Development for Early Childhood & K-12 Literacy

The South Dakota Department of Education's Division of Learning and Instruction is seeking a qualified vendor to provide professional development services for Early Childhood and K-12 literacy through Request for Proposal #22RFP8095. The primary objective is to secure a consultant who will deliver high-quality, interactive, research-based literacy programs for educators that align with the South Dakota English Language Arts Standards. The consultant must offer professional development through multiple modalities, including virtual modules, online trainings, and face-to-face training sessions. Required deliverables include ongoing customer service, technical assistance, and usage reporting. The contract term is from February 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024, with potential extensions for up to five additional one-year terms. Interested vendors must submit proposals by December 2, 2022, and can direct inquiries to Rochelle Kenzy at Rochelle.Kenzy@state.sd.us. Vendors are expected to provide comprehensive documentation demonstrating their qualifications, experience, and ability to meet the state's literacy professional development needs.

The RFP does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. Vendors must comply with extensive information technology security requirements outlined in the attached exhibits, including the Bureau of Information and Telecommunications (BIT) security policies and technology standards. Potential vendors will need to complete a detailed security questionnaire and demonstrate capability to meet the state's cybersecurity protocols. While no specific budget range is mentioned, vendors should include travel expenses for in-person meetings, trainings, and presentations in their cost proposals. The state allows vendors to propose additional or alternative optional services beyond the base professional development requirements. Proposals will likely be evaluated based on the vendor's expertise in literacy education, proposed professional development strategies, technological capabilities, and overall alignment with South Dakota's educational standards. The state reserves the right to select a vendor based on the most comprehensive and suitable proposal for supporting early childhood and K-12 literacy development.