JAG-SD Program Implementation and Specialist Outboarding

The South Dakota Department of Education's Division of College, Career, and Student Success is requesting proposals for professional services to implement Jobs for Americas Graduates (JAG) program onboarding and specialist training, with proposals due June 18, 2026 at 5:00 PM CT.

The scope encompasses support for a minimum of four and up to eight newly established JAG programs and newly hired or reassigned JAG Specialists annually (potential expansion to ten programs based on state need) during the first nine months of implementation. Services include program launch and implementation planning, specialist onboarding and training, coaching and mentorship, data systems setup, and reporting. The consultant must ensure JAG model fidelity, establish strong classroom practices, and build foundations for achieving student outcomes through consistent program implementation.

The contract runs July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, with the State holding options to extend for up to four additional years or renew for additional one-year terms at mutual agreement. Pricing is subject to negotiation; the consultant must submit a detailed budget itemizing deliverables and critical cost factors. The State will pay upon satisfactory completion and receipt of properly formatted invoices within forty-five days of service completion, with total liability capped at the negotiated contract amount.

The consultant must maintain comprehensive insurance: commercial general liability and professional liability at $1,000,000 per occurrence, business automobile liability at $1,000,000 per accident, workers' compensation, and cyber liability at $1,000,000. The consultant will be designated a FERPA school official with access to personally identifiable student information and must comply with confidentiality and data-protection obligations. The consultant must also certify under South Dakota Executive Order 2023-02 that it is not a Prohibited Entity controlled by nationals or governments of China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Cuba, or Venezuela.

Evaluation weighs cost and reliability (20 points), experience and approach (30 points), available resources (15 points), past performance (5 points), project locale availability and familiarity (5 points), project management techniques (15 points), and ability to handle special constraints (10 points). Written inquiries are due May 29, 2026 at 5:00 PM CT. Oral presentations may be required at the consultant's expense.