SPRING BRANCH INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT Scott R. Muri, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools PURCHASING DEPARTMENT 1031 Witte Road, Building T-1A, Houston, Texas 77055-6016 Phone 713/251-1100 Fax 713/251-1115 Date: March 29, 2016 Request for Qualifications for Assistive Technology Consultant Services The Spring Branch Independent School District (SBISD) is accepting Request for Qualifications as specified in this document. Request for Qualifications will be received at the office of the Director of Purchasing and Contracts, SPRING BRANCH ISD, 1031 Witte Road, Building T 1-A Houston, Texas 77055-6016 until: REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY CONSULTANT April 20, 2016 @ 1:00 PM for SERVICES Any questions pertaining to the qualification procedures should be addressed to the Bid Specialist at 713/251-1100. Any questions pertaining to the Request for Qualification specifications should be in writing directed to the Buyer, by facsimile 713/251-1115 or email, cristina.varisco@springbranchisd.com. REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS ENVELOPES SHALL BE PLAINLY MARKED REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR: RFQ NO.10777 ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY CONSULTANT SERVICES DO NOT OPEN UNTIL: April 20, 2016 @ 1:00 PM Any request for qualifications received later than the specified time, whether delivered in person or mailed, shall be disqualified. The evaluation criteria specified herein will be used to determine which of the Request for Qualifications provide the best quality for SBISD at the most economical cost. SBISD reserves the right to request and negotiate best and final offers. SBISD reserves the right to accept or reject any or all RFQ s, to waive all technicalities, and to accept the RFQ that is determined to be the most favorable to SBISD. Recognizing that there are important considerations other than price, SBISD may not necessarily award to the lowest offeror. Request for Qualifications must be effective for ninety (90) days following deadline for the receipt of Request for Qualifications submittals.
Page 2 of 8 Request for Qualifications for Assistive Technology Consultant Services Statement of Qualifications - Process and Format Introduction The Spring Branch Independent School District (SBISD) is soliciting Requests for Qualifications for Assistive Technology Services. Spring Branch ISD is seeking consultant services in the area of Assistive Technology. Respondents should have knowledge of students with disabilities and the use of Assistive Technology. Responders should be able to describe their successes working with students with disabilities and the teachers who provide the service to those students. The Responders should be able to give teachers and support staff recommendations for the use of low and high technology. Services are to include conducting evaluations, providing direct support to students, and providing consultation with teachers, parents, and support staff. A sample of the systems to be analyzed and optimized includes, but not limited to the following 1. Provide overall classroom recommendations for students who may need Assistive Technology in the classroom. Recommendations could include recommendations for a communication system. 2. Provide guidance and support to Special Education Coordinators and Facilitators. 3. Provide Staff development to teachers and staff as requested by the Director of Special Education. 4. Provide support to Assessment Staff in incorporating Assistive Technology in a Full and Individual Evaluation as needed. 5. Review specific individual student cases at the request of Coordinators and/or the Director of Special Education and give specific feedback about recommendations for the student based on the student s current evaluation, teacher data, and student observations. 6. Submit timesheets on a weekly and/or monthly basis along with an invoice. This requirement is subject to the Special Education Director s discretion depending on the amount of contracted services provided. It is the intention of Spring Branch ISD to award one (1) Contract for Assistive Technology Services.
Selection Process Page 3 of 8 The District will evaluate credentials of firms/individual submitting Statements of Qualifications, identify a short list of qualified firms and conduct interviews to determine final Consultant candidate. The successful firm/individual will be presented with the District's standard contract and fee structure. If the firm/individual agrees to the contract requirements and fee, the Selection Committee will recommend contract award to the District s Board of Trustees (if warranted). PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE FOR A/E SELECTION Last date questions April 8, 2016 @ Noon Last date for addenda April 13, 2016 Statements of Qualifications due April 20, 2016 @ 1:00 PM Announce short listed firms April 22, 2016 Interviews April 27, 2016 Board of Trustees contract award May 23, 2016 Dates are preliminary and subject to change. (Spring Branch ISD will be closed April 18, 2016)
Page 4 of 8 Statement of Qualifications Submittal The Statement of Qualifications will consist of no more than thirty (30), single-sided, 8 1/2" by 11" pages, vertical format. The submitting firm may duplicate the format listed below or develop their own, provided that each item is fully addressed, in the given order. The submitting firm is encouraged to incorporate color xerographic images of built work, drawings and other graphic materials in the appropriate locations noted. These images are included in thirty (30), singlesided allowable pages. Fold out pages are not acceptable. Slides are not acceptable and will not be reviewed. The Statement of Qualifications must be bound along the left margin in any manner provided that the completed document will lay flat when open. Cover, back, and tab or divider sheets do not count as part to the allowed thirty (30) single-sided pages. Notebooks and portfolio binders are acceptable. A cover letter shall be incorporated at the front of each Statement of Qualifications submittal. The covering letter shall be addressed to the SBISD Director of Purchasing and Contracts as noted below. This letter, limited to one (1) page, does not count as part of the thirty (30), single-sided allowable pages. SBISD Director of Purchasing and Contracts Attention: Statement of Qualifications 1031 Witte Road, Building T-1A Houston, Texas 77055-6016 Three (3) sets, one (1) original and two (2) copies of the completed Statement of Qualifications submittal shall be sent to the attention of the Director of Purchasing and Contracts on or by 1:00 PM on April 20, 2016.
Page 5 of 8 Example Format Request for Qualifications for Assistive Technology Consultant Services SBISD RFQ No. 10777 Firm Information 1. Firm Name: 2. Firm Address (office that will be performing the services): 3. Telephone: Fax: 4. Years Established Under Current Name: 5. Former Firm Name (if applicable): 6. Type of Organization: (select one; Individual or Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, Corporation, Joint Venture, other (provide details) 7. Firm Organizational Chart showing how the project team relates to the other resources of the firm. Firm Personnel 8. Names of Principals (Owners, Corporate Officers) and years with Firm. (If applicable) 9. List projects the proposed team has worked on together (if applicable). Key Personnel 10. Name(s) and abbreviated resume of the personnel of the proposed project team. Provide in the following format: Name and Title Education Professional Registration(s) K-12 School Experience (Brief Descriptive Overview) Proposed Responsibilities
Page 6 of 8 Project Profiles 11. Provide references of five (5) of the firm's/individual s similar or other Independent School District s projects. Include the following information: Project Name and Location Point of Contact, Current Address, Phone Number Brief Descriptions Term 12. Other Pertinent Information Prior to contract, SBISD will require a background check as well as fingerprinting. A copy of the following documents shall be on file with SBISD Special Education Department. Copy of accreditations, certifications and licenses, if applicable; References W-9 Form Request for Taxpayer Identification and Certification Proof of Liability Insurance. It is the responsibility of the approved contractor to maintain licenses/certifications/insurance and provide all updates to SBISD. The approved contractor will immediately notify SBISD if licenses/certifications/insurance is cancelled, suspended or terminated. Other items may be requires at the discretion of Spring Branch ISD A Short list of vendors/firms will be contacted for interview. A proposal will be required for Consultant Services for final approval by SBISD. Financial, Legal, Insurance Status 13. Provide Banking Reference. Contact name, title, institution, address and telephone 14. List all litigation against or involving the firm or its agents or employees with respect to any work performed within last five (5) years. 15. Amount of professional liability insurance carried by your firm. ($5,000,000.00 project specific). Provide name of insuring company, name of agent, address and telephone.
Page 7 of 8 Additional Information (limit each to one paragraph) 16. Describe any of your firm's/individual s special qualifications, successes, expertise or other significant attributes or experiences that you consider relevant. 17. Describe your firm s/individual s methodology for cost and control throughout this project. 18. Describe your firm s/individual s methodology for developing and continuing effective consultant communication processes throughout the project. 19. Describe your proposed team's (if applicable) design philosophy and methodology. What steps would be taken to ensure a high caliber of overall professional service? 20. Describe how your firm/individual will address the system processes expertise and experience you bring. 21. The Signature Page should be completed and included in the Request for Qualifications submittal document. 22. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION OR TRADE SECRETS (Government Code, Article 252.049). If any of the information is considered to be confidential or a trade secret belonging to the Proposer and, if released would give advantage to a competitor or Proposer, that information should be filed with the proposal in a separate envelope marked CONFIDENTIAL DO NOT DUPLICATE WITHOUT PERMISSION. 23. Prior to commencing any work on this Project, Proposer will certify that for each employee of Proposer who will have direct contact with students, the Proposer has obtained, as required by Texas Education Code Section 22.0834 *: (a) (b) national criminal history record information from a law enforcement or criminal justice agency for each employee of Proposer hired before January 1, 2008; and national criminal history record information from the Texas Department of Safety for each employee of Proposer hired on or after January 1, 2008.Any employee who will have direct contact with students must not have been convicted of an offense identified in Texas Education Code Section 22.085 *Required of award vendor(s) only. 26. Last date for questions is Friday, April 8, 2016 @ Noon. Questions can be submitted electronically to cristina.varisco@springbranchisd.com or by fax to 713-251-1115.
Page 8 of 8 SIGNATURE PAGE The undersigned certifies that he/she is legally authorized to make the statements and representations contained in this document, and represents and warrants that the foregoing information is true and accurate to the best of his/her knowledge, and intends that the Spring Branch Independent School District, Harris County, Texas can rely thereon in evaluating the Request for Qualifications. FIRM: DATE OF SIGNING: PRINT/TYPED NAME: SIGNATURE: E-MAIL ADDRESS: TITLE: