Learning & Wellbeing. Ms. Sillas possesses expertise in community development and outreach, professional development, positive youth development and trauma responsive care, and gender-based violence and child protection. Ms. Sillas' CV is included in this application. For more information on the work of FFE, see: https://futurefocusededucation.org/ https://futurefocusededucation.org/

Attach to this department quotes, technical specifications or other data that describes the tangible item(s), service(s) and/or construction.

I certify that all the information provided in this document and all attachments (if applicable) are to the best of my knowledge and I understand that there are penalties for willful violations of the State of New Mexico Procurement Code.

Anna Nelson, PhD, LCSW

Requestor Name and Title Signature 8/21/2024

Date

APPROVALS:

Department Head or Dean Signature Date (if different from above)

Name and Title

Purchasing Department Signature Date

Name and Title

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Cesar G. Abarca