ESBD_438131_1753199429815_(26-001) Solicitation.pdf

26-001

Consultant Firm for Superintendent Search

Issue Date: 7/22/2025

Questions Deadline: 8/6/2025 12:00 PM (MT)

Response Deadline: 8/15/2025 02:00 PM (MT)

Contact Information

Contact: Mr. Adrian I. Salazar, RTSBO (Purchasing Agent) Address: 4900 Woodrow Bean Dr.

El Paso, TX 79924 Phone: 1 (915) 230-3108 Email: aibarra@episd.org

Deadline: 8/15/2025 02:00 PM (MT) 26-001Page 1 of 28 pages

Event Information

Number: 26-001 Title: Consultant Firm for Superintendent Search Type: Request for Proposal Issue Date: 7/22/2025 Question Deadline: 8/6/2025 12:00 PM (MT) Response Deadline: 8/15/2025 02:00 PM (MT) Notes: The El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) is seeking proposals from qualified and reputable firms with proven experience in providing public school districts with superintendent search consultant services in filling the position of Superintendent of Schools.

Ship To Information

Contact: EPISD Procurement & School Resources

Address: 4900 Woodrow Bean Dr.

El Paso, TX 79924

Phone: (915) 230-3100 Email: bids@episd.org

Billing Information

Contact: Accounts Payable Address: PO Box 20100

El Paso, TX 79998 Phone: (915) 230-2136 Email: accountspayable@episd.org

Bid Activities

Non-Mandatory Pre-Proposal Informational Conference 8/4/2025 10:00:00 AM (MT)

A non-mandatory Pre-Proposal Informational Conference will be held at 10:00 AM (MT) on Monday, August 4, 2025 at the following location:

El Paso Independent School District Procurement & School Resources 4900 Woodrow Bean Dr.

El Paso, TX 79924

Bid Attachments

Required_Forms (1).pdf View Online

(REQUIRED FORMS) Complete and submit all included forms in the corresponding Response Attachments area.

EDGAR_Certifications.pdf View Online

(EDGAR CERTIFICATIONS) Complete and submit this form in the corresponding Response Attachments area.

CIP_Form_1295.pdf View Online

(CIP FORM 1295) Complete and submit this form in the corresponding Response Attachments area.

Vendor Agreement - Services Only.pdf View Online

(REVIEW - SAMPLE ONLY) Please review contract sample and state any Deviations on the appropriate form. You are not required to fill out this agreement at this time. (See Bid Attributes)

General_Terms_and_Conditions.pdf View Online

(REVIEW) Please review RFP General Terms and Conditions

RFP_Goods_and_Services_Requirements.pdf View Online

(REVIEW) Please review RFP Goods and Services Requirements

Deadline: 8/15/2025 02:00 PM (MT) 26-001Page 2 of 28 pages https://episd.ionwave.net//VendorLanding.aspx?e=amzemlOO11yRhBgV0XLz8robp9eb8DPZhJjN09vZhiYJq-zGIDf97JGGr~dR3vIwqM-SxRkVjZc2zTi6ZT37pA https://episd.ionwave.net//VendorLanding.aspx?e=-ifDL5Mp8zeV6dNt-LRzTx773FhAaut6mPdcknYWf-bcwVzlsVr0ixSUPNOd89EtWAAgVp7~iNvUMpB8SktHhA https://episd.ionwave.net//VendorLanding.aspx?e=LFj8Wy-0DUjej~YhoHnWYN5ytvvNL8FtdlFicOjmm4Qtn4Fc0O8mEv7Yj7F~J~BqWPbta3ixZkyTDDllunTKRQ https://episd.ionwave.net//VendorLanding.aspx?e=lciyTGs2N4xRTwPp9Mut1-~L4aejlt-XlweYEWyNSksBqY~jI1dnx7rU8GidI3qLFfTPC9OyETe~M3Oee6foUQ https://episd.ionwave.net//VendorLanding.aspx?e=RLRJE88CnVR64YcEKVHoz6~CLoM18TnBZ4GTkve60o~TJiZh0wKmuqYCsa91-R4xaqhLMAxSMKY932811dlVWA https://episd.ionwave.net//VendorLanding.aspx?e=fmZI4~wmPMGjtGrtE~b-kv1zRpWZXXYcq2Zz5IFz8bihW06U2gbEQSoHCcHyTZMoqvdmUC09XmAAPw94geaDvw https://episd.ionwave.net//VendorLanding.aspx?e=FcIgJJ-FAG2e9qPwGpEdCqirS9kXEvQzfzhXAIBc6bvcKdtiwE-kkBf18KzUOW6x5qU3JXD4vycX~uo5isEa7A

Deviations_Form.pdf View Online

(DEVIATIONS) Complete and submit this form in the corresponding Response Attachments area only if you are identifying deviations to the sample vendor agreement or any of the general terms and conditions. (See Bid Attributes)

Vendor_Information.pdf View Online

(VENDOR INFORMATION) Complete and submit this form in the corresponding Response Attachments area.

2024_W9_Form.pdf View Online

(IRS W-9 FORM) Please complete W9

Requested Attachments

RESPONSE #1 - Statement of Qualifications and Proposal (Attachment required)

Please upload your Statement of Qualifications and Proposal in PDF format. (See Bid Attribute #21 for additional information and formatting requirements.)

RESPONSE #2 - Project Staff Resumes (Attachment required)

Please upload the resumes of the individuals that would be assigned to this project. (See Bid Attribute #22)

Required Forms (Attachment required)

Upload only the completed "Required Forms" documents here. Notarize forms where applicable.

EDGAR Certification (Attachment required)

Upload only the completed "EDGAR Certification" documents here.

CIP Form 1295 (Attachment required)

Upload only the completed "CIP Form 1295" documents here. All sections of the form must be completed and signed.

Deviations

(If Applicable) Upload only the completed "Deviations Form" document here.

Vendor Information (Attachment required)

Upload only the completed "Vendor Information" documents here.

IRS W-9 Form (Attachment required)

Upload the completed IRS W-9 form here.

Certificate of Insurance (Attachment required)

Please attach a copy of your certificate of insurance with the limits identified within the bid documentation.

MWBE and/or HUB Certification Letter

(If Applicable) Please upload a copy of Minority/Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) and/or Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) certification letter and the percentage of your business with MWBE and/or HUB suppliers (see Bid Attribute #43).

Deadline: 8/15/2025 02:00 PM (MT) 26-001Page 3 of 28 pages https://episd.ionwave.net//VendorLanding.aspx?e=FcIgJJ-FAG2e9qPwGpEdCqirS9kXEvQzfzhXAIBc6bvcKdtiwE-kkBf18KzUOW6x5qU3JXD4vycX~uo5isEa7A https://episd.ionwave.net//VendorLanding.aspx?e=zRrOV4e78mQ3D7kWP5aHzR9FnUjoXb~IYJynAeZT7PX~S1DvFX0UyM-I2QJBT7VyE9dzcqzfYq9LDTphfOzpVQ https://episd.ionwave.net//VendorLanding.aspx?e=PtG5lzAaV9CTzIY54iY0-cuGWIZ~DW3iHiDt-UcH7U2zalV1MrmmzV~aN~MEAQXrYOT83vTJmIQGqx4PUDmMmQ

Bid Attributes

1 INTRODUCTION

The El Paso Independent School District is the pioneer of public education in the Paso del Norte region. With a history that spans more than 140 years, El Paso ISD is proud of our position as the springboard for generations of students to realize their dreams. We are committed to continuing to invest in innovation and to empowering and inspiring our students so they can thrive socially, emotionally, and academically. We are El Paso’s district!

Our organization’s theory of action is anchored on our core values, mission, and vision. In partnership with our families and community, we seek to uphold the highest standards to provide inclusive and fair learning experiences that support the whole child. We accomplish this theory of action through whole child development, delivery of instructional excellence, fostering a transparent culture of excellence, and intentional equity designed to make EPISD a destination district.

The El Paso Independent School District has approximately 48,000 students, 71 schools, and 8,000 employees.

2 GENERAL INFORMATION - Solicitation Purpose

The El Paso Independent School District is seeking proposals from qualified and reputable firms with proven experience in providing public school districts with superintendent search consultant services in filling the position of Superintendent of Schools.

3 NOTICES - Public Disclosure Proposal Information

Potential offerors should be aware that once a proposal is opened, all information contained therein will be available to the public unless the information is excepted from disclosure under Texas Government Code pertaining to Public Information.

The exception that allows the District to protect that information, if released, would give an advantage to a competitor or bidder. However, the exception does not apply after the bidding is complete and the contract has been awarded. Trade Secrets, commercial or financial background data, and privileged or confidential information may be excepted from public inspection. If any information in your offer qualifies for an exception because it falls into one of the categories, it should be marked "CONFIDENTIAL," and the basis of your claim of confidentiality should be stated. Data so identified will be maintained as a protected record. Offerors who claim that information in a proposal should be protected from public disclosure after the contract award, may be asked to support such a claim if the District receives a Public Information Act Request for the information and requests a determination by the Attorney General.

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4 NOTICES - Cone of Silence / Anti-Lobbying Policy

The District’s Cone of Silence/Anti Lobbying Policy was adopted to ensure a fair and competitive proposing environment by preventing communication between District officials, employees, or representatives and parties involved in the proposing process that could create an unfair advantage to any party concerning the award of a District contract. This restriction extends to “thank you” letters, phone calls, emails, and any contact that results in the direct or indirect discussion of the solicitation and/or proposal submitted by the Vendor. This policy is intended to create a level playing field for all Vendors and ensure the integrity of the solicitation process. Any violation of this provision may disqualify the Vendor’s response from consideration.

The Cone of Silence shall begin upon the development of the scope of work through the issuance of a request for information (RFI), request for qualification (RFQ), request for proposal (RFP), bid, or other competitive solicitation as defined in state law and shall officially end upon execution of an award by the Board and/or the execution of a negotiated contract, whichever represents the final act in the procurement process.

Regardless of the above time period, it shall not be acceptable for potential vendors to participate in discussions that determine the scope of work, strategic direction, technical specifications, or evaluation criteria of such projects.

The Cone of Silence shall apply to acquiring goods or services using the procurement methods identified in state law and renewal periods for contracts previously awarded by the Board of Trustees with renewal options.

Campaign contributions, gifts, donations, and any other items of value shall be prohibited between the parties defined above for any known contract under consideration during the cone of silence period.

The Cone of Silence/Anti-Lobbying Policy prohibits any communication or lobbying activities during the Cone of Silence period by any person, including but not limited to proposers, lobbyists or consultants of proposers, service providers, or potential vendors, and any of the following:

1. Any Board member, Superintendent, senior staff member, principal, department head, director, manager, or other District employee who influences the evaluation or selection process.

2. District Staff and Consultants, including any employee of the District, any person retained by the District as a Consultant on the project, or any person having participated in the development, design, or review of documents related to the project.

3. Members of the District’s Evaluation Committee, whether District employees or outside experts appointed or selected by the District.

The Cone of Silence/Anti-Lobbying Policy does not apply to:

1. Communication with the District’s Legal Services and Procurement Services staff. Such communications shall be limited to the purpose of obtaining clarification or information concerning the subject of solicitation or engaging in contract negotiations during any scheduled meeting.

2. Questions of process and procedure, including oral communications with the Executive Director of Procurement & School Resources or procurement staff assigned as the point of contact for the solicitation, provided the communications are strictly limited to matters of process or procedure already contained in the solicitation document. A minimum of ten days will be provided for questions during solicitation unless otherwise stated in the Solicitation Schedule of Events.

3. Pre-Proposal/Pre-Proposal Conferences, including oral communications at pre-proposal or pre-proposal conferences, oral presentations before selection committees, contract negotiations, and public presentations made to the District’s Board of Trustees during a duly noticed public meeting.

4. Written communications to the Procurement staff member identified in the solicitation.

5. Conducting business on contracts previously executed and currently in force.

Vendor will comply with the Cone of Silence Policy (Required: Check if applicable)

Deadline: 8/15/2025 02:00 PM (MT) 26-001Page 5 of 28 pages

5 NOTICES - Questions and Request for Clarification

If a Vendor doubts the meaning of any part of this solicitation, questions or requests for clarification may be submitted electronically via the District's E-Bid system. Verbal questions and explanations are not permitted.

Interpretations, clarifications, and answers to questions shall be made only by written response to all Vendors via E- Bid message or other delivery form if prior arrangements are made. To meet the District’s schedule, it is extremely important that requests for clarification or additional information be submitted in writing no later than the date identified within this solicitation. Questions submitted after this date may not elicit a response.

6 NOTICES - Schedule of Events

The following Schedule of Events represents the District's estimated timetable that will be followed in connection with this solicitation:

EVENTS DATE AND/OR TIME

Issuance of Solicitation 07/22/2025 First Newspaper Advertisement 07/22/2025 Second Newspaper Advertisement 07/28/2025 Non-Mandatory Pre-Proposal Informational Conference (Attendance Highly Recommended)

08/04/2025

Last Day for Proposers to Submit Written Questions (Must submit through Ionwave)

08/06/2025 (12:00 PM MT)

Answers to Questions Provided (Posted through Ionwave)

08/08/2025 (4:00 PM MT)

Deadline for Submission of Proposals 08/15/2025 Evaluation of Proposals (Approximate)

Week of 08/25/2025

Interviews / Presentations (If Applicable)

Week of 09/01/2025

Negotiations (If Applicable)

Week of 09/08/2025

Contract Award Date (Approximate)

Week of 09/15/2025

NOTE - The District reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to adjust this Schedule of Events as it deems necessary. If changes are necessary, the District will communicate any adjustments in the form of an addendum or other communication issued through the Ionwave platform.

7 NOTICES - Solicitation Term (Initial and Optional Terms)

The term of this solicitation will be for one (1) year (“initial term”) that will take effect upon the completion of the award process as determined by the District. The District shall have the option to extend the term of the solicitation for up to one (1) additional year ("optional term") at its discretion. Renewal terms will be contingent upon satisfactory delivery of goods and/or services. Each renewal term shall be at the same contract price/discount established for the initial term unless otherwise approved by District.

All intent to terminate notifications for this agreement must be delivered via certified mail to the following:

El Paso Independent School District Procurement & School Resources Attn: Executive Director 4900 Woodrow Bean Dr.

El Paso TX 79924

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8 NOTICES - Electronic Submittal

As permitted by law, Section 44.0313 of the Education Code, the District conducts non-construction solicitation transactions by electronic means (E-Bid System) to the extent possible. The E-Bid System is web-based, and the process requires vendor registration to use the system and provide an electronic response to this solicitation. The instructions for electronic filing can be accessed HERE. If you need assistance with registering or accessing the information, you may contact the Procurement & School Resources Department at (915) 230-3100 for assistance.

Vendors are responsible to ensure that their proposal has been properly submitted. Failure to comply with the requirements of this solicitation, including specific form of the submission required, may be grounds for disqualification of the proposal as “non-responsive.” All proposals shall be submitted through the Ionwave platform or, in hard copy by hand delivery, mail or overnight carrier. The District will not accept proposals via facsimile or email.

9 NOTICES - Hard Copy Pickup and Submission

If the Vendor does not have the means to submit a response electronically, the District will accept hard copy responses; however, the Vendor must register on the Ionwave platform to receive communications during the process. If the Vendor has no access to a computer system, the Vendor may contact the Procurement & School Resources Department at (915) 230-3100 for assistance in registering or obtaining responses from the system.

Prospective Vendors may obtain a hard copy of this solicitation from the District’s Procurement & School Resources Department, located at 4900 Woodrow Bean Dr., El Paso, Texas 79924, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Please contact the Procurement & School Resources Department at (915) 230-3100 in advance of your visit to assure that the hours have not changed and someone will be available to assist you.

Hard copy responses must be submitted prior to the stated submission deadline. Responses shall be mailed or hand delivered to the following address in a sealed envelope or package:

El Paso Independent School District Procurement & School Resources Department 4900 Woodrow Bean Dr.

El Paso, TX 79924

The Vendor’s name, return address, the solicitation name and number, and the opening date and time must be clearly marked on the submitted package. The Procurement & School Resources Department may open any unlabeled submittal to identify it properly. Vendors are required to identify their package to protect the integrity of their proposals and to fully avail themselves of the evaluation and selection process. Hard copy responses may be modified, provided such modifications are sealed and received at the District’s Procurement & School Resources Department prior to the stated solicitation submission deadline. Any proposal or modification received after the solicitation submission deadline shall not be accepted or considered.

NOTICES - Proposal Delivery Responsibility

Proposals received at the Procurement & School Resources Department after the specified date and time will not be accepted. Package delivery services such as FedEx, UPS, etc., deliver packages addressed to the Procurement & School Resources Department directly to the department. U.S. Postal Service deliveries, including Express Mail, are delivered directly to the department. The offeror accepts all responsibility for providing its proposal to the address stated in this solicitation within the specified time, or the proposal will be considered non-responsive and mailed back unopened. If the envelopes do not reflect a return address, they will be opened for the sole purpose of obtaining the return address.

NOTICES - Descriptive Literature

Descriptive literature, where applicable, containing the complete scope of services or other information sufficient for the District to determine compliance with the specifications must accompany each proposal. If a Vendor wishes to furnish additional information, more sheets may be added.

The District is not responsible for locating or securing any information not identified in the offer and is reasonably available. The District will not be responsible for locating or securing information not included in the offer. In conducting its assessment, the District may use data provided by the Vendor and data obtained from other sources.

Still, while the District may elect to consider data obtained from other sources, the burden of providing thorough and complete information rests with the Vendor.

Deadline: 8/15/2025 02:00 PM (MT) 26-001Page 7 of 28 pages https://www.episd.org/o/episd/page/new-e-bid-system-and-vendor-registration

NOTICES - Proposal Documents, Supporting Literature, and Related Data

Related data, where applicable, will be made part of the proposal. All proposal documents, literature, and related data submitted as an offer become the property of the El Paso Independent School District.

NOTICES - Proposal Preparation Cost

This solicitation does not commit the El Paso Independent School District to pay any costs incurred in preparing and submitting the proposal or to contract for the services specified. This solicitation is not to be construed as a contract or a commitment of any kind, nor does it commit the District to pay for any costs incurred in the preparation of a formal presentation, or for any costs incurred prior to the execution of a formal contract.

NOTICES - Contract Performance

The Vendor shall be responsible for the completion of all work set out in any potential contract and task orders. All work is subject to inspection, evaluation, and acceptance by the District. The El Paso Independent School District may employ all reasonable means to ensure that the work is progressing and being performed in compliance with the contract terms and conditions.

NOTICES - Notification of Proposal Award

All awards are made by Board of Trustees or Administration of the El Paso Independent School District in accordance with District policy. All agendas for meetings of the District’s Board of Trustees are posted on the District’s website and available to the public. Information may be accessed at:

https://www.episd.org/page/board-meeting-agendasmaterials-new.

Additionally, notifications of awards are sent to both awarded and non-awarded respondents via the District’s Ionwave platform.

NOTICES - Acceptance or Rejection of Proposals

The District reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals, to waive all minor technicalities and formalities, and to accept the proposal determined to be the most advantageous to the District. Additionally, the District may accept a proposal subject to an exception if, in its sole judgment, the proposal meets or exceeds the District’s specifications. In evaluating responses, the District is not required to select the response based solely on the lowest pricing and will consider the criteria set out in the Texas Education Code, Section 44.031(b), and any other factors specifically set out in this solicitation.

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NOTICES - Solicitation Protest Procedures

A protest may be submitted in writing during the solicitation process when the aggrieved vendor knows or should have known the factors giving rise to a protest or within five (5) business days after the bid due date.

A written formal protest must contain a minimum of the following:

The solicitation number and title of the solicitation.

Specific identification of the statutory or regulatory provision(s) that the procurement staff member or department allegedly violated.

A specific description of each act alleged to have violated the statutory or regulatory provision(s) identified above.

A statement of the relevant facts that include timelines and involved parties.

Identify the issues that need to be resolved to support the protest.

Protest should be emailed to the procurement staff member responsible for the bid, with the subject line stating “Dispute/Protest and Bid/CSP/RFP name and number.”

The Executive Director of the Procurement & School Resources Department shall:

Contact the involved department and inform them of the vendor protest.

Gather information and prepare documentation for the Chief Financial Officer, outlining the solicitation, evaluation, and award of the solicitation.

Inform the involved department on the vendor protest's progress and/or outcome.

The Procurement & School Resources Department shall promptly issue a written decision if the protest is not resolved by mutual agreement. The decision shall consist of the following:

The reasons for the action taken will be determined and sent to the aggrieved vendor.

A copy of the decision shall be immediately forwarded to the vendor and any other party intervening.

All decisions will be based on “best value” for the District.

A decision shall be final and conclusive.

All vendor protest documentation shall be filed with Procurement & School Resources in the respective bid file.

NOTICES - Additional Goods and/or Services

During the Term of a Contract awarded under this solicitation, additional goods/services not included in the original solicitation list and resulting awarded contract may become necessary and benefit El Paso ISD. Vendor and El Paso ISD agree that the aggregate value of added purchases during each year of the Contract (if renewed) shall not exceed 25% of the estimated total value of the Contract. The total value of the Contract must be agreed upon, and the dollar value listed in the Contract and each renewal term of the Contract (if any). For purposes of this section, the total value of the Contract includes all contracts awarded because of the procurement solicitation to all vendors.

For the initial Term of a Contract awarded under this solicitation, Vendor and El Paso ISD agree that the total value of the Contract shall be as stated on the award. Additions of new products may be included in the awarded Contract list during the renewal of the Contract through an amendment to the Contract, and the total Contract value adjusted accordingly. For each renewal term of the Contract, the total actual value of the Contract in the preceding year and the additional new product(s) made during that Term will be the basis for determining the maximum dollar amount (not to exceed 25%) of the additional new product(s) that will be allowed during the next Contract renewal term.

Material change means a modification that exceeds and/or alters the terms of the original contract between EPISD, and Vendor exceeding 25% of the contract value.

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SCOPE OF WORK - Objectives

The El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) is requesting proposals from qualified firms that have proven experience in conducting a successful search for a Superintendent of Schools for a K-12 public school district with at least 25,000 students. A successful search would be identified as the selection of a candidate and acceptance of a position, as facilitated by the firm. If a firm does not have such experience, the proposal may be deemed non-responsive and may be eliminated from further consideration. The firm must be knowledgeable of all pertinent policies and codes involving the superintendent search process.

The Board of Trustees of the District (the "Board") may engage the selected firm for the period necessary to conduct and conclude the Superintendent search process. The successful proposer will be expected to develop and implement a search plan in accordance with the proposal requirements described herein, which may include, but is not limited to:

1. Assisting the Board with the development of the timeline for the search and hiring process;

2. Assisting the Board with the development of qualifications and job description of the Superintendent;

3. Assisting the Board with the advertisement of the position locally, statewide, and/or nationally;

4. Recruiting;

5. Maintaining applicant confidentiality;

6. Narrowing down the listing of applicants for consideration by the Board, if requested;

7. Development of the interview process and questions as directed by the Board;

8. Advising and assisting the Board in defining the role of community input, if requested, implementing a process of and seeking such input;

9. Assisting the Board in conducting reference checks;

10. Contacting current employers beyond reference checks; and

11. Assisting the Board with the contract negotiations.

Read and Understood

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SCOPE OF WORK - General Requirements

The basic scope of work for this solicitation may include the following:

1. Maintain strict confidentiality throughout the search process as directed by the Board.

2. Provide consultation services to District staff on an as-needed basis 7:30 am through 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday on District business days, and as needed at schedules or called Board committee meetings, including committee of the whole and other meetings.

3. Conduct all aspects of the recruitment process as directed by the Board including but not limited to all the items listed on Bid Attribute #19, Objectives.

4. Must be available to travel to El Paso, TX to attend in person meetings with the Board, as deemed necessary.

5. Meet with the Board and with individual Board members to assess Board priorities, goals, and objectives to assist the Board in determining and articulating criteria and qualifications necessary for selecting a Superintendent of Schools.

6. Work with staff and the Board to develop a plan and timeline for the search that includes community involvement while balancing the need for confidentiality of applicants.

7. If the Board desires, assist in the development and implementation of a plan to provide for and facilitate community input and engagement regarding desired Superintendent skills, characteristics, and qualifications.

Such a plan my include focus groups, surveys, and large community meetings, including various District stakeholders, parents, parent organizations, employees, the business community, District partners, key elected officials, and senior District staff that commit to not apply to fill the position.

8. Review position requirements and interview, survey and conduct focus groups to solicit opinions from Board members to help define the leadership attributes and leadership profile needed in a Superintendent of Schools to include reviewing job descriptions and qualifications.

9. Advertise locally, regionally, statewide, and/or nationally to recruit qualified internal and external candidates.

10. Prepare and distribute materials (e.g., leadership profile, survey results) as necessary to advertise position.

11. Screen all applications using criteria to be developed with the Board and provide summary of all candidates to the Board.

12. Conduct comprehensive background checks and interviews of qualified applicants and include the results as part of the information provided to the Board for those recommended for consideration by the Board.

13. Assist the Board with methods to evaluate and rank the qualified applicants in accordance with criteria developed in collaboration with the Board, as per Board policy.

14. Coordinate and facilitate the interview process.

15. Assist in arranging visits to final applicants' current work sites by Board members if determined to be necessary.

16. Assist the Board in developing an appropriate compensation package for the Superintendent that facilitates a successful recruitment effort.

17. Prepare reports and recommendations to the Board, as requested at intervals established by the Board or

Board designee.

18. Provide any other assistance to the Board as necessary to facilitate a final selection to be determined by the

Board.

19. Pricing proposal (in Line Item section) shall be a firm fixed price to include a schedule and the amount or rate of compensation desired for the services outlined in your proposal. Identify all items in the compensation schedule.

Read and Understood (Required: Check if applicable)

SCOPE OF WORK - Statement of Qualifications and Proposal

All responses to this solicitation must include a Statement of Qualifications and Proposal that provides information about the firm and detailed descriptions of the services that will be provided. The Statement should include detailed information describing your firm's qualifications providing services as requested in the Scope of Work (Bid Attributes #19 - 22). Provide information about the firm that demonstrates the ability and capacity of the firm expressed in terms of its Human Resources (number, quality, skills and experience), physical and material resources, financial and informational resources (pool of knowledge). It should demonstrate your firm's competence as it relates to the competencies required to perform the requested services.

All Statements of Qualifications and Proposal must be legible, in PDF format, and uploaded onto the Response Attachments section under RESPONSE #1 - Statement of Qualifications and Proposal. The document must be formatted with the following sections in the listed order:

Deadline: 8/15/2025 02:00 PM (MT) 26-001Page 11 of 28 pages

1. Brief History and Firm Description - Provide a brief history and description of your firm including relevant experience in providing Superintendent Search services that are currently being provided to other similar entities or have been provided within the past five (5) years. Specifically address how the firm meets the qualifications specified above.

2. Location and Contact Information - Please provide the name(s), address(es), phone number(s), and email address(es) of the principal employees of your firm.

3. Lead Consultant Information / Staffing Plan - Please provide the name(s) and contact information of the lead consultant(s) and other key personnel who will be assigned to the search process, including the hiring of a Superintendent, and their relationship to the organization. The staffing plan should describe the proposed staff distribution that will accomplish the work included in the proposal. The staffing plan should include a chart that partitions the time commitment of each professional staff member across the proposed tasks. Full-time and part-time staff, proposed consultants, and subcontractors who may be assigned to direct work on this project should be identified.

4. Services / Activities- Please describe the services your firm utilizes to assist school districts in identifying qualified candidates. Include the process you would recommend using to recruit a Superintendent of Schools for the El Paso Independent School District. A portion of this section should include a detailed description of activities that are to occur, significant milestones, and anticipated deliverables.

5. Experience - Please describe your firm's experience as it relates to Superintendent searches in a K-12 public school setting. The selected firm must have experience in conducting a successful search (selection of a candidate and acceptance of a position, as facilitated by your firm) for a Superintendent of Schools for a K- 12 public school district with at least 25,000 students. If a firm does not have such experience, the proposal may be deemed nonresponsive and may be eliminated from further consideration. The firm must also present its experience in the following areas:

Completion Ratio (How many searches have been started and how many have been successfully completed) Development of a timeline for the search and hiring process Development of qualifications and job description of the Superintendent Advertisement of the position locally, statewide, and/or nationally Recruiting Maintaining applicant confidentiality Narrowing down the listing of applicants for consideration by a Board Development of the interview process and questions as directed by a Board Advising and assisting a Board in defining the role of community input, implementing a process of and seeking such input Assisting a Board in conducting reference checks Contacting current employers beyond reference checks Assisting with the contract negotiations A description of your firm's experience in conducting Superintendent search services for public education K-12 school districts with similar profiles, including culture, language, historical context, and educational issues in borderland communities such as El Paso ISD.

Include a summary of longitudinal growth in student outcomes achieved by superintendents selected as a result of searches conducted by your firm. Include details of results by superintendent, including their longevity in the position as of the submittal of this proposal.

6. Pricing - Please provide an itemized listing of the services that will be provided, along with their associated costs.

7. Additional Information - If applicable, please provide any additional information and comments that your firm deems necessary to clearly communicate your qualifications and proposal to accomplish a successful superintendent search.

Read and Understood

Deadline: 8/15/2025 02:00 PM (MT) 26-001Page 12 of 28 pages

SCOPE OF WORK - Project Staff Resumes

As part of determining the expertise of any potential staff that would be assigned to this project, information is required that will show the composition of the task or work group, its specific qualifications, and recent relevant experience. Please provide the resume(s) of the full-time and part-time staff, proposed consultants, and subcontractors who may be assigned direct work on this project. The resumes should include each member's specific qualifications, education, background, and relevant experience in conducting superintendent searches for K-12 public school districts similar in size to the El Paso ISD.

Staff resumes should be uploaded onto RESPONSE #2 - Project Staff Resumes in the Response Attachments section.

Read and Understood (Required: Check if applicable)

PROPOSAL INFORMATION - Name of Company Contact

Please list the name of the contact person that the District may call regarding this bid. The contact person will be the liaison between the District and your organization. This should be the person who will answer questions regarding the bid submittal and questions about purchases and purchase orders.

(Required: Maximum 1000 characters allowed)

PROPOSAL INFORMATION - Company Contact Email

Please list the email address of the company contact person that the District would be emailing regarding this bid and to whom questions about purchases and purchase orders should be addressed.

(Required: Email address)

PROPOSAL INFORMATION - Principal Place of Business

Pursuant to Texas Government Code, Chapter 2252, Subchapter A, it is necessary for the District to determine the residency of its Vendors. In part, this law reads as follows:

Section: 2252.001: “‘Nonresident bidder’ refers to a person who is not a resident.” “‘Resident bidder’ refers to a person whose principal place of business is in this state, including a [vendor] whose ultimate parent company or majority owner has its principal place of business in this state.”

Section: 2252.002: “A governmental entity may not award a governmental contract to a nonresident bidder unless the nonresident underbids the lowest bid submitted by a responsible resident bidder by an amount that is not less than the amount by which a resident bidder would be required to underbid the nonresident bidder to obtain a comparable contract in . . . the state in which the non resident's principal place of business is located . . . .”

Please indicate the Vendor’s principal place of business (State).

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut

Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas

Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota

Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey

New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon

Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas

Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington, D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin

Wyoming Other (Required: Check only one)

Deadline: 8/15/2025 02:00 PM (MT) 26-001Page 13 of 28 pages

PROPOSAL INFORMATION - Authorized Signatory

Please provide the NAME and TITLE of the company representative identified as an authorized signatory for any potential contract documents associated with this solicitation.

(Required: Maximum 1000 characters allowed)

PROPOSAL INFORMATION - References

Provide reference contact information for three (3) K-12 public school district clients, other than the El Paso ISD, to whom you have provided Superintendent Search Consulting Services and can provide insight into the quality of your organization's services and qualifications. It is preferred that the references are from school districts similar in size to the El Paso ISD. El Paso ISD has an approximate enrollment of 48,000 students.

For each reference, provide the following information:

1. Reference Name

2. School District Name

3. School District Approximate Enrollment

4. Reference Telephone Number

5. Reference Email Address

References may be contacted regarding the quality of your service and your qualifications. Please ensure that the reference point of contact is responsive. Points will be deducted for non-responsive references.

(Required: Maximum 4000 characters allowed)

EVALUATION - Criteria and Factors

The District reserves the right to award the Vendor offering the best value, and not necessarily to the Vendor proposing the lowest price and reserves the right to accept or reject any or all Proposals and waive any formalities.

The Board of Trustees will conduct the evaluation of the responses received for this solicitation. It is not the policy of the District to purchase based on lowest price proposals alone. In evaluating proposals submitted, the District will consider the criteria set out in the Texas Education Code, Section 44.031(b), including the following, and may consider any additional factors at the Board of Trustees' discretion:

EVALUATION CRITERION MAXIMUM POINTS

1. Purchase Price 15

2. Reputation 15

3. Quality 40

4. Meeting the District's Needs 40

5. Past District Relationship 05

6. Long-Term Costs 00

7. Historically Underutilized Business 05

8. Principal Place of Business 05

9. Other Relevant Factors 50

Total Points Available 175

CRITERION DESCRIPTION

1. PURCHASE PRICE (15 POINTS)

Includes all costs associated with obtaining the services associated with this solicitation. Proposals will be evaluated, Deadline: 8/15/2025 02:00 PM (MT) 26-001Page 14 of 28 pages and points will be distributed according to the following:

(15 POINTS) Overall cost to the District based on the services being performed by the Vendor.

2. REPUTATION (15 POINTS)

Includes the reputation of the Vendor and the goods and/or services included in their proposal. For the scope of work included within this solicitation, the following will be evaluated, and points will be distributed accordingly:

(15 POINTS) The respondent's reputation in providing the services outlined within the Scope of Work as ascertained through provided references from past and/or current customers to whom similar services have been provided.

3. QUALITY (40 POINTS)

Includes an evaluation of the quality of the goods and/or services proposed by the vendor related to the scope of work of the solicitation. The following will be evaluated, and points will be distributed accordingly:

(20 POINTS) The firm's proven track record, as documented in a summary of longitudinal growth in student outcomes achieved by superintendents selected as a result of searches conducted. This will include a review of the detailed results by the superintendent, including their longevity in the position.

(20 POINTS) The qualifications, education, and experience of the team members proposed to conduct the search. This will include a review of the firm's ability and capacity in terms of its Human Resources (number, quality, skills, and experience), physical and material resources, financial resources and information resources (pool of knowledge)

4. MEETING THE DISTRICT'S NEEDS (40 POINTS)

Includes an evaluation of the extent to which the goods and/or services being proposed by the vendor related to the scope of work of the solicitation meet the District's needs. The following will be evaluated, and points will be distributed accordingly:

(20 POINTS) The soundness of the respondent's approach and methodology to providing search services for Superintendent of Schools candidates as requested in the Scope of Work. This will include a review of the detailed services that will be provided, timelines, milestones, deliverables, etc., as applicable.

(20 POINTS) The respondent's experience performing the requested services and proven record of dealing with public education K-12 school districts with similar profiles, including culture, language, historical context, and educational issues.

5. PAST DISTRICT RELATIONSHIP (05 POINTS)

Includes a review of any past activity between the Vendor and the District. Full points will be given unless there is documented evidence of poor performance in past transactions with the District. The lack of previous transactions will provide full points as well.

6. LONG-TERM COSTS (00 POINTS)

Includes a review of the long-term costs incurred by the District when acquiring the goods and/or services included in the Vendor's proposal. For the scope of work included in this solicitation, the District will evaluate the costs associated with years two through five of the Vendor's proposal and will include the following components:

(00 POINTS) This criterion will not be assessed any points for this solicitation

7. HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESS (05 POINTS)

Includes a review of the impact on the ability of the District to comply with laws and rules relating to Historically Underutilized Businesses.

8. PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS (05 POINTS)

For a contract for goods and services other than those related to telecommunications and information services, building construction and maintenance, or instructional materials, whether the vendor or the vendor's ultimate parent company or majority owner has its principal place of business in this state or employs at least five hundred

(500) persons in this state.

9. OTHER RELEVANT FACTORS (50 POINTS)

Includes a review of other factors considered relevant to the scope of work included in this solicitation. The following will be evaluated, and points will be distributed accordingly:

Deadline: 8/15/2025 02:00 PM (MT) 26-001Page 15 of 28 pages

(10 POINTS) The respondent's demonstrated capability and financial resources to perform the work in the time projected (40 POINTS) The respondent's interview / presentation, if deemed necessary.

Read and Understood (Required: Check if applicable)

EVALUATION - Board Interviews

As part of the evaluation process, it may be deemed necessary for the Board to request interviews / presentations from potential firms. If that is deemed necessary, firms will be contacted with additional information to schedule the interviews / presentations. The interviews / presentations will be held in person at a predetermined time. The District will not be responsible for any expenses incurred for potential firms to attend the interviews / presentations.

Read and Understood (Required: Check if applicable)

EVALUATION - Process and Award Determination

All proposals are subject to the terms and conditions of this solicitation. Material exceptions to the terms and conditions, or failure to meet the District's minimum specifications, shall render the proposal non-responsive to the solicitation.

Any award made under this solicitation shall be made to the Vendor who provides goods or services, other than professional services as defined by Section 2254.002 of the Texas Government Code, that are determined to be the most advantageous to the District. Factors to be considered in determining the proposal most advantageous to the District are included below and are described within the evaluation criteria described on this solicitation.

As part of the requirement to establish the responsibility of the Vendor, the District may perform a price analysis to determine the reasonableness of the price(s) at which the goods and/or services are offered. Prices that are significantly lower than the mean of all offers and that appear to be unreasonably low may be determined to be evidence of non-responsibility and cause the proposal to be rejected.

The Board of Trustees will evaluate proposals based solely on the Evaluation Criteria set forth within this solicitation. Factors not specified in the solicitation will not be considered. The District reserves the right to waive any minor irregularities or technicalities in the proposals received. Proposals will be evaluated individually against the requirements stated in the solicitation.

Minor problems of completeness or compliance may be brought to the attention of the Vendor for clarification.

Substantial deviations from specifications or other requirements of this solicitation will disqualify the proposal.

Cost will not be the only consideration in the selection of short-listed proposals. A detailed evaluation of proposals will determine the most favorable combination of various elements for this solicitation. The selection of the awarded proposal will be based on what the evaluators believe to be most advantageous to the District.

During the evaluation process, the District reserves the right, where it may serve in the District's best interest, to request additional information or clarifications from the Vendor or to allow corrections of errors or omissions.

The Procurement & School Resources Department will arrange the presentation/interview process, if deemed necessary, for discussion and/or clarification. Points may be deducted or added to the Vendor’s preliminary score as necessary by the Evaluation Committee.

The District may request the Vendors in the competitive range ("short list" finalists) to provide an onsite demonstration of their solution at a location that resembles the scope and size of the requirements laid out within this solicitation. Vendors wil l be asked to provide possible site locations for these onsite demonstrations. All planning associated with the logistics of these onsite demonstrations and any costs incurred will be borne entirely by the vendor. The District will be responsible only for travel-related costs for their staff attending the agreed-upon sites.

The District reserves the right to negotiate the final scope of services, price, schedule, and all aspects of this…