CFT Initiative (Parents as Child’s First Teacher) – A Parent Education and Family Involvement initiative – for which solicitations are made by the Early Learning Coalition of Duval, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Coalition’, is intended to do the following:

·      Engage parents who receive school readiness services, to be full participants in the early learning experiences of their children, through a series of monthly workshops and trainings to be held at public and / or other organization locations (no home visitations), and distribution of      newsletters with parenting tips and parent-child activities;

·      Offer guidance and training in family involvement to about 50 providers who offer school readiness services as part of the Coalition’s Quality Rating System;

·      Meet the requirements of Section 411.01(4)(o), Florida Statutes.

Section 411.01, Florida Statutes, requires the Agency for Workforce Innovation to work with the early learning coalitions to increase parents’ training for and involvement in their children’s preschool education.

Who may apply?

Organizations with experience and expertise in parent education and family involvement for school readiness programs may apply. Certified Minority Business Enterprises are encouraged to participate in any Solicitation Meetings that are held. Attendance at the Solicitation Meeting is not required for acceptance of proposals.

Full information about the proposal will be available on the web site www.elcofduval.org on or before Friday, March 16, 2007.

How much funding is available?

Maximum of $225,000 will be provided by Early Learning Coalition of Duval.

How long is the grant period?

Sept. 10, 2007 to June 30, 2008. Renewal will depend on successful completion of deliverables, achievement of outcomes, and ability to provide evidence or data of program / initiative success.

How many applications will be funded?

Only one organization will be funded to provide the services for CFT initiative.

What is the deadline for the proposal?

Tuesday, May 29, 2007, at 5:00 p.m.

What are the evaluation criteria?

Evaluation is based on price, application completion, staffing, program design, experience and responsiveness to special requirements. The final decision regarding a contract is vested with the Coalition, acting in its business and professional judgment and its discretion.

The Selection Committee will recommend a proposed contract or rejection of all proposals to the Coalition. The final decision regarding a contract is vested with the Coalition, acting in its business and professional judgment and its discretion. The Coalition has the authority to reject the Committee’s recommendation, select another proposal, request interviews by the full Coalition or anything the Coalition, in its discretion, determines to be in the Coalition’s best interest. The final decision is vested in the Coalition, acting in its discretion.

The Coalition reserves the right to reject any proposals.

When will the final contract be approved?

Board Meeting – Wednesday, August 29, 2007 at 12:00 Noon

Who is the primary contact at the Coalition for this proposal?

Padma Rajan, Director of Programs

How will inquiries or questions be addressed?

All questions must be submitted in writing via email to Padma Rajan, Director of Programs at prajan@elcofduval.org and copied to Susan Main, Executive Director, smain@elcofduval.org No telephone inquiries will be addressed.

SECTION II: SCHEDULE OF EVENTS AND TIMELINE

*Certified Minority Business Enterprises are encouraged to participate in any Solicitation Meetings that are held.

**Attendance at the Solicitation Meeting is not required for acceptance of proposals.

Contact Person: The contact person for proposers/potential contractors is:

Padma Rajan, Director of Programs

Early Learning Coalition of Duval

6850 Belfort Oaks Place, Suite 102

Jacksonville, FL 32216

(904)208-2040, ext. 202

Email: prajan@elcofduval.org

No verbal inquiries will be accepted. Written questions from prospective contractors will be accepted in letter form or by email by the contact person through the date specified above under Schedule of Events and Timeline (refer to Deadline for Submission of Written Inquiries). The Coalition bears no responsibility for any delays, or resulting impacts, associated with a prospective contractor’s receipt of this information. INFORMATION WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE BY PHONE. Any information received through oral communication shall not be binding and shall not be relied upon by any prospective contractor.

Communication will be deemed as received only after the Coalition sends a confirmation receipt either via email or in letter form, to prospective contractors.

Accommodation of Disability: If an accommodation is needed for a disability in order to participate in this solicitation, please contact the individual as specified above under Contact Person. Modification and/or Withdrawal of Proposals: Any modification of a proposal, except a modification resulting from a request of the Coalition, must be received by the Closing Date for Receipt of Proposals. An offeror may not modify its proposal after proposal opening.

Proposals may be withdrawn, by written or notice, within 72 hours after the date and time of proposal opening, provided that the offeror supplies proof of the impossibility to perform based upon an obvious error on the part of the offeror.

Protests: Failure to file a protest within the time prescribed in Section 120.57(3), Florida Statutes, shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under Chapter 120, Florida Statutes. Written notices, formal protests and proceedings must conform with Sections 120.57(3) and 287.042(2), Florida Statutes. Failure to supply the required bond shall result in rejection of the protest without leave to amend.