USBE - IDEA Dispute Resolution Services

Issuing Procurement Unit: Utah State Board of Education UTAH STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS SOLICITATION # USBE-MI26020-RFP IDEA DISPUTE RESOLUTION SERVICES
This Request for Proposals (“RFP”), having been determined to be the appropriate procurement method to provide the best value to the Utah State Board of Education (USBE), is designed to provide interested Offerors with sufficient basic information to submit proposals. This RFP is issued in accordance with the Utah Procurement Code and applicable administrative rules of the Utah Administrative Code. If any provision of this RFP conflicts with the Utah Procurement Code or Utah Administrative Code, then the Utah Procurement Code or Utah Administrative Code will take precedence. Issuing Procurement Unit, Conducting Procurement Unit, and Solicitation Number: USBE is the issuing procurement unit and conducting procurement unit for this RFP (referred to as “USBE”). The reference number for this RFP is Solicitation # USBE-MI26020-RFP. This solicitation number must be referenced on all proposals, correspondence, and documentation submitted to USBE relating to this RFP. Purpose of this Solicitation: The purpose of this RFP is to enter into a contract with a qualified vendor or vendors to provide Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) dispute resolutions services.. Please see the Scope of Work attached in the Files section for further details. Backgound: IDEA guarantees certain procedural safeguards to families with students in special education programs. The law* requires the State to provide certain dispute resolution resources to such families at no cost. Accordingly, USBE is seeking resources to provide IDEA dispute resolution services in one or more of the following categories: 1. State Complaint Investigator 2. Mediator 3. Hearing Officer 4. Individualized Education Program (IEP) Facilitator *Reference: 34 CFR 300.504, USBE Special Education Rules IV.E.; State Complaint (34 CFR 300.151-153, USBE Special Education Rules IV.G.); Mediation (34 CFR 300.506, USBE Special Education Rules IV.H.); and Due Process Hearings (34 CFR 300.507-508, 300.511, USBE Special Education Rules IV.I.). Contract Award: This RFP may result in multiple contract awards within each category of services. All vendors meeting all requirements of the RFP within any given category, including meeting the minimum score thresholds identified therein, shall be awarded a contract within that category, unless otherwise justified by the Procurement Code. USBE intends to award new contracts with terms of up to five (5) years; however, USBE reserves the right to terminate the contract at any time in accordance with the provisions set forth in USBE Standard Terms and Conditions. (NOTE: USBE has existing contracts for the services described herein. However, due to increasing demand, this RFP is being issued to identify additional qualified individuals to perform the services requested. Current contractors need not submit proposals again, unless they wish to be considered in a category not currently included in their contract or, in the case of firms, they wish to have additional individuals considered. If a current contractor is awarded a new service category, USBE will work with the contractor to either amend their current contract or issue a new contract. USBE shall determine which is more logistically feasible.) USBE will make its best effort to award work to contractors within a category on a rotation basis, taking into account contractor availability, geographic location, potential and actual personal or professional conflicts of interest, and any other consideration deemed pertinent by USBE. NO AMOUNT OF WORK IS GUARANTEED TO BE AWARDED TO ANY CONTRACTOR UNDER A CONTRACT RESULTING FROM THIS RFP. Additional Information: Vendors are prohibited from communications regarding this RFP with the USBE staff, evaluation committee members, or other associated individuals EXCEPT the USBE procurement officer overseeing this RFP. Wherever in this RFP an item is defined by using a trade name, brand name, or a manufacturer and/or model number, it is intended that the words, “or equivalent” apply; and invites the submission of equivalent products by the vendors. If applicable, vendors may be required to submit product samples to assist the head of a procurement unit with independent procurement authority in evaluating whether a procurement item meets the specifications and other requirements set forth in the RFP. Product samples must be furnished free of charge unless otherwise stated in the RFP, and if not destroyed by testing, will upon written request within any deadline stated in the RFP, be returned at the vendor's expense. Samples must be labeled or otherwise identified as specified in the RFP by the procurement unit. USBE reserves the right to conduct discussions with the vendors who submit proposals determined to be reasonably eligible of being selected for award, followed by an opportunity to make best and final offers pursuant to the Utah Procurement Code and applicable administrative rules, but proposals may be accepted without discussions. Proposal Content and Evaluation: The provisions of this RFP are not intended to limit a proposal's content or exclude any relevant or essential data. Vendors are at liberty and are encouraged to expand upon the specifications to demonstrate vendor's ability to provide USBE with a solution. Each proposal received shall be evaluated as outlined in this RFP, the Utah Procurement Code, and applicable administrative rules in the Utah Administrative Code. To be responsive and responsible, vendors must review and respond to the following sections of this RFP: Requested Information: The Requested Information section includes the prerequisites all vendors must read and agree to in order to respond to this RFP. Files: The Files section includes the standard contractual terms and conditions applicable to this RFP, as well as other documents associated with this RFP. Questions: The Questions section contains questions to which vendors must respond in order to submit a proposal. This section also includes the objective and subjective criteria that will be used to evaluate proposals, including mandatory minimum requirements and technical evaluation criteria. To determine which proposal provides the best value to USBE, the evaluation committee shall evaluate each responsive and responsible proposal that has not been disqualified from consideration under the provisions of the Utah Procurement Code and applicable administrative rules, using the criteria described in this RFP. Vendors must review each section carefully. After the evaluation and final scoring of proposals is completed, USBE shall award the contract(s) as soon as practicable to the responsive and responsible vendor(s) eligible for award, subject to the Utah Procurement Code and applicable administrative rules, provided the RFP is not canceled in accordance with the Utah Procurement Code and administrative rules.