Superintendent search firm 2026

The City of Bridgeport Department of Public Purchases is soliciting proposals from professional search firms to conduct a comprehensive nationwide executive search for a School Superintendent position for the Bridgeport Public Schools through Request for Proposal #BEX041265. The procurement seeks qualified firms experienced in superintendent searches to identify and attract highly qualified candidates for the approximately 19,300-student school district, which currently operates under an interim superintendent. The scope of work includes developing a stakeholder input process, translating needs into selection criteria, advertising the position nationally, screening and vetting candidates, conducting background and credential checks, presenting qualified candidates to the Board, coordinating the interview process, and continuing the search at no additional cost if the Board is unsatisfied with initial finalists. Key deliverables include a timeline of activities, stakeholder input methods, selection criteria development process, advertising and recruitment strategies ensuring diversity, and comprehensive screening procedures. Evaluation criteria consist of qualifications and experience (20 points), organizational structure (15 points), quality of past success and experience (25 points), work plan (25 points), and costs (15 points). Proposers must provide three references from current or former clients, resumes for all key personnel, evidence of similar recent superintendent searches, and documentation that the firm and its staff are not barred from bidding in Connecticut. Critical dates include a question submission deadline of May 8, 2026 at 4:00 p.m., responses to questions due by May 12, 2026 at 4:00 p.m., and proposals due by May 15, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., with pricing valid for a minimum of 120 days from the RFP opening date.

Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) firms or joint ventures with non-MBE primes are eligible for evaluation credits pursuant to City ordinance. The selected firm must comply with all applicable Connecticut and Bridgeport codes and regulations and maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including workers' compensation, commercial general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence, automobile liability of $1,000,000 per accident, and professional liability of at least $1,000,000 per claim with seven-year tail coverage. All bidders must complete the No Conflicts/Disclosure Form, which requires comprehensive disclosure of business structure, ownership, affiliations, and potential conflicts of interest, including certification under oath regarding criminal convictions and disclosure of familial relationships with City of Bridgeport government officials or employees. The contract is anticipated to commence upon final execution with a target completion date within four months and a hard deadline of September 30, 2026, and the contract term and implementation timeline are to be determined based on agreement between the Board and the selected firm. Compensation will be structured on a progress payment basis according to an itemized fee schedule submitted in the contractor's RFP response, with invoices paid within 45 days of approval upon satisfactory completion of services up to a maximum not-to-exceed amount to be determined. The City retains the right to terminate the agreement with ten days' notice for any reason or without cause, compensating the contractor only for satisfactorily completed services prior to termination, and all work product, documents, and materials developed under this agreement become the exclusive property of the Bridgeport Board of Education.