FDC RFI-24-157 Childcare Service Provider.pdf

Request for Information (RFI)

Childcare Service Provider(s)

FDC RFI-24-157

Regina Morrison, Procurement Officer Florida Department of Corrections 501 South Calhoun Street Tallahassee, FL 32399

Table of Contents

SECTION 1: Introduction

1.1 Overview

1.2 RFI Timeline

SECTION 2: Key Information

2.1 Background

2.2 Purpose

2.3 Requested Information

2.4 Public Records

2.5 Special Accommodations

SECTION 3: Vendor Submissions

3.1 Electronic Submission of Vendor Responses

Attachment I – Service Location

[Remainder of Page Left Blank Intentionally]

SECTION 1: Introduction

1.1 Overview

The Florida Department of Corrections (Department) is embarking on a new initiative to enhance the working conditions for the Department staff by providing options for childcare services. The first step to this initiative involves seeking informative and innovative responses regarding the creation and operation of a childcare facility located within one or more of the Department’s properties in Marion County.

This childcare facility, located outside of the secure area in a Department-owned building, will provide preference to Departmental staff and Contractors but also be available for public use. The Department’s goal is to ensure that staff has access to reliable childcare in close proximity to their workplaces, with scheduling that accommodates their work schedules.

This is an opportunity to provide valuable insight into an initiative that directly supports public servants working to serve Florida by ensuring the care, custody, and control of those entrusted to the Department’s custody.

1.2 RFI Timeline

The Department has established the following Timeline for this RFI. Each Vendor must adhere to this Timeline and any Timeline revision(s). The Department will post any revision(s) as an addendum to the RFI advertisement. All references to the “Timeline” herein refer to the Timeline in this Section. All times below are Eastern Time (E.T.).

Event Occurrence Location (if applicable)

RFI Advertised September 9, Vendor Information Portal https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/

RFI Response Deadline September 30, 2024, at 2:00 p.m.ET

Florida Department of Corrections Attn: Regina Morrison

RFI-24-157 Daycare Service Provider(s) 501 S. Calhoun Street Tallahassee, FL 32399

Anticipated Meeting Dates (if applicable)

October 2024

Should the Department decide to meet with Vendors to discuss submitted responses, the meetings will be held in person at:

The Florida Department of Corrections 501 S. Calhoun Street

Tallahassee, FL 32399 https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/

SECTION 2: Key Information

2.1 Background

As Florida’s largest agency and the third-largest state prison system in the United States, the Department has approximately 24,000 full-time employees, incarcerates approximately 85,000 inmates, and supervises nearly 145,000 offenders in the community. The Department’s Office of Institutions manages 143 facilities statewide, including major institutions, annexes, work camps, road prisons, forestry camps, re-entry centers, and community release centers. The Office of Institutions divides its operations geographically into four (4) regions: Region I (the Panhandle), Region II (North Florida), Region III (Central Florida), and Region IV (South Florida), Each region has a Regional Director of Institutions who supervises all Wardens in that region. The Department’s Office of Community Corrections monitors and supervises adult offenders out of 130 offices within 20 judicial circuits. A Regional Director of Community Corrections who supervises all Circuit Administrators in that region.

This initiative will begin in Marion County, Florida (Region 3 and Circuit 5). The childcare facility will provide services to three (3) Institutions and one (1) probation office. Approximately 1,460 officers, administrative staff, and contractors are employed at Lowell CI, Marion CI, FWRC, and the Tavares Circuit 5 Probation Office. Normal business hours for administrative staff are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., however, Correctional Officers work three (3) different shifts: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m., and 12:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Employees may be required to work either planned or unplanned hours that extend beyond their assigned shift time frames.

2.2 Purpose

The Department hereby issues this RFI as defined in section 287.012(22), Florida Statutes (F.S.). The Department is seeking information from experienced childcare service providers. Information obtained as a result of the RFI process will assist the Department in determining whether or not to competitively procure services and which solicitation method is most applicable. The Department may also use the information provided by the vendor community to determine general, special, or technical specifications to include in any subsequent solicitation. Vendors submitting a response to the Department’s RFI are not prohibited from responding to any related subsequent solicitation.

Any future procurement of childcare services will be conducted in accordance with Chapter 287, F.S. The Department may use responses to this RFI to prepare one (1) or more competitive solicitations and as the basis for any subsequent vendor meetings. Interested parties are requested to provide information described in Section 2.3, Requested Information below. Additionally, interested parties shall provide details of enhancements or additional services that may apply to the services described.

2.3 Requested Information

A. Describe how your company would prepare to open a new childcare facility in Marion County;

B. List any common risks, issues, or barriers that coincide with opening a new childcare facility;

C. Describe your company’s ability to staff and operate a facility in Marion County;

D. Describe your company’s ability to operate a facility with extended hours (example: 6:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., or any variation);

E. List any current contracts that your company has acting as the childcare service provider or any facility that your company currently owns or operates;

F. List all licenses, certifications, or inspections required to open and operate a childcare facility;

G. Provide the current cost to start and maintain a childcare facility;

H. Provide the childcare tuition rate per age group (infant – 5 years old);

I. Provide the cost for before and after school care for school-age children, including drop-in fees;

J. Explain your company’s ability to build or renovate a building on the Departments property to create, operate, and maintain a childcare facility; and

K. Describe your company’s ability to offer 24-hour care (if applicable).

2.4 Public Records

Public Records

If a vendor considers any portion of the documents, data or records submitted in response to this RFI to be confidential, proprietary, trade secret or otherwise not subject to disclosure pursuant to Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, the Florida Constitution or other authority, the vendor must mark the document as “Confidential” and simultaneously provide the Department with a separate redacted copy of its response and briefly describe in writing the grounds for claiming exemption from the public records law, including the specific statutory citation for such exemption. This redacted copy shall contain the Department’s RFI name, number, and the name of the vendor on the cover, and shall be clearly titled “Redacted Copy.”

The Redacted Copy should only redact those portions of material that the vendor claims are confidential, proprietary, trade secret or otherwise not subject to disclosure. In the event of a request for public records pursuant to Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, the Florida Constitution or other authority, to which documents that are marked as confidential are responsive, the Department will provide the Redacted Copy to the requestor. If a requestor asserts a right to the Confidential Information, the Department will notify the vendor that such an assertion has been made. It is the vendor’s responsibility to assert that the information in question is exempt from disclosure under chapter 119 or other applicable law. If the Department becomes subject to a demand for discovery or disclosure of the Confidential Information of the vendor in a legal proceeding, the Department shall give the vendor prompt notice of the demand prior to releasing the information (unless otherwise prohibited by applicable law). The vendor shall be responsible for defending its determination that the redacted portions of its response are confidential, proprietary, trade secret, or otherwise not subject to disclosure. By submitting a response, the vendor agrees to protect, defend, and indemnify the Department for any and all claims arising from or relating to the vendor’s determination that the redacted portions of its response are confidential, proprietary, trade secret, or otherwise not subject to disclosure. If a vendor fails to submit a redacted copy of information it claims is confidential, the Department is authorized to produce the entire documents, data, or records submitted to the Department in answer to a public records request for these records.

2.5 Special Accommodations

Any person with a disability requiring special accommodations to participate in the RFI shall contact the Department contact person at the phone number above at least five working days prior to the submission deadline for Questions and/or Responses. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact this office by using the Florida Relay Services which can be reached at 1 (800) 955-8771 (TDD).

SECTION 3: Vendor Submissions

3.1 Electronic Submission of Vendor Responses

All submissions in response to this RFI are due prior to 2:00 p.m. ET on Monday, September 30, 2024.

All submissions should be addressed as follows:

Submit via email to:

Purchasing@fdc.myflorida.com Attn: Regina Morrison Subject: FDC RFI-24-157, Childcare Service Providers

The electronic submission must contain the following:

A. Responses to A. through K., in accordance with Section 2.3 Requested Information.

B. Any information or material that your company would like the Department to consider related to this

RFI.

Vendors are responsible for all costs associated with the preparation, submission, and any potential meeting to discuss this RFI. The Department will not be responsible for any vendor related costs associated with responding to this request.

If you have questions, please submit all inquires to:

Regina Morrison, Procurement Officer Florida Department of Corrections Bureau of Procurement 501 S. Calhoun Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399 Telephone (850)717-3700 Purchasing@fdc.myflorida.com

[Remainder of Page Left Blank Intentionally] mailto:Purchasing@fdc.myflorida.com mailto:Purchasing@fdc.myflorida.com

Attachment I – Service Location

Region Major Institution

Facility

ID

Number Facility Name Supervising

Institution Address

3 * 368 Florida Women's Reception Center

(FWRC)

n/a

3700 NW 111th Place Ocala, FL

34482

3 * 314 Lowell CI n/a 11120 NW Gainesville Road

Ocala, FL 34482

3 * 304 Marion CI n/a 3269 NW 105th Street

Lowell, FL 32663

Attachment I – Service Location