Title
Scholastic Inc Teachables and Books - RFA 20-004 (Ordinance S-46404)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into a contract with Scholastic Inc. to provide a subscription for an online database of searchable and printable educational materials, and children’s books for the Phoenix Public Library (PPL), in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,095,000 over a five-year period, with an estimated annual expenditure of $219,000. Further request authorization for the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item.
Report
Summary
This contract will provide a subscription to Scholastic Teachables for education materials for pre-kindergarten through grade six to support parents preparing kids for kindergarten readiness, homeschool teachers, homeschool learners, young patrons who need extra skills practice, and the PPL’s internal public programs. The PPL will offer access to Scholastic Teachables to the public and staff through eLibrary, which supplies electronic resources to the public with their PPL card 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Additionally, this contract will provide books for children from birth to age five offered through the Scholastic catalog that provides books from established, well-known authors and publishers; English, Spanish and bilingual English/Spanish books; and books that are well-curated to support Common Core standards for kindergarten and pre-kindergarten standards. PPL has an existing intergovernmental agreement with the Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Board, known as First Things First (FTF), for more than 10 years. Through this agreement PPL receives funding from FTF and is required to give away 11,000 books during a fiscal year. The books are intended to increase children’s access to books as research studies have demonstrated that this has a critical impact on their academic achievement. PPL will partner with the City Manager’s Office Youth and Education Office and the Human Services Department to purchase children’s books and materials.
Procurement Information
In accordance with Administrative Regulation 3.10, normal competition for this online database of searchable and printable educational materials was waived as the result of a Determination Memo citing Scholastic Inc. as the copyright and trademark holder of the educational books and Scholastic Teachables subscription.
Contract Term
The five-year contract term shall begin on or about March 4, 2020.
Financial Impact
The aggregate contract value shall not exceed $1,095,000 (including applicable taxes), with an estimated annual expenditure of $219,000. Funds are available in the Library Department's budget.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Milton Dohoney, Jr. and the Phoenix Public Library.