STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Government Performance and Financial Management
AGENDA DATE: August 12, 2020
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): All
DEPARTMENT: Office of Procurement Services
EXECUTIVE: Elizabeth Reich
______________________________________________________________________
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize a five-year service price agreement for online tutoring, homework support, and adult education for the Library - Brainfuse, Inc., most advantageous proposer of four - Estimated amount of $90,000 - Financing: General Fund (subject to annual appropriations)
Body
BACKGROUND
This action does not encumber funds; the purpose of a service price agreement is to establish firm pricing for services, for a specific term, which are ordered on an as needed basis according to annual budgetary appropriations. The estimated amount is intended as guidance rather than a cap on spending under the agreement, so that actual need combined with the amount budgeted will determine the amount spent under this agreement.
This service price agreement will provide online tutoring, on-demand study tools, and adult education resources for patrons of the Library. These services are available seven days a week from 2:00 p.m. until midnight for K-12, college introductory classes, and adult education in English as a Second Language. Library patrons will greatly benefit from these tools and act as a building block to expand the Library's digital presence. It is important to maintain online resources such as this to support patrons during this time when students are learning virtually, and many schools are uncertain what school will look like in the fall.
These online resources will support the increased demand for online educational resources and play a critical role in continuing education. In addition to the educational support, this solution provides adults with citizenship and career assistance, including resume writing and support to job seekers.
More than 326,000 tutoring, writing lab and skill building sessions were conducted during the last five years.
A five-member committee from the following departments reviewed and evaluated the qualifications:
• Library (2)
• Park & Recreation Department (2)
• Office of Procurement Services (1)*
*The Office of Procurement Services only evaluated cost.
The committee selected the successful respondent on the basis of demonstrated competence and qualifications under the following criteria:
• Functional Requirements 40 points
• Capability and Expertise 15 points
• Quality of Implementation 15 points
• Financial Consideration 30 points
As part of the solicitation process and in an effort to increase competition, the Office of Procurement Services used its procurement system to send out email notifications to vendors registered under relevant commodity codes. To further increase competition, the Office of Procurement Services uses historical solicitation information, the Internet, and vendor contact information obtained from user departments to contact additional vendors. Additionally, in an effort to secure more competition, the Office of Business Diversity sent notifications to chambers of commerce and advocacy groups to ensure maximum vendor outreach.
On November 10, 2015, the City Council authorized a living wage policy that requires contractors to pay their employees a “living wage” rate as established annually by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Living Wage Calculator for Dallas County by Resolution No. 15-2141. The current calculated living wage during the solicitation process of this contract is $11.71; the selected vendor meets this requirement.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
On December 11, 2013, City Council authorized a five-year service contract for real-time, on-demand, online tutoring, homework support and adult education for the Library with Brainfuse, Inc. by Resolution No. 13-2051.
FISCAL INFORMATION
|
Fund |
FY 2020 |
FY 2021 |
Future Years |
|
General Fund |
$0.00 |
$18,000.00 |
$72,000.00 |
M/WBE INFORMATION
In accordance with the City’s Business Inclusion and Development Plan adopted on October 22, 2008, by Resolution No. 08-2826, as amended, the M/WBE participation on this contract is as follows:
|
Contract Amount |
Category |
M/WBE Goal |
M/WBE % |
M/WBE $ |
|
$90,000.00 |
Other Services |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
• M/WBE goal waived due to no M/WBE availability |
|
• Brainfuse, Inc. - Non-local; Workforce - 0.00% Local |
PROCUREMENT INFORMATION
Method of Evaluation for Award Type:
|
Request for Competitive |
• Utilized for high technology procurements, insurance procurements, and other goods and services |
|
Sealed Proposal |
• Recommended offeror whose proposal is most advantageous to the City, considering the relative importance of price, and other evaluation factors stated in the specifications |
|
|
• Always involves a team evaluation |
|
|
• Allows for negotiation on contract terms, including price |
The Office of Procurement Services received the following proposals from solicitation number BYZ20-00012758. We opened them on March 27, 2020. We recommend the City Council award this service price agreement in its entirety to the most advantageous proposer.
*Denotes successful proposer
Proposers Address Score
*Brainfuse, Inc. 271 Madison Ave. 97.50
New York, NY 10016
Tutor.com 110 East 42nd St. 85.50
Suite 700
New York, NY 10017
TutorMe, LLC 1925 Century Park E 53.25
Suite 1700
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Link-Systems International, Inc. 4515 George Rd. 25.50
Suite 340
Tampa, FL 33634
OWNER
Brainfuse, Inc.
Francesco Lecciso, Co-Founder