ITN 260000000023 - Invitation to Negotiate.pdf

Michigan.gov/MiProcurement

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NOTICE OF INTENT TO NEGOTIATE AND CONTRACT WITH A

SINGLE PROVIDER

Date: May 15, 2026, The State of Michigan intends to make a purchase for which it believes there is no viable alternative. The purpose of this notice is to attempt to identify possible alternatives.

Requestor: Carol Munroe , Procurement - Michigan Department of Education

1. State Contact Information:

The sole point of contact concerning this Invitation to Negotiate is:

Carol Munroe, Solicitation Manager Jenny Manar munroec@michigan.gov and manarj@michigan.gov

Please send questions to both persons listed above….

2. Description of Purchase:

Michigan Department of Education – Office of Career and Technical Education is in need of an AFNRE (Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources Education) Consultant. Through federal support of career and technical education, provided in the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 [Public Law 88-210] as amended through P.L. 116-6, Enacted February 15, 2019 (Perkins V) requires monitoring of programs in the agriculture, food, and natural resources area. This monitoring is carried out by an Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Education (AFNRE) consultant. It is imperative to have a representative working with MDE to monitor all AFNRE Programs around the state. Michigan State University is currently the only institution in the State of Michigan that offers a full AFNRE program along with teacher certification and endorsements (as of May 2026).

The State of Michigan designated Michigan State University its official land grant institution under the Morrell Acts of 1862 and 1890. This designation allowed MSU to receive federal land and funding supporting the AFNRE industry. Michigan State University is the only institution that offers Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Education post-secondary Programs and degrees. It also offers undergraduate studies in the same area including teacher certification and endorsements. MSU is currently the only institution in the State that offers a complete AFNRE educator-preparation pipeline

• A full baccalaureate program specifically in Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Education

• State-recognized teacher certification

• Career and technical education teaching endorsements

• A master’s program designed to advance AFNRE educator expertise

Michigan State University (MSU)

• Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Education – Prepares students for careers as secondary-level AFNR teachers, agricultural and natural resource education roles, or further graduate study. Requires teacher certification and a minimum of 4,000 hours of relevant work experience for a career and technical teaching endorsement Michigan State University+1.

• Master of Arts in Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Education – Designed for certified teachers and other educators seeking advanced professional knowledge in AFNR education, with coursework in youth leadership, experiential learning, and laboratory learning College of Agriculture & Natural Resources.

• Department: College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Department of Community Sustainability.

No other Michigan institution provides this comprehensive combination of AFNRE degree programs, teacher certification, and endorsement pathways. Though there are other institutions that provide AFNRE programs or Certificate Endorsements (See below) Only MSU provides a complete Program.

mailto:munroec@michigan.gov mailto:manarj@michigan.gov https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fadmissions.msu.edu%2Facademics%2Fmajors-degrees-programs%2Fagriculture-food-natural-resources-education&data=05%7C02%7CMunroeC%40michigan.gov%7Cbe48f253a4bc4b2055c808deac5f3c4f%7Cd5fb7087377742ad966a892ef47225d1%7C0%7C0%7C639137722182751363%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=5fv04MOzNIuNmdPOiKOII1yV3wapd%2FzeDNHZSrac%2FjE%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.canr.msu.edu%2Fcsus%2Fgraduate%2Fprograms%2Fafnre%2Findex&data=05%7C02%7CMunroeC%40michigan.gov%7Cbe48f253a4bc4b2055c808deac5f3c4f%7Cd5fb7087377742ad966a892ef47225d1%7C0%7C0%7C639137722182791548%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=3Hip3p6vqmli5td3o8PoVrdI8qTPGDtz%2BQQw%2BP%2Bbqf8%3D&reserved=0

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MSU ’s Extension Program via other regional colleges – May offer AFNRE-related certificates or endorsements.

Other Schools:

MSU provides an extension to its AFNRE Program through the Michigan Inter-Tribal Land Grant Extension system offered by the following schools:

Bay Mills Community College Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College

. Michigan Agricultural Education Network (Michigan-Teach-Ag)

• While not a traditional university, Michigan-Teach-Ag is a statewide network supporting AFNR educators. It provides resources, job postings, and information on state-approved AFNRE programs, including those leading to the State FFA Degree and teacher certification www.miteachag.com.

• Partners with multiple Michigan colleges and universities offering AFNRE degrees.

Other Michigan Colleges and Universities AFNRE programs are offered at other Michigan institutions, but offerings are limited and do not offer the complete educator preparation that MSU provides.

• Eastern Michigan University – Offers a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Education.

• Central Michigan University – Offers a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Education.

• Michigan State University’s Extension and other regional colleges – May offer AFNRE-related certificates or endorsements.

Market research shows the diversity of MSU's AFNRE program both undergraduate, post-secondary, and teacher certifications, the first land grant institution in the State, the leader in the AFNRE education pipeline, long standing and extensive network/resources/leadership in this field, and extension program offered thru affiliated colleges makes them unique and proprietary for this work. It should also be noted the State's long-standing partnership with MSU in this educational space.

3. Commodity Code References:

91838

4. Description of Action:

The Michigan Department of Education will be awarding a contract to Michigan State University for an Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNRE) Education Consultant.

5. Intended Source:

Michigan State University Hannah Administration Building 426 Auditorium Road, Room 2 East Lansing, MI 48824

6. Questions:

Questions concerning the Invitation to Negotiate must be posted on www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS no later than April 22, 2026 by 8:00 a.m. In the interest of transparency, only written questions will be accepted.

Answers to questions will be posted on www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS.

https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.miteachag.com%2Fresources&data=05%7C02%7CMunroeC%40michigan.gov%7Cbe48f253a4bc4b2055c808deac5f3c4f%7Cd5fb7087377742ad966a892ef47225d1%7C0%7C0%7C639137722182816211%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=C4N9C41082BGMo5N2rorZGGtK31pvl39dufLg%2BcGl6o%3D&reserved=0 http://www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS http://www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS

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Responders should submit their questions using the following format:

Q # Document and Section

Page# / Requirement#

Bidder Question

7. Response Deadline:

Any potential bidder who does not agree that this good or service is available only from the intended source, must submit a response to the Solicitation Manager by 5/22/2026 by 8:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. Your response must be in writing and describe the product or service you are offering as an equivalent.