STEM & College & Career Readiness Kits, Programs & Materials

Cartwright Elementary School District No. 83, on behalf of the Strategic Alliance for Volume Expenditures (SAVE) consortium, is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to procure STEM and College & Career Readiness Kits, Programs & Materials for multiple Arizona school districts, municipalities, counties, and higher education institutions. The procurement seeks vendors capable of providing comprehensive educational products and services designed to develop 21st Century skills with emphasis on college and career preparation and rigorous STEM educational opportunities. Vendors must submit pricing based on discount percentages off established catalog pricing with freight charges F.O.B. Destination, and samples must be provided within five business days if requested at no cost. The evaluation criteria consist of six components: related work experience and references (190 points), personnel qualifications (190 points), offered products or services (190 points), cost (200 points), overall evaluation and firm capability (80 points), and performance evaluation surveys from references (150 points). Key deadlines include May 28, 2026 at 2:00 PM MST for written questions, June 8, 2026 at 10:00 AM MST for proposal submission via the Bonfire electronic portal with virtual opening at 10:01 AM MST via Google Meet, June 24, 2026 for contract awards by category, and June 25, 2026 for notice of award. The initial contract term begins July 15, 2026, for one year with options to extend for up to four additional one-year terms, contingent upon performance and funding availability. Prices and discounts must remain firm throughout the initial contract term.

The RFP does not specify set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to particular types of organizations or disadvantaged enterprises. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the procurement documents. Vendors must comply with all Arizona procurement rules and federal requirements, including submission of I.R.S. W-9 forms, non-collusion affidavits, debarment certifications, forced labor prohibitions, and anti-lobbying certifications where applicable. The District anticipates making multiple awards to various vendors to ensure comprehensive product and service selection and to mitigate availability issues. Survey data from fifteen participating school districts indicates estimated annual usage of $1,346,000, with individual district estimates ranging from $10,000 to $350,000, providing insight into potential contract values for awarded vendors.