173-20260407134701 ossd

The Ocean Springs School District (OSSD) Board of Trustees in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, is issuing a Request for Proposals to procure comprehensive educational substitute staffing services for school years 2027-2031. The District seeks qualified staffing agencies capable of providing substitute teachers (both short-term and long-term certified positions), teacher assistants, special education staff, clerical personnel, child nutrition workers, and nurses across seven schools serving approximately 5,200 students. The OSSD currently requires an average of 28 substitutes daily, with fluctuations ranging from 14 to 57 personnel. Prospective bidders must submit questions by April 21, 2026, at 1:00 PM CST, with the Bidder Specification Response Form due April 29, 2026, at 2:00 PM CST; vendor presentations, if required, are scheduled for May 11, 2026. The contract shall commence July 1, 2026, and continue for five years with potential extension requiring mutual agreement six months before expiration. Award will be made to the bidder deemed most qualified based on evaluation criteria including company experience, management capability, project management systems, employee management practices, transition planning, and financial proposal, with financial considerations weighted at 35 percent of the total evaluation score. Bidders must propose fixed and firm pricing for all substitute positions with rates remaining constant throughout the contract term, with current substitute pay ranging from $10.00 per hour for clerical and teacher assistant positions to $18.00 per hour for nurses, $90.00 per day for short-term certified substitute teachers, and $110.00 per day for long-term certified substitute teachers.

The procurement documents do not specify set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to particular organization types or disadvantaged enterprises. The successful vendor must maintain a District-determined annual fill rate, provide comprehensive insurance coverage including $1,000,000 general liability, $2,000,000 commercial auto liability, and $15,000,000 umbrella liability, and assume all payroll tax obligations and workers' compensation for assigned employees. The vendor is responsible for conducting background checks, verifying credentials, providing employee training, recruiting and hiring personnel, and is prohibited from assigning or subletting the contract without District written consent. Submissions may be made electronically through Central Bidding (225-810-4814), or in person or via postal service to the Ocean Springs School District Business Office, 2300 Government St., Ocean Springs, MS 39564. No incumbent vendors or specific budget ranges are identified in the available procurement documentation, though the contract's five-year term and multi-position scope indicate a substantial procurement value. The OSSD reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to terminate the contract with 30 days' notice if funds become unavailable.