EducationaI Partnership

for
RFP to be opened
At: 11:00 AM
On: May 31, 2011



Name of Bidder: ____________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Contact Person: ____________________________________________________

Phone Number: ____________________________________________________

Fax Number: ___________________________________________________

e-maiI: ____________________________________________________

ADVERTISE:
WEBSITE
BUFFALO NEWS



RFP # 10-11-079
ationaI Partnership Organization (EPO)
for Service DeIivery at #59





















Craig KoeppeI
Director of Purchase
816 City HaII
65 Niagara Square
BuffaIo, New York 14202
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
BUFFALO NEWS
O)

Director of Purchase
65 Niagara Square
BuffaIo, New York 14202
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
 


RFP TERMS AND CONDITIONS


Default ÷ Failure of the supplier to comply with any of these provisions may be
considered reason for rejection of proposal.

1. The issuance of this Request for Proposals (RFP) constitutes only an
invitation to submit a response to the Buffalo Public Schools (District). Ìt is
not to be construed as an official and customary invitation to bid, but as a
means by which the District can facilitate the acquisition of information related
to the purchase or implementation of services.

2. Any and all information presented herein, including drawings, specifications,
instructions, policies, engineering guides, questionnaires, methodologies,
etc., which is a part of this RFP package, or disclosed during the selection
process, is the property of the District, and shall not be duplicated or
disclosed except to those employees of the recipient who have a need to
know in order to prepare the response.

3. The District neither makes nor assumes any contractual obligations by
issuing this RFP, receiving and evaluating supplier response, or making
preliminary supplier selection. Providing a response as provided herein shall
neither obligate nor entitle a Responder to enter into a contract with the
District.

4. This RFP does not commit the District either to award a contract or to pay for
any costs incurred in the preparation of a submission. Responders shall bear
all costs associated with submission preparation, submission and attendance
at presentation interviews, or any other activity associated with this RFP or
otherwise.

5. The District reserves the right to determine, in its sole and absolute
discretion, whether any aspect of the submission satisfactorily meets the
criteria established in this RFP, the right to seek clarification from any
Responder (s), and the right to cancel and/or amend, in part or entirely, the
RFP, at any time prior to a written contract.

6. Responses should be directed to Craig Koeppel, Director of Purchase, at
Room 816 City Hall, 65 Niagara Square, Buffalo, New York 14202 no later
than the time and date stated on the cover sheet, for the opening of the RFP
with title and number RFP on envelope.

7. The District is not obligated to respond to any submission submitted nor is it
legally bound in any manner whatsoever by the submission of a response.

8. Upon submission, all responses become the property of the District. The
District reserves the right to use the information and any ideas presented in
any submission in response to this RFP, whether or not the submission is
accepted.
 
BACKGROUND


The Buffalo Public Schools (BPS) is demonstrating leadership in the creation of
innovative new schools. Therefore, BPS is soliciting proposals from Educational
Partnership Organizations (EPO). The process for turnaround schools is overseen by
the BPS Turnaround Office, whose task is to transform Persistently Lowest Achieving
schools, implement the district's school improvement plan and ensure that students in
Buffalo have access to high quality schools. Consequently, these schools propose to
provide students with exceptional academic opportunities and look forward to continuing
to offer innovative school models and move beyond traditional barriers to create high
quality educational opportunities for all students throughout the city.

Therefore, Buffalo Public Schools is seeking local and national partnership
organizations, non-profit institutions from Buffalo and nationwide to respond to this
Request for Proposals (RFP) and demonstrate the capacity to implement a high quality
turnaround school model. Through a rigorous review process, BPS will evaluate the RFP
responses in order to identify those parties with the capacity to transform one or more of
Buffalo's Persistently Lowest Achieving (PLA) schools.

Restart ModeI

"The restart model may include either conversion of a school to a charter school or the
replacement of a public school by a new charter school that will serve the students who
would have attended the public school. Alternatively, the district may contract with an
Educational Partnership Organization (EPO) to manage or re-open the school.¨ For a
detailed definition see attached McKinney's Education Law 211-e.

This RFP is calling for submissions for the following:

Dr. CharIes Drew - PubIic SchooI # 59

CIose/Restart:
Close #59 Dr. Charles Drew. Restart under an Educational Partnership Organization as
a innovative school model and include the following elements:
· Grade configuration: 3-8
· Hire a principal and staff to include job-embedded professional development.
· Specialized scientific literacy methods of instruction.
· Successful bidder will work with the district to ensure curricula alignment
to the Common Core Standards and Assessments.

School specific information is available to design teams with intention to submit a
proposal. Request a copy of the Joint Intervention Team report for Dr. Charles
Drew by contacting the Office of Federal and State Programs via e-mail only
dbuckley@buffaloschools.org.






 
TIMELINE

4/29/2011 RFP Advertised

5/31/2011 Proposals due

6/10/2011 Proposals review completed

6/16/2011 Award of Contract

6/30/2014 Work completed per contract



All RFP submissions will be reviewed by a team of individuals from BPS administrative
team. The review team will utilize transparent rubric criteria, which will be shared with
applicants and available on the BPS website shortly following the release of this RFP.
Ìn general, the RFP review will be focused on two broad areas: demonstrated track
record of student achievement and capacity to design and manage a high quality school.

Track Record: The RFP submission must demonstrate that the applicant has a strong
track record of driving significant academic gains with similar student populations unless
data maybe derived from past academically based programs.

RFP submission review; only vendors that have demonstrated strong performance will
be successful in this process. Vendors with schools outside of Buffalo must also
demonstrate strong results in the measures utilized by the state.

Teams who do not currentIy operate a schooI must provide data from past experience
leading a school/classroom, extracurricular activity, professional development program,
or other service that significantly increased student outcomes.

Capacity: Applicants should clearly demonstrate that they have the capacity to develop
a high quality proposal and, if approved, manage a high quality school. While the RFP
submission will not include all components of a new or turnaround school proposal,
vendors must represent an entrepreneurial spirit and the diversity of skill sets and
experience necessary to ensure a school's success, including academics, culture,
finances, operations, and community engagement.

Please highlight the key components that are most important for BPS to establish that
the organization has a track record of driving student outcomes, as well as the capacity
to develop a high quality school.









 


EIements to emphasize:
 size, capacity and experience to complete the proposed activities within the
specified timeframe;
 experience in delivering timely, high-quality pre-K through 12 educational
products and services, experience working with the Buffalo Public Schools;
 Commitment to service the population of students currently attending the
school;
 specific expertise in the delivery of research-based curriculum design,
instruction, professional development and/or systemic organizational
improvement; and
 demonstrated understanding of NYS Learning Standards in the identified
content area(s);
 familiarity with New York State regulations on increasing the academic
achievement of at risk, low income, Limited English Proficient students and
Students with Disabilities.
RFP Submission Instructions:

The RFP submission is due by 11:00 AM EDT on May 31, 2011. Ìt consists of two
parts÷ a cover letter and RFP Narrative÷both of which are required before BPS will
review the submission.


REQUIREMENTS:
RFP submissions should total no more than 9-12 pages (not including Cover Letter,
Résumés, Performance Data, and any other attachments requested below) and should
emphasize the education plan and performance outcomes.

1. Cover Letter: Complete a cover letter. Provide a summary of the proposed school
model and your capacity to implement the model.
2. Mission and Vision: State the mission and vision of the proposed school model.
3. Student PopuIation: Describe the student population that you expect to serve, and
discuss your team's experience serving similar student populations.
4. Education PIan: Ìdentify and describe the key strategies and practices that the
school will use to drive student achievement.
5. AccountabiIity and Performance GoaIs: Briefly discuss how your organization will
set and annually update targets for the assessments.
6. SchooI CuIture: Describe the culture that your team envisions for the proposed
school and, if identified, any social-emotional supports necessary to create that culture.
7. Community/LocaI Connections: Ìf your organization is selected briefly describe how
you will engage the community in your implementation plan.
8. Leadership and Track Record: Describe the proposed school leadership team (e.g.
team leaders, board members, Principal candidates, key leadership staff, teaching staff,
advisors, and consultants) and provide evidence to support why this team has the
collective capacity to manage a successful school. Provide evidence that the team has a
track record of successful performance. Ìnclude specific accomplishments and/or
performance data that demonstrate that the team will operate a successful school.
 
Attach additional data, if necessary. Please describe the staff and resources your team
will establish to ensure a successful launch and on-going management of the school.
9. OperationaI Budget: Ìnclude a proposed budget to implement the model for the
school(s) selected in year one. Ìn addition, include a budget plan for years two and
three.

10. PIease attach the foIIowing appendices

 Attach a list of the members of the individuals filing this proposal.
 Attach résumés of Design Team members and any other individuals who have
made substantial contributions to this submission (e.g. board members, principal
candidate, key leadership staff, teaching staff, advisors, consultants). Label each
résumé with the individual's affiliation with the proposed school.


If your organization currently operates one or more schools:
 Attach a summary of the schools / campuses within your portfolio, including the
following:
1. Number of school(s)/campus(es) and total number of students served
2. Cities served
3. Grade levels served
4. Unique school themes or models in your organization's portfolio
5. Type of schools in your portfolio (e.g. Charter, Contract, Private, etc.)
 Attach the following information on each school that your organization operates :
1. School information
2. School name
3. City
4. Year opened
5. Grades at capacity
6. Current grades
7. Current enrollment
8. % low-income
9. Whether or not your organization wholly employs staff and/or manages
operations at the school
ii. Performance data from assessments that measure student growth and achievement in
math and reading/English/language arts. Ìnclude comparative local district data, where
available.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

All applicants should respond to the RFP by 11:00 AM EDT on May 31, 2011.

BPS will not accept late submissions. Applicants should also follow these guidelines
when preparing the RFP narrative:
· Narratives must be typed with at least 1-inch page margins and at least 11 point font.
· Copy and paste the RFP question before each answer in the narrative (questions may
be pasted in smaller font). Sub-parts of questions should be clearly referenced in the
answers.
· All requested attachments should be provided in an appendix submitted with the
Narrative. Appendix items should be clearly labeled at the top or bottom of each page.
 
Please label each résumé with the individual's affiliation with the proposed school (e.g.
team members, board members, principal, teachers, etc.).
Ìn order for a submission to be considered by BPS, both a cover letter and RFP narrative
must be complete and submitted on time. Submissions that are Iate or missing
responses to questions or required attachments may not be considered for further
review.

Notification of ResuIts
Each applicant will be notified of next steps regarding their RFP submission following the
review of all responses. Applicants will receive written notification that could include next
steps in the RFP process. Please note: teams may be asked to submit additional
information or attend a meeting to clarify their submissions.

Contact Information
For questions regarding this RFP, please email dbuckley@buffaloschools.org or call the
Office of Federal and State Programs at (716) 816-3966.



Proposal Cost- Three year budget total:


$_________________________________