Title
Authorization to Amend Contract with Teaching Strategies, LLC (Ordinance S-46682)
Description
Request authorization for the City Manager, or his designee, to amend Contract 141887 with Teaching Strategies, LLC for the Head Start Birth to Five program by extending the term of the contract until Dec. 31, 2020, and increasing the payment authority in the amount of $34,000. The amended aggregate value will be $384,000 to provide continued use of this online child assessment tool. Further request authorization for the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item. There is no impact to the General Fund.
Report
Summary
The Arizona Department of Education (ADOE) convened an Early Childhood Assessment Work Group in the spring of 2005 to define best practices for early childhood assessment in Arizona. The Work Group endorsed using the same assessment system across all ADOE-administered early childhood programs and that education agencies are responsible for purchasing and administering the assessment tool adopted by ADOE. The tool is designed to monitor children's progress, appropriately plan for children’s learning, implement best practices, and meet the accountability requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA), Part B, Section 619.
Teaching Strategies was selected by ADOE for the statewide Early Childhood Assessment tool. The City entered into a contract with Teaching Strategies, LLC on July 1, 2015.
Procurement Information
Teaching Strategies was selected through an ADOE Request for Proposal #RFP-ADED 15-00004546 for a statewide Early Childhood Assessment tool to be utilized by other state agencies, political subdivisions, and Head Start grantees.
The ADOE contract with Teaching Strategies expired on March 22, 2020. ADOE extended its contract with Teaching Strategies until Dec. 31, 2020 to allow time for ADOE to complete a procurement for a new provider.
In accordance with Administrative Regulation 3.10, a Determination Memo citing a need to extend the City's current contract beyond the maximum option years was approved on April 10, 2020.
Contract Term
The original contract was for a five-year term, beginning on July 1, 2015, with four one-year extension options exercised by the City. Approval of this request would extend the contract until Dec. 31, 2020.
Financial Impact
Funding is available from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration of Children, Youth and Families. There is no impact to the General Fund.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
City Council approved the initial contract on May 13, 2015 with Ordinance S-41702.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Deanna Jonovich and the Human Services Department.