SERK at PHMC FY16 RFP

Public Health Management CorporationSoutheast Regional Key Request for Proposals for Professional Development and Technical Assistance Services for Fiscal Year 2016 (July 1, 2015– June 30, 2016)

The Southeast Regional Key (SERK) administers the Keystone STARS program on behalf of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Montgomery and Delaware counties. Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) has managed the SERK since July 1, 2010. Contracts issued as a result of this Request for Proposal (RFP) are between PHMC and responding entities.

The Keystone STARS program is designed to support and encourage quality in child care settings by providing the following incentives and supports to participating licensed child care facilities:

Support from STARS Specialists Grants to facilities for quality improvements Rising STARS Tuition Assistance Financial awards to facility staff who increase their qualifications Increases in subsidy rates for high performing facilities Wide range of college credit bearing and Pennsylvania Quality Assurance System

(PQAS) Professional Development Targeted site-specific Technical Assistance School Age Care Technical Assistance Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Child Care Health Consultation Regulatory Referral Technical Assistance Infant Toddler Specialists Services Supports to non-Child Care facilities to participate in quality improvement activities.

The SERK at PHMC provides these resources via internal staff as well as through contracts with expert organizations and individuals in the community. The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to identify expert organizations and individuals to provide professional development and technical assistance services in Fiscal Year 2016 (July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016).

All professional development and technical assistance services are designed to meet the following goals:

Encourage participation in Keystone STARS among a diverse group of provider types. Engage child care practitioners in a Continuous Quality Improvement process Support child care facilities in achieving higher STAR levels in the Keystone STARS

quality rating system, with particular focus on providers serving hard to reach families and children by providing supports to providers as they move up the quality scale to STAR 3 and STAR 4 levels. http://www.pakeys.org/pages/get.aspx?page=Rising_Stars

Increase practitioner qualifications: Pennsylvania Career Lattice http://www.pakeys.org/uploadedContent/Docs/Career%20Development/Career%20Lattice%20and%20Roles_9.2014.pdf, Early Childhood Education Teacher Quality in PA http://www.pakeys.org/uploadedContent/Docs/PD/ECE%20Teacher%20Quality.pdf)

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SERK at PHMC FY16 RFP

Improve skills and abilities of practitioners to meet Keystone STARS Performance Standards (Center Performance Standards: http://www.pakeys.org/uploadedContent/Docs/Early%20Learning%20Programs/Keystone%20STARS/2014-2015%20REVISED%20Keystone%20STARS%20Performance%20Standards%20for%20Centers.pdf, Family Child Care Home Performance Standards: http://www.pakeys.org/uploadedContent/Docs/Early%20Learning%20Programs/Keystone%20STARS/2014-2015%20REVISED%20Keystone%20STARS%20Performance%20Standards%20for%20Family%20CCH.pdf, Group Home Performance Standards:http://www.pakeys.org/docs/2011-2012%20Keystone%20STARS%20Performance%20Standards%20for%20Group%20Homes.pdf).

Improve child care environments (Environment Rating Scales, http://www.pakeys.org/pages/get.aspx?page=Programs_PreK_ERS).

Professional development and technical assistance are essential to Early Childhood and School Age Care practitioners’ success in Pennsylvania’s continuous quality improvement system. The goals are based on research-based practices that increase the quality of child care services and contribute to positive outcomes for children and youth.

In this RFP, SERK at PHMC is seeking responses in three categories: Credit Bearing and Credential Professional Development, Needs Based Professional Development, and Technical Assistance. Within each category respondents are asked to propose to offer specialized services.

There are several ongoing initiatives of OCDEL, the PA Key and SERK that will impact PD/TA contractors in FY16, including:

Rising STARS (http://www.pakeys.org/pages/get.aspx?page=Rising_Stars)The Rising STARS initiative focuses on access to the highest quality services for hard to reach / hard to serve children and families by providing supports to providers as they move up the quality scale to STAR 3 and 4 levels. The Rising STARS initiative currently includes the following components:

Increased tiered reimbursement for high quality providers (STAR 3 and 4); Targeted grants for STAR 1 providers serving high risk communities with demonstrated

commitment to moving to STAR 2 and beyond; Mentoring and move up support for STAR 1 providers serving high risk communities with

demonstrated commitment to moving to STAR 2 and beyond;

Rising STARS continues to be priority for SERK in FY16.

PA Key PD Registry In FY16 the PD Registry will continue to be the platform for managing registration for Regional Key funded professional development offerings. Located at www.pakeys.org , all SERK contractors will be expected to list funded trainings on the online PD Calendar as well as support Early Childhood and School Age professionals in registering for trainings using the PD Registry. Additional contract requirements to ensure compliance with use of the PD Registry will be in place for FY16.

Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge (http://www.pakeys.org/pages/get.aspx?page=RTTT)

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SERK at PHMC FY16 RFP

In December 2013, the U.S. Department of Education awarded Pennsylvania $51.7 million through the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge grant program. Pennsylvania is one of six states to win grants during this round. The four-year grant will support initiatives that help close the achievement gap and increase the number of children who enter kindergarten ready to succeed in school and in life.

In Pennsylvania this work will focus on engaging a more diverse group of childcare provider types in quality improvement initiatives and in particular those providers who are serving a high percentage of children and families who are placed at risk and or operating in high quality desserts. Initiatives include:

Establishing local Early Childhood Education Community Innovation Zones to serve the lowest-performing elementary schools in the state.

Improving access for children with high needs to high-quality early learning and development programs.

Increasing access and delivery of high-quality professional development for early learning educators.

Developing a no-cost universal Kindergarten Entry Inventory for voluntary use by schools to better understand the needs of students entering kindergarten.

Operating four Governor's Institutes for nearly 3,000 pre-kindergarten to third-grade educators and practitioners to experience and share strategies and best practices.

Innovations in Professional Development and Technical Assistance Services

The SERK continues to value innovative, cutting edge, research based practices in the provision of professional development and technical assistance services. In particular the SERK has identified that the provision of professional development and technical assistance services within the context of established relationships with communities of practitioners is an effective method of service delivery and has a positive impact on the engagement of the practitioner and the long term impact of the intervention. In FY16 the SERK seeks expert organizations and individuals that will offer high quality content knowledge in new ways. Request for proposal applicants should consider the following innovations as they plan for service delivery in fiscal year 2016.

Innovations include, but are not limited to:

Professional development with technical assistance, coaching or mentoring embedded Communities of practices Cohorts Professional development series Online learning communities Learning institutes Professional development and technical assistance that is responsive to the needs of

providers located in a specific geographic location or possessing common demographics

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SERK at PHMC FY16 RFP

All funding contracts that result from this RFP are contingent upon PHMC’s receipt of funding from OCDEL. All award amounts are subject to change based on PHMC’s final budget from OCDEL.

PROCUREMENT TIMELINE

There are no exceptions to the proposal deadline for the bidder; however, PHMC reserves the right to change the dates. 

Event DateRFP Released to Public February 12, 2015

SERK at PHMC Hosts Bidder's Conference February 17 , 2015

RFP Submission Deadline March 20, 2015 at 5:00 pm

SERK at PHMC Announces Successful Bidder/Notice of Intent to Award

May 1st

SERK PD/TA Contract Training (for successful bidders) May  19, 2015

Contract Negotiations and Execution of the Contract Completed

June 1 – June 30, 2015

FY16 Contracts Executed (pending passage of State budget)

July 1, 2015

There will be a Bidders’ Conference on February 17, 2015 from 2:00PM – 4:00pm at PHMC, 1500 Market Street, Center Square East, Philadelphia, PA. 19102. Participation is voluntary. The Bidder’s Conference is open to all bidders, while new bidders are strongly encouraged to attend. To register for the Bidders’ Conference email your name, organization, phone number and email to serkpd@phmc.org. Please bring photo ID to enter the building and allow a few extra minutes to sign in at the building front desk.

Instructions

Bidders must complete Part 1 (Organization/Individual Profile), Part 2 (Response to Service Request) and Part 3 (Acknowledgement and Attestation Form) for consideration of funding.

Responses must be submitted on the corresponding FY16 RFP Application document and as directed with accompanying attachments. Please save a copy of your FY16 RFP Application to submit together with all required attachments.

Bidders proposing to offer multiple services will need to complete Parts 1 and 3 only once and complete questions / include attachments in Part 2 for each category proposed (Credit Bearing PD, Needs Based PD, and/or TA).

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SERK at PHMC FY16 RFP

Proposals must be submitted electronically to serkpd@phmc.org. Permission for non-electronic submission must be requested by emailing serkpd@phmc.org. Submission deadline is 5:00 PM on March 20, 2015 – with no exceptions.

Please submit all questions regarding the RFP to serkpd@phmc.org.

Part 1: Organization/Individual Profile

Please note that while both individuals and organizations are invited to respond to this RFP eligibility varies depending on the specialty service being proposed.

Please respond to the following section on the application (Part 1):

1. Legal entity name of organization/individual

2. Operating name if different from legal entity name

3. Organization/Individual address

4. Name of the proposal contact person, phone number and email address

5. Organization’s tax ID/EIN or individual’s Social Security Number

Please include the following attachments:

□ Copy of most recent W-9 form.

□ Organizational Chart with key staff identified and Board of Directors.

□ Financial statements for most recently completed fiscal year (audited, preferred).

□ Current annual operating budget.

□ List of current child care facilities you operate, including name, locations, Master Provider Index (MPI) numbers and STAR Levels of facilities. The STAR level of facilities operated by an organization providing services in the Keystone STARS/Keys to Quality Program demonstrates the organization’s leadership as well as models commitment and support of the PA Keys to Quality system. Operating high quality programs within STARS indicates content knowledge, capacity, and expertise. Contractors operating child care facilities must meet the minimum STAR 3 requirements for 100% of their facilities if they operate three or fewer sites and if they operate four or more facilities 75% must be a STAR 3 or higher and all others at STAR 2. (Note: ELS Memo ELS/KS-09 #11: http://www.seregionalkey.org/eblast/downloads/ELS-KS-09_11-StarLevelofFacilitiesOperatedbyRKTechAsstPDContractors-Subcontractors.pdf).

□ A brief description of you/your organizations understanding of the Keystone STARS quality rating system and a description of how you/your organization will seek to support practitioners in meeting standards of quality and achieving higher STAR levels.

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SERK at PHMC FY16 RFP

□ Part 3: Signed Acknowledgement and Attestation Form

Part 2: Response to Service Requests

Part 2 A: Credit Bearing and Credential Professional Development

The use of Rising STARS Tuition Assistance is a priority for the SERK at PHMC which may reduce levels of credit bearing services purchased in FY16.

The goals of these professional development services are to:

Increase teacher and director qualifications to support child care facilities in achieving higher STAR levels in the Keystone STARS quality rating system (http://www.pakeys.org/uploadedContent/Docs/Career%20Development/Career%20Lattice%20and%20Roles_9.2014.pdf / http://www.pakeys.org/uploadedContent/Docs/PD/TEACHER%20QUALITY_9_2014v2.pdf)

Encourage continuing education for early childhood and School Age child care professionals supporting high quality instructional practices along with positive child outcomes.

Building a robust pipeline of qualified professions into the Early Childhood and School Age workforce.

These goals are achieved via the provision of the following Specialty Services:

Specialty Services:

Child Development Associate (CDA) Coursework – This includes coursework offered for college credit or articulation to credit at regional colleges and universities. This service is for CDA coursework provided by an accredited college or university that bears 6 or 9 credits or CDA coursework provided by a community based organization with articulation agreements at colleges and universities. Community based CDA coursework must also articulate to 6 or 9 credits. CDA PD includes 120 hours of coursework to prepare students to successfully submit for their CDA Credential from the Council for Professional Recognition. The coursework is based on six competency goals and thirteen related functional areas (http://www.cdacouncil.org/the-cda-credential/about-the-cda/cda-competency-standards). Coursework should provide a base of knowledge and skill for child care employees and should support continued education and development by staff. Delivery of this PD will include instruction on the process of attaining a credential. PD may be face-to-face or online.Range of cost per unit: $8,000 - $20,000

Director’s Credential Coursework – Director’s Credential series are only delivered by approved institutions of higher education (see approved schools list here: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e33067afbd3d90634f2953f28/files/DC_Programs_revd02_17_14ba_List_1_01.doc) The credential consists of three credit bearing (total of 9 credits) courses that are based on eight core knowledge areas and 78 learning objectives. Each class in the three class series will include 45 hours of coursework. Delivery of this PD will include instruction on

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SERK at PHMC FY16 RFP

the process of attaining a credential from the PA Key. PD may be face-to-face or online and offered at the Associate’s, Bachelor’s, or Graduate degree level.Range of cost per unit: $15,000 - $30,000 (total for three classes)

Pennsylvania School Age Professional Credential (SAPC) – SAPC provided by either accredited colleges and universities or community based organizations with articulation agreements with colleges and universities. The SAPC is based on thirteen functional areas and includes 120 hours of coursework (http://www.pakeys.org/uploadedContent/Docs/SAC/SAC%20GenInfo.pdf). Delivery of this PD will include instruction on the process of attaining a credential from the PA Key. PD may be face-to-face or online.Range of cost per unit: $5,000 - $15,000

Credit Bearing Courses of high interest to Early Childhood and School Age Professionals- (Courses can be used for CDA, SAPC, or Directors Credential renewal or achieving Instructional Level II Certification) – These are credit bearing classes that include current and research based content in Early Childhood and School Age topics. Courses can be used by professionals to renew existing credentials or to move towards Instructional Level II teacher’s certification. Courses must meet Act 48 and CEU requirements at minimum and be provided by an accredited college or university. Courses may be face-to-face or online. Range of cost per unit: $5,000 - $10,000

Credit bearing courses and Credential PD in Spanish language – Any of the above classes or credential courses offered in Spanish language with adequate support for Limited English Proficiency (LEP) students/participants. PD may be face-to-face or online.Range of cost per unit: see above ranges

Eligibility

Respondents must be an accredited institution of higher education, community based organization with Articulation Agreements with institutions of higher education to recognize credit for coursework. Community based organizations providing credential PD must include articulations agreements with accredited colleges or universities.

Current and past contractors of the SERK at PHMC must be in good standing. Respondents must be in good standing with their local government, the Commonwealth

of Pennsylvania and the federal government.

General Requirements – Credit and Credential PD

Contractors will deliver all services in Fiscal Year 2016 (July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016). Contractors will offer PD that is consistent with Office of Child Development and Early

Learning Professional Development Guiding Principles (OCDEL PD Guiding Principles: http://www.seregionalkey.org/eblast/downloads/ProfessionalDevelopmentPrinciples-7-30-09.doc).

PD must be delivered by Pennsylvania Quality Assurance System (PQAS) certified instructors and instructors on the approved Staff Plan attached to your contract.

Contractors must demonstrate that PQAS certified instructors offering professional development in facilities serving children and youth have met Pennsylvania’s Act 31

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SERK at PHMC FY16 RFP

requirements for mandated reporter training and Act 153 requirements for clearances and background checks. (http://www.keepkidssafe.pa.gov/ )

CDA instructors must be at a level VII on the career lattice (Master’s in ECE/HDFS/or related field).

CDA contractors must adhere to instructor eligibility, delivery methods, and course content in the CDA Consistent Delivery document. (CDA Consistent Delivery: http://gallery.mailchimp.com/e33067afbd3d90634f2953f28/files/CDA_Consistent_Delivery_07_10v2.doc)

All credit or credential PD will bear college credits or articulate to college credit at institutions of higher education.

Credential courses must include support for credential attainment including description of the credential process, support with paperwork and activities associated with the attainment of the credential.

Contractors will provide SERK at PHMC with student directory information as permitted by the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The information will include names, phone numbers, email addresses, level of education, anticipated degree, date(s) of enrollment and date of degree attainment. SERK at PHMC will provide a template for reporting the student directory information.

Contractors are responsible for marketing courses, recruiting participants, and enrolling participants to fill courses. Upon request by the contractor, SERK at PHMC will support recruitment efforts via e-blast and announcements at regional meetings. Contractors are responsible for providing SERK with promotional materials to facilitate the announcements.

SERK at PHMC cannot pay for courses with fewer than 10 students enrolled and those courses will be removed from the contract. Contractors will monitor enrollment so in the event of low enrollment SERK can support the contractor’s recruitment efforts in a timely manner to ensure that classes run as scheduled.

In the event that a course would need to be cancelled the SERK at PHMC must approve, in advance, any adjustment to work plans or rescheduling.

All promotion of SERK at PHMC funded classes should include SERK logo and the statement, “Funded by the Southeast Regional Key (SERK) at Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC).” Logo will be provided.

Contractors will post professional development offerings to the PD Registry four weeks prior to the PD event. Credit and Credential courses can be posted to the PD registry for marketing purposes, however, at this time credit and credential coursework is not required to be posted to the PD Registry.

Contractors can charge participants a registration fee, paid directly to the contractor, which may not exceed $100 per course.

All contractors are required to ensure that participant profiles are up-to-date in the PD Registry including the contact information and employment information of the participant. Contractors will assist students in updating their PA Keys profiles during registration activities or coursework within the first 15 days of the class start date.

Enrollment priority in SERK at PHMC funded classes will be given to staff working in Keystone STARS and DHS licensed child care facilities, including participating Head Start programs, in Philadelphia, Montgomery and Delaware Counties.

Contractors will promote Keystone STARS system goals including informing students of SERK resources and sharing information about the Rising STARS Tuition Assistance Program and PA Key CDA Assessment Vouchers.

Contractors will assess student readiness for classes and provide recommendations and resources for remedial or developmental training and classes.

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SERK at PHMC FY16 RFP

Contractors will enforce eligibility guidelines for credential attainment as pre-requisites for classes. For example CDA students must have a high school diploma and Director Credential candidates must have at least an Associate’s Degree with ECE coursework.

Contractors will connect practitioners with educational supports including literacy support and tutoring where appropriate.

Contractors will cooperate with SERK at PHMC staff/contractors to support students in credential attainment.

Credit and credential contractors are encouraged to participate in SERK at PHMC career events and communicate with SERK’s Career Advisor to help promote courses.

All PD provided via this contract is subject to observation by SERK at PHMC staff with adequate notice of the observation.

Contractors will adhere to all applicable Early Learning Services (ELS) memos issued by OCDEL.

Contractors will participate in partner meetings twice per fiscal year and additional meeting opportunities as requested. Contractors will be required to participate in training for the PD registry as requested by the PA Keys and will devote staff to become expert in utilizing the PD Registry.

Contractors are subject to financial audits related to contracts with SERK at PHMC; upon request contractors will provide documentation to support budgeted costs associated with the contract.

All SERK at PHMC contracts will include applicable state and federal contracting language and requirements.

Performance Expectations

Contractors will recruit a minimum of 15 students in face-to-face classes and 10 students in online classes, as applicable.

Courses with less than 10 participants at the start date may not be billed to SERK at PHMC and will be removed from the contract.

For credential programs, at least 65% of students served will receive credential within 6 months of completion of coursework.

Contractors must provide at least 45% of contracted services by December 31st. Work plans submitted must indicate this requirement will be met. SERK at PHMC may amend contracts with contractors not meeting this requirement.

Payment/ Invoicing/Reporting

All service contracts are fee-for-service. Fees are paid for services delivered. Fees therefore include all costs to the contractor such as marketing, materials, transportation, salaries, etc.

SERK at PHMC will issue two equal payments of 50% of the contract for each class/credential course contingent upon SERK at PHMC’s approval of invoice(s) and contractor’s adherence to terms of the contract.

SERK at PHMC will issue payments to contractors by check or direct deposit within 30 days of approving an invoice for payment.

Contractor will submit the first invoice 15 days after the start of the class utilizing the SERK at PHMC invoice. The first invoice should include instructor name, class start and end dates, class schedule and student directory information. Invoice template will be provided to successful contractors.

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SERK at PHMC FY16 RFP

Contractor will submit the second invoice 15 days after the last day of the class utilizing the SERK at PHMC invoice. The second invoice will include a revised student roster indicating any students that have dropped the class and the reason for dropping the class.

Contractors will collect data on students’ level of education and years working in the ECE field as well as reasons for enrolling in and dropping (when applicable) courses. Contractors will summit this data in an aggregated report on June 30, 2016.

Contractor will complete SERK at PHMC narrative reports as requested and no more than twice per year (December/June). The report format will be provided.

All invoices and supporting documents will be submitted to SERK at PHMC electronically.

Respondent Questions

Please respond to the following section on the application (Part 2A):

Indicate for which specialty services you are responding

□ Child Development Associate (CDA)□ Director’s Credential □ PA School Age Professional Credential (SAPC)□ High Interest Credit Bearing Coursework (Renewal)□ Credit Bearing PD in Spanish Language

If you are applying for multiple specialty services in this category, you will only be required to respond to these questions once. However, your responses, work plan, staff plan and rate request should include all proposed services in this category.

Indicate in which county or counties you propose to provide this service:

□ Delaware □ Montgomery□ Philadelphia

1. Describe your experience and success providing the proposed services. Include a description of the child care community that you have served. If you are a current SERK contractor, please share relevant program data and reflect on successes and challenges in FY15. Outline strategies to overcome challenges in FY15.

2. In your past experience what percentage of students, completing your coursework, have received their credential within 6 months? Describe your data collection efforts in tracking this outcome.

3. How will you support students in understanding and preparing for the Child Development Associate (CDA) assessment, School Age Professional Credential (SAPC) assessment or Director Credential submission process? How does your curriculum include this information?

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SERK at PHMC FY16 RFP

4. Describe proposed class/course including a discussion of syllabus, texts, learning objectives, format (online or face to face), and participant expectations.

5. Describe your promotion, marketing, and recruitment strategies to ensure that proposed classes/courses meet performance expectations. Include a discussion about successes and challenges in recruiting and enrolling for the proposed services. Describe how any challenges will be addressed.

6. For community based organizations, describe your success in working with colleges and universities to ensure that credential coursework articulates to college credit. Please include the number of credits that are recognized and by what schools. Please also include any copies of Memoranda of Understanding or Articulation Agreements.

7. If you are a current SERK contractor, please describe how you promote the use of the Rising STARS tuition assistance program to students. If you are a new provider, please outline a strategy for supporting students in accessing this funding source.

8. What is the rate per unit of the services you are proposing to deliver? How many units of service are you proposing to deliver?

9. Describe the training locations you intend to utilize. Do you have formal agreements to use this space? Are these facilities that also serve children and youth? If so, please outline your plan to ensure that all PD instructors are PA ACT 31 and ACT 153 compliant by June 30th 2015.

Please include the following attachments:

□ Proposed work plan including class start and end dates (or month if actual date is not known), class locations, and schedule. This plan should address the need for all services to be delivered in FY 2016 (July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016) and must contain detailed course information. (Please use Attachment A.1 - Credit and Credential PD Work Plan FY16 RFP)

□ Proposed staffing plan including the names of instructing staff for each proposed class/course and Pennsylvania Quality Assurance System (PQAS) certification information. (Please use Attachment B – All Services Staff Plan FY16 RFP)

□ Articulation agreements for community based organizations or individuals proposing CDA and/or School Age Professional Credential coursework.

Part 2 B: Needs-Based Professional Development

The goals of these professional development services are to:

Increase practitioner knowledge of relevant topics including health and safety, STARS standards, STARS practices, child development, administration, and management to

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support child care facilities in achieving higher STAR levels in the Keystone STARS quality rating system

Meet professional development requirements of the Keystone STARS Performance Standards (Center Performance Standards: http://www.pakeys.org/docs/ELS.KS%2013-03.2013-2014%20Keystone%20STARS%20Performance%20Standards%20for%20Centers.pdfFamily Child Care Home Performance Standards: http://www.pakeys.org/uploadedContent/Docs/Early%20Learning%20Programs/Keystone%20STARS/2014-2015%20REVISED%20Keystone%20STARS%20Performance%20Standards%20for%20Family%20CCH.pdf, Group Home Performance Standards: http://www.pakeys.org/docs/ELS.KS%2013-03.2013-2014%20Keystone%20STARS%20Performance%20Standards%20for%20Group%20Homes.pdf).

Meet professional development requirements of DHS licensure. Support Rising STARS initiatives in serving high risk and hard to reach practitioners at all

STAR levels. Improve teachers’ instructional practices impacting child and family outcomes. Offer new and unique modalities for engagement in professional development.

These goals are achieved via the provision of the following Specialty Services:

Specialty Services:

Health and Safety Needs Based PD – Training sessions and workshops in the Health, Safety, and Nutrition Knowledge Area from the Core Knowledge Competencies:http://www.pakeys.org/uploadedContent/Docs/CKC%20and%20Big%20Ideas%20Framework/36124_Competencies_.pdf. These sessions support participants in developing knowledge and skills to effectively implement health and safety practice. Training may include Pediatric First Aid, CPR, Fire Safety, Managing Illness, Mandated Reporter, Playground Safety, Color Me Healthy, PA Healthy and Green, Safe Sleep, Emergency Preparedness, etc. Providers of Pediatric First Aid must use modules approved by the PA Key (https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e33067afbd3d90634f2953f28/files/Pediatric_First_Aid.pdf).$50-200 per hour

STARS Core Series and STARS Support PD as created by OCDEL/PA Keys – These PD modules are created by OCDEL and required by Keystone STARS Performance Standards. All instructors must have completed the relevant Professional Development Instructor Institutes (PDII) in order to instruct on this material. PD includes: Integrated Standards, Curriculum and Assessment, Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Links to Learning series, Business Acumen for ECE, CSEFEL, Good, Better, Best, I am Moving I am Learning, Transition Across the Continuum of Early Learning, Observation series, Race Matters, Digital Media Literacy, FCCH Business Modules, Supporting ELL/DLL Learners in ECE, and Strengthening Families. $50-150 per hour

General Needs Based PD- PD that provides a broad array of content knowledge at competency levels 1 and 2. This PD may include diverse topics across all Knowledge Areas (from the Core Body of Knowledge: http://www.pakeys.org/docs/cbk.pdf).$50-200 per hour

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High Interest/ Research Based Innovative Approaches to Early and School Age Learning (Competency Level 3) – PD that provides high competency level professional development with content that features cutting edge research and innovative approaches to Early Childhood and School Age learning. This PD can be from any knowledge area but must be at competency level 3 and of high interest to child care practitioners. Innovative approaches PD will provide new knowledge to the field on evidence based concepts, learning approaches, and curricula. This PD may also provide high level content on connecting multiple concepts or standards to enhance deeper understanding. PD may include but is not exclusive to: Emergent Literacy, S.T.E.M, Pedagogical Approaches (Reggio Emilia, Montessori, etc), Early Brain Development and Executive Function, Building Instructional Quality within early childhood and School Age programs (Developing Instructional Leaders), Creating Communities of Practice, Cultural Competence, Trauma Informed Practice, Serving families and children in high need communities, Health and Wellness, Diverse Learning styles , Multisensory teaching strategies, Embedding the Arts in Early Childhood and School Age classrooms, Environmental Education, and Leading Clubs in School Age Programs .These may be cohorts or series of deep content. Innovative modalities for offering this content should be identified. $50- 200 per hour

Special Needs and Inclusion– PD that provides knowledge, skills and hands-on strategies to support child care staff in working with children with special needs and creating inclusive classrooms. PD may include: Best Practices in Inclusion, Child Assessment, Child Screening and Referral, and Building Resources to Support Inclusive Practices. $50-200 per hour

Social Emotional Development and Behavior Management - PD that provides knowledge, skills, and hands-on strategies to support child care staff in early childhood and School Age professionals in understanding social and emotional development, fostering positive behavior and classroom management. PD may include: Establishing Classroom Norms, Transitions, Routines, Guidance Techniques for Managing Behavior, Temperament, Social Justice, the Democratic Classroom and the Positive Behavior Support Teaching Pyramid.$50-200 per hour

S.T.E.M PD that provides knowledge, skills, and hands-on strategies to support child care staff in early childhood and School Age professionals in understanding current research about quality, developmentally appropriate and integrated early childhood and School Age Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics experiences. PD May include: Emergent Math and Science Knowledge, Using the natural world to support children’s learning and development in S.T.E.M; Connecting S.T.E.M. education to the PA Early Learning Standards and Embedding S.T.E.M experiences in everyday curriculum.$50-$200 per hour

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Technology, Computer Literacy, and Digital Media – PD that builds both the introductory and more advanced computer skills of practitioners that are necessary for successful communication and business practices. This PD should be hands-on in an appropriate technology lab or with appropriate resources/hardware. This PD should also incorporate skills and knowledge that are essential for success in the Keystone STARS system. For example how to utilize a computer to manage simple business practices (sending and receiving email, maintaining electronic files, managing a budget, electronic record keeping and utilizing the internet for obtaining information). This PD may also include best practices of using computers with Preschool land School Age children. $50-$200 per hour

Family Child Care PD – PD that builds the skills and knowledge of family providers. This PD can be from any knowledge area but should be tailored to the unique aspects of family/home child care. This PD may include tools and strategies for business practices as well as how to implement learning programs in a mixed-age family home setting. This PD should be offered in locations and at times/days that are accessible to family providers (nights and Saturdays). This PD may be at any competency level. $50-200 per hour

Leadership and Director Development - PD that builds the knowledge and skills of child care Directors and administrators and their ability to lead people. This PD may address 21st century skills of high functioning leaders including building relationships, motivating staff, distributive leadership, coaching and mentoring, time management, collaboration, team building, stress management and self-care. $50-200 per hour

Business Practices and Entrepreneurship - PD that builds the knowledge and skills of child care directors and administrators to run sustainable businesses (both for profit and nonprofit). This PD may address job skill competencies including human resource management, staff supervision, technology management, grant writing, shared services, strategic planning, program budget management, best practices in financial reporting and monitoring, tax preparation and legal issues in child care management. $50-200 per hour

Professionalism and Ethics – PD focused on assisting Early Childhood and School Age professionals in understanding how to ethically resolve dilemmas that arise in their work as well as PD that explores professional pathways within the ECE and SAC field. This PD may include topics like: Professional Ethics, Early Childhood Education as mechanism for social justice, Career Pathways in ECE and SAC, Becoming a Professional, Developing Instructional Leaders within your program, Developing Mentors and Coaches within your program, Communities of Practices, Supporting First Year Teachers, Developing Community Partnerships, Building Relationships and Influencing ECE Stakeholders.$50-150 per hour

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SERK at PHMC FY16 RFP

Partnerships with Families and Communities – PD that builds the capacity of staff and Directors to communicate with and successfully partner with families around a variety of topics. This PD will develop staff ability to engage and partner with families along the learning continuum with their children. This PD will also teach organizations to partner and build meaningful relationships with families, stakeholders, funders and community members. Support for Kindergarten transition is a SERK priority in this area. PD topics may include: Beyond Family Engagement to Family Partnership, the Role of Families in the Early Childhood and School Age Curriculum and Assessment Cycle, Supporting Families through Transitions, Kindergarten Transition and Families as their Child’s First Teacher.$50-200 per hour

Promoting Healthy Lifestyles – This PD will support practitioners in implementing model policy as well as activities and curriculum on healthy lifestyles. This PD may include topics such as physical fitness, obesity prevention, and nutrition.$50-200 per hour

Working with Families At Risk – This PD will support Rising STARS initiatives in focusing on issues impacting providers serving hard to reach and hard to serve children and families. This PD will develop staff ability to effectively provide referrals and resources to families, particularly families who are under resourced and high need. Topics may include poverty, language barriers, immigration, exposure to violence, stress, and trauma. $50-200 per hour

Cultural Competence – This PD will support Early Childhood and School Age professionals in developing the skills needed to engage and partner with children and families of diverse culture, ethnicity, language, ability, gender, social group and socio-economic backgrounds. This PD will also support best practices in working with families of diverse family backgrounds along with diverse family structures. $50-200 per hour

PA Mind in the Making (MITM) - 12 modules of the PA Model Mind in the Making series for 36 hours of instruction for Center Directors from STAR 1 and above facilities. This PD model includes 6 hours of support including observation and mentoring by the Learning Facilitator to each participating facility to ensure successful delivery of MITM materials to facility staff. This PD must be delivered by an approved MITM facilitator. $50-$200 per hour

Spanish Language PD – Any of the above PD areas delivered in Spanish language. $50-200 per hour

Other Languages PD - Any of the above PD areas delivered in Russian, Chinese, French or other languages represented in the three county region. $50-200 per hour

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SERK at PHMC FY16 RFP

****The SERK continues to value innovative, cutting edge, research based practices in the provision of professional development and technical assistance services. In particular the SERK has identified that the provision of professional development and technical assistance services within the context of established relationships with communities of childcare providers is an effective method of service delivery and has a positive impact on the engagement of the practitioner and the long term impact of the intervention. In FY16 the SERK seeks expert organizations and individuals that will offer high quality content knowledge in new ways. Request for proposal applicants should consider innovative methods of offering professional development as they plan for service delivery in fiscal year 2016.

Annual Mini Conference Schedule

In efforts to respond to demand from the Early Childhood and School Age community, the SERK plans to offer one mini conference a month in fiscal year 2016. Each monthly mini conference will feature content around a specific theme. SERK mini conferences will rotate among all three counties served by the Regional Key. The SERK will manage the logistics for each monthly mini conference. Mini conference professional development content will be arrayed across the needs of Infant Toddler, Preschool and School Age professionals and PD subcontractors have the opportunity to offer needs based professional development content during these monthly conferences. Request for proposal applicants who are interested in offering professional development during a SERK sponsored mini conference should indicate this using Attachment A.3.

Mini Conference themes are outlined below by month:

Month Mini Conference ThemeSeptember Curriculum, Observation, Environmental Rating

ScalesOctober Leadership, Professionalism, Ethics , Business

Practices, EntrepreneurshipNovember S.T.E.M

January Cultural Competence, Diversity, Inclusion

February Kindergarten Transition /Social Emotional Development/ Family Partnership

April Certification

May Social Emotional Development

June Health/Wellness/Brain Development

Eligibility

Organizations and/or individuals that are PQAS certified and hold specified skills and capacity to deliver professional development to the early childhood and School Age community in Delaware, Montgomery and/or Philadelphia counties.

Current and past contractors of PHMC must be in good standing. Respondents must be in good standing with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the

federal government.

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SERK at PHMC FY16 RFP

General Requirements – Needs Based Professional Development

Contractors will deliver all services in Fiscal Year 2016 (July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016). Contractors will offer PD that is consistent with Office of Child Development and Early

Learning Professional Development Guiding Principles (OCDEL PD Guiding Principles: http://www.seregionalkey.org/eblast/downloads/ProfessionalDevelopmentPrinciples-7-30-09.doc).

PD can only be delivered by PQAS Certified Instructors or PQAS Specialty Discipline Instructors that are approved on the Staffing Plan that is part of your contract.

Contractors delivering PA Key/OCDEL modules must provide evidence of their participation in relevant Professional Development Instructor Institutes (PDII) or train-the-trainer sessions.

Contractors must demonstrate that PQAS certified instructors offering professional development have met Pennsylvania’s Act 31 requirements for mandated reporter training and Act 153 requirements for clearances and background checks. (http://www.keepkidssafe.pa.gov/ )

Contractors will appropriately code and post PD events on the PD Registry four weeks prior to the event in accordance with SERK at PHMC policy: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e33067afbd3d90634f2953f28/files/SERK_PD_Policy_FY16.doc

Contractors will reconcile all PD paperwork in the PD Registry within 48hrs of the training event in accordance with PA Keys Policy. https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e33067afbd3d90634f2953f28/files/PoliciesGovernance_v4_0.pdf

All events funded by the SERK at PHMC are open to the public including unregulated, DHS licensed and Keystone STARS practitioners. SERK at PHMC will not fund private PD events.

Contractors are responsible for marketing courses and recruiting participants to meet performance expectations. Upon request by the contractor, SERK at PHMC will support recruitment efforts via the e-blast and announcements at regional meetings. Contractors will provide promotional materials to be included in e-blasts and for distribution at meetings.

All promotion of SERK at PHMC funded PD should include the SERK logo and the statement, “Funded by the Southeast Regional Key (SERK) at Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC).” Logo will be provided electronically to successful contractors.

SERK at PHMC will not fund cancelled events or events with zero attendees. In the event of cancelled or rescheduled events the contractor must notify registered

participants via email AND phone no less than 24 hours in advance. Contractors are responsible for securing training space. Contractors will support practitioners in registering for PD using the PD Registry; ensure that

all participants have updated profiles in the PA Keys system, and will inform them of any duplicate profiles and how to merge profiles.

All PD provided via this contract is subject to observation by SERK at PHMC staff with adequate notice of the observation.

Contractors will promote Keystone STARS system goals including informing practitioners of SERK at PHMC resources, announcement and updates.

Contractors will adhere to ELS/KS-09 #16 which requires all PD participants in OCDEL funded events to pay a fee. (ELS/KS-09 #16:

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SERK at PHMC FY16 RFP

http://www.seregionalkey.org/eblast/downloads/ELS-KS-09__16_-_Professional_Development_Fee_Procedures_for_Keys_to_Quality.pdf).Current SERK at PHMC pricing guidance for PD events as consistent statewide PD prices are included in the SERK PD Policy FY 16.https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e33067afbd3d90634f2953f28/files/SERK_PD_Policy_FY16.doc

SERK at PHMC will only fund approved PD; all successful contractors must adhere to their approved work plans. SERK at PHMC must approve any requested changes to the work plan and/or staff plan prior to their enactment.

Contractors will adhere to all applicable Early Learning Services (ELS) memos issued by OCDEL.

Contractors will participate in partner meetings twice per fiscal year and additional meetings as requested. Contractors will be required to participate in training for the PD registry as requested by the PA Keys and will devote staff to become expert in utilizing the PD Registry.

Contractors are subject to financial audits related to contracts with SERK at PHMC; upon request contractors will provide documentation to support budgeted costs associated with the contract.

All SERK at PHMC contracts will include applicable state and federal contracting language and requirements.

Performance Expectations

Contractors must provide at least 45% of contracted services by December 31st. SERK at PHMC may amend contracts with contractors not meeting this requirement.

Contractors are expected to recruit 10 or more participants for each PD event. In the event of cancelled or rescheduled events the contractor must notify registered

participants via email AND phone no less than 24 hours in advance. Cancelled and no attendance events cannot be billed to SERK at PHMC.

High performing contractors (high participant attendance, 45% of services delivered by Dec. 31st, timely invoicing) will be invited to participate additional revenue earning opportunities as they become available.

Payment /Invoicing /Reporting

All service contracts are fee-for-service. Fees are paid for services delivered. Fees therefore include all costs to the contractor such as marketing, materials, participant incentives, transportation, salaries, etc.

SERK at PHMC will issue payments to contractors by check or direct deposit within 30 days of approving an invoice for payment.

SERK at PHMC will only approve invoices once all paperwork is reconciled by the contractor in the PD Registry for the invoice period and upon review of contractor submitted documentation.

Contractor will invoice monthly, by the 10th day for the month following the month of service, for hours of service provided in the prior month, utilizing the SERK at PHMC invoice. The invoice template will be provided.

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SERK at PHMC FY16 RFP

Contractor will attach copies of the sign-in sheets from all PD events invoiced for the month to their invoice submission.

Contractors will complete SERK at PHMC narrative reports twice per year (December/June) if requested. The report format will be provided

All invoices and supporting documents will be submitted to SERK at PHMC electronically. Exceptions can be made with permission from SERK at PHMC.

Respondent Questions

Please respond to the following section on the application (Part 2B):

Indicate for which specialty services you are responding:

□ Health and Safety□ STARS Core Series and Supports□ General NBPD□ High Interest Innovative Approaches (C3)□ Special Needs and Inclusion□ Social Emotional / Behavior Management□ S.T.E.M□ Tech., Computer Lit., Digital Media□ Family Child Care□ Leadership / Director Development□ Business Practices and Entrepreneurship□ Professionalism and Ethics □ Partnerships with Families and Communities□ Promoting Healthy Lifestyles□ PA Mind in the Making□ Families At Risk □ Cultural Competence □ Spanish Language □ Other Languages

If you are applying for multiple specialty services in this category, you will only be required to respond to these questions once. However, your responses, proposed services plan, work plan, and staff plan should include all proposed services in this category.

Indicate in which county or counties you propose to provide this service:□ Delaware □ Montgomery□ Philadelphia

1. Describe your experience, including successes and challenges, providing the proposed services. If you are a current SERK contractor please share relevant program data and reflect upon successes and challenges in FY15. Outline strategies to overcome challenges in FY16.

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SERK at PHMC FY16 RFP

2. Discuss your understanding of practitioner demographics in the areas you propose to serve or the entire Southeast Region. Include discussion of your experience and plans to support Rising STARS initiatives by serving high risk and hard to reach practitioners at all STAR levels.

3. For each proposed service describe its alignment to standards of the Keystone STARS system (STARS Performance Standards, Environment Rating Scales, Early Learning Standards, DHS Regulatory Standards, Caring for Our Children, etc.).

4. Describe your PD event promotion and marketing strategies to ensure that events meet performance expectations. Include a discussion about successes and challenges in recruiting for the proposed services. Describe how any challenges will be addressed.

5. Describe your quality assurance protocols for utilizing the PD Registry for posting PD events and reconciling paperwork. Include discussion about how you or your agency will ensure events are posted to the PD Registry in a timely manner and that paperwork is accurately reconciled on the calendar in a timely manner.

6. Describe your quality assurance protocols for monitoring PD instructors to ensure the delivery of high quality professional development that incorporates theory and research about best practices? How do you ensure that PD instructors utilize the adult learning principles as they instruct professional development sessions?

7. Describe your quality assurance protocols to ensure that you or your agency will comply with contract requirements and ensure timely invoicing for services?

8. What innovative modalities are you proposing for the delivery of professional development in FY16? What evidence do you have that these methods will be successful? How are you building relationships with providers to ensure ongoing engagement? What supports do you need from the Regional Key?

9. Describe the training locations you intend to utilize. Do you have formal agreements to use this space? Are these facilities that also serve children and youth? If so, please outline your plan to ensure that all PD instructors are PA ACT 31 and ACT 153 compliant by June 30th 2015.

Please include the following attachments:

□ Proposed PD services including specialty service type, service description, hours, rates, and total cost per service. (Please use Attachment A.2 – Needs Based PD Proposed Services FY16 RFP)

□ Proposed PD Work Plan including workshop titles and descriptions, instructor names, dates and locations. This plan should address the need for all services to be delivered

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SERK at PHMC FY16 RFP

in FY 2016 (July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016) and must contain detailed course information. (Please use Attachment A.3 – Needs Based PD Work Plan FY16 RFP)

□ Course Overview Form for each proposed PD session that is not already approved in the PD Registry. (Please use Attachment A.4 – Needs Based PD Course Overview Form FY16 RFP).

□ Proposed Staffing Plan including the names and PQAS numbers for PD instructors. Indicate if the instructors are agency staff or subcontractors. Include evidence of participation in PDII where applicable. (Please use Attachment B – All Services Staff Plan FY16 RFP)

Part 2 C: Technical Assistance Services

The goals of technical assistance services are to:

Assist Keystone STARS sites in achieving higher STAR levels. Meet professional development requirements of the Keystone STARS Performance

Standards (Center Performance Standards: http://www.pakeys.org/docs/ELS.KS%2013-03.2013-2014%20Keystone%20STARS%20Performance%20Standards%20for%20Centers.pdf

Family Child Care Home Performance Standards: http://www.pakeys.org/uploadedContent/Docs/Early%20Learning%20Programs/Keystone%20STARS/2014-2015%20REVISED%20Keystone%20STARS%20Performance%20Standards%20for%20Family%20CCH.pdf, Group Home Performance Standards: http://www.pakeys.org/docs/ELS.KS%2013-03.2013-2014%20Keystone%20STARS%20Performance%20Standards%20for%20Group%20Homes.pdf).

Support Keystone STARS sites in improving Environment Rating Scale scores. Support Rising STARS initiatives in serving high risk and hard to reach practitioners at

all STAR levels. Improve teachers instructional practices impacting child and family outcomes.

These goals are achieved via the provision of the following STARS TA Specialty Services:

Staff Qualifications & Professional Development/Career Advising – TA to support credential students in attaining credentials following the completion of coursework and for career planning. TA consultants may also work with programs planning to meet PD needs, connect programs with financial resources and regional educational information.$50-150 per hour

Partnerships with Family and Community – A specialty area within STARS TA to help programs increase parent and community engagement. This may include working with

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SERK at PHMC FY16 RFP

programs to develop transition plans, developing community resources or creating family resource center. $50-150 per hour

Leadership & Management/Business Practices – A specialty area within STARS TA to provided support to sites on business practices. TA will support developing strategic plans, CQI plans and business plans. The TA may also assist programs in developing policies and procedures, meaningful budgets and monitoring grants and funding sources. This TA may also reinforce practices that underlie fiscal efficacy, regulatory compliance and quality operations. The success of TA is based on how many sites meet and maintain the goals on their Action Plan and achieve higher STAR levels. (ELS/KS -10#35: http://www.seregionalkey.org/eblast/downloads/ELS_KS%20-10_35KeystoneSTARSTAAP.pdf)$50-150 per hour

Learning Program - A specialty area within STARS TA to support sites with implementing evidence based curricula or support staff in designing their own learning programs and writing lesson plans. This TA will support sites in connecting curriculum, observations, assessment and standards. The success of TA is based on how many sites meet and maintain the goals on their Action Plan and achieve higher STAR levels. (ELS/KS -10#35: http://www.seregionalkey.org/eblast/downloads/ELS_KS%20-10_35KeystoneSTARSTAAP.pdf)$50-150 per hour

School Age Care - A specialty area within STARS TA to support School Age programs in advancing in the Keystone STARS Performance Standards. TA services are guided by an Action Plan that is developed by the site and the consultant. The success of TA is based on how many sites meet and maintain the goals on their Action Plan and achieve higher STAR levels. (ELS/KS -10#35: http://www.seregionalkey.org/eblast/downloads/ELS_KS%20-10_35KeystoneSTARSTAAP.pdf)$100-150 per hour

Family Providers- A specialty area with in STARS TA to provide support to family based providers in meeting the Keystone STARS Performance Standards. This TA should be tailored to the unique aspects of family/home child care and their challenges in meeting performance standards. The success of TA is based on how many sites meet and maintain the goals on their Action Plan and achieve higher STAR levels. (ELS/KS -10#35: http://www.seregionalkey.org/eblast/downloads/ELS_KS%20-10_35KeystoneSTARSTAAP.pdf) $50-150 per hour

Non-English Languages– Any of the above TA delivered in a language other than English. This contract would not have a guarantee of hours as service volume would depend on referrals from the community. The success of TA is based on how many sites meet and maintain the goals on their Action Plan and achieve higher STAR levels. (ELS/KS -10#35: http://www.seregionalkey.org/eblast/downloads/ELS_KS%20-10_35KeystoneSTARSTAAP.pdf)$50-150 per hour

Regulatory Referral – TA and PD for referrals from DHS Certification Office in compliance with ELS Memo ELS/KS-10 #16 (http://www.seregionalkey.org/eblast/downloads/ELS_KS-

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SERK at PHMC FY16 RFP

10_16%20CertificationReferrals.pdf). TA consultants must demonstrate participation in approved Supervision PDII/train-the-trainer in order to provide this service. $50-150 per hour

Eligibility

Organizations and/or individuals that are PQAS certified and hold specified skills and capacity to deliver technical assistance to the early childhood and School Age community in Delaware, Montgomery and/or Philadelphia counties. Expertise in the Keystone STARS Performance Standards is essential to delivering technical assistance.

Current and past contractors of PHMC must be in good standing. Respondents must be in good standing with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the

federal government.

General Requirements – Technical Assistance

Contractors will deliver all services in Fiscal Year 2016 (July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016). TA contractors will ensure that TA services are delivered by Pennsylvania Quality

Assurance System (PQAS) certified TA consultants. Contractors must demonstrate that PQAS certified TA consultants have met

Pennsylvania’s Act 31 requirements for mandated reporter training and Act 153 requirements for clearances and background checks. (http://www.keepkidssafe.pa.gov/ )

TA contractors will accurately record services in the PELICAN TA Database. Contractors for STARS TA must ensure that all consultants are trained on the PELICAN

TA database system. All PELICAN data must be entered within 7 business days of contact. (ELS/KS -11 #23-

Keystone STARS Technical Assistance Accountability Plan (STARS-TAAP) and Data Collection)

When entering data in the PELICAN TA database the consultant will only use the “General” category if the TA is provided in conjunction with an assigned Certification Referral.

Services may only be delivered by TA consultants that are approved and on the staffing plan attached to your contract.

Contractors must notify SERK if new TA consultants are hired. New TA consultants must be approved and added to the contract in order to deliver services on this contract.

STARS TA contractors will deliver all services in adherence of guidelines of the STARS TA Accountability Plan (ELS/KS -11#23) and the STARS TA PELICAN Train-the-Trainer Binder.

The SERK at PHMC will assign all TA referrals. The SERK at PHMC will triage all TA and support service requests to determine which service is most appropriate and which contractor should receive the referral.

TA consultants will embed targeted professional development into TA services where appropriate.

TA consultants will inform, consult and collaborate with Keystone STARS Specialists and other service providers both in working with specific sites and at a system level. TA consultants will ensure that initial visits at the start of TA services occur with STARS Specialist and Program Director and communicate with the STARS Specialist throughout the duration of the TA request.

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SERK at PHMC FY16 RFP

Contractors will adhere to all applicable Early Learning Services (ELS) memos issued by OCDEL.

Contractors will promote Keystone STARS system goals including informing practitioners of SERK at PHMC resources, announcements, and updates.

Contractors will participate in partner meetings as requested. Contractors are subject to financial audits related to contracts with PHMC; upon request

contractors will provide documentation to support budgeted costs associated with the contract.

All SERK at PHMC contracts will include applicable state and federal contracting language and requirements.

Performance Expectations

For STARS TA action plans - sites receiving services will achieve 80% of the established goals and will retain the achievement of the goal for 3-6 months following the closing of services and 33% of sites receiving services will move-up a STAR level no less than one (1) month after the signed Action Plan and no more than six (6) months following the closing of the request. (ELS/KS -11-#23)

For Career Advising/Staff Qualifications STARS TA, contractors will ensure 75% of assigned practitioners receive credentials within 6 months of completing coursework when applicable.

Contractors must provide at least 45% of contracted services by December 31st. SERK at PHMC may amend contracts for contractors not meeting this requirement.

Payment/ Invoicing/Reporting

All service contracts are fee-for-service. Fees are paid for services delivered. Fees therefore include all costs to the contractor such as marketing, materials, transportation, salaries, etc.

Only allowable TA services may be billed for, these include direct and indirect time as outlined in the PA Key “Direct vs. Indirect Time for Technical Assistance” document which can be found here: (http://gallery.mailchimp.com/e33067afbd3d90634f2953f28/files/DirectvsIndirect.pdf)

Only TA services recorded in PELICAN are billable. When providing a service to multiple TA requests at the same time, such as a meeting or

training, time should be recorded in PELICAN by dividing time among the requests as to not duplicate the hours of service.

When providing PD as a step in an Action Plan, the PD hours should be recorded in the PA Keys PD Registry and not in PELICAN.

SERK at PHMC will issue payments to contractors by check or direct deposit within 30 days of approving an invoice for payment.

SERK at PHMC will approve invoices upon review of contractor submitted documentation.

Contractor will invoice monthly, by the 10th day for the month following the month of service, for hours of service provided in the prior month, utilizing the SERK at PHMC invoice. Invoice template will be provided to successful contractors.

Contractor will include PELICAN report (KQRPT 119) of monthly activity and separate documentation of intakes not included in KQRPT 119 with their invoice submission.

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SERK at PHMC FY16 RFP

Contractor will complete SERK at PHMC narrative reports as requested. Report format will be provided if report is requested.

All invoices and supporting documents will be submitted to SERK at PHMC electronically. Exceptions can be made with permission from SERK at PHMC.

Respondent Questions

Please respond to the following section on the application (Part 2C):

Indicate for which specialty services you are responding:

□ STARS TA on Staff Qualifications & Professional Development/Career Advising□ STARS TA on Partnerships with Family & Community□ STARS TA on Leadership & Management/Business Practices □ STARS TA on Learning Program□ STARS TA on School Age Care□ STARS TA for Family Providers□ STARS TA in Non-English Languages□ STARS TA on Regulatory Referral

If you are applying for multiple specialty services in this category, you will only be required to respond to these questions once. However, your responses, proposed services plan, and staff plan should include all proposed services in this category.

Indicate in which county or counties you propose to provide this service:

□ Delaware □ Montgomery□ Philadelphia

1. Describe your experience and success providing the proposed services. Include data related to STAR level move-up, goal attainment, and maintenance. If you are a current SERK contractor, please reflect on successes and challenges in FY15. Outline strategies to overcome challenges in FY15.

2. Discuss your understanding of practitioner demographics in the areas you propose to serve or the entire Southeast Region. Include discussion of your experience and plans to support Rising STARS initiatives by serving high risk and hard to reach practitioners at all STAR levels. Please outline your plan for successfully engaging STAR 1 programs. If you are a current subcontractor, please outline challenges and successes in engaging this population and identify what strategies you will employ this year to successfully engage and support move up in STAR 1 programs.

3. Describe your quality assurance protocols to ensure that you or your agency will comply with contract requirements and ensure timely invoicing for services?

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SERK at PHMC FY16 RFP

4. Describe your quality assurance protocols for utilizing and monitoring the PELICAN TA Database for recording case progress and outcomes. Include discussion about how you or your agency will ensure data is posted timely and accurately.

5. Describe your quality assurance protocols for monitoring TA Consultants to ensure the delivery of high quality technical assistance services that are established in evidenced based practices. How will you ensure that TA consultants effective collaborate with stakeholders including ERS teams, SERK TA Consultants and STARS specialists?

6. What innovative modalities are you proposing for the delivery of Technical Assistance in fiscal year 2016? What evidence do you have that these methods will be successful? How are you building relationships with providers to ensure ongoing engagement? What supports do you need from the Regional Key?

7. Please outline your plan to ensure that all TA consultants are PA ACT 31 and ACT 153 compliant by June 30th 2015.

Please include the following attachments:

□ Proposed TA services including specialty service type, counties to provide TA, hours, rates, and total cost per service. (Please use Attachment A.5 – TA Proposed Services FY16 RFP)

□ Provide the names and PQAS numbers for TA consultants. Indicate if the instructors are agency staff or subcontractors. TA consultants must demonstrate participation in approved Supervision PDII/train-the-trainer in order to provide Regulatory Referral Services. (Please use Attachment B – All Services Staff Plan FY16 RFP).

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SERK at PHMC FY16 RFP

PART 3: ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND ATTESTATION FORM

The Bidder must complete and sign this Acknowledgement and Attestation Form. It must be signed, by an individual empowered to bind the proposing entity to the provisions of this RFP and any contract awarded pursuant to it. If said individual is not the Bidder’s chief executive or president, this document shall attach evidence showing the individual’s authority to bind the proposing entity.

The Bidder does hereby affirm and expressly declare confirmation, certification, and assurance of the following:

1) The information detailed in the proposal submitted herewith in response to the subject RFP is accurate.

2) This proposal constitutes a commitment to provide all services as defined in the RFP for the total contract period and confirmation that the Bidder shall comply with all of the provisions in this RFP and shall accept all terms and conditions set out in the RFP and that this RFP response shall be incorporated and become a part of any subsequent contract awarded as a result of the RFP process.

3) If the Bidder is an operator of a child care facility, the facility is a STAR 3 level or above and will remain at a STAR 3 level during the duration of any subsequent contract awarded as a result of the RFP process. If the child care center falls below a STAR 3 level, the Bidder is banned from contracting with PHMC for a minimum one-year period and until said child care center regains STAR 3 status.

4) The Bidder attests that they are in good standing with their local government, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government and are compliant with all applicable tax obligations.

5) The Bidder attests that all staff offering professional development or technical

assistance services funded by the Southeast Regional Key in facilities that also serve children are compliant with PA ACT 31 and ACT 153 as of June 30th 2015. The Bidder also attests that they possess documentation of consultant and instructor compliance with PA ACT 31 and Act 153 and acknowledges that these documents are subject to audit by the Southeast Regional Key at any time beginning July 1, 2015.

BY:

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SERK at PHMC FY16 RFP

Bidder Legal Entity Name:

Name of Authorized Signatory for Bidder:

Signature & Date:

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