Firefighter Recruit Written Exam

The City of Pittsburgh's Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Fire, is seeking a professional service provider to develop and administer a comprehensive written examination for Firefighter Recruit candidates through Request for Proposal (RFP) #2022-RFP-217. The selected vendor will be responsible for conducting a thorough job analysis, developing both cognitive and non-cognitive written examinations, and providing comprehensive examination services including administration, scoring, and candidate preparation materials. Key deliverables include content-valid reports, examination item reviews for cultural bias, and supporting materials to assess entry-level firefighter candidates. The project is structured as a three-year contract, with the initial examination targeted for 2023 and an anticipated applicant pool of approximately 700 candidates. The evaluation process will utilize a point-based scoring system across five categories: Firm's Qualifications (15 points), Project Team Qualifications (15 points), Project Approach and Plan (30 points), Cost Proposal (30 points), and MWDBE/VOSB Good Faith Effort (10 points). Critical dates include the RFP release on October 13, 2022, a question submission deadline of November 16, 2022, and a proposal submission deadline of December 7, 2022 at 5:00 pm.

The City of Pittsburgh has established specific participation goals for minority-owned businesses (18%), women-owned businesses (7%), and veteran-owned small businesses (5%), indicating a strong commitment to diverse vendor participation. The proposal will be reviewed by a Proposal Committee comprising department directors, staff members, and representatives from the Office of Management & Budget, with the city reserving the right to reject any or all proposals, negotiate with respondents, and adjust the scope of services as necessary. While a specific budget range is not explicitly stated, the comprehensive nature of the project suggests a significant investment in developing a robust firefighter recruitment examination process. The RFP indicates that proposals will be evaluated holistically, with substantial weight given to the technical approach and cost-effectiveness of the proposed solution. Potential vendors should be prepared to demonstrate extensive expertise in public safety recruitment, test development, and validation methodologies, with a particular focus on creating fair, comprehensive assessment tools for firefighter candidate selection.