Seminole Tribe of Florida Native Learning Center Request for Proposals (RFP) Call for Instructors Procedures The Seminole Tribe of Florida s Native Learning Center (NLC) is accepting written proposals from qualified individuals for delivering classroom instruction at NLC sponsored events. The NLC courses are specifically related to our mission of providing Native and Indigenous people with knowledge and skills that improve quality of life for Tribal members and Native communities. These motivational keynote addresses will be provided on a scheduled basis, from, through. Send proposals to one of the below choices: 1. Online: http://nativelearningcenter.com/instructorrfp/ 4. Mailing: 2. Email: NLCInfo@semtribe.com Seminole Tribe of Florida 3. Fax: 954-989-3864 Native Learning Center Administrative Services Department 6363 Taft Street Hollywood, FL 33024 Deadline: A contract for these services will be made in accordance with the Seminole Tribe of Florida s Procurement Policy, as well as NAHASDA regulations, and will be based on the selection criteria identified in these RFP procedures. Respondents must be responsive, responsible, and qualified with an extensive background in instruction under any of the requested NLC s five (5) focus areas: Celebrating Culture & Language, Financial Wellness, Grant Education, Housing Strategies, and Tribal Government. Section 1 - Proposal Format Respondents shall be responsive in providing sufficient detail to facilitate the review of all factors included in the evaluation criteria (see Section 3), and must include the required items listed below in Section 6. Failure to provide required items, even if already submitted to NLC as part of a response to a previous RPF, will result in the proposal being considered non-responsive and not eligible for credit under the related category. Additionally, failure to provide sufficient information to support the evaluation criteria will result in loss of points. Proposals shall be assessed based upon the NAHASDA s competitive proposal process (24 CFR 85.36(d)(3)). Proposals must be received by the date, time, and submittied online at http://nativelearningcenter.com/instructorrfp/, sent via email to NLCInfo@semtribe.com, by fax to 954-989-3864, or by mail to Seminole Tribe of Florida Native Learning Center, Administrative Services Department, 6363 Taft Street Hollywood, FL 33024 in order to be considered. Proposals should be submitted in a manner that will facilitate copying by the NLC evaluation team. 1
The work to be performed under this contract is subject to Section 7(b) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Act (25 U.S. C. 450e). Section 7(b) requires, to the greatest extent feasible, that: Preference and opportunities for training and employment shall be given to Native Americans. Preference in the award of contracts and subcontracts shall be given to Native American organizations and Native American-owned and operated economic enterprises. In accordance with the NAHASDA Statute (PL 104-330, as amended), Section 1. (b) Sec 4. Definitions, Federal and State recognized tribes are defined as follows: (A) IN GENERAL. The term Indian tribe means a tribe that is a federally recognized tribe or a State recognized tribe. (B) FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBE. The term federally recognized tribe means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community of Indians, including any Alaska or Hawaiian Native village or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, that is recognized as eligible for the special program and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians pursuant to the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975. (C) STATE RECOGNIZED TRIBE. (i) In General- The term state recognized tribe means any tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or community (I) that has been recognized as an Indian tribe by any State; and (II) for which an Indian Housing Authority has, before the effective date under section 705, entered into a contract with the Secretary pursuant to the United States Housing Act of 1937 for housing for Indian families and has received funding pursuant to such contract within the 5-year period ending upon such effective date. Section 2 Scope of Work The exact number of formal keynote addresses & trainings to be conducted during the period through cannot be determined at this time. Each keynote address will be between 1 hour and 1 1/2 hours in length over a 3 day period (3 hours maximum each day). NLC will work out keynote address assignments before the beginning of the event. Addtionally, one 2 hour one-on-one motivational training for select NLC management staff will be conducted on Monday, June 3, 2013. Respondents must be willing to travel on an as scheduled basis to be considered for formal instruction events. Coordination on exact dates will be negotiated with the trainer. All air travel and lodging arrangements will be booked through the NLC. No instructor will be responsible for making his/her own air travel and lodging arrangements. Selected instructors will be responsible for providing an electronic copy of all materials developed for classroom sessions so NLC staff can make handouts for attendees, based on registration. Should an instructor not provide an electronic copy of materials by the requested date, the instructor will be responsible for printing and providing handouts to participants at the expense of the instructor. 2
Sign-in sheets (documenting who was served), as well as course and event evaluations will also be provided and must to be returned to NLC staff for filing. Upon completion of the event, NLC will send copies of sign-in sheets and course evaluations to respective instructors All instructors will be provided with laptop computers, LCD projectors, and other related equipment while performing classroom instruction. Section 3 - Evaluation Criteria Area to be Evaluted 1 Course Titles, Descriptions, and Content are Appropriate for Event: (Please be aware that the biographies, course titles, and descriptions will be used for the marketing of the event and the publication of relevant materials. Therefore, please take care to submit these sections exactly as you would like them to appear in such documents and publications.) Highly Appropriate = 30 Somewhat Appropriate = 20 Needs Improvement = 10 Not Appropriate = 00 2 Cost Proposal: Points for relevant cost will be based upon a rank of the proposals received. The 13 lowest cost proposals will be awarded points, in increments of 2, starting at 25. Lowest Cost = 25 Second Lowest Cost = 25 Third Lowest Cost = 21 and so on... 3 Indian Preference or Tribal Enrollment: Did the respondent submit documentation supporting his/her eligibility for Native Preference? (if a team of instructors have a different score under the criteria below, the average of the two scores will be used) Member of a Federal or State Recognized Tribe = 20 Organization owned by a Tribe or a Member of a Tribe = 15 Past Experience working with Tribes / Tribal Organizations (5+ years) = 10 Past Experience working with Tribes / Tribal Organizations (-5 years) = 5 Points Non-Native No Experience = 00 4 Topics Fell Under Proposed : Topics must fall under at least one of the following topics of discussion: team building strategies and motivational training for Tribal organizations, leadership growth and development training, etc. Yes = 10 Some = 05 No = 00 5 Successful NLC History: The trainer has successfully completed a contracted training for an NLC Event and received positive feedback by attendees. (If a team of instructors have a different score under the criteria above, the average of the two scores will be used) 6 Completed Request for Proposal (RPF) Form: Did the respondent fully complete the NLC RFP form? 7 Completed Request for Proposal (RPF) Form Submitted by Due Date? Was completed RFP submitted by date requested? Points Earned (30 Max) (25 Max) (20 Max) (10 Max) Proposals will be reviewed by the NLC evaluation team. NLC will determine the most responsive proposal(s) based in part on the accumulation of the highest number of points from the following criteria: 3
Awards shall be subject to the negotiation of fair and reasonable compensation in accordance with Seminole Tribe of Florida s adopted Purchasing Policies and Procedures Manual, as well as NAHASDA regulations. All proposals received shall be deemed to be the individual s best offer. However, NLC s Executive Director or his/her designee may elect to conduct negotiations with the respondents in the competitive range, based on the evaluation criteria noted above, to seek a best and final offer if such action is deemed to be in the best interest of NLC. An award of contract, if any, resulting from this solicitation will be made in the best interest of the NLC. The NLC reserves the right to accept or reject any and all responses, to waive irregularities, and to advertise as may be determined to be in the best interest of the NLC. Section 4 Required Completed Forms Prior to acceptance: 1. Fully completed NLC RFP After acceptance: 2. Seminole Tribe of Florida (STOF) Vendor Agreement 3. Instructor Agreement 4. Indian Preference Compliance Statement 5. Media Authorization and Release 6. Hold Harmless 7. Instructor Travel Request 8. Invoice All needed forms must be completed and returned by the requested due date(s). Relevant forms are: Vendor Agreement Application (if not already an approved vendor with the Tribe), Instructor Agreement, Indian Preference Statement, Travel Request (not processed until Instructor Agreement has been signed and executed), Media Authorization and Release, and Invoice. If an instructor is presenting on the behalf of an organization, that organization will complete the Vendor Agreement Application. Each individual instructor will have to complete the remainder of the fore mentioned forms, in the order listed above. Independent contractors will each need to complete all the fore mentioned forms, including the Vendor Application, in the order listed above. For instructors not receiving payment, Attachment E (In-Kind Donation) of the Instructor Agreement will need to be signed, and all other forms listed above completed, with the exception of the Vendor Agreement and Travel Request. 4
Section 5-Payment The NLC pays instructors based upon the NAHASDA regulations and the policies of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. If an instructor is representing an organization, the NLC will remit payment to that organization, and it will be the responsibility of the instructor to receive payment from the respective organization from whom they are representing. In the case of independent contractor(s), payment will be remitted to the individual instructor(s). In both fore mentioned cases, payment will be disbursed net thirty (30) days after services have been rendered, with proper invoice. Under NAHASDA regulations the maximum that the Native Learning Center will pay a single instructor is: $56.00 an hour for travel x 16 hours (8 hours for each travel day) = $897.12 $74.76 x 2 hours (for preparation) = $149.52/per day of instruction $598.08 per day of teaching (number of hours teaching in any one day does not matter) Keep in mind that the RFP scoring document awards 25 points to the proposal with the most competitive bid. Section 6 Inquiries Potential respondents should carefully review this set of RFP s procedures before preparing and submitting his/ her proposal. Any questions relating to this solicitation must be delivered in writing (via first class mail or email) to NLC. All questions will be answered in writing (via first class mail or email) with responses being provided to each party who has submitted a response to the RFP or who has inquired about the RFP. If determined necessary by NLC, the RFP may be revised, including an extension of the submittal deadline by addenda. If this occurs, amendments will be sent (via first class mail or email) to each party who has submitted a response to the RFP or who has inquired about the RFP. All inquiries regarding this RFP shall be formally submitted in writing to NLC as by one of the methods listed below: 1. Online: http://nativelearningcenter.com/instructorrfp/ 4. Mailing: 2. Email: NLCInfo@semtribe.com Seminole Tribe of Florida 3. Fax: 954-989-3864 Native Learning Center Administrative Services Department 6363 Taft Street Hollywood, FL 33024 Section 7 Disputes In the event that any dispute arises from this solicitation or resulting contract for services, such dispute shall be resolved in accordance with the Seminole Tribe of Florida s adopted policies and procedures. 5