Title
Request to Amend Contract with Teaching Strategies, LLC for Head Start Birth to Five Program (Ordinance S-47475)
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 through June 30, 2023 and increasing the contract amount by $160,000. The extension will provide continued use of the 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
To ensure statewide consistency in early childhood assessment, the Arizona Department of Education (ADOE) mandates all early childhood programs purchase the same assessment tool. The Head Start Birth to Five program utilizes Teaching Strategies Gold, the approved ADOE assessment tool. The early childhood assessment tool is designed to measure children's progress, appropriately plan for children's learning, implement best practices, and meet the accountability requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, Part B, Section 619. The City entered into a contract with Teaching Strategies, LLC on July 1, 2015, following the ADOE statewide contract.
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 entered into a one-year agreement, Agreement CTR048634, with Teaching Strategies, LLC extending the contract terms through June 30, 2021, allowing time to procure a new provider. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, ADOE was unable to complete the procurement process. As such, an additional extension through June 30, 2023 with Teaching Strategies has been secured by ADOE.
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 five-year contract began on July 1, 2015, with four one-year extension options exercised by the City Manager. Approval of this request would extend the contract through June 30, 2023.
Financial Impact
The total value of this agreement will not exceed $544,000 over the life of the contract. Funding is available from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration of Children, Youth and Families. There is no impact on the General Fund.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
City Council approved the initial contract on May 13, 2015, with Ordinance S-41702. An extension through Dec. 31, 2020, was approved by City Council on June 3, 2020, with Ordinance S-46682. An additional extension through June 30, 2021, was approved by the City Council on Sept. 2, 2020.
The Head Start Policy Council will vote on this item on April 12, 2021.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Inger Erickson and the Human Services Department.