Amendment #1.docx

State of South Carolina Request for Proposal AMENDMENT #1 issued 10/20/2023 Solicitation: Date Issued: Procurement Officer:

Phone: E-Mail Address: Mailing Address:

5400025926 10/10/2023

GEORGE ROZES

803-737-5769 grozes@mmo.sc.gov SFAA, Div. of Procurement Services 1201 Main Street, Suite 601 Columbia SC 29201

DESCRIPTION: Palmetto Procedures and Pathways Verification USING GOVERNMENTAL UNIT: South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) SUBMIT OFFER BY 11:00 AM Tuesday, October 31, 2023: (See “Deadline For Submission Of Offer" provision) QUESTIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY: 11:00 AM Monday October 16, 2023 (See “Questions From Offerors" provision) NUMBER OF COPIES TO BE SUBMITTED: One (1) on-line submission and One (1) Redacted Copy submitted online.

See “Submitting Redacted Offers” provision Part 4 & “Submitting Confidential Data” Section 2.A.)LOCATION: Not Applicable PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE: None DATE & TIME: Not Applicable

Award will be posted on December 20, 2023 . The award, this solicitation, any amendments, and any related notices will be posted at the following web address: http://www.procurement.sc.gov

AWARD & AMENDMENTS

You must submit a signed copy of this form with Your Offer. By signing, You agree to be bound by the terms of the Solicitation. You agree to hold Your Offer open for a minimum of ninety (90) calendar days after the Opening Date.

(See “Signing Your Offer" provision.)

NAME OF OFFEROR

(full legal name of business submitting the offer) Any award issued will be issued to, and the contract will be formed with, the entity identified as the Offeror. The entity named as the offeror must be a single and distinct legal entity. Do not use the name of a branch office or a division of a larger entity if the branch or division is not a separate legal entity, i.e., a separate corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, etc.

AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE

(Person must be authorized to submit binding offer to contract on behalf of Offeror.)

DATE SIGNED

TITLE

(business title of person signing above)

STATE VENDOR NO.

(Register to Obtain S.C. Vendor No. at www.procurement.sc.gov)

PRINTED NAME

(printed name of person signing above)

STATE OF INCORPORATION

(If you are a corporation, identify the state of incorporation.)

OFFEROR'S TYPE OF ENTITY: (Check one) (see “Signing Your Offer" provision.)

Sole Proprietorship Partnership Other

Corporate entity (not tax-exempt) Corporation(tax-exempt) Government entity (federal, state, or local)

PAGE ONE COVER PAG. 10/10/2312 (MAR. 2015)

PAGE TWO

(Return Page Two with Your Offer)

Area Code - Number - Extension Facsimile

E-mail Address

PAYMENT ADDRESS (Address to which payments will be sent.) (See "Payment" clause)

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AMENDMENTS

Offerors acknowledges receipt of amendments by indicating amendment number and its date of issue. (See "Amendments to Solicitation “Provision)

DISCOUNT FOR PROMPT PAYMENT

(See "Discount for Prompt Payment" clause)

PREFERENCES- A NOTICE TO VENDORS (SEP. 2009): On June 16, 2009, the South Carolina General Assembly rewrote the law governing preferences available to in-state vendors, vendors using in-state subcontractors, and vendors selling in-state or US end products. This law appears in Section 11-35-1524 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. A summary of the new preferences is available at www.procurement.sc.gov/preferences . ALL THE PREFERENCES MUST BE CLAIMED AND ARE APPLIED BY LINE ITEM, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER AWARD IS MADE BY ITEM OR LOT. VENDORS ARE CAUTIONED TO CAREFULLY REVIEW THE STATUTE BEFORE CLAIMING ANY PREFERENCES. THE REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY HAVE CHANGED. IF YOU REQUEST A PREFERENCE, YOU ARE CERTIFYING THAT YOUR OFFER QUALIFIES FOR THE PREFERENCE YOU'VE CLAIMED. IMPROPERLY REQUESTING A PREFERENCE CAN HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. [11-35-1524(E)(4)&(6)]

In-State Office Address same as Notice Address (check only one)

PAGE TWO (SEP 2009) End of PAGE TWO

This Amendment #1 contains the following additions that are incorporated into and made a part of solicitation number 5400025926.

Vendors’ questions and State’s responses

1. Can SCDE please provide the direct link to the instructions on how to submit responses through the online portal?

The State’s Response: See Clause titled On-line Bidding Instructions for details.

1. Will SCDE accept digital signatures on the required forms and cover sheet?

The State’s Response: An electronic signature is accepted on page 1 of the response.

1. For Priority #1.b.a, can you clarify what data your team is hoping to have integrated from Enrich?

The State’s Response:

Data taken from the following fields in PowerSchool:

Attendance District Information Demographics Historical Grades Individualized Graduation Plan (IGP) Success Planner Other Information (Exclude from Class Ranking) Scheduling School Information South Carolina State Information Career and Technical Education (CTE)

EFA/EIA

Multilingual Learner Program (MLP) South Carolina Student Information Students Not Tested on State Assessments Work Based Learning Staff ** Link to Supporting Information: https://ed.sc.gov/data/information-systems/power-school/sis-documents/student-information-system-data-entry-manual/

Test Scores:

SAT

ACT

ASVAB

WorkKeys WIN SC Career Ready Test Advanced Placement International Baccalaureate Cambridge International Exam World Language Proficiency Assessments:

· AAPPL Form B

· Avant STAMP 4S

· ALIRA

· Avant STAMP WS

· Language Testing International OPI (or OPIc) and WPT

· ASLPI

· SLPI

· ALTA Oral Proficiency (Speaking/Listening) and Writing Assessment

** Link to Supporting World Language Exams Information: https://www.ed.sc.gov/instruction/standards/world-languages/instructional-resources/south-carolina-seal-of-biliteracy-overview-and-guidelines/

Other:

Mastery on External Performance Task

1. For Priority #1.b.a, if the data your team is hoping to have integrated from Enrich is assessment data, does this data live in other places that could serve as the source for the integration?

The State’s Response: Not at this time. However, additional sources may be added in the future.

1. Does SCDE or AEAs have dedicated staff or trainers that would help facilitate a training of trainers program?

The State’s Response: No.

1. Priority 1.F states, “Final alphanumeric grades are assigned to courses of students who drop out, are expelled, or withdraw from a course outside the limitations for withdrawing from a course without penalty per the SC UGP.” Can you clarify what penalty means in this instance?

The State’s Response: Students who drop out of school or are expelled after the allowed period for withdrawal but before the end of the grading period will be assigned grades in accordance with the following policies:

a) The student will receive a WP if he or she was passing the course. The grade of WP will carry no earned units of credit and no quality points to be factored into the student’s GPA.

b) The student will receive a WF if he or she was failing the course. The grade of WF will carry no earned units of credit but will be factored into the student’s GPA as a 50.

The allowed period of withdrawal:

With the first day of enrollment in the course as the baseline, students who withdraw from a course within three days in a 45-day course, five days in a 90-day course, or ten days in a 180-day course will do so without penalty.

The three-, five-, and ten-day limitations for withdrawing from a course without penalty do not apply to course or course level changes approved by the administration of a school. Students who withdraw from a course with administrative approval will be given a WP for the course.

Students who withdraw from a course after the specified time of three days for a 45-day course, five days in a 90-day course, or ten days in a 180-day course without administrative approval, shall be assigned a WF/50. The WF/50 will be calculated in the students overall grade point average. Withdrawal limitations for distance learning, dual credit, and virtual courses will be established by local districts in conjunction with partner institutions of higher education and Virtual SC enrollment and withdrawal deadlines.

1. Does the state have funding reserved for this?

The State’s Response: Yes.

8. Are you going to be required by the state to take the lowest bid?

The State’s Response: No. This solicitation is an RFP and awarded to highest ranked offer, as outlined in the solicitation.

9. Is there a statewide budget, or will this be sold district by district? If so, how much is the statewide budget?

The State’s Response: The SCDE does not typically provide budgets for projects of this nature. Please provide your best offer as outlined in the Pricing Proposal and Section VIII of the solicitation.

10. Are all districts included in this RFP going to be implemented based on the award of this RFP, or do the districts also need an additional opt in?

The State’s Response: This solution will be available to all school districts- the requirement for districts to opt into the provided solution has not been determined.

11. Is the implementation going to be centralized at the state level or school district by school district, building by building?

The State’s Response: Implementation will be supported at the state level. Each school district will implement the solution at the district level.

12. Are all districts included in this RFP going to be implemented at the same time?

The State’s Response: Implementation timelines will be determined with mutual agreement from SCDE and vendor.

13. How does the state intend to provide continued support? Is it on the vendor to support individual districts or will there be a centralized ticketing system run via the state which is then escalated to the vendor?

The State’s Response: There is no plan for a centralized state ticketing system. At this time, all support requests will go to the vendor.

Vendor must provide:

14. Will you allow additional features to be added at a later date?

The State’s Response: If additional features are needed in the future, procurement procedures will be followed.

15. Will the state offer any data support?

The State’s Response: Data support will be offered by SCDE as needed to successfully implement the solution. District level data integration will be required.

16. Confirm the grade levels that this solution needs to cover?

The State’s Response: Ninth through twelve grade students.

17. What is the total number of students per grade from the participating districts/schools?

The State’s Response: You can view the end of 22-23 academic year headcount by school and district here: https://ed.sc.gov/data/other/student-counts/active-student-headcounts/

18. What is the composition of the evaluation committee?

The State’s Response: We will not announce names or titles for the evaluation committee. However, the committee consists of Subject Matter Experts in this field.

19. Will you be soliciting feedback from individual districts?

The State’s Response: Two members of the evaluation committee are district representatives.

20. Is there a common single sign on system used by all of the districts?

The State’s Response: No

21. Is the state interested in National Student Clearinghouse reporting to be included in this, and, if so, how many buildings would need National Student Clearinghouse reporting for?

The State’s Response: The vendor is welcome to share additional information on services that may enhance the solution. However, please focus on the specific request.

ALL OTHER TERMS, CONDITIONS, BIDDING INSTRUCTIONS, AND SPECIFICATIONS REMAIN UNCHANGED. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OR IF ANY CONFUSION OR UNCERTAINTY ARISES AS A RESULT OF THIS AMENDMENT, IT IS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OFFEROR TO CONTACT THE PROCUREMENT OFFICER FOR CLARIFICATION. CONTACT INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND IN THE TOP RIGHT HAND CORNER OF THE COVER PAGE OF THIS AMENDMENT. REFERENCE THE “DUTY TO INQUIRE” CLAUSE IN THE ORIGINAL REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL.

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