District Consolidation Feasibility Study RFP

The Michigan Department of Treasury, Bureau of Local Governments and School Services is soliciting proposals through Request for Proposal No. 240000001351 for a District Consolidation Feasibility Study involving Baraga County and Lansing City jurisdictions. The procurement seeks a municipal consultant to conduct a comprehensive feasibility analysis examining the consolidation of L'Anse Public Schools (approximately 513 students) and Baraga Area Schools (approximately 317 students), both K-12 districts located in Copper County in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The study must address building utilization and renovation costs, reservation land waiver requirements for tribal coordination with the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, sinking fund millage analysis, rebranding cost estimates (uniforms, equipment, signage, buses, and building modifications), student transportation analysis including routes and bus requirements, district governance and board transition planning, employment contract consolidation with staffing level projections, technology system consolidation costs, comparative budget analysis before and after consolidation, and state and federal grant implications. Deliverables include field work, a draft feasibility study report due by August 1, 2024, a final report due by September 1, 2024, and presentations to designated State and District personnel and to District Boards of Education and communities. All contract activities must be completed within 105 calendar days from receipt of order. The optional pre-proposal meeting is scheduled for February 28, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. EST via Microsoft Teams, with written questions due by March 4, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern and a second question deadline of March 19, 2024. The proposal submission deadline is April 5, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern. Proposals are evaluated based on product quality (30 points), service capabilities (20 points), delivery capabilities (20 points), and responses to the Vendor Questions Worksheet (30 points), with a minimum threshold of 80 points required to advance to price evaluation. The State reserves the right to conduct background checks, site visits, and oral presentations. The anticipated contract begin date is May 1, 2024, with a one-year initial term through April 30, 2025, renewable for one additional one-year period at the State's discretion.

The RFP does not identify set-asides or restrictions on organization types that can respond, nor does it reference disadvantaged enterprise designations or incumbent vendors. Pricing must be submitted on a firm, fixed-rate basis for the entire contract term, with hourly rates specified by staff level (senior manager, director, manager, senior level, entry level, and specialty services); overtime, holiday pay, and travel expenses are explicitly excluded from reimbursement. Payment will be made via Electronic Funds Transfer within 45 days of invoice receipt. Liquidated damages of $5,000 plus $100 per day will be assessed for late or improper completion. The contractor must maintain Professional Liability Insurance with minimum limits of $3,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 annual aggregate, along with Commercial General Liability ($2,000,000 aggregate), Automobile Liability, Workers' Compensation, and Employers Liability coverage. No specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the procurement documents; pricing is evaluated separately after technical proposals meet the 80-point minimum threshold. Both school districts have demonstrated support for the feasibility study and independently operate their own bus fleets and transportation personnel, which the consultant must account for in the analysis.