Active SLED Opportunity · CONNECTICUT · CITY OF BRIDGEPORT

    Absence Management and Staffing Services

    Issued by City of Bridgeport
    cityRFPCity of BridgeportSol. 255820
    Open · 19d remaining
    DAYS TO CLOSE
    19
    due May 12, 2026
    PUBLISHED
    Apr 14, 2026
    Posting date
    JURISDICTION
    City of
    city
    NAICS CODE
    561311
    AI-classified industry

    AI Summary

    The City of Bridgeport seeks proposals for an electronic absence management system and substitute staffing services for teachers and paraprofessionals in its public schools. The contract includes daily absence reporting, substitute placement, and long-term staffing, with evaluation based on qualifications, experience, structure, work plan, cost, and MBE credit.

    Opportunity details

    Solicitation No.
    255820
    Type / RFx
    RFP
    Status
    open
    Level
    city
    Published Date
    April 14, 2026
    Due Date
    May 12, 2026
    NAICS Code
    561311AI guide
    Jurisdiction
    City of Bridgeport
    Agency
    City of Bridgeport

    Description

    The City of Bridgeport seeks proposals for Absence Management and Staffing Services.

    The Bridgeport Board of Education (sometimes referred to as BBOE or District or School District or Board) is seeking proposals from firms interested in serving as the provider of an electronic absence management system for BBOE employees (teachers, certified pupil personnel services, paraprofessionals, non-certified staff), substitute teacher staffing services (certified teaching staff) and paraprofessionals in Bridgeport public schools.  The services will include the following:

    • an absence management system that encompasses daily absence reporting for all teachers, classroom paraprofessionals and non-certified staff;
    • placement of substitute teaching staff in the Bridgeport public schools, based on the District’s substitute allocation model; and
    • placement of substitute and long-term paraprofessionals in designated classes.

    Background

    The Bridgeport School District is the largest school system in Connecticut, servicing approximately 19,000 students.   It also ranks among the lowest Connecticut school districts on the economic scale.  

    There are 39 school sites consisting of 29 elementary, 8 high schools, 1 alternative center and the inter-district Vocational Aquaculture School.

    The Bridgeport School District has a certified teaching force of over 1,500 and paraprofessional staff of approximately 200. Currently, the District utilizes staffing agencies to provide absence management for teachers, paraprofessionals and non-certified staff.  All employees report absences daily to an electronic absence management system by web entry.  Reported absences that require supervisor approval are electronically routed to the supervisor (e.g., personal days, vacation).

     

    Substitute Teachers

    • The District authorizes the provider to assign substitute teachers to schools, based on the District model. 
      • Currently, the District utilizes occasional subs and a Building Substitute allocation model, in which each school is allocated a number of Building Substitutes for a designated number of school days, either the entire school year or a shorter time period (e.g., October – May). 
      • The Building Substitute is assigned by the principal, on a daily basis, to cover teacher absences. 
    • The District also authorizes long-term substitute (LTS) assignments for coverage of vacant positions and the absence of teachers on leave for an extended or long-term period (e.g., FMLA, workers compensation etc.)

     

    Paraprofessionals

    • In addition, the District will require that the provider assign paraprofessionals as needed on a daily basis, to cover the absences of paraprofessionals in designated classes. The district may also require the provider staff paraprofessional vacancies with full-time paraprofessionals.

     

    The contract with the current providers will terminate on June 30, 2026.

    Project Details

    • Reference ID: BEX043265
    • Department: BOE Business Office
    • Department Head: Nestor Nkwo (BOE Director of Finance)

    Important Dates

    • Questions Due: 2026-05-01T18:00:00.000Z
    • Answers Posted By: 2026-05-06T20:00:00.000Z

    Evaluation Criteria

    • Qualifications (20 pts)

      Reference Scope of Work Section

    • Quality of Past Success/Experience (20 pts)

      Reference Scope of Work Section

    • Organizational Structure (25 pts)

      Reference Scope of Work Section

    • Work Plan (15 pts)
    • Cost (20 pts)

      Reference Scope of Work Section

    • MBE Credit (10 pts)

      Reference Introduction Section

    Submission Requirements

    • No Conflicts/Disclosure Form (Signed and notarized)** (required)

      Every business or individual that is issued a notice of intent to award pursuant to the city’s purchasing ordinance (section 3.08.070, as amended), must fully and accurately complete this disclosure form. If there is insufficient space for any answer, attach additional sheets.

      No Conflicts/Disclosure Form are included in Attachment C of this RFP. 

    • Costs/Fees (required)

      Provide a breakdown of all costs associated with the performance of the Scope of Work as required in this RFP as follows.

      1. Total costs for the project;
      2. Total costs for each service/deliverable
      3. A breakdown of costs by category
    • Bid Proposal Documents (required)

      Please upload response here

    • Will you be using the following: (required)
    • Is MBE applicable? (required)
    • The initial term for the contract will be ____ (__) year with ____ (__) one-year renewal options, for a potential total term of _____ (__) years (required)

      Example: The initial term for the contract will be one (1) year with two (2) one-year renewal options, for a potential total term of five (5) years

    • ____ (__) ORIGINAL, ____ (__) COPIES AND ____ (__) ELECTRONIC VIA THUMBDRIVE MUST BE SUBMITTED. (required)

      Example: ONE (1) ORIGINAL, THREE (3) COPIES AND ONE (1) ELECTRONIC VIA THUMBDRIVE MUST BE SUBMITTED.

    Questions & Answers

    Q (Connecticut - BEX043265 - City of Bridgeport Department of Public Purchases for the Bridgeport School District - Absence Management and Staffing Services): 1. Is this a new contract or renewal of an existing contract?

    A: The contract with the current providers will terminate on June 30, 2026.


    Q (No subject): What are your Top priorities for selection?

    A: Please refer to the Evaluation Criteria and Scope of Work.


    Q (No subject): Who are the current incumbent vendor(s) providing absence management and staffing services?

    A: Currently, the District utilizes Kelly Educational Services (KES) to provide the absence management system for teachers, paraprofessionals and non-certified staff, and Delta-T for paraprofessional services.


    Q (Connecticut - BEX043265 - City of Bridgeport Department of Public Purchases for the Bridgeport School District - Absence Management and Staffing Services): 2. If there is an existing contract, could you please share the names of the current vendors and their pricing?

    A: The contract with the current providers will terminate on June 30, 2026. Currently, the District utilizes Kelly Educational Services (KES) to provide the absence management system for teachers, paraprofessionals and non-certified staff, and Delta-T for paraprofessional services.


    Q (Connecticut - BEX043265 - City of Bridgeport Department of Public Purchases for the Bridgeport School District - Absence Management and Staffing Services): 3. In order to be considered responsive for this solicitation, is it mandatory to bid on all positions?

    A: Yes, bidders should submit all of the staffing positions and rates they can provide.


    Q (Connecticut - BEX043265 - City of Bridgeport Department of Public Purchases for the Bridgeport School District - Absence Management and Staffing Services): 4. What is the estimated budget for this contract?

    A: Approximately $14 million.


    Q (Connecticut - BEX043265 - City of Bridgeport Department of Public Purchases for the Bridgeport School District - Absence Management and Staffing Services): 5. Is it mandatory to subcontract?

    A: No


    Q (Connecticut - BEX043265 - City of Bridgeport Department of Public Purchases for the Bridgeport School District - Absence Management and Staffing Services): 6. Could you please provide information on the daily duration of shifts required for the necessary professions? For example, the number of hours per day?

    A: The school day is 6.5 hours.


    Q (Challenges/Performance Gaps?): What were the primary challenges or performance gaps with the current provider(s)?

    A: Maintaining fill rates above 90%.


    Q (No subject): What is the average daily volume of absences across the district?

    A: Approximately 300 total absences per day.


    Q (Fill Rates?): What are the current fill rates for: Substitute teachers Paraprofessionals

    A: Approximately 90%.


    Q (Substitutes): What is the average number of daily substitute placements needed?

    A: Substitutes for approximately 200 teachers daily.


    Q (Peak Daily Demand): What is the peak daily demand during the school year?

    A: Mondays and Fridays are peak demand—over 300 absences.


    Q (No subject): What percentage of absences are: Same-day vs pre-scheduled?

    A: Approximately 80% are same-day.


    Q (No subject): Current system/platform used?

    A: Red Rover


    Q (No subject): MUNIS integration expectations?

    A: The bidder will primarily interface with the attendance management system, not MUNIS.


    Q (No subject): How will vendors be awarded (single vs multiple)?

    A: The district reserves the right to contract with multiple vendors for staffing services.


    Q (No subject): Hello! Will you consider vendors who can only provide paraprofessional substitutes or are you looking for a vendor who can supply all substitute needs?

    A: Bidders should submit all of the staffing positions and rates they can provide.


    Q (attendance management system): You say you have Reb Rover, is the winning bidder required to take over running Reb Rover and the cost? or bring their own absence management system?

    A: The District currently uses Red Rover as the electronic absence management system. Red Rover is not run by the staffing agencies, but staffing agencies need to be able to interface with whatever electronic absence management system the District uses. The District contracts directly with the electronic absence management system.


    Q (type of service): On page 4 you refer to assingment of 'substitute certified staff members (pupil personnel support, etc) can you explain what type of certified staff you are referring to?

    A: The District is interested to see if the bidder is able to provide services for pupil personnel support (PPS) positions such as speech pathologists, school psychologists, occupational therapists, etc. These would be "as needed" positions and would not exclude the bidder from submitting the proposal for substitutes and paraprofessionals if those are the only positions they can provide.


    Key dates

    1. April 14, 2026Published
    2. May 12, 2026Responses Due

    AI classification tags

    Frequently asked questions

    SLED stands for State, Local, and Education. These are solicitations issued by state governments, counties, cities, school districts, utilities, and higher education institutions — as opposed to federal agencies.

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