RFI_10812_Final.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

FOR

FLORIDA SCHOLARS ACADEMY

RFI #10812

SUBMISSION DUE BY: June 30, 2023, AT 2:00 P.M., EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME

PROCUREMENT OFFICE Ashley Bridges, Procurement Manager Bureau of Procurement and Contract Administration Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Knight Building, Suite 1100 2737 Centerview Drive Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3100 Telephone: 850-717-2608 Fax: 850-414-1625 Email: ashley.bridges@fldjj.gov

Any alteration of the language of this RFI or any representation of modified language as the officially released RFI will not be permitted and will be sufficient cause for rejection of a response. In case of any dispute concerning the terms or language in this document, the department printed file copy of this RFI will prevail.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Calendar of Events B. Inquiries C. Background D. Statement of Need

II. RESPONSE CONTENTS

A. Contact Information B. Management Capability/Experience C. Program/Service Description D. Florida Business Registration E. Reservation of Rights F. Public Records

III. SUBMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS

A. Format B. Electronic Upload of Responses C. Deadline for Responses

IV. Attachment I Scope of Services

I. INTRODUCTION

Pursuant to Rule 60A-1.042 Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), an agency may request information from the business community by issuing a written Request for Information (RFI).

Agencies may use RFI’s in circumstances including, but not limited to, determining whether or not to competitively procure a commodity or contractual service, determining what solicitation process to use for a particular need, or researching general, special, and/or technical specifications for a solicitation. A vendor’s answer to a RFI is not an offer and shall not be used to justify a contract with that vendor without otherwise complying with Chapter 287, Florida Statutes (F.S.), and Chapter 60A-1, F.A.C. Vendors submitting answers to an agency’s RFI are not prohibited from responding to any related subsequent solicitation. The department reserves the right to use or reject any information supplied in response to this RFI.

THIS RFI IS NOT A PROCUREMENT THAT WILL RESULT IN A CONTRACT. However, information received in response to this RFI may be used to develop future specifications. Vendors are encouraged to respond with solutions that meet all or part of the specified requirements.

Interested parties may offer one or more solutions to the issue(s) presented. The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ or department) seeks information from potential providers and subject matter experts in establishing the Florida Scholars Academy and the development of a unified school district to serve youth committed to DJJ residential commitment programs statewide.

Information sought by the department includes, but is not limited to, the establishment of the Academy, development of an education delivery system; implementation of an accountability system approved by the State Board of Education; administration of the educational programs of the Academy; management of the day-to-day operations of the Academy; oversight of administrative and instructional personnel; maintenance of financial records and accounts of the Academy; maintenance of the custody and content of student records; and the ability to provide students with greater access to secondary and postsecondary educational opportunities.

Historically, 44 residential sites for FY 2021-22 and 38 sites for 2022-23 were in operation.

The department does not currently have a contract in place for these services and may be interested in procuring one in the future, based on the responses to this RFI. Any information solicited and acquired by this RFI may be used to inform the development of future competitive solicitations.

All questions should be directed to the contact person identified on the cover page of this RFI.

A. Calendar of Events

Listed below are the important actions, dates, and times by which the actions must be taken or completed. All listed times are local time in Tallahassee, Florida.

B. Inquiries

1. Deadline for Questions Questions regarding the RFI, shall be submitted in writing and sent to the

DATE TIME ACTION

May 19, 2023 3:00 P.M.

EDT

Release of RFI

May 31, 2023 5:00 P.M.

EDT

Deadline for Questions – Last date and time written questions will be accepted for this RFI

June 9, 2023 5:00 P.M.

EDT

Anticipated date that the answers to the written questions will be posted to the Vendor Information Portal (VIP).

June 21, 2023 5:00 P.M.

EDT

Deadline for vendors to request access to the Bid Library See Section III., B., Electronic Upload of Responses

June 30, 2023 2:00 P.M.

EDT

RFI Responses Due

Procurement Manager via email and shall be received by the date specified for Deadline for Questions in Section I., A., Calendar of Events, of this RFI. The department shall not accept questions regarding this RFI after 5:00 P.M. on the date specified for Deadline for Questions in the Calendar of Events.

2. Non-Binding Communication The department will issue written answers ONLY to questions subsequently submitted in writing. Any information communicated through oral communication shall not be binding on the department and shall not be relied upon by any vendor.

3. Department’s Official Answer to Questions The department’s official response to all written questions shall be posted at “MyFlorida” website https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com as an addendum to this RFI on or about the date specified in the Calendar of Events.

C. Background Pursuant to Florida Statute 20.316 (1)(c), DJJ is given the authority to oversee the establishment of the Florida Scholars Academy (FSA or Academy). The department is interested in identifying an education service provider with a proven track record of success to operate, provide, and supplement full-time instruction and instructional support services for students to earn a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma, enroll in a degree program at a state college or university, enroll in a technical college and earn industry-recognized credentials of value from the Master Credentials List. The contracted provider will be responsible for the administration of all educational services to students enrolled at the Academy.

D. Statement of Need This RFI has been issued for the purpose of gathering information regarding the interest in the establishment of the Florida Scholars Academy. The information compiled in response to this RFI may be used in future solicitations by the department. The department is seeking information on how a potential provider will develop an education delivery system;

implement an accountability system approved by the State Board of Education; administer and maintain the educational programs of the Academy; manage the day-to-day operations of the Academy; recruit, employ, train and evaluate administrative and instructional personnel; maintain financial records and accounts of the Academy; maintain the custody and content of student records; and provide students with greater access to secondary and postsecondary educational opportunities.

II. RESPONSE CONTENTS

Respondents are requested to include information relating to the development, management, and operation of the FSA. Information should describe in detail how the respondent would provide these services, what they feel are best practices to implement services, and what it would cost to provide these services. Respondents should include descriptions of processes and procedures involved in the creation and operation of the Academy’s educational programming, specifically addressing the following:

A. Contact Information

Provide the vendor’s complete name, address, telephone number, facsimile number, email address, and the vendor contact person for this RFI.

B. Management Capability/Experience Provide a general overview of the providers profile including a detailed description of the provider’s past education experience, capability, and capacity for providing administration and education services, that will meet the needs of the department’s youth population.

Identify the providers proven track record of success to operate, provide, and supplement full-time instruction and instructional services for traditional and expedited diplomas, and career and technical education credentials and certifications.

C. Program/Service Description Provide a detailed description of the vendor’s proposed program/services. Describe the services currently available including the following components, at a minimum:

1. Describe past and current educational services provided to at-risk youth.

2. Describe the process utilized to determine the curriculum and instructional services http://www.myflorida.com/apps/vbs/vbs_www.search_r2.criteria_form http://www.myflorida.com/apps/vbs/vbs_www.search_r2.criteria_form to provide to FSA students and how they will be implemented.

3. Describe in detail how to oversee and manage a unified school district and all the school sites within the Academy.

4. Describe the services to address exceptional student needs including English

Language Learner (ELL) students, Exceptional Student Education (ESE)/504 students with disabilities, students in need of significant course credit remediation, and students deficient in reading and mathematical skills.

5. Describe the process to recruit, hire and retain a highly-qualified and talented faculty and staff with appropriate instructional certifications and credentials.

6. Describe the services for ongoing professional learning opportunities to expand teacher certifications and credentials.

7. Describe the plan for the delivery of support services to ensure students have the resources they need to succeed in the Academy.

8. Describe the plan to maintain student’s home school district and parental involvement in educational decisions and transition processes.

9. Describe how school accreditation will be secured for the Academy.

10. Describe in detail how the Academy’s administration will operate the FSA’s schools.

11. Describe processes and procedures to manage all data related to the school district in accordance with state and federal regulations.

12. Describe processes and procedures to manage the finances of the school district in a responsible and transparent manner.

13. Describe the processes and procedures to provide reports and enact policies as determined by the Secretary and board of trustees.

D. Florida Business Registration

1. If your company is not registered with the Florida Department of State to authorize your company to conduct business in Florida, please register at https://dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz/.

2. If your company is not registered to do business with the State of Florida in MyFloridaMarketPlace, please register at https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/.

E. Reservation of Rights The department reserves the right to selectively request additional information from any and/or all vendors and may invite such vendors to elaborate upon its RFI response in an oral presentation to department staff. If scheduled, such presentations will be held at the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice headquarters in Tallahassee, Florida. If requested, the date and time will be identified after responses to this RFI are due. All presentations related to this RFI are open to the public.

F. Public Records Article 1, Section 24, Florida Constitution, guarantees every person access to public records. Florida law generously defines what constitutes a public record in section 119.07, F.S. As such, all responses to this RFI are public records unless exempt by law. If a vendor believes that its response contains information that should not be a public record, the vendor shall clearly segregate and mark that information (for example, placing the material in a separate electronic file, and including “Confidential” in the filename) and briefly describe in writing the grounds for claiming exemption from the public records law, including the specific statutory citation for such exemption.

III. SUBMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS

The department will only be accepting electronic responses submitted through the DJJ Bid Library.

Responses shall be submitted as follows:

A. Format

All electronic responses submitted through the DJJ Bid Library shall be in Microsoft format.

Attachments shall be submitted in a PDF, Microsoft Word, Adobe, and/or Microsoft Excel file.

B. Electronic Upload of Responses https://dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz/ https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/

1. The department prefers vendors to upload submissions via the DJJ Bid Library, a private and secure online portal for solicitation documents, in SharePoint.

2. Vendors shall request to register for a DJJ Bid Library account no later than the deadline specified in the Calendar of Events for this RFI, by contacting the

Procurement Manager: Ashley Bridges, via e-mail at: Ashley.bridges@fldjj.gov.

3. Vendors are required to register their email address for access to the DJJ Bid Library using a Microsoft account.

a) If the vendor’s organization already uses a Microsoft account, that email address should be utilized in the registration request.

b) If the vendor’s organization does not use a Microsoft account, a free account can be created through Microsoft at https://signup.live.com/?lic=1.

This step must be completed first, prior to submitting the DJJ Bid Library registration request. The email address used to create the Microsoft account should be utilized in the registration request to your Procurement Manager.

c) Access to the DJJ Bid Library is granted by each user’s specific Microsoft account. The vendor’s organization may elect to register a single or general Microsoft account for all submissions. This allows multiple users, with the Microsoft account log-in information, to view each other’s uploads to the DJJ Bid Library. It also allows other users to edit and delete each other’s uploads. This is the method recommended by the Department.

d) If the vendor’s organization elects to register multiple users with individual Microsoft accounts, each user will not be able to view, edit, or delete each other’s submissions. If two users with individual accounts upload the same document, the department will use the most current version of the document (by the established deadline for proposals), even if there are multiple uploaded versions of the same document.

e) Once registered, the access link to the DJJ Bid Library will be emailed (sent from no-reply@sharepointonline.com. Check Spam, Clutter, or Junk folders).

4. The electronic submission shall be uploaded to the DJJ Bid Library no later than the deadline specified in the Calendar of Events for this RFI.

5. The electronic submission documents uploaded to the DJJ Bid Library must be in a “Checked-In” status at the time of proposal opening to be accessible and available for review by departmental staff. Any document that remains in a “Checked-Out” status will be deemed non-responsive.

6. In the event a vendor needs technical assistance, the DJJ Bid Library Technical Assistant is Bryant Wombles, who can be reached via e-mail at:

William.Wombles@fldjj.gov or phone: 850-717-2606.

7. If the requirement for electronic submission through the DJJ Bid Library would cause the vendor undue hardship, the vendor shall contact the Procurement Manager (cover page) for this RFI.

C. Deadline for Responses Responses are due by 2:00 P.M. EDT on June 30, 2023.

All written inquiries shall be directed to the Procurement Manager via email and shall be received by the date and time specified in the above section I., A., Calendar of Events. It is anticipated that all written inquiries and the department’s answers will be posted on the VIP website on the time and date noted above in section I., A., Calendar of Events.

mailto:Ashley.bridges@fldjj.gov mailto:no-reply@sharepointonline.com

ATTACHMENT I

SCOPE OF SERVICES

FLORIDA SCHOLARS ACADEMY

I. Statement of Purpose Pursuant to Florida Statute 20.316 (1)(c), The Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) was given the authority to establish and oversee the Florida Scholars Academy (FSA or Academy). This Scope of Work is intended to provide interested education service providers with a clear understanding of the expectations and requirements established by the legislature to operate a unified education system across DJJ residential commitment programs statewide.

II. Project Overview The Florida juvenile justice system is the most comprehensive system in the nation. Since its inception in 1994, the department has undertaken many initiatives to successfully protect public safety, reduce juvenile delinquency, and improve the lives of Florida’s children and families. To continue our mission to build stronger and safer communities, we recognize that the quality of education provided to students is the key indicator to our students’ future success. According to research conducted by Florida State University, two of the three most impactful protective factors for reducing reoffending among residential youth were employment-vocational commitment and school commitment. In creating the FSA, our intent is to elevate the educational experience for committed youth in residential programs by entering into a contractual agreement with an education service provider with a proven track record of success to offer three unique educational pathways including a traditional high school diploma, high school equivalency diploma, and enrollment in postsecondary or workforce training programs with a Florida state college, technical college, or university. An emphasis will be placed on the attainment of an industry-recognized credential that allows youth to be ready for the workforce as productive members of their communities upon program completion.

III. Deliverables The deliverables described below are some of the overarching expectations to fulfill for the FSA and to meet the unique educational needs of students in juvenile justice residential programs. This is not an exhaustive list of all final products and outcomes that will be delivered as part of the project; rather, it serves as a guide to inform interested providers about the needs of the department to establish and operate the FSA. Major milestones and deadlines will be defined in consultation with key stakeholders and determined by the Secretary and board of trustees. References to students are understood to also include parent(s)/guardian(s) where relevant.

IV. Education Management Provider must maintain strong educational and administrative leadership to ensure students receive a high-quality, content-rich, and rigorous education.

A. Oversee the establishment of the FSA as a unified school district and component of the Florida public education system in accordance with legislative intent, state and federal laws, rules, and regulations. Recruit, hire, and retain an approved Superintendent of Schools to oversee the management and operations of the district residential schools within the Academy and under the authority of the department and the board of trustees.

B. Draft and adopt standard operating policies and procedures to define how the Academy’s administration will operate the district’s schools. Create the annual school calendar and daily schedules to meet the state required days and hours needed for juvenile justice schools.

C. Develop the Academy’s education program plan and implement agreed upon curriculum and instruction model that includes direct instruction in consultation with the department and approved by the board of trustees that prepare students to complete their high school diploma or pass the General Education Development (GED) examination. Curriculum and instruction provided should set high-expectations for academic achievement and meet state academic standards. The career and technical education (CTE) plan for curriculum and instruction must meet the career education programming requirements in 63B-1.003 for Type 2 and 3 career education programs and align with the demands of the current job market to prepare students for industry-recognized credentials. The Academy should be designed to meet the individual needs of all students and provide opportunities for academic, career, and personal growth.

D. Develop a plan to promote parental involvement in the FSA.

E. Develop a plan in consultation with the department and approved by the board of trustees to implement a literacy-based reading and writing program. The plan shall set high expectations for student achievement in reading and emphasize literary classics to promote exposure to great books of literature. The curriculum selected should be rooted in scientifically-based reading practices that focus on the acquisition of specific skills and knowledge. Provide details to outline the Academy’s district reading plan and how the Academy will utilize instructional coaches to support the school’s reading practices.

F. Develop course placement procedures and methodology for student placement at each of the Academy schools to allow for competency-based instruction, credit recovery, career-themed courses, post-secondary instruction, and participation in increased learning opportunities and pathways. Create progress monitoring plans for all students that place an emphasis on strengthening literacy and mathematical skills. Develop a student progression plan that meets state requirements, student academic needs, and future career interests.

G. Provide school counseling services to determine current academic status, graduation pathway and establish a baseline for academic performance to create an assessment plan that incorporates valid and reliable progress monitoring and assessments to measure student performance. Incorporate the use of student achievement data to determine whether students are making adequate progress and inform decisions about, and adjustments to, the educational program based on data.

H. Develop a plan to oversee and facilitate student participation in the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST), Science and Writing Assessments, End of Course (EOC) state required assessments and CTE credential and certification assessments offered by the Academy. Establish approved testing sites to facilitate the GED, Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), American College Testing (ACT), Classic Learning Test (CLT), and Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT) examinations.

I. Deliver Exceptional Student Education (ESE) services and English Language Learner (ELL) support services, such as accommodations, counseling, tutoring, and career advising, to ensure students have the resources they need to succeed in the Academy and meet their individual transition/reentry goals. Recruit, hire, and retain support staff to provide accommodations outlined in student Individualized Education Program (IEP)/504 plans, ELL plans and support teachers throughout the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) process. Staff and deliver an accelerated and/or gifted program.

J. Manage the staff of the Academy, including hiring and evaluating instructional personnel, providing professional learning opportunities, and ensuring that all staff members are held to high standards of performance. Recruit, hire, and retain a highly-qualified and talented faculty and staff with appropriate instructional certifications and credentials to deliver year-round instruction. Seek out individuals with a passion for, and dedication to, the remediation, acceleration, and academic growth of at-risk youth. Establish procedures for the use of noncertified instructional personnel who possess expert knowledge or experience in their fields of instruction consistent with Rule 6A-1.0502, F.A.C.

K. Provide ongoing professional learning opportunities to expand content knowledge, acquire new skills, and hone expertise to meet individual program expectations and student needs.

Include trauma-informed training specific to understanding and serving at-risk student populations. Ensure there are adequate opportunities to expand teacher certifications and credentials. Host conferences and workshops with education and industry experts to bring faculty together for collaboration, culture building, and collective learning.

L. Develop a plan to provide instructional oversight and leadership across the Academy’s portfolio of programs. Include details to outline how administration will set clear expectations, conduct classroom observations, and use student performance data to evaluate teacher performance in alignment with the Florida Department of Education’s requirements for district evaluation systems. Provide mentorship and instructional coaching opportunities to allow for continuous feedback, support, and to track progress over time.

M. Develop a school culture plan that is consistent with the district mission, inclusive of resiliency education standards, and congruent with the residential providers’ youth expectations identified in the student handbook. Collaborate with the residential providers to develop a unified behavioral response system to include a code of conduct behavioral intervention policy.

N. Establish individual education transition plans beginning upon a student’s entry into a residential program based on student’s post-release goals in collaboration with the student, the student’s parent(s), legal guardian(s), school counselor, instructional staff, a representative from the student’s home school district, Project Anchor staff and other partners as appropriate. Student education transition plans must outline the specific services and interventions based on assessed educational needs and post-release education plans and include specific monitoring responsibilities for the coordination of services while in the residential program and throughout the reintegration into the student’s home school district. Participate in reentry meetings and provide students home school district transition contact with individual student Electronic Educational Exit Plans (EEEPs) to assist in enrollment back into their home school district or into post-secondary academic programs. Maintain communication with DJJ’s transition providers regarding their follow-up services to ensure connections are made with service providers and career assistance supports to help students overcome any barriers they may encounter as they adjust to their new circumstances.

O. Obtain appropriate and highly-regarded school accreditations for the Academy, to include certifications and licensures to ensure CTE offerings meet required industry program standards.

V. Business Management A. Manage the finances of the FSA in a responsible and transparent manner which includes developing and managing preoperational and projected budgets, accounting records management in compliance with state and federal financial regulations, providing regular financial reports to the board of trustees, and participation in audits.

B. Manage federal funds, to include applicable Title funds, and complete monitoring and reporting in conjunction with the Florida Department of Education to comply with all federal regulations.

C. Develop procurement processes to provide appropriate resources for the Academy’s schools, including classroom materials and furniture, technology, and equipment.

D. Establish and maintain a school district website meeting all state requirements.

E. Establish and maintain a robust technology infrastructure to include Internet at each of the

Academy schools that supports online learning, industry credential examinations, state assessments, and administrative tasks. This infrastructure should be secure, reliable, and accessible to faculty and students.

F. Manage all data related to the school district, including state testing and performance data in accordance with state and federal regulations. Maintain the custody and content of student records in a Student Information System (SIS) and ensure all data is reported accurately and in a timely manner. Create a general plan to acknowledge and meet Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) requirements.

G. Develop and manage the FSA organizational chart or charts that clearly and appropriately delineate lines of authority and reporting. Create a management structure that includes clear delineation of roles and responsibilities for administering the day-to-day activities of the school. Create and manage employment contracts and job descriptions. Provide payroll services and competitive compensation and benefits packages.

H. Develop a comprehensive plan, in coordination with the department’s Residential Services Division and Residential providers, for identified facility updates and renovations, ensuring that the FSA's classrooms are safe, functional, and conducive to learning. Provide updates to the board and key stakeholders to include all necessary tasks, timelines, and resources required to complete the project.

I. Collaborate with the department’s Residential Services Division and Residential providers to problem solve and remove barriers to access and allow full participation of the FSA education programs to be provided to all students in compliance with state and federal regulations.

J. Provide legal counsel services and guidance to the FSA in all areas of law relevant to the operation of the district, including, but not limited to, education law, employment law, contract law, risk management, and regulatory compliance. Represent the FSA in negotiations and hearings with regulatory agencies, public entities, and other parties, as necessary.

K. Provide subcontractor recommendations to the board as needed for approval. Develop a justification and qualification criteria to account for experience and expertise to subcontract with an external provider. Monitor the performance of the subcontractor, ensuring that all work is completed to a high standard and that all deliverables are met.

L. Engage with the local communities to ensure that the FSA outcomes are meeting state industry needs. This includes developing partnerships with community organizations, industry leaders, state colleges and universities, and ensuring that all stakeholders have access to relevant information about the programs and outcomes of the FSA.

VI. Schedule Starting July 1, 2023, FSA will enter in the pre-operational year of the project. To ensure that the preoperational year is successful, DJJ intends to have the educational contract provider selected by the fall of 2023. DJJ and the selected provider will work closely together to ensure that all deliverables are completed within the preoperational year and to the satisfaction of the board of trustees.

Full implementation of the FSA begins July 1, 2024.

VII. Budget For the 2023-2024 fiscal year, the legislature has allocated $12 million for the purpose of establishing the FSA. The reoccurring sum of $24 million will be appropriated annually, starting in the 2024-2025 fiscal year, for operation of the FSA.

VIII. Contact Information:

More information regarding provider selection processes and expectations are forthcoming. Please direct any questions to Ashley Bridges, Procurement Manager at Ashley.bridges@fldjj.gov.

mailto:Ashley.bridges@fldjj.gov