ECSD Education Scope of Service 2-11-2019 Final.docx

Essex County Sheriff’s Department

Request for Responses (RFR)

Education Services to Essex County Sheriff’s Department (ECSD) Inmate/Detainees

RFR# _Education-19

SCOPE OF SERVICES:

The Essex County Sheriff’s Department (ECSD) is seeking an education institution that can develop, manage, and staff educational programs for inmates housed at its facilities or that have been released from ECSD care. The initial duration of the contract would be for three years beginning July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2022. The contract can be renewed for up to three years.

It is the goal of the ECSD to reduce recidivism by providing educational and vocational skills that will enable successful re-entry to the community.

This vendor must have knowledge of ECSD institutional policies and procedures, correctional standards and practices, and methods by which plans are implemented within a correctional facility and public safety organization. The vendor should be familiar with programing for Title One and Adult Basic Education.

This vendor will schedule appropriate education programs to meet the needs of all inmates confined in the Essex County Correctional Facility, House of Correction (HOC) in Middleton and Essex County Pre-Release & Re-entry Center, Lawrence (ECPRC), the Women in Transition (WIT) facility and the three Community Corrections Centers (OCCs) in Lawrence, Lynn and Salisbury. In order to provide this service, the vendor shall have the sole responsibility for replacing, on a timely basis, any contractual staff members that are terminated by the vendor, resign, are on vacation, take a leave of absence or maternity leave, or take extended sick time (four days or more). Incidental absences (one to three days) may be covered by existing personnel, provided they are cross-trained and experienced. The vendor should be experienced in interfacing with various governmental agencies, which work with corrections. These vendors representatives must be dependable, function productively and efficiently, have a professional attitude, be conscientious, tactful, and courteous, often serving as the agent of reconciliation when encountering intra-departmental policy conflicts, and assist the agency by reconciling those differences. This agreement should not include any benefit package. This vendor is not an employee of the Essex County Sheriff’s Department.

Calendar:

· There will be a Bidders Conference on Tuesday February 26, 2019 at the Essex County Sheriff’s Department 20 Manning Avenue, Middleton in the Training Room 2 from 10-12. This will be an opportunity for potential bidders to ask questions about the scope of services.

· Proposals must be received by email by March 15, 2019 by 3PM to the attention of:

Gary Barrett, Essex County Sheriff’s Department, gbarrett@essexsheriffma.org, 978-750-1900 x. 4302.

· The ECSD may ask bidders to meet for oral presentations and questions and answers.

· Anticipated contract award date is April 3, 2019

· Contract start date will be July 1, 2019

SPECIFIC SERVICES & DUTIES:

· Schedule appropriate education programs to meet the needs of all inmates and detainees in the Essex County Correctional Facility in Middleton, the ECPRC Lawrence, the WIT and three OCCs. The vendor will be responsible for scheduling classes and groups in adult basic education: Hi-Set preparation; pre- Hi-Set instruction (5th to 8th grade level); basic English as a Second Language (ESL) classes available to all our non-English speaking inmates, Wilson’s reading tutorial program, and adult basic education services for native Spanish speakers as assessed appropriate for their needs, evaluate and refer students with special education needs.

· Coordinates TABE testing and placement; student pre/post testing (TABE), learning gains. Hi-Set testing will be provided by the vendor. Hi-Set testing will be administered up to a maximum of six (6) sessions during the year. Hi-Set testing will include preparation, administration and processing. (Cost of Hi-Set test materials to be billed separately or provided by ECSD)

· Utilize community support agencies to work towards furnishing treatment goals and plans for inmates after release.

· Provide a full-time computer instructor to teach basic computer skills.

· Furnish the ECSD Programs department with information and statistics regarding the number of inmates participating in educational services at the Essex County Correctional Facility, HOC, ECPRC and OCCs.

· Develop all curriculum to align with DESE standards deemed appropriate under ABE and Title One standards.

· Assist in the development of grant proposals and implementation post award.

The current list of classes and schedule are attached. The ECSD and the vendor will collaborate to develop the list of courses and schedules.

Please provide responses to the following questions:

· What experience does your agency have in providing similar programs to other entities? Please describe.

· Does your agency have experience with similar populations? I.e. Inmates, DYS consumers, at risk youth.

· Describe your experience in developing similar curriculums.

· Describe your experience in providing staffing for similar programs.

· Describe how you would integrate the use of tablets and online education.

· What community organizations have you participated with? Particularly in Essex County.

· What additional classes or services would you suggest offering?

· What vocational services would you suggest providing, if any?

· Are there other programs or grants that you are aware that the ECSD may be able to request and participate in?

· Explain how you would prepare to offer these services by July 1, 2019.

· Identify staff that would be involved in managing this program?

· Bidders must provide costs to fund the associated 16 FTEs. Credits would be negotiated for vacancies of longer than 30 days.

· Bidders should identify the reports they would generate to track attendance and participation in the various program offerings and state the frequency of the reports. These reports are needed to monitor and demonstrate compliance with grant requirements, especially Title One. The bidder may need to collaborate with ECSD on the contents of the reports.