Pathway to Success: Youth Aptitude Assessment Pilot

The City of St. Petersburg is seeking qualified vendors to implement the Pathway to Success: Youth Aptitude Assessment Pilot, a program designed to provide career exploration and assessment services for youth ages 14-18. The procurement involves selecting a vendor to administer the YouScience aptitude assessment and provide supportive services to help youth interpret their results and develop career planning strategies. Key deliverables include engaging a minimum of 50 youth across St. Petersburg, conducting comprehensive aptitude assessments, and generating insights about youth career readiness. Vendors must demonstrate at least three years of experience in youth engagement services, with proven capabilities in leadership development, mentoring, or similar fields. The evaluation criteria will weight qualifications at 30%, staff capacity at 25%, and project approach at 30%, with additional points available for small business, minority-owned, and women-owned business certifications. The Request for Proposal (RFP #25-085) was posted on January 31, 2025, with proposals due by March 11, 2025, at 3:00 pm. A non-mandatory pre-proposal meeting is scheduled for February 11, 2025, at 3:30 pm via Zoom, and the city anticipates recommending award to City Council on May 1, 2025.

The procurement includes set-aside opportunities for disadvantaged businesses, with additional scoring points available for Small Business Enterprise (SBE), Minority Owned Business Enterprise (MBE), and Women Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) certifications. Vendors must obtain required insurance, including $1,000,000 in commercial general liability, commercial automobile liability, professional liability, and abuse and molestation coverage. The total project budget is $50,000, with an initial contract term of six months and potential 90-day extension. Vendors must ensure Level II background checks for employees working with youth and have appropriate facilities to conduct assessments. The program requires a focus on diversity and inclusion, with the ultimate goal of providing critical insights into aptitude assessment administration and its potential broader application in supporting youth academic and career planning. While no incumbent vendors are specifically mentioned, the city seeks to establish a collaborative partnership that can help bridge gaps between education and career exploration for St. Petersburg's youth.