Florida Scholars Academy

This Request for Information (RFI) has been issued by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) for the establishment of the Florida Scholars Academy (FSA). DJJ is seeking information from potential providers and subject matter experts on developing an education delivery system, implementing an accountability system approved by the State Board of Education, administering and maintaining the educational programs of the Academy, managing the day-to-day operations, recruiting and evaluating personnel, maintaining financial records and student records, and providing students with access to secondary and postsecondary educational opportunities. The RFI includes a calendar of events with key dates, such as the deadline for questions on May 31, 2023, and the deadline for responses on June 29, 2023. DJJ has historically operated 44 residential sites for FY 2021-22 and 38 sites for 2022-23, and does not currently have a contract in place for these services, but may be interested in procuring one in the future based on the responses to this RFI. The Legislature has allocated $12 million for the 2023-2024 fiscal year to establish the FSA, and a recurring sum of $24 million will be appropriated annually starting in the 2024-2025 fiscal year for the operation of the Academy.

The RFI does not specify any set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond. There are also no listed incumbent vendors or current contractors, and the RFI does not mention any existing infrastructure or technology that requires integration. The potential award value or budget range is not explicitly stated, but the legislative appropriation of $12 million for 2023-2024 and $24 million annually thereafter provides an indication of the scale of the opportunity.