NOTICE TO UNIVERSAL PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROVIDERS The Hauppauge Union Free School District is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the selection of Universal Pre-Kindergarten Provider to serve the District for the 2021-2022 school year. The contract period will be from September 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 with the option to renew for four (4) additional years (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023, July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024, July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025 and July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026) if deemed in the best interest of the District and approved by the Board of Education. Sealed proposals will be received until 11:00 A.M. on Friday, July 30, 2021 at the Hauppauge Union Free School District, Business Office, P.O. Box 6006, 495 Hoffman Lane, Hauppauge, New York 11788, Attention: Carolyn Biondi, Purchasing Agent. Proposals may also be emailed to [email protected]. The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any proposal or to accept part of any proposal. Dated: July 16, 2021 2021-2022 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL UNIVERSAL PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROVIDER BASE CONTRACT PERIOD: SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 – JUNE 30, 2022 WITH POTENTIAL FOR FOUR-YEAR EXTENSION PROPOSALS RECEIVED UNTIL 11:00 AM ON JULY 30, 2021 The Hauppauge Union Free School District is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the selection of Universal Pre-Kindergarten Provider to serve the District for the 2021-2022 school year. The contract period will be from September 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 with the option to renew for four (4) additional years (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023, July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024, July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025 and July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026) if deemed in the best interest of the District and approved by the Board of Education. Sealed proposals will be received until 11:00 A.M. on Friday, July 30, 2021 at the Hauppauge Union Free School District, Business Office, P.O. Box 6006, 495 Hoffman Lane, Hauppauge, New York 11788, Attention: Carolyn Biondi, Purchasing Agent. Proposals may also be emailed to [email protected]. The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any proposal or to accept part of any proposal. Proposals are irrevocable for a minimum period of 60 calendar days from the date of the proposal opening. A proposal may not be modified, withdrawn or canceled by a Proposer for the 60-calendar day period following the time and date designated for the receipt of proposals without the consent of the District. The District’s Board of Education reserves the right to reject any or all proposals that it considers not to be in the best interest of the District. Please read the attached materials carefully before submitting your proposal. Incomplete or non-responsive proposals may not be considered. Hauppauge Union Free School District Dated: July 18, 2021 1. INTRODUCTION Hauppauge Union Free School District (“the District”) invites proposals from qualified agencies (“Provider” or “Providers”) to administer the District’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) Program for the 2021-2022 school year, with an option to renew for the 2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025, 2025-2026 school years. The Provider will provide the site and run the entire program. The District is a high-performing suburban school district serving a population of approximately 3,200 students, prekindergarten through 12th grade. 2. PROPOSAL DUE DATE Proposals will be accepted up until 11:00 am on JULY 30, 2021 in the Business Office, 495 Hoffman Lane, Hauppauge NY 11788 and submitted to the attention of Carolyn Biondi, Purchasing Agent. 3. PRE-PROPOSAL QUESTIONS All questions must be submitted in writing via e-mail to Carolyn Biondi at [email protected] no later than July 27th, 2021. All questions and answers will be answered via email. The District reserves the right to amend the RFP based on questions and issues raised at any time prior to the RFP submission deadline. Failure of any Proposer to receive any Addendum or interpretation issued will not relieve any Proposer from any obligations under his/her Proposal submitted. Only questions answered by formal written Addenda will be binding. Information obtained from any source other than the aforementioned designated person is not official and may be inaccurate. 4. CONTRACT TERM The contract(s), once awarded, will be in effect from September 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 (“the Agreement”), with the option to renew for four additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the District, under the same terms and conditions as mutually agreed by District and the selected Provider(s). At the end of any Agreement’s term, the District reserves the right to extend the term of the Agreement at the same terms and conditions for a period of up to 60 calendar days for the purpose of getting a new contract in place. 5. CONTRACT TERM RENEWAL The selected Provider(s) will notify the District in writing no later than 90 calendar days in advance of the end of term of this Agreement to discuss renewal. Automatic renewal will not be accepted. The Agreement will continue on a month-by-month basis using an agreed-upon methodology to determine the month-by-month price. 6. NATURE OF SERVICES REQUIRED The District is seeking proposals from Providers to contract with the District for Universal Pre-Kindergarten, under the United States Department of Education and the United States Department of Health and Human Services in Partnership with New York State Education Department. The selected Provider(s) will work in collaboration and under the supervision of the District to provide prekindergarten placements. The selected Provider(s) are expected to provide a quality program by adopting “best practices” program standards including valid and reliable measures of environmental quality, the quality of teacher-student interactions, and student outcomes. Selected Provider(s) will provide Universal Pre-Kindergarten program services consisting of but not limited to, the following: A. 5.0 hours per day (excluding nap / rest time), five days per week program for at least 180 days during the 2021-2022 school year. The program will be open to resident children who are four years of age on or before December 1. Children will be selected by a lottery when there are more children than UPK spots available in a given year. B. Teachers must hold a teaching license or certificate valid for service in the early childhood grades. Teachers who are not certified must have a five-year plan that will lead to obtaining NYS teacher certification in Early Childhood Education (Birth – Grade 2). Proposers must provide to the District a copy of the five-year plans as part of the RFP process. All Proposers who have uncertified teachers providing instruction in a UPK classroom must have an on-site education director who holds a valid NYS teacher certification in either Early Childhood Education (Birth – Grade 2) or Childhood Education (N – Grade 6). C. The program must be aligned with all District policies and will meet the requirements of the policies and procedures set forth in Appendix A (Page 16). A Proposer must also follow all the regulations and policies regarding Statewide Universal Full Day Prekindergarten Program (“SUFDPK”) registration and enrollment. D. Selected Provider(s) must be able to screen the new entrants in accordance with New York State Regulations. Children may not be excluded from the program based on ability, disability or limited English proficiency. E. Selected Provider(s) will work with the District to align curricula and instruction with NYS Prekindergarten Foundation for the Common Core and/or the anticipated Next Generation Learning Standards during the contracted period. F. Selected Provider(s) will also adopt approved quality indicators of assessment using evidence-based research that is developmentally appropriate and aligned with the district’s curriculum of instruction, as determined by the Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools. G. Provide support services to children and families such as social and health related services by partnering with the District and the District’s established health related partners. H. Follow the District’s established school calendar and hours of operation, including the requirement of a minimum of 5.0 instructional hours per day (excluding nap/rest time). Teachers, leaders and staff are expected to participate in District provided professional development days especially Superintendent Conference days. I. All students must be provided access to meals and snacks. Parents may provide lunch, however, in the event a student(s) does not have lunch, the proposer must provide access to appropriate meals and snacks to ensure the nutritional needs of children are met. Meals/Snacks are to be provided in an environment conducive to staff/child interaction and appropriate to meet children’s needs. There should be sufficient time for eating and interaction and social emotional growth. J. Selected Provider(s) will help the transition of Pre-Kindergarten students to Kindergarten by providing the following services: • Strengthening their academic skills through the District’s philosophy of child centered, play-based learning and purposeful play; • Increase early literacy skills (reading, writing, speaking, listening and information processing); • Increase creative and artistic abilities through exploration; • Provide a balanced variety of experiences and learning opportunities that promote independence through small group and large group activities; • Improve inter and intrapersonal skills, feelings