Sole Source Procurement Notification

National Physical Therapy Examination

Arizona Department of

Administration State Procurement Office

100 N 15th Ave., Suite 402 Phoenix, AZ 85007

Description:

In accordance with A.A.C. R2-7-E301(D) Sole Source Procurements, the state procurement administrator shall send notice to registered vendors on the electronic system to invite comments on the sole-source request for three working days. Following this period, the state procurement administrator shall either:

1. Issue written approval, with any conditions or restrictions;

2. Request additional information from the agency chief procurement officer; or

3. Deny the request if input or information received shows that more than one source is available or a reasonable alternative source exists for the procurement need.

Requesting Department: Arizona State Board of Physical Therapy

Suggested Supplier: Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT)

Estimated Cost: $190,000/year

Brief description of materials or services: The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) has been the only available provider of certain services related to licensure and certification for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) since 1993. The NPTE is the sole national examination required for licensure/certification as a physical therapist/physical therapist assistant (PT/PTA) in all 53 US jurisdictions. It is the only psychometrically sound licensure examination for PTs and PTAs.

Brief description why there is only one source available: The Arizona State Board of Physical Therapy licenses and certifies qualified physical therapists (PT) and physical therapist assistants (PTA), respectively. In accordance with A.R.S. § 32-2022, licensure and certification require, in part, passing scores on the national examination approved by the Board. A.R.S. § 32-2003(A)(2) authorizes the Arizona State Board of Physical Therapy to provide for a national examination for PTs and PTAs.

"National Examination" is defined in A.A.C. R4-24- 101(25) as an examination produced by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) or an examination produced by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). The FSBPT is the membership organization of the physical therapy regulatory bodies in the US and its territories and is responsible for developing, maintaining, and updating the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE). The NPTE is the sole national examination required for licensure/certification in all 53 US jurisdictions, and is the only psychometrically sound licensure examination for PTs and PTAs and FSBPT is the only organization authorized to administer the

NPTE.

In order to fulfill its statutory duties and to protect the public, all applicants for Arizona PT licensure or PTA certification must demonstrate entry-level competence by passing the NPTE, therefore, an agreement with FSBPT is required to ensure applicants may access the required examination.

The State of Arizona benefits from this agreement by ensuring the Arizona State Board of Physical Therapy will continue to license and certify qualified applicants to uphold its mission to protect the public from the incompetent, unprofessional, and unlawful practice of physical therapy. Without access to the NPTE, Arizona residents seeking a PT license or PTA certificate would be unable to do so in this state, thus denying Arizona citizens access to qualified and lawful physical therapy care.

As set forth in detail above, the vendor for whom the contract will be awarded is mandated by Arizona statutes and administrative rules, specifically A.R.S. §32-2003(A)(2) and A.A.C. R4- 24-101(25).

Duration of Sole Source procurement: 10/1/23 – 10/1/28

How to Respond:

In the event that your Organization is able to provide the requested services described, please respond to BPM005701 via the State of Arizona’s online e-procurement system. Provide a response to the Sole Source Procurement Request in a separate attachment by September 12, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. Local Arizona time.

NOTE: NO RESPONSES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER September 15, 2023, AT 5:00 P.M. LOCAL ARIZONA TIME.

If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Shawnesy Summers at 602.364.0221 or Shawnesy.Summers@azdoa.gov. For additional instructions on submitting your response, you may also contact the APP Helpdesk at (602) 542-7600 or visit the State Procurement Office’s Quick Reference Guides (QRGs) at https://spo.az.gov/app/supplier/QRG.

mailto:Shawnesy.Summers@azdoa.gov https://spo.az.gov/app/supplier/QRG