Special independent investigator

The Buffalo Board of Education (BOE) is seeking a Special Independent Investigator (SII) through a Request for Proposal (RFP) to conduct a comprehensive review of allegations made against Buffalo Public Schools (BPS) by a Buffalo Police Department SVU Detective in a podcast video from April 26, 2025. The primary objective of this procurement is to engage an independent investigator who will thoroughly examine the facts leading up to, surrounding, and resulting from these specific allegations. The selected investigator will be responsible for conducting a detailed and impartial investigation, collecting evidence, interviewing relevant parties, and preparing a comprehensive report of findings. The RFP requires a qualified professional with extensive investigative experience, strong analytical skills, and the ability to maintain confidentiality throughout the process. The contract opportunity is posted on the Bonfire hub at https://buffaloschools.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities, with proposals due by May 30, 2025, at 4:00 PM. The contract term is set to conclude on June 30, 2026, providing a defined timeframe for the investigation and reporting.

This procurement opportunity is not designated as a set-aside for service-disabled veteran-owned businesses. The contract covers Erie County and specifically targets the Buffalo City jurisdiction. No incumbent vendors or similar contracts have been identified in the past five years, suggesting this is a unique investigative procurement. The RFP does not explicitly outline specific budget constraints or award values, which indicates potential flexibility in proposal pricing based on the scope and complexity of the investigation. Potential respondents should be prepared to demonstrate their investigative capabilities, professional background, and ability to conduct a thorough, unbiased review of the allegations. While specific evaluation criteria are not detailed in the provided documentation, typical considerations for such investigations would likely include the proposer's investigative experience, professional credentials, approach to fact-finding, and ability to produce a comprehensive, objective report.