Request for Proposal
RX 282PP13101-ED
State of Iowa
|
|
|
|
|
Solicit Proposals from Approved Iowa
Higher Educational Institutions to Provide Services to the Iowa Department of
Education for Contract Work with High School Educators for Iowa Learning Online
Activities
|
Issued: May 11, 2004
|
|
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 Introduction
1.1 Purpose
1.2 Definitions
1.3 Background Information
Section 2 Administrative Information
2.1 Issuing Officer
2.2 Restriction on Communication
2.3 Amendments
2.4 Procurement Timetable
2.5 Submission of Bid Proposals
2.6 Bid Proposal Opening
2.7 Costs of Preparing the Bid Proposal
2.8 Rejection of Bid Proposals
2.9 Bid Proposal Clarification Process
2.10 Disposition of Bid Proposals
2.11 Public Records and Requests for Confidential
Treatment
2.12 Evaluation of Bid Proposals Submitted
2.13 Award Notice
2.14 Choice of Law and Forum
2.15 No Minimum Guaranteed
Section 3 Service Requirements
Section 4 Format and Content of Bid Proposals
4.1 Instructions
4.2 Contents of the Proposal
Section 5 Evaluation of Bid Proposals
5.1 Evaluation Committee
5.2 Evaluation Criteria
Section 6 Contract Terms and Conditions
Section 1
Introduction
1.1 Purpose
The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to
solicit proposals from approved Iowa higher educational institutions to provide
services to the Iowa Department of Education (hereinafter referred to as the
“Department”) for contract work with high school educators for Iowa Learning
Online activities. The Department intends to award a one-year contract beginning on July 1, 2004, and ending on June 30, 2005, with up to three
additional one (1) year extensions at the sole discretion of the
Department. Any contract resulting from this RFP shall not be an exclusive
contract.
1.2 Definitions
Iowa Learning Online: An initiative sponsored by the Iowa Department of Education to
facilitate sharing of high school courses “at a distance” for Iowa school
districts.
Approved higher education institutions: Iowa higher education institutions that are approved
per Iowa Code section 261C.3(1).
Selected educators: Iowa licensed educators selected by
Department staff to teach high school credit classes through Iowa Learning
Online.
Service providers: Approved higher education institutions who
submit proposals in response to this RFP.
1.3 Background Information
In its role to assist local school districts in
providing excellent education for all students, the Iowa Department of
Education has initiated Iowa Learning Online. Iowa Learning Online is designed
to help local Iowa school districts expand learning opportunities for their
high school students through courses delivered "at a distance" using
technologies such as the Internet and interactive video classrooms connected to
the Iowa Communications Network (ICN). Students enroll in Iowa Learning Online
courses through their local school district.
Iowa Learning Online is not a school and does not
award high school credit or diplomas.
Courses offered through Iowa Learning Online are taught by appropriately
licensed Iowa educators employed by Iowa school districts or approved higher
education institutions.
The Department anticipates that there will be
instances whereby appropriately licensed Iowa educators who are not currently
employed by an Iowa school district or approved Iowa higher education
institution are identified by the Department as being highly qualified to teach
high school courses through Iowa Learning Online. The Department seeks an approved Iowa higher education
institution to contract with these selected educators to teach courses through
Iowa Learning Online.
Section 2
Administrative Information
2.1 Issuing Officer
Pamela Pfitzenmaier, Issuing Officer
515-242-4180
pam@iptv.org
Iowa Public Television
Johnston, Iowa 50131
2.2 Restriction on Communication
From the issue date of this RFP until announcement of
the successful service provider, service providers may contact only the Issuing
Officer. The Issuing Officer will respond only to questions regarding the
procurement process. Verbal questions related to the interpretation of this RFP
will not be accepted.
2.3 Amendments
The Department reserves the right to amend the RFP at
any time. Notice of any amendments will
be posted on the Department’s home page at http://www.state.ia.us/educate. Interested service providers are advised to
check the Department’s home page periodically for amendments to this RFP.
The Department may, in its sole discretion, allow
service providers to amend their bid proposals in response to the Department's
amendment if necessary. Service providers who submit proposals in advance of
the deadline may withdraw, modify, and resubmit proposals at any time prior to
the deadline for submitting proposals. Service providers must notify the
Issuing Officer in writing if they wish to withdraw their proposals.
2.4 Procurement Timetable
The following dates are set forth for informational
and planning purposes.
However, the Department reserves the right to change
the dates.
Issue RFP May 11, 2004
Response to Questions Issued May 21, 2004
Closing Date for Receipt of Bid Proposals May 28,
2004
Announce Successful Service provider June 4, 2004
Completion of Contract Negotiations June 18, 2004
Begin Contract July 1, 2004
2.5 Questions, Requests for Clarification, and
Suggested Changes
Service providers are invited to submit written
questions and requests for clarifications regarding the RFP. The questions and
requests for clarifications must be in writing and received by the Issuing
Officer before 4:30 p.m., central time, May
14, 2004. Oral questions will not be permitted.
2.6 Submission of Bid Proposals
All proposals must be
postmarked no later than 4:30 p.m. central time on May 28, 2004. Electronic submissions are acceptable.
2.7 Bid Proposal Opening
The Department will open bid proposals on June
2, 2004. The bid proposals will remain confidential until the
Evaluation Committee has reviewed all bid proposals submitted in response to
this RFP and the Department has announced a notice of intent to award a
contract. See Iowa Code Section 72.3.
2.8 Costs of Preparing the Bid Proposal
The costs of preparation and delivery of the bid
proposal are solely the responsibility of the service provider.
2.9 Rejection of Bid Proposals
The Department reserves the right to reject any or
all bid proposals, in whole and in part, received in response to this RFP at
any time prior to the execution of a written contract. Issuance of this RFP in
no way constitutes a commitment by the Department to award a contract.
2.10 Bid Proposal Clarification Process
The Department reserves the right to contact a
service provider after the submission of bid proposals for the purpose of
clarifying a bid proposal to ensure mutual understanding.
2.11 Disposition of Bid Proposals
All proposals become the property of the Department
and shall not be returned to the service provider unless all bid proposals are
rejected or the RFP is cancelled.
Otherwise, at the conclusion of the selection
process, the contents of all bid proposals will be in the public domain and be
open to inspection by interested parties subject to exceptions provided in Iowa
Code Chapter 22 or other applicable law.
2.12 Public Records and Requests for Confidential
Treatment
The Department may treat all information submitted by
a service provider as public information following the conclusion of the
selection process unless the service provider properly requests that
information be treated as confidential at the time of submitting the bid
proposal.
2.13 Evaluation of Bid Proposals Submitted
Bid proposals that are timely submitted will be
reviewed in accordance with Section 5 of the RFP. The Department will not
necessarily award any contract resulting from this RFP to the service provider
offering the lowest cost to the Department. Instead, the Department will award
the contract to the compliant service provider whose proposal best matches the
evaluation criteria set forth in section 5 of this RFP.
2.14 Award Notice
Notice of intent to award the contract will be sent
by mail to all service providers submitting a timely bid proposal.
2.15 Choice of Law and Forum
This RFP and the resulting contract are to be
governed by the laws of the state of
Iowa. Changes in applicable laws and rules may affect
the award process or the resulting contract. Service providers are responsible
for ascertaining pertinent legal requirements and restrictions. Any and all
litigation or actions commenced in connection with this RFP shall be brought in
the appropriate Iowa forum.
2.16 No Minimum Guaranteed
The Department anticipates that the selected service
provider will provide services as requested by the Department. The Department
will not guarantee any minimum compensation will be paid to the service
provider.
SECTION 3 SERVICE
REQUIREMENTS
The successful bidder will
provide services to the Iowa Department of Education through contract work with selected high school educators for
Iowa Learning Online activities. The
successful bidder must be an approved Iowa higher education institution. The scope of work shall include, but not be
limited to, the following:
1.
The successful bidder will contract with selected high school educators
to teach high school credit courses through Iowa Learning Online.
2.
The Department will identify and determine the appropriately licensed
educators for the contract work with the successful bidder.
3.
The Department and the successful bidder/service provider will jointly
provide job performance evaluation of the selected educators.
4.
The number of selected educators to be contracted with beginning July 1,
2004, through June 30, 2005, will be a maximum of six individuals. However, in future years this number may
vary. Bidders should indicate costs
based upon the number of individuals.
5.
The Department will reimburse the service provider on a monthly basis for
each month of the contract in which costs are incurred. The following costs will be reimbursed:
a.
Salary, benefits (if any), and travel costs for the selected
educators. This amount will be
determined by the Department and will be paid on a monthly basis to the service
provider. The service provider will, in
turn, pay the selected educators on a monthly basis.
b.
Other costs incurred by the selected educators as pre-approved by the
Department.
c.
Administrative costs incurred by the service provider. This amount is intended to cover
administrative costs incurred by the service provider in areas such as
employing, supporting, and jointly evaluating the selected educators. These costs
or the percent of salary to be charged must be included in the proposal.
d.
Other costs incurred by the service provider not included in the
above. These costs must be included in
the proposal.
6.
The bid should only include the amount the service provider will charge
the Department for item 5. b, c, and d above.
The monthly salary, benefits, and travel costs for the selected
educators should not be included in the bid document.
7.
The Department will determine the salary and benefits to be paid to the
selected educators who are contracted to perform the service. Compensation will also include
pre-determined amount for the educators’ travel.
8.
The selected educators will be responsible for their own office
space. This amount is not to be
included in the bid proposal.
9.
The service provider may include retirement benefits assuming the
benefits are not IPERS. Any amount of benefits provided to the educators by the
service provider shall not be included in the bid proposal.
10.
Beyond the services needed by the Department, the selected educators may
provide additional services to the successful bidder such as conducting
in-service for higher education faculty, participating in research,
participating with student teachers and/or pre-service and in-service education
faculty.
SECTION 4 CONTENT
OF BID PROPOSALS
4.1 Instructions
Proposals must be submitted
in writing, either in electronic or print format. One copy should be submitted to the issuing officer no later than
4:30 p.m. central time, Friday, May 28, 2004. Proposals may be submitted
electronically to pam@iptv.org OR
fax 515-242-3155 OR
Proposals may also be
submitted in hard copy via mail/hand delivery to
Pamela Pfitzenmaier, Ph.D.
Iowa Public Television
Box 6450
Johnston, Iowa 50131.
4.2 Contents of the Proposal
The following sections
shall be included in the bid proposal:
4.2.1 Agreement to fulfill service requirements
The proposal shall state that the service provider agrees
to provide services outlined in Section 3, Service Requirements. Any request for confidential treatment of
the proposal shall be included in this section as well as an explanation why
disclosure of the information is not in the best interest of the public.
4.2.2 Expectations of the service provider
This section of the proposal shall state any services
beyond the scope of work in Section 3 that the service provider expects from
the selected educators such as conducting in-service for higher education
faculty, participating in research, participating with student teachers and/or
pre-service and in-service education faculty.
4.2.3
Cost proposal
This section of the
proposal shall state the cost proposal for the contract service. The cost proposal shall only include any and
all service provider internal costs and shall NOT include the cost of
the selected educator compensation or educator travel.
Section 5
Evaluation of Bid Proposals
5.1 Evaluation Committee
The Department intends to conduct a comprehensive,
fair and impartial evaluation of bid proposals received in response to this
RFP. The Department will use an Evaluation Committee to review and evaluate the
proposals.
5.2
Evaluation Criteria
The Department will evaluate bids based upon the
following three criteria:
·
Evidence of agreement
to fulfill service requirements
·
Expectations of the
service provider
·
Overall cost
Section 6 Contract
Terms and Conditions
The term of the contract will be one year and will commence on July 1, 2004, and end on June 30, 2005. The Department shall
have the sole option to renew the contract upon the same terms and conditions
for three one-year extensions.