Campaign for Grade Level Reading

Kids Hope Alliance is requesting a single-source award to Jacksonville Public Education Fund, Inc. for the Campaign for Grade Level Reading program in Duval County, Florida, with proposals due August 21, 2026. This is a sole-source procurement; no competitive bidding occurs.

The scope comprises three workstreams: a comprehensive end-of-pilot evaluation of the Literacy Enhanced Afterschool Pilot (LEAP) Program across eight elementary schools (Arlington, Arlington Heights, Highlands, Northwestern Legends, Pinedale, Reynolds Lane, Rufus E. Payne, and Woodland Acres) using mixed-methods research including eight school-level retrospective focus groups, a parent voice survey with a target completion rate of 51% or higher, and a final evaluation report with recommendations; administration of a book vending machine initiative in partnership with Police Athletic League of Jacksonville in the Eastside community to increase literacy access outside school hours; and ongoing participation in citywide literacy planning convenings through The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida with quarterly documentation of ecosystem contributions. JPEF will execute a data-sharing MOU with Duval County Public Schools and maintain minimum monthly coordination meetings with Kids Hope Alliance throughout the contract year. JPEF staff hold Bachelor's, Master's, and doctoral-level qualifications with expertise in education research, program evaluation, policy analysis, and community engagement.

The contract value is $100,000 for the period July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, allocated at $25,000 per quarter. Place of performance is 1095 A Philip Randolph Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida 32206. This represents the third and final renewal of Contract 70630-23; Jacksonville Public Education Fund is the incumbent. The single-source justification rests on JPEF's institutional knowledge of the eight-year LEAP pilot, established relationships with participating schools and provider organizations (Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Florida, Inc. and Communities In Schools of Jacksonville, Inc.), possession of historical implementation data, local headquarters proximity, and recognized credibility as an independent research entity within Jacksonville's literacy ecosystem. The procurement is driven by 2024-25 FAST assessment results showing only 51% of Duval County third-graders met grade-level reading standards, below the statewide average of 57%.