Online High School Vendor Questions Rd 2.xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 19 KB Posted
- Attached to
- Online High School Diploma IT
- Solicitation number
- RFP-171-180000002751-6
- Issued by
- Barry County, Michigan
About this file
This document is a Questions and Answers file related to an online high school program RFP from the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC). The program seeks to establish online high school education services at two facilities: Lakeland Correctional Facility in Coldwater and Carson City Correctional Facility. The pilot program is intended to last 12 months and will operate seven days per week, primarily during evening hours from 6 PM to 9 PM, with potential weekend classes running all day. Classes will be conducted in computer labs with an average of three hours of instruction per night, and students must be supervised during class time.
The current network provider is AT&T, with Dell providing computers and technical support in conjunction with State of Michigan Field Services. The program requires prisoners to be TABE tested by MDOC before placement, and success metrics include having 50% of graduates achieve 10th-grade level proficiency in reading and math. Students currently take ABE/GED classes for 1.5 hours per day, five days per week. The MDOC will pay for start-up costs upon milestone completion, with bidders required to specify their milestone payment plan. The program requires certified teachers to oversee curriculum standards, either virtually or in person, along with classroom monitors for in-person computer lab sessions.
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Other files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Attachment B PREA Standards.doc | DOC document | |
| Attachment C CFA Security Regulations.docx | DOCX document | |
| Online High School RFP cmc 5.1.18.docx | DOCX document | |
| Online High School RFP 7-3-18.docx | DOCX document | |
| Online High School Vendor Questions.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| Online HS SLA 6 1 2018.docx | DOCX document | |
| Saas Contract Terms.docx | DOCX document | |
| Schedule E Data Security Requirements.docx | DOCX document | |
| Attachment A NRSB.doc | DOC document | |
| Attachment D MDOC Vendor Handbook for Vendor Employees Entering A Secure Facility.doc | DOC document | |
| Attachment E Program Service Level Agreement.docx | DOCX document | |
| Schedule F User Acceptance Testing.docx | DOCX document | |
| Schedule G Terms for On-Site Equipment.docx | DOCX document | |
| Online High School RFP 6-18-18.docx | DOCX document |
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Text version
Sheet1
| Q # | Document and Section | Page# / Requirement # | Bidder Question(s) | State of Michigan Response |
| 1 | Purpose | P10 / #3 | Can you please provide your current connectivity/network vendor? | AT&T |
| 2 | Purpose | P10 / #3 | Can you please provide your current computer (i.e., workstation) provider? | Dell |
| 3 | Purpose | P10 / #3 | Can you please provide your current computer tech support vendor? | State of Michigan Field Services/Dell |
| 4 | Purpose | P10 / #3 | Can you confirm the facility addresses that require ongoing provision of network connectivity? |
Lakeland Correctional Facility (LCF) 141 First St.
Coldwater, MI 49036
Carson City Correctional Facility (DRF) 10274 Boyer Road
| Carson City, MI 48811-9746 | These are correct. | ||||
| 5 | User Type and Capacity | P12 / #6 | Can you please provide the average number of courses that each student is taking at any given time? If an average is not available, can you provide an estimated average? e.g., 1-4 courses per student pending length of stay | Currently prisoner students take ABE/GED classes and take 1 class, 5 days a week for 1.5 hours (7.5 total) until they earn their GED. This does vary based on facility and student needs (i.e.. Special education, Title 1) | |
| 6 | User Type and Capacity | P12 / #6 | Can you please provide the number of courses each student is attempting to complete per facility visit? If this number is not available, can you please provide the number of courses the State wishes each student to complete during his stay? | The current goal of the State is for each prisoner to earn their GED certificate. The goal of this program would be for every prisoner to earn a high school degree. | |
| 7 | Exhibit A |
Project Scope
7. Access Control and Audit
| P13/#7.C.1 | Can you clarify if the closed system can utilize services on the internet that would be called from the users browser and directed through a reverse proxy for security to ensure no direct access to the internet was available? Examples of this could be content files stored on a CDN or text to speech services. The core system and all data would remain as part of the closed system only accessible via the dedicated network to the facilities. | Segmented on a controlled network | ||
| 8 | Exhibit A - Project Scope | Para 2 (Background) Page 10 | The document states: "Programming will be offered on nights and weekends in a computer lab..." Will the computer labs be in use during the duty day? If so, what purpose(s) will they serve | This will depend on the facility schedule and can be negotiated. Most classrooms are currently in use during the day for other core programming, but may be available during the day. |
| 9 | Exhibit A - Project Scope | Para 2 (Background) Page 10 | The document states: "Programming will be offered on nights and weekends in a computer lab..." Will prisoners be allowed opportunities for self-study at other locations in the facility? | Prisoner students will be allowed time to study in their housing units. A study hall could also possibly be negotiated. |
| 10 | Exhibit A - Project Scope | Para 2 (Background) Page 10 | The document states: "Programming will be offered on nights and weekends in a computer lab..." What times will classes open on week nights and/or on weekends | Usually night classes run from 6 pm until 9 pm after dinner. Weekend classes can possibly run all day, with prisoners having to return to their units for count and meals. This again can be negotiated. |
| 11 | Exhibit A - Project Scope | Para 2 (Background) Page 10 | The document states: "Programming will be offered on nights and weekends in a computer lab..." Can the term "computer" be interpreted to include secure, hardened, wireless tablets? | The Department prefers not to use tablets for this program, but might be willing to look at a possible tablet solution if it can satisfy the requirements of the RFP. |
| 12 | Exhibit A - Project Scope | Para 2 (Background) Page 10 | "Classes will be run an average of three hours per night, seven days per week" If the average is three hours per night, what is the maximum time per night? What is the minimum? | The actual schedule will have to be discussed with the individual facilities and will depend on the location of the classroom/lab. Three hours should be the minimum per day. |
| 13 | Exhibit A - Project Scope | Para 2 (Background) Page 10 | "Classes will be run an average of three hours per night, seven days per week" Please provide a typical schedule for a seven-day/week, nights and weekends class (e.g., start time, headcount... | Counts usually occur around 11 am, 4:30 pm, and 10 pm. There is usually a meal associated with the first two counts, so the prisoner students might be unavailable for an hour and a half around count (e.g. 10:30 am to 12 noon). |
| 14 | Exhibit A - Project Scope | Para 2 (Background) Page 10 | "Classes will be run an average of three hours per night, seven days per week" Within the three-hour window allotted, how much instructional time is envisioned (e.g., three 55 minute blocks?) | That will be up to the vendor; you can run a 3 hour block, two 1.5 hour classes, or three 1 hour classes. |
| 15 | Exhibit A - Project Scope | Para 3 (Purpose) Page 10 | "Prisoner students will be TABE tested by the MDOC..." Will the Wonderlic General Assessment of Instructional Needs (GAIN) assessment be considered in lieu of the TABE?" | The MDOC will not pay for the Gain assessment to be administered when we already own TABE, but using Gain could be negotiated if the bidder is willing to pay for the testing cost. |
| 16 | Exhibit A - Project Scope | Para 4 (Contract Term) Pages 10-11 | "While the pilot program is intended to last 12 months, ... The investment during startup (e.g., extensive hiring, installation, and acceptance testing) is potentially cost prohibitive | This is a vendor business decision. |
| 17 | Exhibit A - Project Scope | Para 4 (Contract Term) Pages 10-11 | "While the pilot program is intended to last 12 months ...". Will the agency reimburse the contractor for start-up infrastructure improvement costs at milestone completion or end of UAT? | The MDOC will pay upon milestone completion for start-up costs. Bidder should specify specific milestone payment plan. |
| 18 | Exhibit A - Project Scope | Para 15 (Software Hosting) Page 19 | "The document states: ""The software must be available on a 24x7x365 basis...7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern"" Classes only operational for three hours per night; please explain requirement. | 7 am to 10 pm would be the parameters of possible class times. This will allow flexibility in scheduling. |
| 19 | Exhibit A - Project Scope | Para 3 (Purpose) Page 10 | "Prisoner students will be TABE tested by MDOC before being placed in the program..." Will the Contractor have chance to identify prisoner students that are unsuitable for self-paced instruction? | No. The MDOC will screen and select students that meet the criteria that was set in the RFP. |
| 20 | "Schedule # (Data Security Requirements | Para 3 (Protection of State Confidential Information) SaaS Contract, Para 15 /Page 2, Reqt 3.5 and Page 18, Reqt 15.1 | "State Data must be encrypted in transit and at rest ..." Are prisoner ID numbers PII? | All data must be encrypted. |
| 21 | Attachment A | Prisoner students must advance at least 1 EFL level (2 grade levels) every 6 months" Will the agency consider standards that are better grounded the project's 1 yr timeline, 3 hr time constraints, and special needs target audience? | The bidder will be held responsible for the achieving the standards set in the RFP. Not all students are required to meet this criteria as outlined in the RFP and SLA's. | |
| 22 | Exhibit A - Project Scope | Para 11 (Program Reqts) Page 16, Reqt B(3) | "Bidder must ensure 50% of prisoners who graduate the program score at a 10th grade level in reading and math.." How many Michigan high schools guarantee this? | The MDOC is not privy to this data. This standard was set to ensure the fidelity of this program and is a reasonable goal for a high school graduate. |
| 23 | Exhibit A - Project Scope | Attachment 1 (Key Personnel) Pages 30 - 36 | The list of key personnel appears to be overly elaborate for a project of such short duration and limited scope, making it appear cost prohibitive. | The key personnel for this project can be negotiated by the bidder. The bidder should specify their proposed key personnel in their bid response. |
| 24 | Exhibit A - Project Scope | Attachment 1 (Key Personnel) Page 31 Contract Project Manager Certification | The document states: "Project Management Professional or Scrum Certification" What level of Scrum Certification does the agency desire? | There is no minimum requirement on the Scrum certification |
| 25 | Exhibit A - Project Scope | Attachment 1 (Key Personnel) Page 31, Contract Project Manager Cert | "Project Management Professional or Scrum Certification" What is the relationship between PMP or Scrum cert and educational program delivery? | As noted in this RFP, the state of michigan requires that IT Projects are executed according to the State Project Management Methodology (SUITE). At a minimum, the portion of this project that implements and deploys an IT solution will need to follow the defined project managment methodology and requires a certified project manager. |
| 26 | Exhibit A - Project Scope | Attachment 1 (Key Personnel) Page 31, Contract Project Manager Cert | Will agency consider certifications more pertinent to the field of education (e.g., Principal Certification, Superintendent Certification, etc.)? | These certifications are pertinent to the project but will not take place of the project management certifications. |
| 27 | Exhibit A - Project Scope | Milestones And Deliverables) Pg 16, Reqt. 12, Milestones And Deliverables, A | The milestones and deliverables appear to focus exclusively on infrastructure for the computer labs. | The vendors obligations and requirements are all throughout the entire document and need to be answered appropriately. |
| 28 | Exhibit A - Project Scope | (Program Requirements) Pg 22, Reqt. 20, Contractor Personnel, A., (2), vii. Classroom monitors work | ".. under the direction of a certified teacher". Who provides the certified teacher? | The bidder has to provide a certified teacher to support this program. It can be virtually or in person. The bidder still must provide a classroom monitor for all classes that are held in person in the computer lab. |
| 29 | Exhibit A - Project Scope | Pgm Reqts) Pg 22, Reqt. 20, Contractor Personnel, A., (2), vii. Classroom monitors work | ".. under the direction of a certified teacher" Will the certified teacher be available 7 days/week, for three-hour shifts? | The certified teacher has to oversee the program to ensure curriculum standards are met and must be available to answer questions from the students about content. The teacher does not have to be available every day for all class times. |
| 30 | Exhibit A - Project Scope | (Solution) Pg 15, Reqt. 10, Solution, A | Will the agency consider a solution that provides inmates with secure, hardened, wireless tablets for their use in computer labs and living spaces? | The Department prefers not to use tablets for this program, but might be willing to look at a possible tablet solution if it can satisfy the requirements of the RFP. |
| 31 | Exhibit A - Project Scope | (Solution) Pg 15, Reqt. 10, Solution, A | Must prisoner students be continually supervised during their studies or would they be allowed to work alone periodically? | Prisoner students must be supervised while attending class. |
| 32 | Exhibit A - Project Scope | (Solution) Pg 15, Reqt. 10, Solution, A | Use of the word "solution" appears to apply exclusively to computer labs at the expense of partnering and educational approaches for inmate education and workplace readiness | Please review 'Section 1. Definitions', on page 9. |
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