Pre-Employment Background Screening, Related Products and Services August 15, 2019 Sterling’s Response to Request for Proposal: Region 4 Education Service Center Pre-Employment Background Screening, Related Products and Services Solicitation Number 19-13 Presen ted By: Cecilia Green Regional Director, Industrial, Government & Education O: 214.387.8552 M: 425.219.0865 E: [email protected] Sterling 1 State Street Plaza, 24th Floor New York, New York 10004 United States sterlingcheck.com Confidential & Proprietary This material prepared for Region 4 Education Service Center constitutes confidential and proprietary information of Sterling and its reproduction, publication or disclosure to others without the express authorization of the President, or the General Counsel, of Sterling is strictly prohibited. Cover Letter August 15, 2019 Crystal Wallace, Business Operations Specialist Region 4 Education Service Center 7145 West Tidwell Road Houston, TX, 77092 Hello, Thank you for the opportunity to respond to Region 4 Education Service Center’s (ESC) Request for Proposal for Pre-Employment Background Screening, Related Products and Services. Our proposal is valid and irrevocable for one-hundred twenty (120) days after the proposal due date and time. We understand that for ESC, finding reliable, talented professionals to work with goes right to the heart of your values—a relentless focus on safety and an uncompromising standard of quality. Organizations like ESC select Sterling as their background screening partner because they benefit from the scale, accuracy, and efficiency of the industry’s leading provider of background and identity services. We work with over 25,000 clients worldwide, including 25% of the Fortune 100. Through its Industrials, Government & Education practice, Sterling focuses on the unique and vital roles of these critical sectors that impact people’s lives every day. A common theme across the public sector is sensitivity to safety and efficiency while being mindful of reputation and community relationships We’re uniquely positioned to provide ESC with: o The industry’s highest “hit rates” and fastest turnaround times with the lowest defect rates. Sterling will find more criminal information on your candidates in less time and with fewer errors. How? Technology and automation. As a result, 66% of criminal checks close in less than an hour. o Peace of mind in keeping up with highly complex, rapidly changing regulatory requirements. When it comes to federal, state, and international compliance, Sterling will keep you ahead of the curve. We’ll make sure you are always in line with today’s requirements and best practices. Sterling understands the varied compliance landscape across all states to help ensure that your program is effective while abiding by applicable laws and regulations. o Support and fulfillment personnel dedicated to government and educational services. Every person interacting with ESC’s account will be part of an industry- aligned team—from your Client Success Partner to the employees fulfilling your background checks. As a result, you’ll receive more tailored service from a team that knows the unique needs of government and or education across the full range of background screening services, including fingerprinting and emerging solutions to validate the identity of those that are hired. o Identity Solutions. Sterling’s forward thinking allows us to deliver fingerprinting solutions supported in over 750 UPS locations across the US that can capture and deliver fingerprints through numerous channeling agents. Sterling is also innovating in ID verification solutions through advanced facial recognition and image technologies. ▪ One provider to manage all your global background checks. Sterling provides background check services in 249 geographies, performing over 1,500,000 screens outside the US PRE-EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND SCREENING, RELATED PRODUCTS AND SERVICES | AUGUST 15, 2019 i Proprietary and Confidential © 2019 Sterling | www.sterlingcheck.com annually. Sterling prides itself on the role it has played, for more than 44 years, in making workplaces and educational environments safer. This is particularly critical for vulnerable populations, like children, supported by our comprehensive solutions that help ensure that you know relevant information about your applicants and employees. We have built our reputation on delivering efficient, high-quality end-to-end solutions while cultivating strong, sustainable relationships. We look forward to forming a long-term strategic partnership with ESC—and to becoming your trusted advisor in the employment screening space. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me. Regards, Cecilia Green Cecilia Green Regional Director, Industrial, Government & Education O: 214.387.8552 M: 425.219.0865 E: [email protected] PRE-EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND SCREENING, RELATED PRODUCTS AND SERVICES | AUGUST 15, 2019 ii Proprietary and Confidential © 2019 Sterling | www.sterlingcheck.com Table of Contents Cover Letter ............................................................................................................................................ i Tab 1 – Draft Contract and Offer and Contract Signature Form (Appendix A) ........................... 1 Tab 2 – Products/Pricing .................................................................................................................... 2 Tab 3 – Performance Capability ........................................................................................................ 3 Tab 4 – Qualification and Experience ............................................................................................... 4 Tab 5 – Value Add RFP ........................................................................................................................ 7 Tab 6 – Additional Required Documents (Appendix C) ............................................................... 65 Sterling attachments Business Continuity Plan Dun and Bradstreet Report Program Reports and Analytics Sample Service Level Agreement 2 Memory sticks – non redacted proposal 2 Memory sticks – redacted proposal Appendices Location in Proposal Document Tab 1 Appendix A - Draft Contract and Offer and Contract Signature Form Appendix B - Terms and Conditions Acceptance Tab 1 Form Tab 6 Appendix C - Additional Required Documents • Acknowledgment and Acceptance Tab 6 of Region 4 ESC’s Open Records Policy (Appendix C, Doc #1) • Antitrust Certification Statement Tab 6 (Tex. Government Code § 2155.005) (Appendix C, Doc #2) • Implementation of House Bill 1295 Tab 6 Certificate of Interested Parties (Form 1295) (Appendix C, Doc #3) • Texas Government Code 2270 Tab 6 Verification Form (Appendix C, Doc #4) PRE-EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND SCREENING, RELATED PRODUCTS AND SERVICES | AUGUST 15, 2019 iii Proprietary and Confidential © 2019 Sterling | www.sterlingcheck.com • Any additional agreements Tab 6 Offeror will require Participating Agencies to sign Appendix D, Exhibit A – Price Proposal Tab 2 ▪ Sample Adverse Action Letter ▪ Sample PreAdverse Action Letter Appendix E – Price Proposal (see: Requirements Tab 3 for National Cooperative Contract) Exhibit A – RESPONSE FOR NATIONAL Tab 3 COOPERATIVE CONTRACT Exhibit B – ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT, Tab 3 EXAMPLE prior to contract Exhibit C – MASTER INTERGOVERNMENTAL Tab 3 (Not required) COOPERATIVE PURCHASING AGREEMENT, EXAMPLE Exhibit D – PRINCIPAL PROCUREMENT Tab 3 (Not required) AGENCY CERTIFICATE, EXAMPLE Exhibit E – CONTRACT SALES REPORTING Tab 3 TEMPLATE Exhibit F – FEDERAL FUNDS Tab 3 CERTIFICATIONS Exhibit G – NEW JERSEY BUSINESS Tab 3 COMPLIANCE DOC #1 Ownership Disclosure Form DOC #2 Non-Collusion Affidavit DOC #3 Affirmative Action Affidavit ▪ Affirmative Action Affidavit - Sterling EEO Report DOC #4 Political Contribution Disclosure Form DOC #5 Stockholder Disclosure Certification DOC #6 Certification of Non-Involvement in Prohibited Activities in Iran DOC #7 New Jersey Business Registration Certificate ▪ Sterling NJ Business Registration Certificate Exhibit H – ADVERTISING COMPLIANCE Tab 3 REQUIREMENT PRE-EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND SCREENING, RELATED PRODUCTS AND SERVICES | AUGUST 15, 2019 iv Proprietary and Confidential © 2019 Sterling | www.sterlingcheck.com Tab 1 – Draft Contract and Offer and Contract Signature Form (Appendix A) a. Terms and Conditions Acceptance Form (Appendix B) Sterling requests that a comprehensive review of the terms and conditions be deferred until the point in time if/when Sterling is down-selected. Please note, as a consumer reporting agency, Sterling must comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, as amended ("FCRA"). The FCRA establishes specific obligations with respect to employment screening that apply to both employers and consumer reporting agencies. Sterling is required to include these obligations in the agreement between the parties. As such, Sterling requests ESC review and execute Sterling’s Standard Service Agreement (attached). Please see the executed Appendix A Draft Contract and Offer and Contract Signature Form included in this tab. PRE-EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND SCREENING, RELATED PRODUCTS AND SERVICES | AUGUST 15, 2019 1 Proprietary and Confidential © 2019 Sterling | www.sterlingcheck.com Tab 2 – Products/Pricing a. Appendix E (D) Price Proposal a) Products/Pricing Please refer to Appendix E (D) Price Proposal included in this tab. PRE-EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND SCREENING, RELATED PRODUCTS AND SERVICES | AUGUST 15, 2019 2 Proprietary and Confidential