RFP 2024-74 Child Assessments FINAL.pdf

RFP 2024-74 – Child Assessments Page i

State of Florida Department of Education

Bureau of Contracts, Grants and Procurement Management Services 325 West Gaines Street 344 Turlington Building

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL REGISTRATION

COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM

Proposal Number: RFP 2024-74

Title: CHILD ASSESSMENTS

Date & Time Proposal Due: April 16, 2024 by 10:00am Eastern Time (ET)

Potential Proposers should notify the Florida Department of Education, Bureau of Contracts, Grants and Procurement Management Services of their intent to respond by returning this Request for Proposal Registration Form as soon as possible after downloading. Complete this form and send this sheet only to the below official contact person’s e-mail address (preferred). Form may also be faxed to fax number (850) 245-0719, or mailed to 325 West Gaines Street, 344 Turlington Building, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400.

Company Name:

Contact Person:

Address:

City, State, Zip:

Telephone: ( ) Fax Number: ( )

Internet E-Mail Address:

Signed: Date:

Florida Department of Education’s contact person: Tamara Harrington, tamara.harrington@fldoe.org, (850) 245- 0749.

(Revised 09/1/22)

RFP 2024-74 – CHILD ASSESSMENT Page 2 (Revised 01/09/2020)

State of Florida Department of Education

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

CHILD ASSESSMENTS

BID NUMBER: RFP 2024-74

DEADLINE FOR TECHNICAL QUESTIONS: March 26, 2024 @ 4:00pm ET TIME (There is no deadline for administrative questions)

PROPOSALS ARE DUE BY: April 16, 2024 @ 10:00AM, ET

MAIL OR DELIVER PROPOSALS TO:

Florida Department of Education Bureau of Contracts, Grants and Procurement

Management Services 325 West Gaines Street 344 Turlington Building

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400 Attention: Tamara Harrington

Phone: (850) 245-0749

RFP 2024-74 – Child Assessments Page 3

Table Of Contents

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL REGISTRATION ....................................................................................................... i

SECTION 1 –INSTRUCTIONS

1.0 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO PROPOSER

SECTION 2 – CONTRACT CONDITIONS

2.0 GENERAL CONTRACT CONDITIONS

SECTION 3 - INTRODUCTION

3.0 INTENT

3.1 PURPOSE

3.2 BACKGROUND

3.3 DEFINITIONS

3.4 CRITICAL EVENT DATES

SECTION 4 – SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

4.0 PRE-SOLICITATION CONFERENCE: A PRE-SOLICITATION CONFERENCE WILL NOT BE HELD

4.1 SITE INSPECTION: A SITE INSPECTION WILL NOT BE HELD

4.2 VISITOR’S PASS TO THE TURLINGTON BUILDING

4.3 PROPOSAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

4.4 PROCUREMENT PROTESTS / NOTICE OF RIGHTS

4.5 ORAL INSTRUCTIONS / CHANGES TO THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (ADDENDA)

4.6 MODIFICATIONS, RESUBMITTAL AND WITHDRAWAL

4.7 RESTRICTIONS ON COMMUNICATIONS WITH DEPARTMENT STAFF

4.8 CONFIDENTIAL, PROPRIETARY, OR TRADE SECRET MATERIAL

4.9. POOR PERFORMANCE NOTICE

4.10 WITHDRAWAL OF A PROPOSAL

4.11 CONDITIONS TO THE PROPOSAL

4.12 DISCLOSURE OF PROPOSAL CONTENTS

4.13 AWARD

SECTION 5 – SPECIAL CONDITIONS

5.0 AUTHORIZED TO DO BUSINESS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA

5.1 LICENSED TO CONDUCT SERVICES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA

5.2 IDENTICAL EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS

5.3 DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

5.4 SUB-CONTRACTING

5.5 CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

5.6 METHOD OF PAYMENT

5.7 CONVICTED VENDOR LIST

5.8 DIVERSITY IN CONTRACTING

5.9 COSTS INCURRED IN RESPONDING

5.11 PROHIBITION OF GRATUITIES

5.12 INDEPENDENT PRICE DETERMINATION

5.13 PERFORMANCE BOND

5.14 PARTICIPATION IN FUTURE STAGES OF THIS PROJECT

5.15 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS

5.16 SCRUTINIZED COMPANIES LISTS

5.17 SCRUTINIZED COMPANIES – TERMINATION

RFP 2024-74 – Child Assessments Page 4

5.18 FOREIGN COUNTRIES OF CONCERN CONTRACT ATTESTATION FORM

SECTION 6 – SCOPE OF SERVICES

6.0 SCOPE OF SERVICES

6.1 DELIVERABLES

6.2 FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES

SECTION 7 – SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS – PROPOSAL FORMAT & CONTENT

7.0 PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

7.1 MAIL OR DELIVER PROPOSALS TO: (Do Not Fax or E-Mail)

7.2 PROPOSAL FORMAT INSTRUCTIONS

SECTION 8 – OPENING, EVALUATION AND AWARD

8.0 PROPOSAL OPENING

8.1 EVALUATION PROCESS

8.2 POSTING OF AGENCY DECISION

8.3 AWARD OF THE CONTRACT

ATTACHMENT A

DELIVERABLE DUE DATE FORM

ATTACHMENT B

PROPOSER’S PRICE PROPOSAL

ATTACHMENT C

CONTRACT STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS

ATTACHMENT D

REFERENCES

ATTACHMENT E

MINORITY SUB CONTRACTORS UTILIZATION SUMMARY

ATTACHMENT F

DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE

ATTACHMENT G

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

ATTACHMENT H

SCRUTINIZED COMPANIES LISTS

ATTACHMENT I

EXHIBIT I

EXHIBIT II

EXHIBIT III

EXHIBIT IV

EXHIBIT V

PROPOSAL CHECKLIST

RFP 2024-74 – Child Assessments Page 5

STATE OF FLORIDA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

CHILD ASSESSMENTS

BID NUMBER: RFP 2024-74

SECTION 1 –INSTRUCTIONS

1.0 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO PROPOSER

This section contains instructions explaining the solicitation process and the actions necessary to respond.

General Instructions to Respondent (Form PUR 1001 – incorporated herein by reference) is a downloadable document which must be downloaded for review. This document need not be returned with the Proposer’s Proposal. Form PUR 1001 may be accessed at http://dms.myflorida.com/business_operations/state_purchasing under “Documents, Forms, References and Resources”.

In the event of any conflict between Form PUR 1001 and other instructions provided in this document, the additional instructions in this document shall take precedence over the Form PUR 1001 unless the conflicting term is required by any section of the Florida Statutes (F.S.), in which case the statutory requirements shall take precedence.

ALTHOUGH THE RFP MAY USE MANDATORY WORDS LIKE “SHALL,” “WILL,” “SHOULD” OR “MUST,” AND MAY DEFINE CERTAIN ITEMS AS REQUIREMENTS, THE DEPARTMENT RESERVES THE RIGHT, IN ITS DISCRETION, TO WAIVE ANY DEVIATIONS FROM THESE PROVISIONS. IN ADDITION, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT SUCH DEVIATIONS WILL BE DEEMED IN THE STATE’S BEST INTEREST OR A MINOR

IRREGULARITY.

SECTION 2 – CONTRACT CONDITIONS

2.0 GENERAL CONTRACT CONDITIONS

Standard terms and conditions that will apply to the contract which results from the solicitation event are provided in this section. General Contract Conditions (Form PUR 1000 – incorporated herein by reference) is a downloadable document which must be downloaded for review. This document need not be returned with the Proposer’s Proposal. Form PUR 1000 may be accessed at http://dms.myflorida.com/business_operations/state_purchasing under “Documents, Forms, References and Resources”.

In the event of any conflict between the PUR 1000 form and any other Special Conditions, the Special Conditions shall take precedence over the PUR 1000 form unless the conflicting term in the PUR form is required by any section of the F.S., in which case the statutory requirements shall take precedence.

SECTION 3 - INTRODUCTION

3.0 INTENT

The State of Florida Department of Education (hereinafter referred to as the "Department") is soliciting written Proposals from qualified Proposers to establish a term contract of which the term is anticipated to begin upon http://dms.myflorida.com/business_operations/state_purchasing http://dms.myflorida.com/business_operations/state_purchasing

RFP 2024-74 – Child Assessments Page 6 execution of the contract and be effective for sixty (60) months thereafter. Award may be made to the responsible and responsive vendor(s) that the Commissioner of Education determines will provide what is most advantageous to the state, taking into consideration price and other criteria set forth in this document.

The resulting contract may be renewed for up to five (5) one-year terms, see Form PUR 1000 for renewal requirements.

3.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to obtain assessment instruments and related support services from one (1) or more vendors with documented experience and expertise in providing reliable and valid early childhood assessment instruments. Upon award, Early Learning Coalitions can choose the Contractor(s) that best meets their local needs.

3.2 BACKGROUND

The Department of Education’s Division of Early Learning (DEL) administers the School Readiness (SR) Program and provides guidance to the Early Learning Coalitions (ELCs) with implementation of the program. Section 1002.82(1) F.S. designates the Department as the lead agency responsible for the administration of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Trust Fund, pursuant to 45 C.F.R. parts 98 and 99.

3.3 DEFINITIONS

After the award, said Proposer will be referred to as the "Contractor". For the purpose of this document, the term "Proposer" means a potential Contractor acting on its own behalf and on behalf of those individuals, partnerships, firms, or corporations comprising the Proposer’s team. The term "Proposal" means the complete response of the Proposer to the RFP, including properly completed forms and supporting documentation. The term “contract” refers to the agreement between the Department and the Contractor resulting from this RFP. A “responsive bid” is a Proposal submitted by a responsive and responsible vendor which conforms in all material respects to the solicitation. However, for purposes of determining what is material, please refer to Section 1 of this RFP. Use of the terms “shall,” “will,” “should” and “must,” or the designation of items as “requirements,” does not mandate that such items are material. The Department reserves the right to waive deviations, in its discretion. “Deliverable” means a tangible, specific, quantifiable and measurable event or item that must be produced to complete a project or part of a project directly related to the scope of services.

A. Terms and Definitions

A.1 Accommodation – A change in the way assessments and screeners are presented or in how the child is allowed to respond so that children with disabilities or limited English proficiency can be assessed or screened. For example, one might include Braille forms for blind children or allow more time for children whose primary language is not English. This term generally refers to changes that do not substantially alter what is being measured.

A.2 Age Appropriate - What children are generally able to do at a given age.

A.3 API – Application Programming Interface.

A.4 Assessment – A tool used to measure skills and abilities which helps determine progress over time.

A.5 Authentic - Uses tasks that are as close as possible to real-life practical and intellectual challenges and the child completes the desired behavior in a context as close to real-life as possible.

A.6 Authorized Users – Early learning coalitions, RCMA or childcare providers who purchase or enter agreements with the contractor.

A.7 Battery – An array of similar tools intended for use together, such as “a battery of assessments” for different developmental areas.

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A.8 Child assessment – For purposes of this procurement and any resulting Contract, child assessment is an observation-based assessment instrument supported by an online information system that trained teachers administer to children ages birth to five at participating providers, purchased from the contractor on a per/child subscription basis, and meeting all of the requirements in this RFP and the resulting Contract.

A.9 Construct – The concept, idea, or theory that an assessment or screener is designed to measure.

A.10 Content validity – The extent to which a tool reflects the range of possible skills or behaviors that make up the domain or construct being assessed. This is often determined through expert review.

A.11 Construct validity –The extent to which a tool measures a clearly defined theoretical concept. The instrument should be based on a theory, and scores from the instrument should reflect what would be expected based on that theory.

A.12 Contract Manager - A person designated to be responsible for enforcing the performance of contract terms and conditions, pursuant to section 287.057, F.S. The Contract Manager is the primary point of contact through which all contracting information flows between DEL and the Contractor.

A.13 Convergent/Concurrent validity – A subtype of criterion-related validity. This term indicates the degree to which a tool correlates with other tools assessing the same construct.

A.14 Correlation – A statistic that tells the strength of the relationship between different variables, items, constructs, or responses. When two measures correlate highly, one cannot necessarily be used as a substitute for the other. For example, students’ reading test scores may correlate highly with their math test scores, but giving the students extra help and practice in math is not likely to improve their reading skills. Although a correlation tells how strongly two measurements tend to agree, it cannot tell why they agree. A positive correlation means that when one variable increases, the other increases as well, such as when language skills increase as a child gets older. A negative correlation means that as one variable increases, the other decreases, such as when children with more advanced language skills are less likely to show aggressive behaviors.

A.15 Criterion-referenced test –A test that is intended for comparing each child’s score with one or more fixed standards of performance. The purpose of the test is not to determine each child’s relative position in a group, but to determine whether each child is above or below a particular level of the knowledge or skill being measured. Scores have meaning relative to a child's own progress, rather than in relation to the scores made by some external reference (or norm) group. See also norm-referenced test.

A.16 Criterion-related validity – The degree to which the scores of one (1) tool are related to the scores of another existing tool which measures the same construct. This other well-established tool is referred to as the criterion. The comparison between the tool and the criterion can be done either concurrently (i.e., concurrent validity), or later in time (i.e., predictive validity).

A.17 Customer – Authorized user(s) of the contract under contract with the Contractor including the Division of Early Learning (DEL), Early Learning Coalitions (ELCs) and their authorized agents, Florida school districts, the Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA), and each of these organization’s contracted School Readiness Program child care providers.

A.18 Developmental norms – Standards by which the progress of a child's development can be measured relative to the development of a representative cross section of children, i.e. the norm. For example, the average age at which a child walks, learns to talk, or achieves toileting independence would be a standard used to judge whether the child is progressing normally. While norms are usually thought of as age-related, norms can also be tied to other developmental variables such as race, ethnicity, and sex. Norms can inform teachers, parents, and others in judging the appropriateness of certain types of activities for different children.

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A.19 Domain – A set of related skills, behaviors, or information that is classified as a single area of study or development. Domains typically cover multiple, related constructs within a broad area of study or development, such as fine motor development or approaches toward learning.

A.20 Developmental Norms - Standards by which the progress of a child’s development can be measured relative to the development of a representative cross section of children.

A.21 Early Learning Coalition (ELC) – Part of a system of statutorily-created local not-for-profit entities in Florida that implement early learning programs at the local level including, but not limited to, the SR Program, Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) Program, and the VPK Education Program.

A.22 Family Engagement – Conscious effort of the parent and/or other family member to engage in a child’s education and development by promoting positive behaviors and ensuring the child’s well-being.

A.23 FLEID – Florida Education Identifier.

A.24 Family Portal – The component of the Single Statewide Information System (SSIS) through which parents can, at a minimum, register for an account, prequalify for the SR Program, complete a SR application, complete a VPK application, request CCR&R services, once available, and manage their family account.

A.25 Florida’s Early Learning and Developmental Standards (the Standards) – Florida Early Learning and Developmental Standards (2017), adopted Fall 2017. The Standards and benchmarks reflect the knowledge and skills that a child on a developmental progression should know and be able to do at the end of an age-related timeframe. See http://flbt5.floridaearlylearning.com/.

A.26 Division of Early Learning (DEL) – The Division of Early Learning is the governmental entity providing oversight and administration for early learning programs in Florida consisting of, but not limited to the School Readiness Program (child care subsidies), Child Care Resource and Referral Program (CCR&R), and the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education (VPK) Program.

A.27 Indicators – Questions included in the tool that are related to the developmental skill or ability being measured.

A.28 Inter-rater Reliability - The variation in measurement when a child is assessed by a different person but with the same method or instrument.

A.29 Interval level - The interval level of measurement not only classifies and orders the measurements, but it also specifies that the distances between each interval on the scale are equivalent along the scale from low interval to high interval.

A.30 Internal consistency reliability – How closely items or indicators within a construct are interrelated.

A.31 Normed – The process of establishing a baseline of scores on a nationally representative sample.

A.32 Norm-referenced test – A tool in which a child’s score is compared with the scores of a norming group, which is a representative cross-section of all those being assessed or screened. Scores from all children who take the norm-referenced test in the future are compared to the performance of the initial norm group. See also criterion-referenced test. NOTE: Depending upon the population served, a program may or may not expect scores from its assessments to reflect those in the norming sample.

For instance, programs serving more at-risk populations may expect to see a larger proportion of children falling below the norm.

A.33 Observation Based – Type of assessment based on observing children's behaviors and actions.

A.34 Ongoing observational tool – A tool used at a minimum of three (3) times during a 12 month period to observe and record a child's skills and abilities.

A.35 Participating Provider – A School Readiness Provider under contract with the Contractor directly or indirectly through the provider’s ELC that is conducting child assessments and entering the resulting data into the Contractor’s system, in accordance with its responsibilities set forth in its School Readiness Program contract (DEL SR-20).

http://flbt5.floridaearlylearning.com/

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A.36 Population –The total number of all possible subjects or elements which could be included in a study.

If the data are valid, the results of research on a sample of individuals drawn from a much larger population can then be generalized to the population.

A.37 Predictive validity – The degree to which items relate to an established measurement tool that assesses the same, or a related, outcome at a later point in time.

A.38 Psychometrics – The science concerned with evaluating the attributes of tests used to measure various skills and abilities. Three of these attributes of particular interest include (1) the type of data (scores) generated by the application of such tests, (2) the reliability of data from such tests, and (3) issues concerning the validity of data obtained from such tests.

A.39 Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA) - RCMA provides School Readiness services to eligible children and families of the seasonal and migrant farm worker community.

A.40 Reliable - The degree to which an instrument produces consistent information across different circumstances and is free from random error associated with the process of measuring the construct of interest.

A.41 Reliability – A term which describes whether a tool produces consistent information across different circumstances. Scores will be stable regardless of when the tool is administered, where it is administered, and who is administering it. Therefore, reliability is an indication of the consistency of scores across raters, over time, or across different tasks or items that measure the same thing. An unreliable assessment or screener cannot be valid.

A.42 Sample – A subset of a population. Samples are collected and statistics are calculated from the samples so that one can draw conclusions about the total population. A representative sample refers to a carefully chosen number of representatives of a specific group, such as children of a certain age, race/ethnicity, or income status, whose characteristics represent as accurately as possible the entire population of children with these characteristics.

A.43 School Readiness (SR) Program - The SR Program offers financial assistance to low-income families for early education and care so they can become financially self-sufficient and their young children can be successful in school in the future. The SR program is also responsible for the quality enhancement/improvement of early learning providers/practitioners.

A.44 Single Statewide Information System (SSIS) – The DEL-designated single statewide information system used to capture and provide critical information to early learning coalitions, parents, partners, and providers.

A.45 Software as a Service (SaaS) – A software licensing and delivery model in which software is licensed on a subscription basis and is centrally hosted.

A.46 Subscales – A set of items within a domain that capture a particular aspect of the domain. For example, the domain of language development might have the following subscales: receptive communication, expressive communication, and alphabet knowledge.

A.47 Test-retest reliability – An indicator of whether the tool will yield the same score across two administrations of the tool within a short period of time. This tells us whether the tool provides a consistent assessment of a skill, regardless of other factors, such as the child’s mood or health, the time of day, or the time of year that the child was assessed. A child should score similarly (within a defined range) if tested within a short period of time, usually defined as within three months.

A.48 Valid - Extent to which a tool assesses what it is supposed to assess and indicates that scores accurately capture what the tool is meant to measure in terms of content.

A.49 Validity – A term which describes whether a tool assesses what it is supposed to assess and indicates that scores are accurately capturing what the tool is meant to measure in terms of content. For example, if a child performs well on a vocabulary test, a valid measure would mean there is confidence that the child is good at word comprehension. An assessment or screener cannot be valid if it is not reliable.

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A.50 Variable – A quality, characteristic, or attribute that may change depending on the sample being studied. For example, commonly used variables include age, sex, race/ethnicity, poverty status, or levels of education.

3.4 CRITICAL EVENT DATES

These are tentative dates for critical events. (ALL DATES IN RFP SUBJECT TO CHANGE), EVENT DATE

Request for Proposal (RFP) released 3/19/24 Deadline for receipt of Technical Questions (E-mail (preferred) or Fax) 3/26/24 at 4:00pm ET Department Response to Technical Questions received by deadline (this date is on or about)

4/2/24

PROPOSALS ARE DUE (FAX & E-MAIL NOT ACCEPTABLE) 4/16/24 by 10:00am ET Technical Proposals will be opened in Room 344 Turlington Building OPENINGS WILL BE CONDUCTED VIA CONFERENCE CALL. TOLL-FREE: 888-585-9008; PIN: 818- 095-394

4/16/24 at 10:30am ET

Evaluation of Technical Proposals (time and place) 4/19/24-4/26/24 Price Proposals will be evaluated by the Bureau of Contracts, Grants and Procurement Management Services staff during the evaluation stage.

SECTION 4 – SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

4.0 PRE-SOLICITATION CONFERENCE: A PRE-SOLICITATION CONFERENCE WILL NOT BE HELD.

4.1 SITE INSPECTION: A SITE INSPECTION WILL NOT BE HELD.

4.2 VISITOR’S PASS TO THE TURLINGTON BUILDING

Each visitor to the Turlington Building is required to sign in at the security desk in the main lobby. Please allow at least 15 minutes prior to Proposal due time if hand-delivering the Proposal to the Bureau of Contracts, Grants and Procurement Management Services.

4.3 PROPOSAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Any technical questions arising from this RFP should be forwarded, in writing, to the purchasing agent identified below. The Department's written response to written inquiries submitted timely by Proposers will be posted on the Florida Vendor Information Portal (VIP) at MyFloridaMarket Place Vendor Information Portal (click on Search Advertisements under the Florida Solicitation Advertisement section, then populate the Organization field with the Department of Education. Initiate search by clicking the Search button). Click on this Proposal number to review posted documents. It is the responsibility of all potential Proposers to monitor this site for any changing information prior to submitting a Proposal.

Only timely received written inquiries will be “officially” addressed by the Department. See SECTION 3.4 CRITICAL EVENT DATES for question due date.

WRITTEN QUESTIONS should be submitted to:

Florida Department of Education Bureau of Contract, Grants and Procurement Management Services Attn: Tamara Harrington 325 West Gaines Street, 344 Turlington Building Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400 E-mail Address (preferred): Tamara.Harrington@fldoe.org or Fax No.: (850) 245-0719 https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/

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4.4 PROCUREMENT PROTESTS / NOTICE OF RIGHTS

Pursuant to F.S., Section 120.57(3) (b):

Any person who is adversely affected by the agency decision or intended decision shall file with the agency a notice of protest in writing within 72 hours after the posting of the notice of decision or intended decision. With respect to a protest of the terms, conditions, and specifications contained in a solicitation, including any provisions governing the methods for ranking bids, proposals, or Proposals, awarding contracts, reserving rights of further negotiation, or modifying or amending any contract, the notice of protest shall be filed in writing within 72 hours after the posting of the solicitation. The formal written protest shall be filed within ten (10) days after the date the notice of protest is filed. Failure to file a notice of protest or failure to file a formal written protest shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under this chapter. The formal written protest shall state with particularity the facts and law upon which the protest is based. Saturdays, Sundays, and state holidays shall be excluded in the computation of the 72-hour time periods provided by this paragraph.

Section 120.57(3)(a) provides:

Failure to file a protest within the time prescribed in section 120.57(3), F.S., or failure to post the bond or other security required by law within the time allowed for filing a bond shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under chapter 120, F.S."

Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) Rule 28-110.002(2) defines the term “decision or intended decision,” and includes the solicitation terms (and any addenda), the award of the contract, and a rejection of all bids.

At the time of filing the Formal Written Protest the protestor must also file a Protest Bond payable to the Department in an amount equal to 1 percent of the estimated contract amount. F.S., Section 287.042(2) (c) and F.A.C. Rule 28-110.005 contain further terms relating to the Protest Bond, including how to determine the estimated contract amount. In lieu of a Protest Bond, the Department will accept cashier’s checks, official bank checks or money orders. The bond shall be conditioned upon the payment of all costs and charges that are adjudged against the protestor in the administrative hearing in which the action is brought and in any subsequent appellate court proceeding.

The Notice of Protest, Formal Written Protest, and Protest Bond shall be addressed to the issuing office as identified in SECTION 4.3 PROPOSAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS above, and filed with the agency clerk.

4.5 ORAL INSTRUCTIONS / CHANGES TO THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (ADDENDA)

No negotiations, decisions, or actions will be initiated or executed by a Proposer as a result of any oral discussions with a state employee. Only those communications which are in writing from the Bureau of Contracts, Grants and Procurement Management Services will be considered as a duly authorized expression on behalf of the Department.

Notice of changes (addenda) will be posted on the VIP, under this Proposal number. It is the responsibility of all potential Proposers to monitor this site for any changing information prior to submitting a Proposal.

4.6 MODIFICATIONS, RESUBMITTAL AND WITHDRAWAL

Proposers may modify submitted Proposals at any time prior to the Proposal due date. Requests for modification of a submitted Proposal shall be in writing and must be signed by an authorized representative of the Proposer.

Upon receipt and acceptance of such a request, the entire Proposal will be returned to the Proposer and not considered unless resubmitted by the due date and time. Proposers may also send a change in a sealed envelope to be opened at the same time as the Proposal. The RFP number, opening date and time should appear on the envelope of the modified Proposal.

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0120/Sec57.HTM

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Unless specifically requested by the Department, any amendments, revisions, or alterations to Proposals will not be accepted after the closing for the receipt of Proposals.

4.7 RESTRICTIONS ON COMMUNICATIONS WITH DEPARTMENT STAFF

Proposers shall not communicate with any Department staff concerning this RFP except for the Department contact person identified in SECTION 4.3 PROPOSAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS of this RFP. Only those communications which are in writing from the Bureau of Contracts, Grants, and Procurement Management Services shall be considered as a duly authorized response on behalf of the Department. For violation of this provision, the Department reserves the right to reject a Proposer’s Proposal.

Respondents to this solicitation or persons acting on their behalf may not contact, between the release of the solicitation and the end of the 72-hour period following the agency posting the notice of intended award, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and state holidays, any employee or officer of the executive or legislative branch concerning any aspect of this solicitation, except in writing to the procurement officer or as provided in the solicitation documents. Violation of this provision may be grounds for rejecting a Proposal.

4.8 CONFIDENTIAL, PROPRIETARY, OR TRADE SECRET MATERIAL

The Department takes its public records responsibilities as provided under Chapter 119, F.S., and Article I, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution, very seriously. If Proposer considers any portion of the documents, data or records submitted in response to this solicitation to be confidential, trade secret or otherwise not subject to disclosure pursuant to Chapter 119, F.S., the Florida Constitution or other authority, Proposer must clearly mark and identify in its Proposal those portions which are confidential, trade secret or otherwise exempt. Proposer must also simultaneously provide the Department with a separate redacted copy of its Proposal. This redacted copy shall contain the Department’s solicitation name, number, and the name of the Proposer on the cover, and shall be clearly titled “Redacted Copy.” The Redacted Copy shall be provided to the Department at the same time Proposer submits its Proposal to the solicitation and must only exclude or obliterate those exact portions which are claimed confidential, proprietary, or trade secret, or otherwise exempt. The Proposer should also provide one (1) electronic copy (compact disc (CD), flash drive, etc.) of their Redacted Copy.

Proposer shall be responsible for defending its determination that the redacted portions of its Proposal are confidential, trade secret or otherwise not subject to disclosure. Further, Proposer shall protect, defend, and indemnify the Department for any and all claims arising from or relating to Proposers’ determination that the redacted portions of its Proposal are confidential, proprietary, trade secret or otherwise not subject to disclosure.

If Proposer fails to submit a Redacted Copy with its Proposal, the Department is authorized to produce the entire documents, data or records submitted by Proposer in answer to a public records request for these records.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Department reserves the right to disclose any materials as public records unless it determines, in its discretion, that an exemption to disclosure applies to the record.

4.9. POOR PERFORMANCE NOTICE

The Proposer should provide for both the Proposer and its employees, subcontractors, and subcontractor employees, copies of any and all documents regarding complaints filed, investigations made, warning letters or inspection reports issued, any notice of breach, notice of default, termination notice, suspension notice, or any disciplinary action initiated or taken under any contract or job performance within the past seven (7) years. For each instance listed, provide a narrative summary of the contract’s purpose and scope of work, the Proposer’s performance, including the concerns of the project owner, and any major adverse findings. In addition, provide the contract or job number, the name of the owner, the term of the contract, the name, address, and telephone number of the owner’s contract manager. Please also include any relevant documentation evidencing the performance issues.

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The Department reserves the right to seek further information on this matter from the Proposer or to make inquiries with the project owner. The information obtained from this review may be reflected in the Proposer’s score or used to declare the Proposer not a responsible vendor.

4.10 WITHDRAWAL OF A PROPOSAL

A Proposer may withdraw a Proposal by written notice to the Department on or before the deadline specified for the receipt of Proposals in SECTION 3.4 CRITICAL EVENT DATES of this RFP. Such written notice is to be submitted to the Issuing Office at the address specified in SECTION 4.3 PROPOSAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS of this RFP.

4.11 CONDITIONS TO THE PROPOSAL

No conditions may be applied to any aspect of the RFP by the prospective Proposer. Any conditions placed on any aspect of the Proposal documents by the prospective Proposer may result in the Proposal being rejected as a conditional Proposal. DO NOT WRITE IN CHANGES ON ANY RFP SHEET. The only recognized changes to the RFP prior to Proposal opening will be a written addenda issued by the Department. The Proposer recognizes the Department’s right to ignore the condition and treat the Proposal as if no conditions exists.

4.12 DISCLOSURE OF PROPOSAL CONTENTS

All documentation produced as part of this solicitation shall become the exclusive property of the state and may not be removed by the Proposer or its agents. All Proposals shall become the property of the state and shall not be returned to Proposer. The Department shall have the right to use any or all ideas or adaptations of the ideas presented in any Proposal. Selection or rejection of a Proposal shall not affect this right.

4.13 AWARD

As in the best interest of the state, the right is reserved to award based on all or none, groups of services, or any combination thereof, to a responsive, responsible Proposer. As in the best interest of the state, the right is reserved to reject any and/or all Proposals or to waive any minor irregularity in Proposals received. Conditions which may cause rejection of Proposals include, without limitation, evidence of collusion among Proposers, obvious lack of experience or expertise to perform the required work, failure to perform, or meet financial obligations on previous contracts.

SECTION 5 – SPECIAL CONDITIONS

5.0 AUTHORIZED TO DO BUSINESS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA

Foreign corporations and foreign limited partnerships should be authorized to do business in the state of Florida.

Domestic corporations should be active and in good standing in the state of Florida. Such authorization and status should be obtained by the Proposal due date and time, but in any case, must be obtained prior to contract execution. For authorization, contact:

Florida Department of State Tallahassee, Florida 32399

(850) 245-6053

5.1 LICENSED TO CONDUCT SERVICES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA

If the services being provided require that individuals be licensed by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation or any other state or federal agency, such licenses should be obtained by the Proposal due date and time, but in any case, must be obtained prior to contract execution. For state licensing, contact:

RFP 2024-74 – Child Assessments Page 14

Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0797

(850) 487-9501

5.2 IDENTICAL EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS

Whenever two (2) or more Proposals which are equal with respect to price, quality, and service are received, the Department will determine the order of award using the criteria established in 60A-1.011, F.A.C. The "Drug-Free Workplace Program Certification" form can be found as Attachment F.

5.3 DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

The Disclosure Statement Form (Attachment G) should be signed and submitted with the Proposal response.

5.4 SUB-CONTRACTING

The Contract or any portion thereof shall not be sub-contracted, except as permitted herein, or with the prior written approval of the Department. No sub-contract shall, under any circumstances, relieve the Contractor of its liability and obligation under this contract; and despite any such sub-contracting, the Department shall deal through the Contractor, which shall retain the legal responsibility for performing the Contractor obligations.

In the event any sub-contractors are approved by the Department, the Contractor should provide a list of subcontractors to the Department’s contract manager upon execution of the Contract. The Contractor should report all subcontractors, including, but not limited to, certified minority, women and service-disabled veteran subcontracting activities using the attached Utilization Summary form, attached as Attachment E. The Contractor should provide a list of subcontractors to the Department’s contract manager upon execution of the Contract. The Contractor should provide the Utilization Summary form with each invoice submitted for payment, regardless if funds have not been spent with a certified minority, women or service-disabled veteran subcontractor for the period covered by the invoice. Contact the Florida Department of Management Services (DMS), Office of Supplier Diversity, for assistance identifying qualified minority, women, and service-disabled veteran companies. The Office of Supplier Diversity can be reached at (850) 487-0915; the Internet Web address is http://dms.myflorida.com/other_programs/office_of_supplier_diversity_osd/ .

5.5 CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

The Department’s Contract Standard Terms and Conditions are incorporated in this RFP as Attachment C and will govern the relationship between the Department and the Contractor. The Proposal(s) submitted by the successful Proposer(s) shall be incorporated into the final contract(s).

5.6 METHOD OF PAYMENT

Compensation and payment will be made in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract.

5.7 CONVICTED VENDOR LIST

A company placed on the Convicted Vendor List may not submit a Proposal or be awarded a contract to provide any goods or services pursuant to Rule 60A-1.006 F.A.C. The “Convicted Vendor List” is published athttp://www.dms.myflorida.com/business_operations/state_purchasing/vendor_information/convicted_suspende d_discriminatory_complaints_vendor_lists/convicted_vendor_list.

5.8 DIVERSITY IN CONTRACTING

The state of Florida is committed to supporting its diverse business industry and population through ensuring participation by minority-, women-, and service-disabled veteran business enterprises in the economic life of the state. The state of Florida Mentor Protégé Program connects minority-, women-, and service-disabled veteran business enterprises with private corporations for business development mentoring. We strongly encourage firms http://dms.myflorida.com/other_programs/office_of_supplier_diversity_osd/ http://www.dms.myflorida.com/business_operations/state_purchasing/vendor_information/convicted_suspended_discriminatory_complaints_vendor_lists/convicted_vendor_list http://www.dms.myflorida.com/business_operations/state_purchasing/vendor_information/convicted_suspended_discriminatory_complaints_vendor_lists/convicted_vendor_list

RFP 2024-74 – Child Assessments Page 15 doing business with the state of Florida to consider this initiative. For more information on the Mentor Protégé Program, please contact the Office of Supplier Diversity at (850) 487-0915.

The state is dedicated to fostering the continued development and economic growth of small, minority-, women-, and service-disabled veteran business enterprises. Participation by a diverse group of Vendors doing business with the state is central to this effort. To this end, it is vital that small, minority-, women-, and service-disabled veteran business enterprises participate in the state’s procurement process as both Contractors and sub-contractors in this solicitation. Small, minority-, women-, and service-disabled veteran business enterprises are strongly encouraged to contribute to this solicitation.

Information on Certified Minority Business Enterprises (CMBE) and Certified Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (CSDVBE) is available from the Office of Supplier Diversity at Office of Supplier Diversity (OSD) / Agency Administration / Florida Department of Management Services - DMS (myflorida.com)

5.9 COSTS INCURRED IN RESPONDING

This RFP does not commit the Department or any other public agency to pay any costs incurred by the Proposer in the submission of a Proposal or to make necessary studies or designs for the preparation thereof, nor to procure or contract for any articles or services.

5.10 SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS BY SUBSIDIARIES OR AFFILIATES (IS NOT APPLICABLE TO THIS RFP)

5.11 PROHIBITION OF GRATUITIES

By submission of a Proposal, the Proposer certifies that no elected or appointed official or employee of the state of Florida has or will benefit financially or materially from this procurement. Any contract arising from this procurement may be terminated by the Department if it is determined that gratuities of any kind were either offered to or received by any of the aforementioned officials or employees from the Proposer or its agents or employees.

5.12 INDEPENDENT PRICE DETERMINATION

A Proposer shall not collude, consult, communicate, or agree with any other Proposer regarding this procurement as to any matter relating to the Proposer’s Proposal.

5.13 PERFORMANCE BOND

A Performance Bond is not required for this project.

5.14 PARTICIPATION IN FUTURE STAGES OF THIS PROJECT

As stated in Chapter 287.057 F.S.

(17)(c) A person who receives a contract that has not been procured pursuant to subsections (1) through (5) to perform a feasibility study of the potential implementation of a subsequent contract, who participates in the drafting of a solicitation or who develops a program for future implementation, is not eligible to contract with the agency for any other contracts dealing with that specific subject matter, and any firm in which such person has any interest is not eligible to receive such contract. However, this prohibition does not prevent a vendor who responds to a request for information from being eligible to contract with an agency.

5.15 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS

Proposers submitting Proposals to this solicitation should provide electronic and information technology resources in complete compliance with the accessibility standards required by Section 282.601-282.606, F.S., and Rule 60-8.002, F.A.C. These standards establish a minimum level of accessibility.

https://www.dms.myflorida.com/agency_administration/office_of_supplier_diversity_osd https://www.dms.myflorida.com/agency_administration/office_of_supplier_diversity_osd

RFP 2024-74 – Child Assessments Page 16

Contractors, providers, and partners employed by the Department or acting on behalf of the Department shall also fully comply with 60GG-2 Information Technology Standards.

5.16 SCRUTINIZED COMPANIES LISTS

Section 287.135, Florida Statutes, requires that at the time a company submits a bid or proposal for a contract for goods or services of $1 million or more, the company must certify that the company is not on either the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan List or the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List. Both lists are created pursuant to section 215.473, Florida Statutes.

Proposals of $1 million or more should include the attached Scrutinized Companies Lists Form (Attachment H) to certify the Proposer is not on either of those lists. The Form should be submitted with the Technical Proposal.

5.17 SCRUTINIZED COMPANIES – TERMINATION

The Department may, at its option, terminate the Contract if the Contractor is found to have submitted a false certification as provided under section 287.135(5), F.S., or been placed on the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan List or the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List, or been engaged in business operations in Cuba or Syria, or to have been placed on the Scrutinized Companies that Boycott Israel List or is engaged in a boycott of Israel.

5.18 FOREIGN COUNTRIES OF CONCERN CONTRACT ATTESTATION FORM

In accordance with section 287.138, F.S., beginning on or after the dates provided in section 287.138(4), F.S., a Governmental Entity may not accept a bid, proposal, or reply for a contract which would grant an entity access to an individual’s Personal Identifying Information unless the entity provides the Governmental Entity with an attestation by the entity on Form PUR 1355, “Foreign Country of Concern Attestation Form.” (Attachment I) See also F.A.C. 60A-

1.020 Attestation Forms.

SECTION 6 – SCOPE OF SERVICES

6.0 SCOPE OF SERVICES

This RFP provides for implementation of DEL’s award for high quality early childhood assessments. As previously mentioned, DEL administers the School Readiness Program whose services are implemented at the local level by 30 ELCs located throughout the state and by the Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA) (SEE TWO WAY DATA TRANSFER DIAGRAM BELOW). Services are provided to over 200,000 SR children (birth to kindergarten) annually through more than 8,500 providers statewide. The state’s network of providers includes childcare centers, family child care homes, public and non-public schools, and informal settings. An estimated 20,000 early learning teachers deliver age-appropriate curriculum-based instruction to SR children in Florida each year (see Tables 1- 4).

Section 1002.82 (2)(k)2 F.S. directs DEL to identify observation-based child assessments that are valid, reliable, and developmentally appropriate for use at least three times a year for the ages birth to kindergarten. The assessments must:

• Provide interval level and criterion-referenced data that measures equivalent levels of growth across the core domains of early childhood development and that can be used for determining developmentally appropriate learning gains;

• Measure progress in the performance standards adopted pursuant Section 1002.82(2)(j).

• Provide appropriate accommodations for children with disabilities and English language learners;

• Be administered by qualified individuals which is consistent with the developer’s instructions;

• Coordinate with the performance standards adopted by the Department under s.1002.67(1) for the Voluntary

Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Program;

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• Provide data in a format for use in the Single Statewide Information System (SSIS) to track children’s progress;

• Allow parents to monitor the development of their child as the child moves among programs within the state;

and

• Enable analysis at the state, regional, and local level to measure child growth and development over time.

School Readiness providers whose instructors have achieved inter-rater reliability certification from the publisher of the relevant assessment instrument have the option of participating in the child assessment process. This will allow them to receive differential payments for successfully administering the assessments to participating children. School Readiness providers participating in child assessment must administer the assessment online in an ongoing manner that is consistent with the developer’s intent. The child assessment instruments selected through this RFP must have the ability to electronically transmit the appropriate data to DEL for posting on its Family Portal, providing parents access to their child’s/children’s progress.

In meeting the statutory directive for the assessments, DEL shall strengthen the selection of the assessment instruments by incorporating three (3) overarching themes into the assessment selection process: purposeful assessment, instructionally aligned assessment and beneficial assessment.