RFI 26_019_094.pdf

Fayette County Public Schools - English Language Arts Instructional Resources for Grades 6-12 Request for Information No. 26-019-094 Georgia Procurement Registry Event No. PE-65615-NONST-2026-000000095

Introduction

This request is for information (hereinafter RFI) only to assist Fayette County Public Schools (hereinafter the District or FCPS) in determining how best to fulfill the District’s need for English Language Arts instructional resources in grades 6 through 12 that support the standards of the course for which they are being selected, meet high standards of quality in factual content and presentation, and are appropriate for the emotional development, ability level, and social development of the students for whom the materials are selected, as further described herein.

Please be advised that this may be a multi-step process. The District may use established review processes to narrow the selection of materials to those that best fit the District’s requirements. The District may further select the best fit materials for an in-classroom short-term pilot.

Responses Due

Responses to this request for information are due no later than the date and time specified in the timeline of events either physically or electronically to the FCPS Purchasing Department located at the LaFayette Educational Center, Building A, 205 LaFayette Avenue, Fayetteville, GA, 30214. Proposals received after the specified date and time will not be considered.

Section A: Instructions to Respondents

1. Designated Representative

1.1. The FCPS Purchasing Department has designated the following staff member as the representative of the Department and District during the RFI process:

Matthew Roberts, Purchasing Manager (roberts.matthew@fcboe.org).

1.2. The FCPS English and World Languages Department has designated the following staff member as the representative of the Department and District during the RFI process: Dr. Portia Rhodes, Coordinator (rhodes.portia@fcboe.org).

2. Schedule of Events

Event Date & Time

RFI Released Monday, February 16, 2026

Online Information Session Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 1:30 PM (ET) (See 2.1) mailto:roberts.matthew@fcboe.org mailto:rhodes.portia@fcboe.org

English Language Arts Instructional Resources for Grades 6-12 (RFI 26-019-094)

Respondent Questions Due Before 9:00 AM (ET), Monday, March 16, 2026

Responses Due Before 4:00 PM (ET), Friday, April 3, 2026

2.1. The District will offer an online informational session and Q&A time for all prospective responders.

Fayette Secondary ELA RFI Info Session Wednesday, March 4, 2026 · 1:30 – 2:30pm (ET) Video call link: https://meet.google.com/byt-vven-dzg Or dial: 6588-870-(US) +1 678 PIN: 390 492 588#

3. Georgia Open Records Act Compliance (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70)

3.1. This RFI and any resulting solicitations, responses, evaluations, contracts, agreement, or purchase orders are subject to the Georgia Open Records Act and may be released publicly.

3.2. Pursuant to the act, for any records or documents marked as “confidential” or “trade secrets” the respondent must submit and attach to the records an affidavit affirmatively declaring that specific information in the records constitutes trade secrets according to O.C.G.A. § 10-1-761.

3.3. Failure to attach such an affidavit will result in the record being considered public and subject to release under the Georgia Open Records Act.

3.4. If FCPS determines that the specifically identified information does not constitute a trade secret, it shall notify the entity submitting the affidavit of its intent to disclose the information within ten days unless prohibited from doing so by an appropriate court order.

3.5. In the event the entity wishes to prevent disclosure of the requested records, the entity may file an action in Fayette County, Georgia superior court to obtain an order that the requested records are trade secrets exempt from disclosure. The entity filing such action shall serve the requestor with a copy of its court filing.

3.6. If the agency determines that the specifically identified information does constitute a trade secret, the agency shall withhold the records, and the requester may file an action in Fayette County, Georgia superior court to obtain an order that the requested records are not trade secrets and are subject to disclosure.

4. Respondent Registration

4.1. Respondents are encouraged to register with the designated Purchasing

Department representative listed above via email after reviewing this RFI.

4.2. Respondents who register will automatically receive an invitation to the online information session referenced in the Schedule of Events, any email updates with additional documents such as addenda, and be notified of future solicitation issuance, even if they choose not to submit a response.

https://meet.google.com/byt-vven-dzg https://advance.lexis.com/api/document/collection/statutes-legislation/id/61XD-TBX1-JN6B-S0Y8-00008-00?cite=O.C.G.A.%20%C2%A7%2050-18-70&context=1000516 http://www.open.georgia.gov/ https://advance.lexis.com/api/document/collection/statutes-legislation/id/61XD-TBV1-F06F-244V-00008-00?cite=O.C.G.A.%20%C2%A7%2010-1-761&context=1000516

5. Response Delivery

5.1. Responses may be emailed to the designated representative if meeting the following guidelines:

5.1.1. Emailed responses must be in a consistent, clear, and readable format and complete. (Adobe PDF format is preferred unless specified otherwise)

5.1.2. All response documents should be bound in one document. In an effort to reduce waste and allow for broader dissemination, the District recommends electronic documents be submitted including brochures, catalogs, etc.

Section B: Scope, Questions, and Expectations

6. Background and Project Overview

6.1. Fayette County Public Schools comprises 24 schools (14 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 5 high schools) located just south of Atlanta, Georgia. The current student population is between 19,000-20,000 students in grades pre-kindergarten through twelfth serviced by approximately 3,000 staff members.

6.2. The District is committed to providing and maintaining high quality instructional materials for student learning that are aligned to the Georgia Standards of Excellence and support the District’s instructional philosophy and framework.

Materials are reviewed periodically to ensure alignment and effectiveness. The Georgia Department of Education revised and adopted English Language Arts (ELA) standards in 2023 and implemented the new standards for the 2025-26 school year. Fayette is embarking on a review of existing materials for grades 6-12 ELA in order to provide materials that are appropriately aligned to the newly implemented standards.

7. Courses Under Review

7.1. Materials are requested for the attached/linked list of courses. The aligned

Georgia Standards of Excellence are noted for each course. Respondents should provide a review copy of all of the aligned resources available for each course. \

7.2. General Education Courses

7.2.1. Language Arts / Grade 6 23.01100

7.2.2. Language Arts / Grade 7 23.01200

7.2.3. Language Arts / Grade 8 23.01300

7.2.4. Literature & Composition I (required) 23.06160

7.2.5. Literature & Composition II (required) 23.06170

7.2.6. 11th American Literature & Composition (core) 23.05100

7.2.7. 12th British Literature & Composition (core) 23.05200

7.3. Advanced Placement Courses

7.3.1. AP English Language & Composition / American Literature 23.05300

7.3.2. AP English Literature & Composition 23.05300

7.3.3. AP Research, ELA 23.03700

7.3.4. AP Seminar, ELA 23.03800

7.4. Support Courses (Tentative)

7.4.1. Reading / Grade 6- 23.11460

7.4.2. Reading / Grade 7- 23.11560

7.4.3. Reading / Grade 8- 23.1160

7.4.4. Reading Enrichment- 23.08200

8. Selection Criteria

8.1. The following criteria will be used to determine the best fit materials for each course. A response to the RFI is an indication that the criteria can be met. The response should note any of the criteria that may be in jeopardy, with an explanation.

8.1.1. Tight alignment to Georgia standards and the expected level of rigor

8.1.2. Evidence-based lesson design supporting FCPS instructional priorities (e.g., embedded Science of Reading, Gradual Release, language comprehension, and transfer of learning support from surface to deep learning)

8.1.3. Diverse, culturally relevant, non-divisive, high quality multi-modal literary (fiction and non fiction) and informational texts

8.1.4. High quality student and teacher print materials. The District welcomes digital support materials that supplement print materials, but not as the sole resource.

8.1.5. Clear progressions and scaffolding across grade levels

8.1.6. Integrated writing and language instruction, including writing to learn and writing across modes (narrative, argumentative, expository, and poetic techniques), with explicit instruction in grammar, usage, mechanics, spelling, morphology, and vocabulary

8.1.7. High quality, easily-to-navigate digital resources for students and teachers

8.1.8. High quality formative assessments that provide actionable data to inform instruction and differentiation

8.1.9. High quality summative assessments that provide actionable data to inform instruction and differentiation

8.1.10. Language usage reference book/materials for students and teachers

8.1.11. Accessibility and support for diverse learners (ELs, SWD, advanced, struggling learners), including digital and print materials that meet accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG, ADA)

8.1.12. Robust and easy-to-navigate teacher supports, including on-demand professional learning

9. Performance and Service Questions/Expectations

9.1. The following expectations will be in place for the final selection of vendors/publishers. A response to the RFI is a commitment that the expectations can be met. The response should note any of the following expectations that may be in jeopardy, with an explanation.

9.2. Instructional Materials Quality & Delivery

9.2.1. Provide standards-aligned, culturally affirming, and developmentally appropriate resources for grades 6–12.

9.2.2. Offer a single text and/or program that addresses all learning standards (see Section 7) and includes print student materials for the aligned course(s).

9.2.3. Ensure both digital and print materials are accessible, error-free, and delivered on schedule.

9.2.4. Maintain compatibility with district platforms (e.g., LMS, SIS, accessibility tools).

9.3. Support Relationship & Escalation Protocols

9.3.1. Designate a dedicated account manager and instructional support liaison.

9.3.2. Establish a tiered escalation process:

9.3.2.1. Tier 1: School-level inquiry (response within 24 hours)

9.3.2.2. Tier 2: District-level concern (response within 48 hours)

9.3.2.3. Tier 3: Contract-level issue (executive review within 5 business days)

9.3.3. Maintain a shared issue-tracking dashboard with resolution timelines.

9.4. Communication Turnaround Time

9.4.1. Respond to routine inquiries within 1 business day.

9.4.2. Acknowledge and triage urgent issues within 4 hours.

9.4.3. Provide resolution or status updates within 2 business days for non-critical issues.

9.5. Professional Learning

9.5.1. Provide searchable, on-demand video tutorials and lesson walkthroughs.

9.5.2. Deploy instructional coaches and/or virtual office hours during key implementation phases.

9.5.3. Deliver Professional Development sessions (virtual or in-person) aligned to district goals.

9.5.4. Offer differentiated training for new teachers, interventionists, and instructional leaders.

9.6. Updates & Revisions

9.6.1. Provide access to all content updates, revisions, or platform changes during the terms of contract, print and digital, with at least 90 days notice.

9.6.1.1. Provide release notes for digital platform updates at least 60 days before rollout.

9.6.2. Provide annotated change logs and updated pacing guides.

9.6.3. Collaborate with the District to pilot and vet major revisions before full rollout.

9.6.4. Access to all revisions during the terms of contract.

Section C: Evaluation of Responses

10. Interviews and Presentations

10.1. Post-response interviews and presentations may be required, in person at the District’s direction or desire.

10.2. Submission of a response does not guarantee an interview or presentation.

10.3. Selection for interviews and presentations is at the sole discretion of the evaluation committee.

11. Selection Process

11.1. Initial Review – The District will review vendor responses/materials for an appropriate alignment with the selection criteria. Approximate timeline: April

11.2. Teacher Review Committee – The District will convene a committee of representative teachers to review those materials that exhibit an appropriate alignment with the selection criteria. (Approximate timeline: May 2026)

11.2.1. Additional copies of materials may be requested from vendors for this expanded review.

11.3. In Classroom Pilot – The District may identify a need to pilot select materials within the classroom. Vendors will be notified for pilot discussion and planning.

(Approximate timeline: Oct/Nov 2026)

11.4. Selection and Contract Discussion – The District will identify the preferred materials for each course. Vendors will be notified and contract and implementation discussions will ensue. (Approximate timeline: February 2027)

11.5. Board Recommendation – The District will present recommendations to the Board of Education for approval of preferred materials. (Approximate timeline:

March to May 2027)

11.6. Implementation – The District will work with Board approved vendors for contract execution and development of an implementation plan. (Approximate timeline:

May/June 2027)

Section D: Required Forms and Submissions

12. Solicitation Response Form

12.1. Respondents must complete a Solicitation Response Form attached hereto and available online at the Purchasing Department website.

12.2. This form must be placed on top, or as the first page of your response.

13. Comments

13.1. Please provide your evaluative comments on the project description and requirements outlined in this document.

13.2. Include any suggestions or advice regarding the design, implementation, management, technology, etc. of this contemplated project.

13.3. Detail what additional information or clarifications would be needed in order to prepare a comprehensive proposal in the future.

Solicitation Response Form

RFI 26-019-094 | English Language Arts Instructional Resources for Grades 6-12

Place this form on top of your response.

Company Name:

Point of Contact:

Street Address:

City:

State:

Zip Code:

Telephone:

Email:

Website:

Authority to Act The undersigned states that he/she has the requisite authority to act on behalf of his/her employer in these matters and has offered to provide the products/services in accordance with the terms and conditions herein.

Terms, Conditions, and Specifications Through the submission of response and signature below, the respondent verifies that their solution, if applicable, complies fully, or complies with an exception, to all stated general and special terms, conditions, and specifications. See the FCPS General Terms and Conditions for further information and directions on notating exceptions to stated specifications.

Addenda Through the submission of response and signature below the respondent verifies that they have read and understood any addenda issued for this solicitation if issued.

Signature: ______________________________ Date:_____________________

Fayette County Public Schools - English Language Arts Instructional Resources for Grades 6-12

Terms, Conditions, and Specifications

Addenda