Delaware Public Education Ombudsperson Program

The Delaware Department of State is seeking a professional services contract for the Delaware Public Education Ombudsperson Program through a Request for Proposals (RFP) released on September 20, 2024. The program requires a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization to provide comprehensive support and advocacy services for students experiencing unfair or differential treatment within the educational system. Key deliverables include creating family-friendly informational materials, acting as a conduit between families and local educational agencies, facilitating dispute resolutions, and providing quarterly reports to the Educational Equity Council. The RFP mandates that the selected vendor must be capable of serving all three Delaware counties and provide services focused on achieving non-legal resolutions to educational disputes. Proposals will be evaluated on a 100-point scale, with points allocated across organizational structure and qualifications (30 points), project experience (25 points), financial strength (15 points), submission quality (15 points), multi-county strategies (5 points), and pricing (10 points). The proposal submission deadline is October 18, 2024, at 4:00 PM, with an anticipated contract award date of November 22, 2024, for a three-year contract term.

The RFP specifically restricts participation to non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations, effectively limiting the competitive pool to mission-driven entities with experience in educational advocacy and support services. Vendors must demonstrate the capability to conduct background checks for staff accessing state property or working with vulnerable populations. While no specific incumbent vendor is mentioned, the RFP allows for both single-vendor proposals covering all three Delaware counties and potential multi-vendor solutions. The state reserves the right to award contracts to multiple vendors to ensure comprehensive service coverage. No bid bond or performance bond is required for this contract. Although a specific budget range is not explicitly stated, the RFP suggests the state is seeking a comprehensive, statewide solution that can effectively support and advocate for students across Delaware's educational landscape. The contract's focus on non-legal dispute resolution and educational equity indicates a commitment to supporting students through responsive, supportive interventions.