St. Lucie Public Schools

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Sherman Atkins
6 years ago
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1 April 26, 2016 TO: FROM: RE: All Prospective Proposers Kim Albritton Coordinator of Business Services RFP Speech-Language Therapy & Audiology Services ADDENDUM 1 TO RFP SPEECH-LANGUAGE THERAPY & AUDIOLOGY SERVICES This addendum is issued as a part of the aforementioned RFP. The changes incorporated herein are an amendment to and supersede those conditions shown in the original solicitation. The Proposer shall acknowledge receipt of this addendum by signing this form and returning with their submittal. Failure to do so may subject Proposer to disqualification. Q1. On page 5, Section 1 Introduction, have the current providers met your needs for SLP services? A1. Overall, yes. We have had openings each year which has resulted in the need for contracting out for services. Q2. On page 5, Section 1 Introduction, what are the names of your current vendors providing SLP services to the district? Similar Question: Are you currently working with any agencies providing SLP services to your District? Only these listed below. A2. The current vendors are: A+ Speech Therapy Achieving Milestones Advanced Speech Boca Speech Trainor Pediatric Speech Treasure Coast Therapeutics Askew Speech & Language Jennifer McDaniels Kirsten Chism Q3. On page 5, Section 1 Introduction, what are the current bill rates for each of the vendors providing SLP services to the district? A3. Rates are listed below for Speech Language Therapy. A+ Speech Therapy ($50/hr) Achieving Milestones ($57/hr) Advanced Speech ($60/hr) Boca Speech ($61/hr) Trainor Pediatric Speech ($60/hr) Treasure Coast Therapeutics ($65/hr) Askew Speech & Language ($56/hr) Jennifer McDaniels ($55/hr) Kirsten Chism ($57/hr) 1 P a g e

2 Rates are listed below for Audiology. We have not had an on-staff audiologist so all services have been sent out of house for audiological needs and evaluations. Each service has been based on an individual student need and costs are listed below. Comprehensive $78 Tympanometry $40 Speech Audio $55 Hearing Aid Setting for FM $35 Ear molds $80 Q4. On page 5, Section 1 Introduction, what are the total numbers of contracted SLPs providing services in the district during the school year? A4. 12 Q5. On page 5, Section 1 Introduction, how many SLPs have each of your vendors provided to the district during the & school year? A5. Based on need. Some vendors operate independently and provide services as an individual contractor. The largest provider is Boca Speech and they provide approximately 5. Q6. On page 5, Section 1 Introduction, has the district had any open or unfilled positions during the school year? A6. Yes, that is why we have had to contract for services. Contractual arrangements have been made to cover all vacancies. Q7. On page 5, Section 1 Introduction, how many SLPs are there in the district, including district employees and contracted employees combined? A7. 47 Q8. On page 5, Section 1 Introduction, please provide the # of FTEs (full time equivalents) by provider by discipline. A8. 47 Q9. On page 5, Section 1 Introduction, how many contracted employees work full-time during the school year? How many contracted employees work part-time? A9. Two private school providers work part time and three individuals work part-time in some of our comprehensive schools. 2 P a g e

3 Q10. On page 5, Section 1, what was the annual expenditure for all services during the & school year? A10. The numbers are below by year. TYPE OF SERVICE FY FY (remained of year estimated) District Employees $2,683,130 $2,743,535 Contracted Staff $ 671,571 $700,403 TOTAL $3,354,701 $3,443,938 Q11. On page 11, Section 4 Award Are you looking to contract with multiple vendors or a single vendor? A11. Multiple, to best meet the needs of the School District. Q12. On page 11, Section 4 Award Will each specialty be awarded to a single vendor? A12. See A11. Q13. On page 11, Section 4 Award How many contracts do you think you will award as a result of this solicitation? A13. It will be up to the Evaluation Committee to make a recommendation. Q14. On page 11, Section 4, once the vendors for this current solicitation are awarded, will they be given the # of open positions that they can fill? A14. Vendors will be contacted after award is finalized with the District s current needs. Service need can change based upon individual student s needs throughout the year. Q15. On page 20, Scope of Services, approximately how many SLPs does the district anticipate needing for the upcoming school year (FY )? A15. We are not anticipating adding additional positions, we anticipate needing the same number of contractors. Q16. On page 20, Scope of Services, will these positions be full-time or part-time? Could you please let me know the projected weekly hours of service for the Speech Language Pathologist? A16. The majority would be full-time. Q17. On page 20, Scope of Services, is the district interested in SLPAs for this RFP? (Similar Question: Would you consider certified therapy assistants such as CFY or SLPA?) 3 P a g e

4 A17. No Q18. On page 20, Scope of Services, Does the district allow Clinical Fellows? A18. Yes, however the contracted agency must provide the supervision. Q19. On page 20, Scope of Services, what s the typical caseload for therapists? (Similar Question: What grades will the SLP provide services for? And what will be the caseload? A19. Measured by minutes of direct therapy per week. The typical caseload is mpw Q20. On page 20, Scope of Services, does the district provide necessary training sessions, i.e. Medicaid training, that are needed in order for the contracted employees to do their jobs effectively and meet the job expectations? A20. Two trainings for contracted employees, Medicaid billing and Orientation to the system. Q21. On page 20, Scope of Services, does the district provide computers for contracted employees? Similar Question: Will therapists have access to internet capabilities, computers/laptops/ipads, office supplies, fax/copy machine at St. Lucie Pubic Schools? A21. NO computers are provided. The employee will be given access to a work station for access to the student information system, on-line IEP, and . They will have to sign a confidentiality agreement in order to access the student information system. Q22. On page 20, Scope of Services, does the district provide the assessments and materials to be used for evaluations and treatment services? (Similar Question: Are Testing Materials/Equipment or Evaluation Materials/Equipment to complete the provision of services for Speech Services provided by St. Lucie Pubic Schools or the Vendor?) A22.Yes Q23. On page 20, Scope of Services, does the district provide an orientation? A23. Yes Q24. On page 31, Attachment I How many Reference Questionnaires need to be submitted to the district? A24. Three Q25. On page 33, Attachment J, are bill rates all-inclusive for the entire day, including assessment, therapy, meetings, planning, documentation, report writing, etc.? A25. Yes, the same hourly rate applies for all the above. 4 P a g e

5 Q26. On page 18, under Proposal Sections, item 37, it states that we are to include a written opinion of an attorney licensed to practice law pursuant to Section (1)(a). For the OT/PT RFP, there was an attachment that our attorney could complete. Can the district provide that attachment so we can use it for this proposal? A26. This Statute applies to tangible personal property, proposers are not required to submit this form for RFP The following change is made to the RFP document (removed section 37 from RFP): 37. SECTION (1)(A), FLORIDA STATUTES In accordance with Section (1)(a), Florida Statutes, if the low bid is submitted by vendor whose principal place of business is out of state or political subdivision thereof which grants a preference to a person whose principal place of business is in such state, then a preference to the lowest responsible and responsive vendor having a principal place of business within Florida shall be granted, which preference is equal to the preference granted by the state or political subdivision thereof in which the lowest responsible and responsive vendor has its principal place of business. If the low bid is submitted by a vendor whose principal place of business is located outside the state and that state does not grant a preference in competitive solicitation to vendors having a principal place of business in that state, then the preference to the lowest responsible and responsive vendor having a principle place of business in Florida shall be five (5) percent. Out-of-state vendors must submit a written opinion of an attorney licensed to practice law in that foreign state, as to the preferences, if any or none, granted by the law of that state to its own business entities whose principal place of business are in that state in the letting of any or all public contracts Q27. On page 10, Section 3 Required Proposal Format, it states that we can add tabs with other information. Is it ok to add an appendix with pertinent marketing and supporting materials? A27. Yes Q28. Is it appropriate to use my School Based ESE Specialists and District Program Specialist as references? Similar Question: Should I receive personal references from the staff that I work closely with on a daily basis in place of agency references? A28. Yes Q29. Other than providing name/contact information on ATTACHMENT C - REFERENCES, do I need to request a written reference from them? Is there a form or instructions that my professional references need to submit with this RFP? 5 P a g e

6 A29. Yes, please see Attachment I Reference Questionnaire. Q30. How many working days will the SLP work during the school year (For Example: 180 days or less)? A30. Approximately 186 for full time Q31. Who will be the representative from St. Lucie Pubic Schools to determine which materials/equipment are required for the Speech Services? A31. The District Program Specialist for Speech/Language and Audiology. Q32. Will our therapists bill Medicaid on behalf of St. Lucie School District and Medicaid will pay St. Lucie School District or does our company bill Medicaid directly and receive payment from Medicaid directly? A32. They are required to bill Medicaid on behalf of the school district. Q33. Are resumes and/or licenses required at the time of proposal submission or only upon award? A33. It is recommended to submit resumes and all applicable licenses with the RFP for evaluation. However, if your firm will continue to seek out employees for the positions, please see Evaluation Factor 1 for more information. Q34. Page 8, Evaluation Factor 1: Approach/ Methodology. Please clarify the following: provide, schedule and manage personnel, provide services at the same time within both scheduled and nonscheduled as required time frames Are you able to provide definitions or examples of what you are looking for? A34. The District is seeking response from firms to show how they manage the schedule of work, account for unanticipated changes, etc. Q35. Page 33, Attachment J Proposal Quotation Form. The explanation provided of how points are allocated does not include Percent Increases for each Renewal Option Year to be listed in I., II., and III on this form. Please clarify if and how Percent Increases for Renewal Option Years will be factored into your cost evaluation and allocation of points. A35. In order to clarify how the renewal terms will be calculated into the scoring, please insert the below paragraph within the RFP in replacement of the second paragraph on page 33. The underlined text was added. Allocation of Points SLCSB will calculated as a percentage of cost increase as compared to the lowest cost proposal received. Each job title will be considered individually. In order to factor in renewal rates, Proposer s rates for each possible year will be totaled and divided by 5. This rate will be used to determine the Evaluation Factor 3 awarded points. For example, Proposer A submits a cost for Audiologist of $30.00 per hour and 6 P a g e

7 Proposer B submits a cost of $32.00 per hour and Proposer C submits a cost of $34.00 per hour; Proposer A would receive 100% for that job title because Proposer A was the lowest. Proposer B would receive 94% ($30/$32) and Proposer C would receive 88% ($30/$34). The total points allocated will be determined by taking an average of the percentages. If Proposer A submits on two titles, the math would be as follows: #1 - (100+93) =193; #2 - (193/2) =96.5%. Proposer A would receive 34 points for Evaluation Criteria 3. Q36. Do I need to have 1,000,000 auto policy in place and include a copy? Or can I sign that if I am accepted as a vendor, then I will have it added. My insurance company stated it is quick to add to my current policy. A36. The District requires you to sign the Attachment, which means you will comply with the insurance requirements. We do not require proof of the insurance until after the contracts are awarded. Q37. When I list my fee for service how do I know what the totals will be? I currently have a 25,000 contract. Should I put that amount or only list fees for unit of service. For example, per hour, etc.? A37. The RFP requests an hourly rate for each service, please complete Attachment J. Q38. I have fingerprints and a recent background check completed this year. Do I need to complete another one by the proposal deadline? A38. Proposers must return Attachment B signed, to indicate they will comply with the Jessica Lunsford requirements. The Proposer may start the process for the clearance after contract award. Q39. What is the average number of hours a therapist can expect to work in a week? A39. 40, but our normal week is We do not allow overtime and if it was required it must be approved prior to work by our Executive Director, Exceptional Student Education. Q40. Does the school district prefer flat rates or a range dependent upon experience for bill rates within this proposal? A40. A flat rate. Q41. Who all is involved in the decision making process (director, purchasing, etc.)? A42. The Evaluation Committee will score the RFP s based on the criteria within the RFP. Q42. What is the biggest driver of the decision (price, experience, screening process, etc.)? A42. Please refer to the Evaluation Criteria (2.7) within the RFP, pages P a g e

8 Q43. On page 11 of the RFP for Speech-Language Pathologists, the Business Proposal section states that "Attachment A - Cost of Services" should be included. However, Attachment A is Drug-Free Workplace Certification, not a Cost of Services attachment. A43. The below will correct the typo, and become part of the RFP document. Business Proposal Envelope or Box B Attachment A J- Cost of Services Proposal Quotation Form 1. Cost Proposal Q44. RFP states "detailed pricing will be required in the pricing section of the response." Is the "Pricing Section" considered the same as the "Cost Proposal" required in the Business Proposal section? A44. Yes Q45. I was wondering if it's acceptable to bid on Speech-Language Therapy services only. A45. Yes, Proposers may bid on both or only one service. **** RFP DUE DATE IS: May 5, :00 P.M... ****. Name (Please Print) Signature (Authorized Representative of Company) Company Name Date 8 P a g e

Request for Proposal For: 2018 American Bar Association Temporary Services

Request for Proposal For: 2018 American Bar Association Temporary Services Table of Contents Bid Timetable [2] 1.0 General Bid Information [3] 2.0 Proposal Requirements [5] 3.0 Criteria for Selection [7] 4.0 Specifications and Work Statement [7] Appendix A: Bidder Response Sheet