Request for Proposal



Consultant for Curriculum and Instruction ReviewNorwalk Public Schools REQUEST FOR PROPOSALJanuary 29, 2021Proposal Response Date:February 17, 2021 at 2:00p.m.This Request for Proposal is a reissuance of previous Request for Proposal Dated December 1, 2020, which has been modified to include additional components. TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u OverviewThe Norwalk Public School District is the 6th largest in Connecticut. The city population is 89,047, and is located in Fairfield County in the Southwestern part of the State on Long Island Sound. Norwalk covers 22 square miles and has a community which is diverse both ethnically and economically. The school district has approximately 11,500 students and 21 schools; twelve elementary schools, four middle schools, four high schools and one early childhood center. Norwalk Public School administrative offices are located at: 125 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06852.Proposals will be accepted until the date and time listed, at which time they will be opened. No proposal received after that time will be considered. The Proposer assumes the risk of any delay in the mail or in the handling of the mail by employees of the Norwalk Public Schools whether sent by mail or by means of personal delivery, the proposer assumes responsibility for having its proposal received by Norwalk Public Schools on time at the place specified. Proposers must sign up for additional addendums on either the DAS or City of Norwalk websites (see below). The failure or omission of any Proposer to examine any site, form, instrument, or document shall in no way relieve the Proposer from any obligation with respect to its proposal. No proposal may be withdrawn for a period of sixty (60) calendar days after the scheduled closing for the receipt of proposals.Posting Websites/Links for RFP’s and Bids:State Website (DAS)Sign up for notifications for future rfp/bids for NPS and other districts: of Norwalk: proposals must be sealed and must be submitted in a plain opaque envelope. All proposals must be addressed to: Karen BartronPurchasing AgentNorwalk Public Schools125 East AvenueNorwalk, CT 06852. The proposal label must be clearly marked. Telephone quotations or amendments will not be accepted at any time. All materials submitted will become property of the District. The Norwalk Public Schools may make any investigation necessary to determine the ability of the Proposer to meet the needs of this proposal. The Proposer shall furnish any additional information that the District shall request in order to make a determination of a proposal award.The Norwalk Public Schools reserves the right to consider cost, experience and service history in the award of this proposal. The Norwalk Public Schools reserves the right to waive technical defects in proposals, to reject any or all proposals, in whole or in part, and to make such awards in whole or in part, to re-advertise and invite new proposals; to modify proposals based upon negotiation with the proposer(s); that is in its judgment will be in the best interest of Norwalk Public Schools even if such proposal is not the least cost proposal. The Norwalk Public Schools also reserves the right to discuss the proposal with one or more proposers and to make such modifications as the Norwalk Public Schools, in its sole discretion, deems to be in its best interests. I. Request for ProposalsInstructions, Proposal Forms, and Specifications are enclosed within this packet.Proposals must be submitted on the proposal response form included in this packet. Supplemental documentation is permissible. Quotation submissions should be in sealed envelopes that are clearly marked. By submitting a proposal, the Proposer will be presumed to be thoroughly familiar with the Request for Proposal, Specifications, other documents, including all Addenda and to have inspected the sites so as to be fully informed of NORWALK PUBLIC SCHOOLS’s needs as they pertain to performance of this contract. The failure or omission of any Proposer to examine any site, form, instrument, or document shall in no way relieve the Proposer from any obligation with respect to its proposal. No proposal may be withdrawn for a period of sixty (60) calendar days after the scheduled closing for the receipt of proposals.1.01 Primary ContactAll questions regarding this Request for Proposal shall be submitted via e-mail to:Karen BartronNorwalk Public Schools125 East Avenue Norwalk, CT 06852.bartronk@1.02Response Date A copy of the proposal must be received at the Business Office prior to February 17,2021 at 2:00 p.m. Any proposal in route to this location or delivered to other locations in the School District will not be considered timely and will be returned unopened. Proposals received after the deadline will be late and ineligible for consideration.II.Consideration and AwardThe NORWALK PUBLIC SCHOOLS may award a contract based upon the initial proposals received without discussion of such proposals. Accordingly, each initial proposal should be submitted with the most favorable price and service standpoint. All proposals shall include completed forms as provided by the District. The Norwalk Public School District reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received or any parts thereof for any reason whatsoever, to waive any informality in any proposal or in any provision in the request for proposals, to require a modification of contract terms at any time, and to select the bidder who, in the opinion of the District, will meet the best interests of the District, provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to waive any requirement of federal, state or local law. Under no circumstances will the District be responsible for the cost of preparing any bid or proposal.The awardee vendor must supply all new equipment; no refurbished equipment will be accepted. Award of the proposal will be based upon the following criteria:Flexibility of the vendor to work with the school districtPricingAvailability (ability to provide all services in a timely manner).Reference Section V for evaluation criteria.III Instructions to Proposers3.01Discrimination ProhibitedThat in the hiring of employees for performance of work under this contract, or any subcontract hereunder, no such contractor or subcontractor shall, by reason of race, creed or color, discriminate against a anyone who is qualified and available to perform the work to which the employment relates.That no contractor, subcontractor, nor any person on his behalf shall in any manner discriminate against or intimidate any employee hired for the performance of work under this contract on account of race, creed or color.That this contract may be canceled or terminated by Norwalk Public Schools and all money due or to become due hereunder may be forfeited, for a second or any subsequent violation of the terms or conditions of this portion of the contract.3.02InsurancePrior to the commencement of any work on the project and no later than ten (10) days after notice of award of the contract, the successful Contractor shall submit to Owner evidence of insurance demonstrating that the contractor has coverage for Workmen’s Compensation Insurance, Liability, Property Damage, and Automobile/Truck insurance with the minimum limits of liability set forth herein. Certificates of insurance shall contain a provision that such policies shall not be cancelled or permitted to expire until at least thirty (30) days prior written notice has been provided to Owner. Further, owner shall be named as an additional insured. Insurance shall be provided only by companies licensed to do so in Connecticut and shall have a current A.M. Best Rating of “B+” or greater. Insurance policy certification must accompany the proposal. Worker's Compensation Insurance shall not be written for less than the statutory limits and shall include Employer's Liability Insurance at a limit of not less than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000);General Liability Insurance shall be insured at a limit of not less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) for each occurrence and Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) for total aggregate liability; additionally, shall be insured with an umbrella coverage not less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000). Property Damage Insurance shall be written at a limit of not less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) for each occurrence and One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) for each aggregate liability; andComprehensive Automobile Liability Insurance shall be maintained throughout the term of any ensuing contract to cover owned automobiles; leased, hired or rented automobiles; employers' non-ownership liability; medical payments and uninsured motorists. This same coverage is understood to extend to all trucks and motorized equipment. The limits of liability shall be no less than:One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) for each person and One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) for each occurrence for personal injury and bodily injury; and.One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) for each occurrence of property damage.Umbrella insurance of additional One Million Dollars ($1,000,000). 3.03InvoicesInvoices received and approved Norwalk Public Schools, by the first of the month, will be paid with forty-five (45) days. The owner reserves a ten- (10) day period for project inspection and invoice approval.IV. Scope of Work:4.01. PURPOSEThe State of Connecticut is a member of the Smarter Balanced Consortium which works with members to develop “a high quality, comprehensive assessment system designed to enhance instructional practice and improve student learning”. These state-wide assessments and accompanying tools for educators are closely aligned to content standards designed to promote college and career readiness for all students. It is the responsibility of the Norwalk Public Schools to ensure that all students have access to a high quality, standards-based curriculum that is implemented equally and consistently in every classroom in every school using pedagogy that is both culturally relevant and responsive so that all students can fully engage in learning by connecting the learning to their own backgrounds interests and experiences. Supporting students to meet and exceed the Connecticut Common Core Standards by embedding the principles and practices of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to accommodate individual differences is the goal for all instruction. The Norwalk Public School District is requesting proposals to accomplish four important objectives:To conduct a comprehensive audit of the current written curricula in English Language Arts and Mathematics to ensure that they are Common Core standards-aligned and that high quality, culturally relevent instructional materials to support the curriculum are in place in all schools.To assess the quality of teaching and learning in Norwalk Public School classrooms and to determine the extent to which the written curriculum and the taught curriculum are aligned and to which all students have accessTo engage in district and school leader instructional alignment, vision-setting and capacity-building. To work with the Norwalk School District in order to develop a plan for professional learning that shifts classroom practice to grade level, standards-based instruction using UDL strategies and that monitors student progress toward meeting Common Core Standards to advance student learning. 4.02SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED BY THE CONSULTANTThe intent of this Request for Proposal is to inform the Board of Education and the Superintendent about the condition of the district’s curriculum, its alignment to Connecticut State Standards and the extent to which curricula provide multiple entry points for access by all students. In addition, this Request for Proposal will inform the Board of Education and the Superintendent as to the state of instruction in district schools. Services to be provided will also include the development of a plan to solidify a districtwide vision for educational excellence and to support the district in achieving that plan. Equity and access to high quality teaching and materials is paramount to ensure the success of all students. Curriculum ReviewThe written English Language Arts curriculum will be reviewed by grade to determine its alignment to Connecticut Common Core Standards as well as whether the units of study created to deliver the curriculum reflect the diverse cultures of Norwalk. In addition, The English Language Arts curriculum will be reviewed to determine the degree to which it promotes culturally responsive teaching. The written Mathematics curriculum will be examined with emphasis on its alignment to the sequence and materials included in Illustrative Math. Tasks, texts and student assignments will be examined to determine vertical and horizontal alignment across both curricula. Both will also be evaluated to assess whether they bring a diverse set of perspectives and experiences to students.Academic DiagnosisClass assignments and student work will be examined across schools and grades to understand whether students are receiving grade level work aligned to Connecticut Common Core Standards and rigorous instruction.District and School Leader Capacity BuildingAligning the work of the district and school leaders is a critical component. It will be important to support the development of a shared vision for excellent instruction that can be communicated to and internalized by district and school leaders who also understand what it looks like in practice.Professional LearningThe shared vision should be understood and implemented by teachers, resulting in shifts in practice that allow for flexibility in the ways students access material, engage with it and show what they know. A plan will be developed to provide on-going support for district leaders, school leaders and teachers to help them operationalize the district’s vision of high expectations and support for all students through a variety of UDL approaches and to monitor progress toward meeting school and district goals. 4.03REQUIRED REPORTSThe successful consultant/firm will work with the District to review and examine all aspects of the written and taught English Language Arts and Mathematic curriculum as well as classroom tasks and instruction to assess and correct their alignment to rigorous grade level work, cultural relevance and to Connecticut Common Core Standards. This will be accomplished through document reviews, instructional program reviews, collection and examinations of student work, site visits, learning walks, classroom observations, meetings with focus groups, surveys, interviews of district and school leaders as well as school-based instructional staff, all facilitated by the Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer. The reports to be generated for the district include:A report of the written curriculum that identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the materials reviewed;An analysis of instructional materials being used, how they are incorporated into unit plans, whether they are culturally responsive and the extent to which they align with the Connecticut Common Core Standards;A clear, actionable report and recommendations on how to improve access to grade appropriate assignment and strong instruction for all students in the Norwalk Public Schools;A plan for monthly capacity and knowledge building sessions with district and school leaders;A strategic plan, developed collaboratively with the Superintendent, that identifies key instructional priorities and a systematic approach for professional learning for school and district staff;A final report that includes the findings and recommendations for refining or replacing written curriculum, analyses of progress in aligning district and school leaders to a strong district vision for standards-based instruction that removes barriers to learning, a strategic professional learning plan that promotes teachers’ abilities to meet the needs of all students and to connect students’ backgrounds and experiences with what they are learning, and action steps to improve teaching and learning across the district. V Evaluation Selection criteria will be the based upon the following:ItemRatingPoints Available Total1)Firm’s history and resource capability to perform required services.202)Firm’s perception of proposal requirements.103)Specific experience 104)Qualifications of staff 105)Quality and content of references included.56)Creativity of the proposal. Specific to Norwalk Public Schools requirements.157)Completeness and professionalism of information submitted.158)Fee for services and any reimbursables.109)Overall impression5Total Score100VI. Response Sheet:Proposals are scheduled to be accepted or rejected by the Norwalk Public Schools within sixty (60) days of the proposal due date. The Norwalk Public Schools reserves the right to waive any informality and to accept or reject all or any part of any or all Proposals. Prices must be listed on the attached sheets on individual items. Norwalk Public Schools is interested in a possible costs for either a one year, or two or three year contract for these services. Total Year One $________________________Total Year Two $_________________________Total Year Three $_________________________Three year total $_________________________Submitted by: (Printed name)(Signature)Title: Date:Telephone #:VII. Non-Collusion AffidavitThe undersigned, as a company proposing on the above indicated project, declares that the only persons or parties interested in this proposal as principals or in the contract proposed to be taken are named herein; that this proposal is fair in all respects and made without collusion or fraud; that the proposer has carefully examined the location of the proposed work, the Specifications including the Request for Proposal and all addenda thereto, prepared by the Owner; and proposed and agrees if these terms and conditions are accepted that the undersigned will contract, to provide all necessary and proper personnel to do all the work and furnish all labor and material necessary or proper to carry out the contract in the completion of the work for the following lump sum pricing.The undersigned further agrees, if awarded the contract on this proposal, to commence work at the time stated in the notice to proceed, unless otherwise permitted or directed by the Owner and further agrees to complete the work of this contract as specified.This form must be signed by an officer authorized to represent and commit the organization to all terms and conditions contained in the proposal. The authorized person signing below further certifies that this bid has been prepared without collusion with any other bidder, the Norwalk Public Schools, or any employee of the Norwalk Public Schools.Name of Company_________________________________________ Address__________________________________________________________________________________Phone #: ________________Fax #:______________ Email: ___________________ Federal I.D. #: _________________Authorized Signature: _____________________________ Date: ______________Phone #: ________________Fax #:______________ Email: ___________________ Federal I.D. #: _________________Authorized Signature: _________________________________________Date:_______________________Printed Name: _________________________________________Title:________________________VIII. REFERENCES:(Only needed for companies/firms who have not done business with Norwalk Public Schools.)1. FIRM NAME:______________________________________________________ADDRESS:__________________________________________________________CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE:_______________________________________________TELEPHONE:________________________________________________________RESPONSIBLE COMPANY AGENT:NAME:_____________________________________________________________TYPE OF OPERATION (Bank, School, Industrial, etc.)________________________2. FIRM NAME:______________________________________________________ADDRESS:__________________________________________________________CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE:_______________________________________________TELEPHONE:________________________________________________________RESPONSIBLE COMPANY AGENT:NAME:_____________________________________________________________TYPE OF OPERATION (Bank, School, Industrial, etc.)___________________________________________________________________3. FIRM NAME:______________________________________________________ADDRESS:__________________________________________________________CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE:_______________________________________________TELEPHONE:_________________________________________________________RESPONSIBLE COMPANY AGENT:NAME:______________________________________________________________TYPE OF OPERATION (Bank, School, Industrial, etc.)_____________________ ................
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