Title
Authorization to Amend Contract with Teaching Strategies, LLC (Ordinance S-46899)
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 June 30, 2021. The extension will 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
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 statewide childhood assessment tool procured and adopted by ADOE. The early childhood assessment 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 Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA), Part B, Section 619. 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 entered into a one-year Agreement CTR048634 with Teaching Strategies extending the contract terms until June 30, 2021 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 Manager. Approval of this request would extend the contract until June 30, 2021.
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. An extension until December 31, 2020, was approved by City Council on June 3, 2020, with Ordinance S-46682. On July 31, 2020, the Head Start Birth to Five Policy Council approved the additional six month extension to June 30, 2021.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Inger Erickson and the Human Services Department.