Absence Management and Staffing Services

The contract for Absence Management and Staffing Services issued by the Bridgeport Board of Education addresses the critical need to provide substitute teacher and paraprofessional staffing support for the Bridgeport School District, which serves approximately 19,000 students across 39 school sites. Given the district's socio-economic challenges, the contract emphasizes a reliable and cost-effective staffing solution, mandating the provider to deliver qualified substitutes for occasional teacher absences, building substitutes allocated per school, and long-term substitute assignments to cover extended leaves or vacancies. Paraprofessional coverage is also required daily to address absences and potential full-time vacancies. The provider must utilize a web-based absence management system integrated with the district’s MUNIS payroll platform, ensuring efficient real-time absence reporting and substitute assignments. The contract requires adherence to strict Connecticut state laws, including comprehensive background checks, health screenings, and training protocols such as Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) restraint certification for paraprofessionals. Performance metrics include a 90% fill rate for occasional substitutes and 95% for building substitutes, with financial penalties imposed for non-compliance. Administratively, the contract is a professional services agreement without standardized federal FAR clauses, governed by Bridgeport local policies and state requirements, and structured with flexibility to allow multiple providers. The proposal evaluation criteria weigh organizational structure, qualifications, past experience, cost, and proposed work plan, with a trade-off award methodology favoring the highest overall score rather than lowest price alone. Payment terms are net 45 days post-invoice approval, with the Bridgeport Board of Education as the central contracting authority, although some administrative details—such as specific remit-to addresses, accounting codes, and designated contracting officer contacts—are incomplete and would require further coordination. Contractor responsibilities encompass full employer obligations, strict confidentiality under FERPA, compliance with all district security policies, and ownership of all deliverables by the Board of Education. The contract term is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2026, with options for extensions subject to agreement. Proposal submissions are due by May 12, 2026, exclusively through the district’s electronic procurement portal, emphasizing clarity, simplicity, and adherence to specified documentation and format requirements.