Higher Education Program Consulting and Management Services.docx

State of Missouri Office of Administration, Division of Purchasing

Request for Proposal (RFP) for Higher Education Program Consulting and Management Services

PROPOSAL DUE NO LATER THAN: August 21, 2026 AT 2:00 PM CENTRAL TIME Proposal response must be submitted electronically through MissouriBUYS, powered by MOVERS, at https://missouribuys.mo.gov.

E-mailed, mailed, courier, or hand-delivered proposal responses will not be accepted.

RFP CONTACT INFORMATION:

BUYER: Mertrell Nickens

PHONE NO.: (573) 751-7656

EMAIL: Mertrell.Nickens@oa.mo.gov See “RFP Questions” in Section 1 for appropriate communications during the procurement process.

DELIVER SUPPLIES/SERVICES FREE ON BOARD (FOB) DESTINATION TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:

Missouri Department of Corrections 2729 Plaza Drive Jefferson City, MO 65109

ATTENTION:

1. After reviewing the Request for Proposal (RFP), the vendor must complete and return Exhibit A, Proposal Signature Page and all other necessary exhibits.

2. Due to lead times for obtaining the information needed to complete the various Business Compliance Exhibits herein as explained in the RFP’s Vendor Response Exhibits, vendors are encouraged to IMMEDIATELY begin securing these verifications.

3. The vendor must be registered in MissouriBUYS, powered by MOVERS in a “Prospective” or “Spend Authorized” registration status to submit a proposal. The vendor must achieve “Approved” registration status in MissouriBUYS (WebProcure/Proactis) and “Spend Authorized” registration status in MissouriBUYS, powered by MOVERS to be considered for a contract award. Reference Section 5.

RFP Organization:

RFP Vendor Response Exhibits (Return these exhibits with the proposal)

BUSINESS COMPLIANCE EXHIBITS

Separate Documents: The vendor is advised that the separate documents to this document referenced above provide additional requirements, information, and/or instruction. The separate documents must be downloaded from the Division of Purchasing’s MissouriBUYS, powered by MOVERS, website at: https://missouribuys.mo.gov/. The separate documents are downloadable from the same web page where the solicitation document is downloadable. It shall be the sole responsibility of the vendor to obtain each of the separate documents. The vendor shall not be relieved of any responsibility for performance under the subsequent contract due to the failure of the vendor to obtain a copy of the separate documents.

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION SECTION

Introduction:

Purpose: This document constitutes a request for competitive, sealed proposals for the provision of higher education program consulting and management services as set forth herein for the Department of Corrections.

Minimum Experience Qualifications: There are minimum experience qualifications in the RFP (See Section 2.2, Minimum Experience Requirements in Section 2: Scope of Work).

Titles: Titles of paragraphs used herein are for the purpose of facilitating reference only and shall not be construed to infer a contractual construction of language.

Background and Historical Usage Information:

The Department of Corrections (DOC) is committed to equipping and empowering individuals to find a path to economic independence and mobility through higher education, soft skill development, and career exploration, which are essential for those released from incarceration in obtaining and maintaining employment. Workforce readiness and subsequent connection with employment is a significant indicator for reentry success.

The Division of Offender Rehabilitative Services (DORS) has current higher education partnerships with colleges and universities including Lincoln University, Washington University, St. Louis University, Rockhurst University, Hannibal-LaGrange University, Central Methodist University, Ashland University, and Three Rivers Community College. Through these partnerships, offenders can take college courses and earn credits toward completion of certain associate and bachelor’s degree programs while incarcerated.

Attachment 1 contains a list of the current higher education program listing.

The higher education partnerships with these colleges and universities provide higher education programming at nineteen (19) correctional facilities. The DOC recognizes the need for programming to be administrated and operated by and through an accredited institution of education to assist in ensuring the ability to meet standards set by the Prison Education Program (PEP) and Higher Learning Commission.

DOC’s current correctional facilities include:

Algoa Correctional Center (ACC) Boonville Correctional Center (BCC) Chillicothe Correctional Center (CCC) Crossroads Correctional Center (CRCC) Eastern Reception, Diagnostic, and Correctional Center (ERDCC) Farming Correctional Center (FCC) Fulton Reception and Diagnostic Center (FRDC) Jefferson City Correctional Center (JCCC) Maryville Treatment Center (MTC) Missouri Eastern Correctional Center (MECC) Moberly Correctional Center (MCC) Northeast Correctional Center (NECC) Ozark Correctional Center (OCC) Potosi Correctional Center (PCC) South Central Correctional Center (SCCC) Southeast Correctional Center (SECC) Tipton Correctional Center (TCC) Western Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center (WRDCC) Women’s Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center (WERDCC)

Currently, DOC employs an Education Supervisor at sixteen (16) of the nineteen (19) correctional facilities who lead the diagnostic and high school equivalency programming at the correctional facilities. DOC employs certified teaching staff to include Special Education and Title I teachers. DOC also employs sixteen (16) full-time Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) teachers. However, with current resources, DOC recognizes an inability to provide the overall administrative needs necessary to maintain the high-quality educational programming needed to reach our higher education goals.

The Missouri Department of Corrections Institutional Listing (Attachment 2) provides a full list of DOC correctional facilities with addresses and contact phone numbers.

With the implementation of higher education programming, the education supervisors have assumed the role of liaison to each college partner. For most education supervisors there are multiple college partners for their correctional facilities. The education supervisors are managing the administration and operations of DOC’s diagnostic and high school equivalency programs. The education supervisors are also managing the administrative duties related to DOC’s ever-expanding higher education programming in addition to their normal duties, which is not sustainable as DOC scales higher education opportunities to meet demand. The goal of DOC is to hire an entity to come in and take over all the administrative tasks, oversight of, and assume the role of liaison to each of the college partners and correctional facilities. The DOC is seeking proposals from qualified vendors for the management of our academic higher education programming.

Current and/or Previous Contract Information:

A current contract nor a previous contract exists for the services being obtained via this RFP.

RFP Questions:

Buyer is Single Point of Contact for Solicitation: Vendors and their agents (including subcontractors, employees, consultants, or anyone else acting on their behalf) must direct all of their questions or comments regarding the RFP, the evaluation, etc., to the buyer indicated on the first page of this RFP. It is preferred that questions be emailed to the buyer.

Except as noted herein, vendors and their agents are instructed not to contact any other state employee regarding any of these matters during the solicitation and evaluation process. Inappropriate contacts are grounds for suspension and/or exclusion from specific procurements. Vendors can be sanctioned for unauthorized contact with any evaluator under 1 Code of State Regulation (CSR) 40-1.060(8)(G) and (H) available at http://www.sos.mo.gov/adrules/csr/csr.asp.

Minority Business Enterprise/Women Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE) and Service-Disabled Veteran Enterprise certification or subcontract questions should be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) at http://oeo.mo.gov.

Vendor is Responsible for Asking Questions About the RFP: It is the vendor’s responsibility to ask questions, request changes or clarifications, or otherwise advise the Division of Purchasing if the vendor believes that any language, specifications, or requirements are: (1) ambiguous, (2) contradictory or arbitrary, (3) violate any state or federal law or regulation, (4) restrict or limit the requirements to a single source, or (5) restrict or limit the vendor’s ability to submit a proposal.

Vendor Question Deadline: Every attempt shall be made to ensure that the vendor receives an adequate and prompt response. However, in order to maintain a fair and equitable procurement process, all vendors will be advised, via the issuance of an amendment to the RFP, of any relevant or pertinent information related to the procurement. All questions and issues should be submitted no later than ten (10) calendar days prior to the proposal closing date and time of the proposals. If not received prior to ten (10) calendar days before the proposal closing date and time, the Division of Purchasing may not be able to fully research and consider the respective questions or issues.

State’s Response to Vendor Questions: Upon the Division of Purchasing’s consideration of questions and issues, if the Division of Purchasing determines that changes are necessary, the resulting changes will be included in a subsequently issued RFP amendment(s); absence of such response indicates that the questions and issues were considered but deemed unnecessary for an RFP amendment. All vendors will be advised of any change to the RFP’s language, specifications, or requirements by a formal amendment to the RFP. There will be no posted written records of the questions/communications (i.e., formal question/answer document).

RFP is State’s Only Official Position: The only official position of the State of Missouri shall be that which is contained in the RFP and any amendments thereto.

Amendments:

If the Division of Purchasing determines that changes to the RFP are necessary, the resulting changes will be included in a subsequently issued RFP amendment(s) prior to the proposal closing date and time.

Pre-Proposal Teleconference:

Pre-proposal Teleconference Date and Time: A pre-proposal teleconference regarding this RFP will be held on Monday, August 10, 2026, at 1:00 P.M., Central Time. Vendors are encouraged to participate in the pre-proposal teleconference as it will be used as the forum for questions, communications, and discussions regarding the RFP. The vendor should become familiar with the RFP and develop all questions prior to the pre-proposal teleconference in order to ask questions and otherwise participate in the public communications regarding the RFP.

Pre-Proposal Teleconference Agenda: The vendor should have a copy of the RFP for the pre-proposal teleconference since it will be used as the agenda for the pre-proposal teleconference.

Communication Prior to the Teleconference: The vendor is encouraged to review the RFP prior to the pre-proposal teleconference and may submit written communications and/or questions regarding the RFP, which reference the RFP paragraph numbers, to the buyer identified on page one. Such prior communication will provide the State of Missouri with insight into areas of the RFP which may be brought up for discussion during the conference and which may require clarification.

Communication During the Teleconference: During the pre-proposal teleconference, it shall be the sole responsibility of the vendor to orally address all issues previously presented to the buyer by the vendor, including any questions regarding the RFP or areas of the RFP requiring clarification.

Amendment to the RFP: Any modifications needed to the RFP as a result of discussions from the pre-proposal teleconference will be accomplished as an amendment to the RFP. Neither formal minutes of the pre-proposal teleconference nor written records of the questions/communications will be maintained.

Pre-Proposal Teleconference Special Accommodations: Vendors are strongly encouraged to advise the Division of Purchasing within five (5) state business days of the scheduled pre-proposal teleconference of any special accommodations needed for people with health conditions or impairments who will be participating in the pre-proposal teleconference so that these accommodations can be made.

Pre-Proposal Teleconference Dial-In Information: The vendor should contact the buyer from the Division of Purchasing as indicated on the first page of this RFP to obtain dial-in instructions. The vendor will be provided with a telephone number to dial and/or webinar information to access, in order to listen and participate in the pre-proposal teleconference. The vendor shall refrain from contacting anyone other than the buyer to obtain the dial-in information.

Correctional Facility Tours:

Non-Mandatory Tour of Correctional Facilities: In order to gain a better understanding of the different correctional facility security levels, vendors are strongly encouraged but not required to attend the tour of the following correctional facilities. Vendors shall not be permitted to schedule a tour at a different time or date.

1101 East Highway 54 Vandalia, MO 63382

5201 S. Morley Moberly, MO 65270

8501 No More Victims Road Jefferson City, MO 65101

1216 East Morgan Street Boonville, MO 65233

Correctional Facility Information: Vendors are advised that participation in a tour of the correctional facilities is considered essential to obtain a clear and complete understanding of the different correctional facility security level at the location where services will be provided. The vendor shall not be relieved of responsibility for performance under the contract for any reason whatsoever, including, but not limited to the vendor’s failure to attend the scheduled tour of the correctional facilities.

Vendors are strongly encouraged to advise the Division of Purchasing, at least five (5) state business days prior to the scheduled tour of the correctional facility, of any special accommodations needed for people with health conditions or impairments who will be attending the tour so that these accommodations can be made.

Glossary of Terms and Acronyms:

Whenever the following terms and acronyms appear in the RFP document or any amendment thereto, the definitions or meanings described below shall apply.

General Glossary, Acronyms, and Abbreviations:

Agency and/or State Agency means the statutory unit of state government in the State of Missouri for which the equipment, supplies, and/or services are being purchased by the Division of Purchasing (Purchasing). The agency is also responsible for payment, unless otherwise specified herein.

Amendment means a written, official modification to a solicitation or contract.

Attachment applies to all documents which are included with an RFP to incorporate any informational data or requirements related to the performance requirements and/or specifications.

Buyer means the procurement staff member of Purchasing.

Code of State Regulation (CSR) contains the current administrative rules of executive agencies of Missouri government. The regulations are arranged by agency rather than by subject.

Contract means a legal and binding agreement between two or more competent parties, for a consideration for the procurement of equipment, supplies, and/or services.

Contractor means a supplier, offeror, person, or organization who is a successful vendor as a result of an RFP and who enters into a contract.

Exhibit applies to forms which are included with an RFP for the vendor to complete and submit with their proposal prior to the specified closing date and time.

May means that a certain feature, component, or action is permissible, but not required.

Must means that a certain feature, component, or action is a mandatory condition.

Party refers to either the State of Missouri or the contractor as an entity that may enter into a contract pursuant to the terms herein.

Pricing Page(s) applies to the form(s) on which the vendor must state the price(s) applicable for the equipment, supplies, and/or services required in the RFP. The pricing pages must be completed and submitted by the vendor with the proposal prior to the specified proposal closing date and time.

Proposal Closing Date and Time and similar expressions mean the exact deadline required by the RFP for the receipt of sealed proposals.

Purchase Order means the authorized document issued by the state agency to the contractor indicating descriptions, quantities, and agreed prices for products and/or services.

Reasonable, Necessary or Proper as used herein shall be interpreted solely by the State of Missouri.

Request for Proposal (RFP) means the solicitation document issued by Purchasing to potential vendors for the purchase of equipment, supplies, and/or services as described in the document. The definition includes the following sections: Introduction and Background Information; Scope of Work; Terms and Conditions (“terms and conditions” and “Terms and Conditions” are used interchangeably throughout the RFP); General Contractual Requirements; and Vendor Submission, Evaluation, and Award Information; and the RFP Vendor Response Exhibits, Attachments, and Amendments of the RFP.

RSMo (Revised Statutes of Missouri) refers to the body of laws enacted by the Legislature which govern the operations of all agencies of the State of Missouri. Chapter 34 of the statutes is the primary chapter governing the operations of Purchasing.

Shall has the same meaning as the word must.

Should means that a certain feature, component and/or action is desirable but not mandatory.

State collectively referring to the state government and/or the agencies thereof.

Supplier has the same meaning as the word, vendor.

Vendor means the supplier, offeror, person, or organization that responds to an RFP by submitting a proposal with prices to provide the equipment, supplies, and/or services as required in the RFP document.

Accuracy of Background Information:

Although an attempt has been made to provide accurate and up-to-date information, the State of Missouri does not warrant or represent that the background information provided herein reflects all relationships or existing conditions related to this RFP.

****END OF INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION SECTION****

SCOPE OF WORK SECTION

General Requirements:

The contractor shall provide and oversee academic higher education programs for the Department of Corrections (hereinafter referred to as “state agency”) in accordance with the provisions and requirements stated herein.

The contractor shall provide higher education program consulting and management services through direct delivery and/or partnerships with community colleges and/or other four-year institutions to fulfill the requirements outlined in this RFP.

The contractor shall coordinate and administer degree seeking programs at all nineteen (19) state agency correctional facilities. The contractor may provide the higher education programs through a combination of in-seat and online learning.

The contractor shall sign Attachment 3, Correctional Facility Security Levels and Acknowledgement Form within 15 calendar days after the state agency’s authorization to proceed with services and prior to performing any services. The contractor shall submit the signed form to Lori.Lewis@doc.mo.gov.

The contractor shall provide higher education programs that have a higher-than average probability of leading to employment upon reentry.

The contractor shall provide oversight to ensure the best interests of all student offenders is maintained as set forth by the Higher Learning Commission and the PEP, as well as maintain compliance with federal guidelines set forth by the PEP requirements as applicable.

The contractor shall understand and agree that all services shall be performed to the sole satisfaction of the state agency’s Assistant Division Director of Reentry and Educational Services, Division of Offender Rehabilitative Services (hereinafter referred to as “ADD, DORS”), in consultation with site administration and state agency executive staff, as appropriate. The state agency will remain the oversight entity for the Prison Education Program (PEP).

The contractor shall provide services 40 hours per week during normal business hours with additional programming time during evenings or weekends as may be needed to provide services appropriate to the program and as agreed to and specified by the state agency. If such changes are requested by the contractor, the changes must be approved by site administration and the ADD, DORS prior to implementation.

The contractor shall understand and agree that disputes arising from conflicts with state agency policies and procedures or other provisions of the contract shall be resolved by the state agency.

Each individual correctional facility’s policies and procedures governing the entry and conduct of staff working inside the correctional facility, including dress code, what is allowed and not allowed inside the correctional facility, etc., will be made available to the contractor and explained at the point of entry.

The state agency reserves the right to deny entrance to anyone who is suspected of a breach of security or for failure to follow published policies and procedures.

The contractor shall understand and agree that all operational policies and procedures, offender management issues, operational and employee transitional services and facility and program operations shall be determined in a collaborative manner between the contractor and the ADD, DORS, under the direction of the Warden or designee and under the direction of the ADD, DORS.

The contractor and/or other college partners shall be responsible for the expenses related to testing for certifications, licensures, and related administrative expenses.

The contractor shall oversee and manage all administrative aspects of the state agency’s higher education program. This shall include but is not limited to:

Assisting eligible student offenders in completing and submitting college/university applications.

Assisting eligible student offenders with Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms.

Enrolling eligible student offenders in courses and providing guidance on scheduling, enrollment, etc.

Entering enrollments and drops from courses into the state agency’s tracking system, MOCIS.

Managing the approval process for requests in the separately contracted college/university online research repository.

Notifying student offenders of where to report and on what date, time, etc. for their higher education program, where to attend meetings, courses, study halls, etc., referred to as call-outs.

Managing the inventories of the student offender materials and issuing student offender materials as needed, for example, paper, pencils, folders, etc.

Participating in Resource Fairs as appropriate for the purpose of providing information on available programming.

The contractor shall understand that Resource Fairs are recruitment events attended by employers held inside the correctional facilities to connect student offenders with employment pre-release.

Hosting graduations for student offenders.

Other administrative duties as needed for providing the services outlined in this contract.

The contractor shall comply with the Fair Labor Standard Act, Equal Opportunity Employment Act, and any other federal and state laws, rules, regulations and executive orders to the extent that these may be applicable and further agrees to insert the foregoing provision in all subcontracts awarded.

The state agency will provide all utilities necessary for the performance of the services described herein, including electricity, water, sewer, propane, gas, etc., as determined by the state agency.

In order to be good stewards of state resources, the contractor must operate within each correctional facility in an energy-efficient manner.

The state agency and contractor shall collaborate in supervising student offenders in the performance of general housekeeping within higher education program utilized spaces. The contractor shall notify the state agency of specific maintenance, food service and all other specialized work needed within higher education program utilized spaces. The state agency will assign and supervise all specific maintenance, food service and all other specialized work required.

Contractor’s Obligation: Unless otherwise specified herein, the contractor shall furnish all material, labor, equipment, and supplies necessary to perform the services required herein.

Minimum Experience Requirements:

The contractor must meet or exceed the following minimum experience requirements at the time of proposal submission and for the duration of the contract:

The contractor shall have a minimum of ten (10) years’ experience providing higher education programming.

It is highly desirable the contractor have at least one (1) year of experience providing higher education programming in a correctional setting.

The contractor must be an accredited institution of higher learning as recognized by the Higher Learning Commission, Federal Department of Education and the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (DHEWD).

Personnel Qualifications:

The contractor shall include the following personnel to administer and perform the contract requirements:

Contract Manager: The contractor shall designate a contact person who shall serve as the contractor’s main contact for the overall higher education program services and shall be the liaison between the contractor and the state agency. The contractor shall provide the state agency with the name, address, email address, and telephone number of the designated Contract Manager by no later than five (5) business days after the state agency’s authorization to proceed with services.

The contractor’s Contract Manager shall have a minimum of five (5) years’ experience managing contracts similar in scope and magnitude of services outlined here.

The contractor’s Contract Manager shall have a bachelor’s degree in a field related to the scope of services required herein.

Program Director: The contractor’s Program Director shall serve as the contractor’s contact and shall be the liaison between the state agency correctional facility for the program(s) they oversee and the Contract Manager.

The contractor’s Program Director(s) must have a minimum of three (3) years’ experience providing higher education programming similar in scope and magnitude of services outlined herein.

The contractor’s Program Director(s) should possess all required licenses, certifications, degrees and training to perform the services herein.

The contractor’s program management staff should have a minimum of one (1) year of experience providing higher education programming.

Personnel Requirements:

The contractor’s Program Director(s) shall be responsible for:

Organizing, coordinating, and ensuring the delivery of the services required herein, in cooperation with the correctional facility Warden/designee, DORS coordinators, and the ADD, DORS.

Assume responsibility and liability for services performed per the contract for the correctional facility(ies) they are assigned, and

Serve as the primary point of contact with the state agency for the Program Director(s) assigned correctional facility(ies).

The contractor’s Program Director(s) shall meet with appropriate state agency staff monthly to discuss pertinent program, staff, and state agency issues.

The contractor shall designate a minimum of one (1) Program Director for each correctional facility, or, for two (2) correctional facilities, if the two (2) correctional facilities are within 50 miles of each other, though it is highly desirable that the contractor provides a Program Director for each correctional facility.

The contractor’s Program Director(s) shall not be assigned to other duties outside of this contract on a regular basis The contractor may provide additional program management staff, if desired.

If the contractor is providing higher educational programming in addition to the services outlined herein, the contractor’s personnel shall include faculty that possess all required licenses, certifications, degrees, etc. for the specific Higher Education course(s) they are teaching.

The contractor’s faculty may consist of state agency instructors, internal faculty members, or through partnerships with another institution of education.

The contractor shall understand and agree that the state agency reserves the right to request any of the contractor’s personnel assigned to provide the services be removed without just cause. The contractor shall understand and agree that the state agency will allow the contractor a reasonable time to find a replacement. The state agency shall approve all replacement personnel. The state agency reserves the right to require background checks and non-disclosure agreements (NDA) of selected contractor personnel, at the contractor’s expense.

Background Checks: Prior to providing services under the contract, the contractor must ensure personnel (including any third-party personnel) pass standard background checks equal to those required by the State of Missouri for employees, and if required by the state to address an audit, the contractor must attest whether all applicable employees passed background checks performed in accordance with the contractor’s standard background check process. The contractor shall be responsible for all costs associated with background checks. The state agency reserves the right to require the contractor to provide evidence of employees and all sub-contractors and their employees passing a background check. Link to MSHP Criminal Record Check website: http://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/MSHPWeb/PatrolDivisions/CRID/crimRecChk.html. The standard background check shall be a nationwide fingerprint check through Missouri State Highway Patrol completed at a frequency determined by the state.

The contractor and the contractor’s staff must follow all state agency requirements for contracted staff and must follow all state statutes and state agency procedures and rules, as well as cooperate with the state agency regarding orientation and training efforts, which shall include, but is not limited to the following:

Minimally, the contractor’s orientation and training must include the state agency Partners in Corrections training provided by the Partners in Corrections Coordinator with DORS as well as site orientations and ongoing annual contracted staff training required to maintain Partners in Corrections status. The contractor’s personnel must also attend a Contracted Staff Basic Training course at one of the state agency’s training academies.

In the event any of the contractor’s personnel have previously attended a Partners in Corrections training within the last year, the contractor may submit a request to the state agency for the training requirement to be waived. The state agency will have the right to make the final decision to waive training on a case-by-case basis.

The contractor shall agree to participate in additional training as deemed necessary by the state agency to ensure successful compliance with the contract, or as deemed necessary for institutional purposes.

Contractor Specific Training – The state agency will consider the time spent by the contractor’s personnel attending the state agency required trainings, orientations, meetings, and off-site promoting quality improvement as time worked for the purposes of the contractor’s compliance with the requirements stated herein.

The contractor shall provide a staffing pattern of faculty based upon the programming offered, the student offender population, and the classrooms/workspace available as determined by the state agency for each correctional facility.

The contractor shall understand and agree that during the contracted period, the state agency may reallocate populations in an attempt to better serve student offender needs or operational needs of the state agency.

If population transitions or institutional changes become necessary, the contractor shall develop and institute program and service changes and/or modifications at the request and direction of the ADD, DORS.

In such instances, the state agency will provide at least thirty (30) calendar days’ advanced notice and will afford the contractor flexibility in the timelines for implementation of required changes, provided the contractor’s reasonable efforts to meet the new requirements are made.

Higher Education Program and Student Requirements:

The contractor shall provide higher education and career guidance and assistance in establishing career pathways for each of the enrolled student offenders.

The state agency will identify all student offenders eligible for program participation.

The contractor shall provide higher education services for a minimum of 1,500 student offenders and a maximum of 2,500 student offenders per fiscal year, with the maximum number of student offenders served being increased or decreased as offender population and state agency numbers allow. The total number of student offenders will be made collectively from the correctional facilities listed in section 1.2.4, where there are open seats available for the higher education program.

In the event the general offender population fluctuation, the contractor shall consult with the state agency to meet specific needs of the student offenders.

The state agency will not assume any financial obligations of the contractor associated with such change, nor shall the state agency be responsible for displacement expenses or loss of salary that may be incurred by the contractor’s personnel, associates, and subcontractors.

The contractor shall not receive any additional compensation, regardless of population fluctuation.

The contractor shall understand and agree that all contractor staff communication with student offenders shall be facilitated by state agency staff and limited to communication necessary to perform the requirements and specific purposes of this contract stated herein.

The contractor’s higher education program plan shall be inclusive of Business Administration, Liberal Arts, Multidisciplinary and General Studies associate and bachelor’s degree program tracts. It is highly desirable that the contractor’s higher education program also be a mixture of associate and bachelor’s degree tracks inclusive of Information Technology/Computer Science, Non-Profit Management, Liberal Arts, General and Multidisciplinary Studies. Entrepreneurship, and Social Work/Human Services.

The contractor shall provide services that are accessible to all student offenders, including those with special needs such as, but not limited to: sight impairment, hearing and speech impairment, language barriers, physical barriers, and other limitations.

The state agency will determine whether a student offender requires interpretive/translation services due to a student offender’s physical impairment, cognitive impairment, or language barrier. The contractor shall obtain and shall bear the financial responsibility for such services.

Services shall be modified to adequately address individualized student offender needs. The contractor shall develop and maintain ongoing consulting communication with faculty staff regarding special considerations pertaining to each student offender.

The contractor shall provide student offenders’ Pell and other financial aid support as needed to partnering colleges and/or universities.

The contractor shall manage the online research library content that is available via the state agency’s offender communications contract learning management system.

The contractor shall understand and agree that any and all standardized forms used by the contractor that are not official state agency forms must be pre-approved (as to content and format) by the ADD, DORS. The contractor and state agency staff shall use the same state agency approved forms for consistency. If a specific quality assurance format is required by the DORS, the contractor must comply as requested.

The contractor shall respond to student offender grievances consistent with the state agency policy which may be revised through the state agency’s offender grievances policies and procedures (Attachment 4).

The contractor shall provide a copy of all grievances to the state agency representative within 48 hours after receipt of the grievance. Upon contract award, the state agency will designate and inform the contractor of the representative and provide appropriate contact information.

The contractor shall understand and agree program services provided by the contractor shall be based upon the state agency schedule and daily operations schedule of the correctional facility. The contractor shall provide services year-round. The schedule shall be mutually agreed upon by both the contractor and state agency. The contractor’s staff shall not be required to provide services on state holidays.

The state agency will make diligent efforts to assist the contractor to maintain attendance levels for all higher education programs offered under the contract.

The contractor’s programs shall comply with, apply for, and continuously meet the certification requirements set forth by the Missouri DHEWD, as applicable.

Equipment and Materials Requirements:

The contractor shall be responsible for ensuring that all personnel, equipment, tools and supplies/materials comply with any and all policies and procedures of the state agency and the individual correctional facilities.

The state agency will provide the contractor with physical space within each correctional facility necessary to carry out the contracted services. This may include classroom space, office space for service implementation as well as furniture needed for student offender programming and education such as chairs, tables, bulletin boards, white boards, easels, and electronic equipment required to display audio/video content.

All furnishings (i.e., desks, chairs, furniture, etc.) or other equipment provided by the state agency that cannot be reasonably repaired or which the contractor chooses to replace shall be at the contractor’s expense and Warden or designee’s approval, and shall become property of the state agency upon contract expiration.

The state agency will provide and make available all labor, equipment, supplies, and other materials as may be necessary for the upkeep and sanitation of the state agency correctional facility.

The contractor shall provide all teaching materials, supplies, etc. for the course(es) the contractor teaches in the correctional facility(ies).

The contractor shall coordinate with the Warden/designee to submit written communication and teaching materials for approval by the ADD, DORS before implementation.

The contractor shall not use the name, logo or other identifying marks of the State of Missouri or the state agency on any materials produced or issued, without the prior written approval of the state agency.

Implementation Plan Requirements:

By no later than thirty (30) calendar days after the state agency authorizes the contractor to proceed with services, the contractor shall provide an initial Implementation Plan to the state agency for review and approval.

The contractor’s initial Implementation Plan shall provide for a seamless transition with minimal interruption of the provision of higher education services to student offenders and include but not be limited to an overall transition and implementation project timeline, individual tasks or deliverables, contractor staff assigned to each task, and proposed meeting schedules. The plan must provide for a transition of services with minimal disruption to the correctional facilities’ operation.

The initial Implementation Plan shall include, but not be limited to, providing the single point of contact for contract administration, timeline and plan for hiring a program manager and program directors and outlining space and equipment needs, technology needs, etc.

The contract must receive written approval from the state agency regarding the contractor’s Implementation Plan.

By no later than ninety (90) calendar days after the state agency authorizes the contractor to proceed with services, the contractor must begin providing services.

By no later than one hundred eighty (180) calendar days after the state agency authorizes the contractor to proceed with services, the contractor must have:

All higher education programs reviewed;

State agency approved classroom space and equipment plan for each correctional facility; and

Curriculum for any new programs identified.

By no later than three hundred sixty five (365) calendar days after the state agency authorizes the contractor to proceed with services, the contractor must be fully overseeing the administration and coordination for all of the state agency’s Higher Education programs, which shall include providing the required personnel, completion of all necessary functions, set-up, etc. necessary for successful business operation, and full implementation of all required services pursuant to the requirements herein.

Implementation shall include, but not be limited to the following activities:

a. Purchasing any necessary equipment and supplies;

b. Submitting resumes/details/contact information prior to assignment for personnel proposed for the contractor’s Program Directors;

a. Training contractor employees; and

b. Communicating the implementation progress with the state agency through final implementation.

Hardware and Software Requirements:

The state agency will provide the contractor with access to the state agency’s database and to the Missouri Corrections’ Integrated System (MOCIS). The state agency will provide a limited number of computers to the contractor for on-site services and access to telephone services for communication within the correctional facilities as well as to conduct contract related external business. Computers and equipment required that are more than those available to be provided by the state agency shall be obtained by the contractor and be subject to the state agency’s approval as explained herein.

In the state agency computer system, the contractor shall enter higher education documentation in the MOCIS.

Access to state agency information systems shall only be provided on a need-to-know basis. Approval for access shall be obtained through the ADD, DORS, and shall be limited to the contractor to those whose access has been approved by the Client Services Manager, Office of Administration, Information Technology Services Division (hereafter referred as “Client Services Manager, ITSD”).

The contractor shall understand and agree that the contractor shall be responsible for the provision of required assessment software and any necessary hardware for the implementation of state agency approved certification testing and assessment(s) services, including but not limited to personal computers (PCs), printers, etc.

All systems must abide by the standards and processes set forth in the State Data Center’s (SDC) Standard Operating Procedures and Best Practices. Variances from Standard Operating Procedures, processes, and approved standards are dependent upon approval by the SDC Director, in conjunction with appropriate SDC senior management.

Unless otherwise specified herein, the contractor shall furnish all hardware, software, materials, labor, equipment and supplies necessary to perform the services required herein. The contractor shall assume all costs for providing services, except as otherwise specified herein.

Meeting, Quality Assurance, and Audit Requirements:

The contractor shall hold quarterly meetings with all stakeholders involved in the state agency higher education programs.

At the request of the state agency, the contractor’s contract manager and associated administrative personnel shall attend periodic state agency staff meetings. These meetings may be held regionally or in Jefferson City, Missouri depending on the nature of the agenda. Expenses incurred by the contractor’s personnel to attend such meetings shall be the responsibility of the contractor.

The Warden/designee will meet at least monthly with the contractor’s on-site program director to discuss pertinent program/state agency issues.

The contractor shall actively participate in monthly contract/program oversight meetings, chaired by the ADD/designee. The contractor shall, at a minimum, when full contract implementation is achieved, meetings on a quarterly basis with the state agency.

The contractor shall design and implement monthly quality assurance (QA) activities to ensure appropriate contract compliance and service quality. A summary of monthly QA activities shall be maintained and forwarded to the ADD, DORS and the Warden/designee on a quarterly basis according to the following schedule: October 15 (for the months of July, August, September), January 15 (for the months of October, November, December), April 15 (for the months January, February, March), and July 15 (for the months April, May, June).

The contractor shall submit to the state agency an example of the report the contractor intends to use for the monthly QA summary within thirty (30) calendar days after contract award.

Upon award of the contract, the contractor shall provide to the Warden/designee and the ADD, DORS an initial quality assurance plan no later than ninety (90) calendar days after contract award.

The contractor shall understand and agree that requirements for quality assurance reports and data submitted to the state agency may be revised over the course of the contract in accordance with changing expectations, policy, and the needs of the DORS, DAI and/or the state agency.

At any and all times, the contractor must provide the state agency and any state agency designees, including other state and federal representatives, access to the contractor, any personnel providing services pursuant to the contract, or any other activities of the contractor pursuant to the contract for purposes of audit and evaluation of the services performed.

The contractor shall provide, upon a forty-eight (48) hour notice, and at a location designated by the state agency, all books and records relating to the contract for purposes of a state agency audit.

The contractor must provide access for audits of the operating systems, procedures, programs, documentation, software packages, classroom space, and equipment used in support of the contract.

The contractor shall provide read-and-copy access for the state agency to all files that are used, including, but not limited to, inventory control files, case management files, procedure files, and any other files related to the contract.

The contractor shall provide the personnel and resources necessary for the automated and/or manual sampling of operation and case management information, or other data maintained by the contractor, including historical data and any necessary follow-up information that may be required to meet any performance or audit review requirements.

Contract Monitoring: The state agency reserves the right to monitor the contract throughout the effective period of the contract to ensure financial and contractual compliance. If the state agency determines the contractor to be at high-risk for non-compliance, the state agency will have the right to impose special conditions or restrictions.