Title
City of Phoenix Early Head Start Early Childhood Education Services Qualified Vendor List (Ordinance S-51586) - Districts 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 & 8
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to approve a Qualified Vendor List (QVL) and enter into a contract with KUEHG Corp. dba KinderCare Learning Companies to provide Early Head Start Early Childhood Education Services for the Head Start Birth to Five Program. The total value of the contract will not exceed $3,237,402.83 over the life of the contract. Further request to authorize the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item.
Report
Summary
Head Start programs prepare America’s most vulnerable young children to succeed in school and in life beyond school. To achieve this, they deliver services to children and families in core areas of early learning, health, and family well-being while engaging parents as partners.
The City of Phoenix Head Start Birth to Five Program provides high-quality early educational experiences and comprehensive social services through two key programs: Early Head Start, which serves children from birth to three years old, and Head Start Preschool, for children ages three to five. The primary goal of these programs is to enhance the social competence and school readiness of low-income children and their families. Additionally, tiered case management supports help to stabilize families.
Procurement Information
On October 13, 2023, the Human Services Department issued a Request for Qualifications, RFQu-23-EDU-78, to identify potential agencies that could provide center-based services for children from birth to age five. As a result of this solicitation, all 1,957 Head Start preschool slots were successfully awarded. However, only 104 out of 188 available Early Head Start slots were filled. To address the shortage of slots, a second solicitation was released on June 20, 2024, to identify potential providers for the remaining 84 Early Head Start slots.
RFQu-24-EDU-80 was processed in accordance with Administrative Regulation 3.10 to establish a QVL.
The Human Services Department received two offers on September 13, 2024. Both offers were deemed to be responsive and responsible. An evaluation committee evaluated those offers based on the following criteria with a maximum possible point total of 1,020:
- Program Operations - Program Structure.
- Curricula.
- Enrollment and Attendance.
- Child Screening and Assessment.
- Inclusion.
- Parent and Family Engagement.
- Father Engagement.
- Safety Practices.
- Health Practices.
- Mental Health Practices.
- Nutrition.
- Transitions for Children Birth through Age Two.
- Human Resources Management.
- Program Management and Continuous Quality Improvement.
- Program Organization Chart.
- Fiscal Infrastructure.
- Fiscal Capacity.
- Financial Management Systems.
- Facilities.
- Personnel Matters.
- Classroom Site Visit.
After reaching a consensus, the evaluation committee recommends an award to:
- KUEGH Corp. dba KinderCare Learning Companies: 910.5 points.
Contract Term
The contract will begin on or about February 1, 2025, for an initial 17-month term with three one-year options to extend.
Financial Impact
The total contract value will not exceed $3,237,402.83. Funding is available from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration of Children, Youth and Families. There is no impact to the General Fund.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
On March 6, 2024, the City Council authorized staff to annually submit the Head Start Birth to Five Refunding Applications for a five-year grant term beginning on or about July 1, 2024, and accept grant funding. A portion of the grant funding will fund the contract.
This item was approved by the Head Start Policy Council on April 8, 2024.
Location
KinderCare Learning Center #301465: 10653 N. 25th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85029 (District 3)
KinderCare Learning Center #301840: 7755 S. 51st Avenue, Laveen, AZ 85339 (District 8)
Council Districts: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Gina Montes and the Human Services Department.