Request for Proposal (rfp)

A Request for Proposal (RFP)

Intro to Business Development Course

Publication Date: September 30, 2016

Due Date: October 21, 2016 Time: 5 p.m.

The Community Entrepreneur Opportunity (CEO) Council is requesting proposals from qualified vendors to provide an Intro to Business Development Program to instruct participants on how to develop a viable business model and prepare for business launch or growth. The Vendor will structure and deliver classes on topics such as developing business plans, financial literacy, obtaining financing, credit, marketing, human resource issues, etc. This course targets business owners and potential entrepreneurs from the City of Sarasota’s North Sarasota Newtown Community Redevelopment Area (CRA). The CEO Council will negotiate with the vendor whose proposal scores highest to confirm the work plan and outline a timeline for the completion of the contract.

1. 
   Scope of Services
   

This section describes the parameters under which services will be provided for this course.

CEO Intro to Business Development Course (not to exceed 8 weeks)

Classes: Held weekly on Tuesdays from 5:30-8:30 p.m. with a start date no later than November 1, 2016. A graduation ceremony will be held on the final week, no later than December 20, 2016.

Locations:

Robert L. Taylor Community Center

1845 34^th Street, Sarasota, FL

Alternate site: The Hive North Sarasota Business Resource Center

2714 N. Osprey Avenue, Sarasota, FL

Vendor will:

• 
  Create an application for participants to be a part of the class with a preference for current or proposed businesses located in the North Sarasota area or residents in the 34234 zip code
  
• 
  Conduct a series of classes, to include, at a minimum
  
  • 
    At least one separate counseling session with each participant
    
  • 
    Assessment of participant business knowledge, pre-course and post course
    
  • 
    Assessment of participant’s business idea
    
• 
  Provide reports to CEO council designee, which include
  
  • 
    Tracking participants’ attendance, homework assignments and research
    
  • 
    Detailing participants’ evaluation form on topics covered by instructors and guest speakers
    
• 
  Provide instructional workbooks, forms and other materials
  
• 
  Prepare a pre-course and post-course evaluation form for training components to demonstrate participant progress and overall rating of course
  
• 
  Provide a written and oral report to the CEO Council at course midpoint and completion to include:
  
  • 
    A summary of business concept prepared by each participant
    
  • 
    Summary of reports and evaluations
    
• 
  Plan and facilitate the recognition/graduation ceremony in coordination with the CEO Council.
  

CEO Council will:

Schedule and provide class locations

Promote the CEO Intro to Business Development course to prospective participants through news releases, flyers, community meetings and e-mail notifications

This proposal will be for one series of the CEO Intro to Business Development Program

2. 
   Proposal Content and Submission
   

In responding to this RFP, Vendors shall submit a proposal that includes the following:

• 
  Course outline (syllabus) with associated workbook and supplemental materials
  
• 
  Vendor Resume with history of business instruction to include an emphasis on experience relevant to entrepreneurs or start-up businesses, especially those with minimal capitalization
  
• 
  Total cost associated with proposal
  
• 
  Listing of facilitators and instructors conducting each segment of the course, including their education and credentialing
  
• 
  References from at least three (3) customers who have been provided training from the vendor
  
• 
  Samples of at least three (3) recipients of vendor’s services, i.e. progress and outcome of business development and/or business success stories
  

Proposals can be submitted to:

CareerSource Suncoast

Attn.: Anthony Gagliano

1112 Manatee Avenue East

Bradenton, FL 34208

Or via e-mail at [e-mail]. No proposals will be accepted after 5 p.m. on Friday October 7, 2016.

Contact Anthony Gagliano at [phone] ext. 3112 or [e-mail] with questions or information requests. Consult the website at http://careersourcesuncoast.com/employers/community-entrepreneur-opportunity-ceo-program/ for any schedule adjustments.

3. 
   Proposal Evaluation
   

Proposals will be evaluated based on a 100-point scale with 50 points awarded to the total cost associated with the proposal. The proposal with the lowest overall total cost will receive the maximum score for this evaluation point. Every other proposal will receive a percentage of the maximum score by dividing the lowest total cost by the vendor’s total cost and multiplying it by the number of points (50) assigned to this item.

The other 5 proposal items requested in Section II will be worth 10 points each. Points will be awarded in each category based on rater’s evaluation of value to the CEO Council.

Points	Rating	Description
10	Outstanding	Proposal meets requirements and indicates an exceptional approach and understanding of the requirements. Strengths far outweigh any weaknesses.
8	Good	Proposal meets requirements and indicates a thorough approach and understanding of the requirements. Proposal contains strengths which outweigh any weaknesses.
6	Acceptable	Proposal meets requirements and indicates an adequate approach and understanding of the requirements. Strengths and weaknesses are offsetting or will have little or no impact on contract performance.
4	Marginal	Proposal does not clearly meet requirements and has not demonstrated an adequate approach and understanding of the requirements. The proposal has one or more weaknesses which are not offset by strengths.
2	Unacceptable	Proposal does not meet requirements and contains one or more deficiencies.

4. 
   Agreement
   

Proposals will be evaluated on or around October 11, 2016. The Vendor with the winning proposal will be contacted by October 18, 2016 and an agreement will be signed no later than October 21, 2016. Should an agreement not be in place by that date, the CEO Council reserves the right to complete an agreement with the vendor that submitted the next highest scoring proposal.