Teachers classroom supply assistance program

The State of Florida Department of Education (Department) is issuing an Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) to select a qualified vendor to develop and operate an ecommerce platform to support the Florida Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Program (TCSAP). The purpose of this program is to empower eligible educators statewide to purchase essential classroom materials and supplies with greater autonomy, efficiency, and transparency. The platform will offer a user-friendly interface, streamlined account and payment management, and comprehensive reporting. Use of the platform will be at no cost to the Department or eligible educators. The Department will evaluate and rank responsive proposals based on criteria including the respondent's qualifications and experience, technical plan, and management plan. Price proposals will be evaluated separately and awarded points accordingly. Payment for services will be based on completion of defined deliverables. The Department intends to award the contract to the responsible and responsive vendor that provides the best value to the state. Responses are due by 10:00 AM ET on April 18, 2024, and the contract term is 36 months with the option to renew for up to three additional one-year terms.

The Department seeks flexibility in the vendor and expenditure selection process to accommodate each district/school's unique needs. Bidders are encouraged to propose solutions for vendor identification, payment processing, and alignment with industry standards such as NIST and AICPA SOC certification. The Department does not foresee adding non-TCSAP funds to the platform but expects functionality for teachers to use supplemental payment methods when the TCSAP balance is insufficient. The contract value is defined as the aggregate of funds allotted to each eligible teacher's account and spent purchasing items from the marketplace.