Applicant_tracking_ITN_26-0059_ADD2.pdf

This is an addendum to a competitive sealed proposal solicitation issued by the School Board of Sarasota County, Florida for an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) through an Intent to Negotiate (ITN) process. The School Board seeks a cloud-based, scalable, and mobile-responsive ATS solution capable of handling end-to-end recruitment processes from sourcing through onboarding, with objectives including simplified application processes, improved sourcing and search functionality, enhanced candidate status tracking, targeted communications via email and SMS, centralized job advertising with one-click posting to Indeed and ZipRecruiter, and consolidated application dashboards for recruiters and hiring managers. The system must support 15-20 HR users and 150 non-HR users; process 50-75 active job postings with potential doubling during April-July; manage 700-800 new hires annually; handle 4,500 new applications yearly; and accommodate 10 onboarding documents requiring electronic signatures. Sealed proposals are due March 9, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. EST via the VendorLink electronic portal. Written questions were due February 16, 2026. Recommended awards will be posted April 14, 2026, with School Board action scheduled for April 21, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. EST. The contract term is three years with pricing, terms, and conditions remaining firm for the full period, with two optional one-year renewal periods based on mutual written consent and funding availability.

Proposals are evaluated on a maximum of 100 points across six categories: background and ability to execute scope (15 points), qualifications of assigned personnel (10 points), fee schedule (15 points), references (5 points), approach and methodology (35 points), and reporting services (20 points), with optional presentations adding up to 50 additional points for selected finalists. Addendum #2 changed the approach and methodology evaluation points from 30 to 35 points. Vendors must provide three commercial references from comparable projects within the past 36 months and demonstrate a minimum of three years of experience providing Applicant Tracking Systems. The School Board has not approved a fixed budget and is conducting this ITN to understand market offerings and pricing while identifying the best value solution. All proposals must include executed certifications regarding non-debarment, non-use of coercion for labor services, and confirmation that the company is not owned or controlled by foreign countries of concern as defined by Florida Statute 287.138. The School Board currently operates WinOcular as its ATS and uses Outlook for email; the selected vendor must integrate with the existing Skyward HR/Finance system. The School Board encourages participation by Small Business Enterprises, Minority-Owned Businesses, and Women-Owned Businesses. The District reserves the right to award to a single proposer or make multiple awards and to reject any or all proposals.