PUBLIC NOTICE
SOQ 23-023
 
Early Childcare Education Services (Birth to Five Program)

The Parish of Jefferson, authorized by Resolution No 142425. is hereby soliciting the submittal of a Statement of Qualification (General Professional Service Questionnaire) from persons or firms interested and qualified as defined by the Department of Health and Human Services for participation in Jefferson Community Actions' Head Start Birth-to-Five Program. The public purpose of the Project is to identify licensed Early Childhood providers to provide Education, Parent Involvement, and Nutrition Services for children ages 36 months- 60 months under the Head Start Birth-to-Five Grant. Persons or firms deemed qualified for this work shall be eligible for award of Early Childcare Services throughout the Parish until July 31, 2025.
 
            Deadline for Submissions: 3:30 p.m., October 6, 2023
 
Back Ground & General Scope:
 
              
Childcare services provided full day, full year education, parent involvement and nutrition services for children ages 36 months- 60 months for 10 hours per day, five (5) days per week, twelve (12) months per year with the exception of the following holidays when the center is closed: New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Friday after Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; Jefferson Parish Head Start Program observes all Parish Holidays;
Participate in Self-Assessment interviewing process and serve on Self-Assessment Team; Participate in Community Assessment;[Text Box: 3.] Utilize Creative Curriculum for children ages 36 months- 60 months;
Must use Teaching Strategies Gold assessments and ongoing progress;
Participate in JeffCap Head Start Birth-to-Five Professional Development and training to ensure all staff has the required training hours as deemed by Head Start Performance Standards, Head Start Act and Louisiana Department of Education Division;
Collaborate with JeffCap Head Start Birth-to-Five Program to expand, develop and implement Head Start Birth-to-Five services;
Conduct monthly Parent Committee meetings to ensure parent involvement is achieved and any concerns are voiced and addressed;
Ensure that parents/guardians with children enrolled will participate in Parent Orientation and the Head Start Parent Partnership Workshop and elect representatives for JeffCap Head Start B-5 Policy Council from the Parent Committee;
Ensure that enrollees will participate in the Transition and Screening Process. The health screening MUST be conducted (vision, hearing and behavior) within 45 days of entry into program;
Complete developmental screenings and ongoing assessment for all participants for the purpose of planning appropriate activities for the children. Also, they will develop individual lesson plans using Teaching Strategies Gold online system on a weekly basis that include individualization for the children enrolled. The teaching staff with Head Start participants will conduct home visits before children enter the center and as scheduled on the JeffCap Head Start B-5 calendar. Teaching staff will conduct parent conferences and provide parent with documentation related to their child's progress; 
Ensure JeffCap Head Start B-5 Child Outcomes will be implemented in each classroom;
Participate in all JeffCap Head Start Birth-to-Five program activities such as Open House, Parent Orientation, School Readiness Fairs, Grandparents' Day, Health Fairs, etc.;
Maintain class size in compliance with the Head Start Performance Standards 1304.52 (g) (4). A group up to twenty is the maximum number of toddlers assigned to two teachers and/or a teacher and teacher assistant. The number of children assigned to each classroom cannot exceed the mandated square footage required per child;
Required that each classroom will have two teaching staff per room at all times;
Expected to be in full compliance with the Head Start Performance Standards within 90 days of the contract date;
Reports and recommendations provided based upon observations and findings;
Keep and maintain adequate, legible, genuine, current, and complete records of services rendered under the terms of this agreement and to make available all such records, which at a minimum, shall consist of, but are not limited to, the following categories and/or documents:
Enrollment records that include verification of family income and other verification required for determining eligibility for Head Start funding. Such verification must meet the criteria required by the administration for Children and Families and JeffCap Head Start Birth-to-Five;
Records documenting screening, on-going assessments and educational services for pre­ school children;
Fiscal and Non-Federal Share: Ensure that all expenditures and In-Kind items related to reimbursement requests and Non-Federal Share are acceptable and allowable in accordance with 2 CFR, Part 200 and ensure that the Non-Federal Share obligation is met as required, which is 25% of the total Federal reimbursement received;
Required to meet with JeffCap Head Start B-5 Administrators, at least quarterly or as deemed necessary to address program problems, concerns, or issues;
Ensure that participants with disabilities will receive services through the Jeff CAP HS B-5 Education/ Disabilities Content Area and Louisiana Department of Education Early Steps and Child Search program;
Provide proof that operation is in good standing under Type Ill License from Louisiana Department of Education Licensing Division (must submit copy of current License);
Provide evidence that Head Start all center-based teachers have at least an associate's or bachelor's degree in child development or early childhood education, equivalent coursework, or otherwise meet the requirements of section 648A(a)(3)(B) of the Act;
Provide evidence that Head Start all center-based teachers have at least an associate's or bachelor's degree in child development or early childhood education, equivalent coursework, or otherwise meet the requirements of section 648A(a)(3)(B) of the Act;
Registered Participants of the Jefferson Parish Early Childhood Collaborative;
Provide documentation that the learning center is following all licensing laws, regulations and minimum standards have State Fire Marshal and Office of Public Health clearance and approval;
Obtained the Quality Star rating of 4 - 5 stars from the Early Childhood Care and Education Network;
Performances Profile must have a score of Proficient or higher from the Early Childhood Care and Education Network;
No current deficiencies from State Licensing;
Evidence of Child Care Civil Background Checks (CCCBCS) clearance on all staff;
Academic approval from the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE);
Required insurance; and
Provide a narrative summary to describing the history of providing high -quality services, familiar with CLASS standards, understanding of evidence-based curricula, understanding of appropriate requirements to care for toddlers, evidence of providing professional development to staff; and
Submit a signed copy of the Jefferson Parish Statements of Qualification General Professional Service Questionnaire. 
All proposals must include proof of sexual abuse and molestation coverage and professional liability insurance with combined single limits of one million ($1,000,000.00) dollars for the entire contract period, August 1, 2023 through July 21, 2025. Consultants, consultants' staff, and all students approved by the Program to provide services are subject to satisfactory child care civil criminal background checks; annual tuberculosis (TB) screenings, and satisfactory completions of physical examinations by his or her own medical doctor once every three years, the results of which will be provided to and retained by the Program.
 
Evaluation Criteria
 
The following evaluation criteria, listed in order of importance, are used to evaluate each firm submitting a Statement of Qualifications:
Professional training and experience - 35 points
Scope of Services - 20 points
Responsiveness to the SOQ -10 points
Innovative Concepts -10 points
Financial Profile -10 points
The nature, quantity, and value of parish work previously performed and presently being performed by the person and/or firm submitting, - 10 points
Past and current professional accomplishments, for which references from clients or former clients and information gathered by inspection of current or recent projects may be considered - 5 points 
 
The person or firm submitting a Statement of Qualification (General Professional Services Questionnaire) must identify all subcontractors who will assist in providing professional services for the project, in the professional services questionnaire. Each subcontractor shall be required to submit a (General Professional Services Questionnaire) and all documents and information included in the questionnaire.  (Refer to Jefferson Parish Code Ordinance, Section 2-928)
 
All persons or firms (including subcontractors) must submit a Statement of Qualifications (General Professional Services Questionnaire) by the deadline. The latest professional services questionnaire may be obtained by contacting the Purchasing Department at (504) 364-2678 or via the Jefferson Parish website at www.jeffparish.net.  This questionnaire can be accessed by hovering over “Business and Development” on the website and clicking on the Professional Services Questionnaires option under “Doing Business in Jefferson Parish”.
 
Submissions will only be accepted electronically via Jefferson Parish’s e-Procurement site, Central Bidding at www.centralauctionhouse.com or www.jeffparishbids.net.  Registration is required and free for Jefferson Parish vendors by accessing the following link: www.centralauctionhouse.com/registration.php.
 
No submittals will be accepted after the deadline.
 
Affidavits are not required to be submitted with the Statement of Qualifications, but shall be submitted prior to contract approval.
 
Disputes/protests relating to the decisions by the evaluation committee or by the Jefferson Parish Council shall be brought before the 24th Judicial Court.
 
ADV: The New Orleans Advocate:  August 23 & 30, & September 6, 2023
 

The person or firm submitting a Statement of Qualification (General Professional Services) must identify all subcontractors who will assist in providing professional services for the project, in the professional services questionnaire. Each subcontractor shall be required to submit a General Professional Services and all documents and information included in the questionnaire.  (Refer to Jefferson Parish Code Ordinance, Section 2-928)
 
All persons or firms (including subcontractors) must submit a Statement of Qualifications (General Profession Services) by the deadline. The latest professional services questionnaire may be obtained by contacting the Purchasing Department at (504) 364-2678 or via the Jefferson Parish website at www.jeffparish.net.  This questionnaire can be accessed by hovering over “Business and Development” on the website and clicking on the Professional Services Questionnaires option under “Doing Business in Jefferson Parish”.
 
Submissions will only be accepted electronically via Jefferson Parish’s e-Procurement site, Central Bidding at www.centralauctionhouse.com or www.jeffparishbids.net.  Registration is required and free for Jefferson Parish vendors by accessing the following link: www.centralauctionhouse.com/registration.php.
 
No submittals will be accepted after the deadline.
 
Affidavits are not required to be submitted with the Statement of Qualifications, but shall be submitted prior to contract approval.
 
Disputes/protests relating to the decisions by the evaluation committee or by the Jefferson Parish Council shall be brought before the 24th Judicial Court.
 
ADV: The New Orleans Advocate:  August 23 & 30, & September 6, 2023