RFP 2000003988 After School Robotics Program

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is soliciting proposals through RFP #2000003988 for an After School Robotics Program targeting K-12 students, with a primary focus on Title 1 schools and potential expansion to non-Title 1 schools. The procurement seeks vendors to establish comprehensive robotics enrichment programs that will provide after-school opportunities for students to engage in robotics education and training. The RFP was initially issued on January 17, 2025, with proposal submissions originally due February 21, 2025, and subsequently extended to February 24, 2025, at 2:00 PM EST. An optional pre-proposal conference was held via Zoom on January 28, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., where seven potential vendors participated. Prospective offerors were required to submit any questions in writing to the Senior Contract Specialist by February 5, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. EST, and all proposal submissions must be made electronically through the Bonfire procurement portal. While specific evaluation criteria were not explicitly detailed in the documents, the RFP suggests that proposals will be assessed based on the vendor's ability to deliver comprehensive robotics programming for K-12 students.

The procurement opportunity is open to a diverse range of business classifications, including large, small, minority-owned, women-owned, and non-profit organizations. FCPS explicitly states that it does not discriminate against faith-based organizations and welcomes submissions from vendors regardless of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability. Vendors must provide their Federal Employer Identification Number or Social Security Number and State Corporation Commission Identification Number as part of their submission. While no specific contract value or budget range was disclosed in the documents, the RFP indicates flexibility for program implementation across different school settings. Seven companies were represented at the pre-proposal conference, including STEM, Magnus Chess Academy, Robothink, NSTEP, Baroody Camps, and STEM exCEL, suggesting potential competitive interest in this contract opportunity. The program will be administered through the Department of School Improvement & Supports, with an emphasis on providing enriching robotics experiences for students in Title 1 schools.