Mission:
Collaborating to effectively and efficiently educate
all learners
ISD 317
Deer River
ISD 698
Floodwood
ISD 318
Grand Rapids
ISD 316
Greenway
ISD 2
Hill City
ISD 319
Nashwauk-Keewatin
ISD 118
Northland Remer
Itasca Community College
1. Request for Proposal for Consultant
The Itasca Area Schools Collaborative (IASC) is currently accepting proposals from qualified
consultants experienced in strategic planning. IASC desires to obtain a consultant who will assist
Invest Early (IE), an early childhood collaborative, in articulating the model currently in operation,
identifying the resources (social, financial, political, etc) needed to take it to scale, and evaluating the
personnel architecture.
All prospective consultants will be afforded full opportunity to submit statements of qualifications in
response to this request and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, religion, color,
national origin, age, sex, or disability in consideration for an award of any contract entered into
pursuant to this notice.
The Request for Proposal (RFP) is an invitation by IASC for consultants to submit an offer, which
may be subject to subsequent discussion. It is not a request for competitive bid. Submittal of a
proposal does not create any right in or expectation to a contract with IASC.
Qualified consultants may submit their proposal responses to:
Matt Grose
Chair, Itasca Area Schools Collaborative
101 First Avenue NE
PO Box 307
Deer River, MN 56636
Proposals are due on or before April 31, 2014
2. Description of the Organization
IASC is an educational entity organized under the joint powers statutes of the State of Minnesota.
The Invest Early Project is an initiative funded in part by the Blandin Foundation and governed by
IASC. Invest Early is a model family support program with the goal to partner with families and early
childhood programs in order to provide the best possible start for all children. Invest Early depends on
collaborative systems to deliver comprehensive wrap around services to children, while evaluating the
long term impact of the investment. Our partners include: Head Start, Itasca County Human
Services/Public Health, Itasca Community College, School Districts 316, 317, 318 & 319, Children's
Mental Health, and Adult Basic Education.
The four community-based sites include core services available for every enrolled family. The core
services include:
 early education- 26 infant, toddler and preschool age classrooms led by licensed teachers
 parent education
 health services.
Families choose from a menu of additional services based on their needs and interests which include:
 transportation
 extended child care (available 5days a week, 12 months a year)
 family development
101 First Avenue Northeast, P.O. Box 101, Deer River MN 56636


adult basic education
mental health support.
One common application is used to access the programming, with risk factors and income considered
to target children most at risk. Families are slotted into funding streams without having to navigate
multiple systems.
Invest Early has many unique features that include:
 A common application for parents. This common application allows families to apply once
for early childhood programming and we determine the funding stream they qualify for.
 Classrooms are blended with different funding streams. Children are not segregated by
income and form relationships with children across socio economic lines.
 Every kindergarten student in Itasca County is given the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment
within the first 8 weeks of Kindergarten entrance.
 There is a county wide staff development and training plan in place.
 All Early Childhood children are assessed and individual learning plans are developed.
Invest Early partners with Wilder Research of the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation in Saint Paul, MN
to provide data for a 30 year longitudinal evaluation study. This study will measure program impact
in child and family development, county-wide system change and return on investment. Each year
results are published in an evaluation report. The results continue to document improvements in
home learning environments and shows that Invest Early programming narrows the proficiency gap
at kindergarten entrance for participating children.
3. Structure for the Proposal
Proposals should included:
1. The name, biography, and qualifications of any individuals who will be engaged in the work. If
using subcontractors or outside resources please indicate them as such.
2. A brief history and profile of the firm and its experience providing services for organizations
similar to ours.
3. The firm’s proposal to address the requirements outlined in this RFP.
4. A timeline for the completion of this proposal; if the project involves a multi-phase approach
please provide approximate timeframes.
5. The fee structure and how IASC will be charged.
6. A list of the firm’s clients comparable to our organization or for whom the firm has done
comparable work, including contact name, telephone number, website location, services provided and
length of service.
7. The project process and methodology including sample deliverables from past projects of similar
size and scope.
8. An unsigned copy of your standard service contract for our review and any additional stipulations
of which we should be aware.
All proposals become the property of IASC and a matter of public record. The consultant must
identify any copyrighted material or other proprietary information that is exempt from disclosure.
The work results and the reports shall be considered confidential and proprietary and cannot be
released by the consultant without prior written consent of IASC.
4. Scope of Work
a. Capture in writing the systems, processes, and structures that have resulted in Invest Early
being identified as a model for collaborative early childhood programs.
101 First Avenue Northeast, P.O. Box 101, Deer River MN 56636
b. Develop a cost model that results in an ability to reasonably estimate the cost to expand the
Invest Early Project to scale, as well as accurate per-child costs.
c. Identify possible social, economic, and political policies that need to be in place in order for
Invest Early’s work to expand.
d. Utilizing the findings from a-c, recommend a personnel architecture for Invest Early that
would result in the leadership, advocacy, and operational excellence necessary to ensure
Invest Early’s future success and sustainability.
It is expected that the consultant will need to use a variety of activities to gather the data necessary to
complete the scope of work, including but not limited to interviews, focus groups, document reviews,
etc. It is understood that IASC and Invest Early will cooperate with the consultant to facilitate the
information necessary to complete the study. IASC and Invest Early expect ongoing and open
communications with the consultant over the course of the study.
A completed report shall be delivered to the address in #1 or in person no later than October 31, 2014.
In addition, the successful consultant will be required to meet with the Invest Early Leadership Team
at the conclusion of the study to report on the findings and discuss the report.
5. General Requirements
a. Provide detailed description of steps and timing involved to gather data, proposed approach,
analysis methodology, and cost associated with each step.
b. State the full name and home office address of your organization
c. List the name, title, mailing address, telephone number, facsimile number and email address
of the contact person for this proposal.
d. Describe your company’s organization, philosophy, management, and provide a brief history.
e. State what makes your organization different from that of other organizations that may
submit proposals.
f. A breakdown of firm’s rates, fees and charges for services, by step and for total project, and a
proposed payment schedule.
g. Provide the name(s) of the consultant(s) to perform the work for IASC. Provide a brief bio
including area(s) of expertise and a statement as to why each consultant is qualified to
provide services.
h. Provide a list of three verifiable client references of similar scope and industry. This list may
include current and former clients who are able to comment on related projects/experience.
6. Criteria for Selection
All proposals submitted will be evaluated using the following criteria:
a. Compliance with the RFP
b. Understanding the scope of work
c. Ability to complete the work within the time specified
d. Qualifications of the firm, including but not limited to its experience and personnel assigned
to the project.
7. Cost and Fee Arrangements
The consultant must provide a proposal with the maximum cost for the project based on the project as
described herein. To the extent desired, additional recommendations and services or options may be
included as additions to the project on an optional basis. The optional items shall be priced separately
from this Request for Proposal.
101 First Avenue Northeast, P.O. Box 101, Deer River MN 56636
8. Reservation of Rights
IASC/IE reserves the right to:
a. Accept or reject any and all proposals received in response to this RFP and re-advertise for
new submittals.
b. Waive or modify any irregularities in proposals received after prior notification to the vendor.
c. Request the submission of proposal modifications at any time before the award is made.
d. Consider proposals or modifications received at any time before the award is made.
e. Request clarification and/or additional information from the vendor during the evaluation
process.
f. Terminate the contract at any time, upon 30 days written notice to the consultant, if IASC
determines that the performance or progress of the vendor is unsatisfactory.
g. Enter into contract negotiations with other qualified firms that submitted acceptable proposals
during the original RFP in the event of contract termination.
h. Negotiate with the selected consultant to include further services not identified in this RFP.
i. Review the qualifications and approve the replacement of key personnel to perform the work
in the event such replacement is necessary.
9. Timeline
March 28, 2014 - Release and distribution of RFP
April 30, 2014 - Deadline for submitting proposals
May 9, 2014 - Finalists selected
May 16, 2014 - Vendor selected
IASC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), or national
origin.
101 First Avenue Northeast, P.O. Box 101, Deer River MN 56636