Bid Detail

16-195 - RFP: Operation of Putnam Preschool Center

Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy (Putnam), located at 1300 State Street, Springfield, MA wishes to obtain the services of a licensed early childhood education organization to enter into a partner relationship that develops and manages a preschool center (Center), provides learning opportunities to students, and is a model classroom for the Early Education and Care (EEC) program within Putnam. The Center will serve as a training facility for Putnam EEC students, as well as serve the childcare needs of the public. The successful Proposer will be responsible for providing experienced Center staff that will serve as mentors for Putnam EEC high school students. The successful Proposer will be responsible for licensing, supervising, and staffing the Center. The operation of the Center will be at the sole cost and responsibility of the successful Proposer.

Proposals will be received until 2:00 p.m. on May 25, 2016 at the Office of Procurement. If at any time of the scheduled RFP opening, City Hall or the Office of Procurement is closed due to uncontrolled events such as fire, snow, ice, tornado, wind or building evacuation, the RFP opening will be postponed until 2:00 p.m. the next business day. Proposals will be accepted until that date and time.
A MANDATORY pre-submission meeting will be held on Monday, May 16, 2016 at 1:00 PM. The meeting will be held at Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy, Media Center, Room A201, 1300 State Street, Springfield, MA 01109. Please RSVP to Mrs. Amy Skowyra, School Business Manager at 413-748-6302 or skowyraa@springfieldpublicschools.com. The City will not consider the proposal of any organization that did not attend the pre-submission meeting.

To be given consideration, any questions must be received by close of business on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. Any and all such interpretations, supplemental instructions or information will be made in the form of written addenda which will be sent to all holders of the RFP. The City, in its sole discretion, may decline to provide the information requested, if it is not deemed relevant to the RFP. Any addenda so issued shall become part of the RFP.Educational/Operational Responsibilities of the Partnership:
The Springfield Public Schools (SPS) invites interested parties to propose the management and operation of a preschool facility at Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy (Putnam). The successful Proposer’s preschool program would serve as a “model” classroom for Putnam students to learn about early education industry standards, and prepare students as high quality workers ready to enter the early education industry.
As this would serve as a “model” preschool classroom, it is important for the successful Proposer and its staff to be able to demonstrate proper classroom management skills, successful child behavior management, center-based learning, weekly preschool curriculum planning, proper interaction with all staff and parents, and a structured classroom schedule. Lesson plan and program curriculum content must cover the areas of math, language & literacy, science exploration, and music & movement.
The successful Proposer’s director, teachers, and program supervisor must also be willing to collaborate with the Putnam Early Education and Care (EEC) teachers, meeting at a minimum of once per month to discuss programming. The successful Proposer must also be willing to provide weekly curriculum plans to the Putnam EEC teachers at least one week in advance so that the Putnam EEC teachers may discuss the curriculum with their students. Submitted curriculum plans must meet the approval of the Putnam EEC teacher.
The successful Proposer must have the flexibility to operate their preschool center in a method that reflects the highest standards in the early education industry, so that Putnam may have the flexibility to educate their students in all the skill and theoretical objectives that this preschool center offers. Please refer to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, Office for Career & Vocational Technical Education, Early Education and Care Vocational Technical Education Frameworks in Exhibit A for details on the frameworks for the Putnam EEC program.

The City/SPS:

1) The City will provide the electrical power, heat, air conditioning, water and sewer services, and such other utilities as are required or desirable to operate the child care center facility.
Hours & Days of Operation:
The selected Proposer must agree to operate the Center within the school from at minimum 7:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., but may also operate the Center to accommodate their own needs until 6:00 P.M. The Proposer shall not operate its programs when Springfield Public Schools are not in session due a scheduled holiday, inclement weather, or other emergency conditions. However, if an early release day is called due to weather, the building will remain open and allow the program to call their own closing time. The selected Provider may remain open during Springfield Public School vacations, with the exception of scheduled federal holidays. (See the Springfield Public Schools 2016 – 2017 school year calendar in Exhibit B.)
Program options may include part-day, full-day and/or some model of mixed-care. The selected Proposer will service up to 20 preschoolers, or up to the licensed capacity set forth by the licensing agency within the space described below. The selected Proposer will provide an EEC qualified Director/Lead Teacher and two full time teachers (as noted below), as well as the day-to-day operational consumables and food.
Staffing Qualifications and Requirements:
The selected Proposer must agree to staff the Center with one Director/Lead Teacher and two full-time teachers at minimum.
The Preschool Director/Lead Teacher must meet the following criteria:
1) Have a minimum of a four-year degree in Early Childhood Education
2) Have a current EEC Director certification (Director I or Director II)
3) Must be certified in CPR and First Aid
4) Have a minimum of five years’ experience in a preschool setting
5) Have a minimum of five years’ experience in organizational planning and supervising activities based on the developmental needs of early childhood
6) Have strong communication skills, both verbal and written
7) Have group leadership skills and project management abilities
8) Have proven knowledge of EEC and NAEYC early childhood development
9) Willingness to mentor and train Putnam EEC students

The two full-time Preschool teachers must meet the following criteria:
1) Have a minimum of a two-year degree in Early Childhood education (four-year degree preferred)
2) Must have a current EEC Teacher certification
3) Must be certified in CPR and First Aid
4) Have a minimum of three years’ experience in a preschool setting
5) Have the personal qualities to work with children under supervision
6) Have the ability to relate to parents, staff, and the community in which the children live
7) Be at least 21 years of age
8) Have proven knowledge of EEC and NAEYC early childhood development
9) Willingness to mentor and train Putnam EEC students

All part-time or substitute preschool teachers working on site at Putnam must meet the following criteria:
1) Must be certified in CPR and First Aid
2) Have the personal qualities to work with children under supervision
3) Have the ability to relate to parents, staff, and the community in which the children live
4) Be at least 18 years of age or 16 if enrolled in the Putnam EEC program
5) Willingness to mentor and train Putnam EEC students
Operation Requirements:
The successful Proposer must be fully and appropriately licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to care for preschoolers, and must be participating in the Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). Our expectation is that the successful proposer makes annual progress toward improvement on the QRIS scale. The successful Proposer will be responsible for all permits, licenses, inspections, and ensuring compliance with all legal requirements for the operation of the childcare center space. The Proposer will be solely responsible for the health and safety of all children while in their care. The Proposer will be responsible for keeping the facility in a clean and safe condition. The Proposer will provide oral notification to Putnam immediately upon learning of any serious incidents or hazards and will provide written notification to Putnam of any investigation or citations by local, State and/or Federal authorities. In any representations to the public, the Proposer shall make clear that it is totally independent of Putnam and that Putnam is not responsible for the Proposer’s operation and activities. The Proposer is prohibited from using the school for office location or mailing address. An off site address and/or office location is required.
The successful Proposer will ensure that all employees have completed and passed a CORI background check.

Contracts between the City and the successful Proposer are dependent upon Putnam’s continued operation of a Chapter 74 approved Early Education and Care Program.

The City of Springfield supports the goal of twenty percent minority and women participation in all contracts. No questions will be answered unless received by the Chief Procurement Officer at least 7 days prior to the expiration of the time set for submitting bids or proposals. The Chief Procurement Officer reserves the right to waive any informality in and to reject any or all bids if it is in the public interest to do so.

Available Solicitations

As of 7:04 am Friday, April 26, 2024

24-236 - Interior Painting at Rebecca Johnson Elementary School
End date: Tuesday May 14, 2024 at 2 p.m.

24-235 - Interior Painting at Milton Bradley Elementary School
End date: Tuesday May 14, 2024 at 2 p.m.

24-222 - For Sale: Redevelopment Boston & Albany Railroad at Factory Road/Hendee Street
End date: Monday May 13, 2024 at 2 p.m.

24-234 - Window Shade Replacement at the High School of Commerce
End date: Friday May 10, 2024 at 2 p.m.

24-233 - Fire Escape Repairs at Old Homer St. School
End date: Thursday May 9, 2024 at 2 p.m.

24-232 - Site Improvements at Arthur T. Talmadge Elementary School
End date: Thursday May 9, 2024 at 2 p.m.

24-231 - Site Improvements at Brightwood-Lincoln Elementary School
End date: Thursday May 9, 2024 at 2 p.m.

24-221 - Mary O. Pottenger School Parking Lot Improvement Project
End date: Thursday May 2, 2024 at 2 p.m.

24-220 - Frank H Freedman School Parking Lot Improvement Project
End date: Thursday May 2, 2024 at 2 p.m.

24-219 - Daniel B. Brunton School Parking Lot Improvement Project
End date: Thursday May 2, 2024 at 2 p.m.

24-180 - Roadway & Sidewalk Improvements - Arterial and Residential Streets including Sidewalks
End date: Wednesday May 1, 2024 at 2 p.m.

24-205 - Request for Proposals for Springfield's 2024 Public Mural Program
End date: Monday April 29, 2024 at 2 p.m.

24-226 - Flooring Installation at Mary O. Pottenger Elementary School
End date: TODAY Friday April 26, 2024 at 2 p.m.

 RSS 2.0 feed