DEPARTMENT: Finance
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Troy Elliott
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Ratification of One-Time Purchase Agreement with Scholastic, Inc. for School Readiness Kits
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes ratification of a one-time purchase agreement with Scholastic, Inc. in the amount of $149,467.50 for 3,250 School Readiness Kits for the Department of Human Services (DHS), Head Start Division. Funding is available and included in the FY 2020-2021 Head Start Grant Program Budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Submitted for Council consideration and ratification is a one-time purchase of 3,250 School Readiness Kits consisting of various books for the Department of Human Services (DHS), Head Start Division. The kits are for low-income households to provide a variety of books to enhance students reading ability.
Children in low-income households fall behind an average of two months in reading during the summer months and with the recent school closures due to COVID-19, this will likely increase. Students from low-income households with access to books over the summer see significant gains in their reading ability. DHS Head Start will provide all students enrolled in the Head Start program, a School Readiness Kit that includes:
• Three bilingual book titles (Los Tres Cerditos/The Three Little Pigs; Como Abrazas a un Puercoespin?/How Do you Hug a Porcupine?; and Caminando/Taking a Walk)
• Bilingual Writing Journal with Development Stages of Writing Examples, three Jumbo Crayons, Safety Scissors
• Downloadable songs in English and Spanish
• Bilingual Family Guide with tips and over 80 activities for social emotional development, language, literacy, writing, physical development, health and safety, and math, science and social studies that are aligned to Head Start Outcomes
• Tote Bag to contain all items
The School Readiness Kits were shipped from Scholastic, Inc. to the students’ home on July 16, 2020 for delivery the week of July 20, 2020.
The purchase was made through The Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS) Cooperative Program passed on Ordinance 2009-12-10-1002, Dated 12/10/2009.
ISSUE:
This ordinance ratifies the one-time purchase of 3,250 School Readiness Kits for children of low-income households to provide them with resources that will enhance their reading ability during the summer months.
This purchase is an exception to the Local Preference Program.
The Veteran-Owned Small Business Preference Program does not apply to goods/supplies contracts, so no preference was applied to this contract.
ALTERNATIVES:
This one-time purchase with Scholastic, Inc. was required in order to provide School Readiness Kits for students in the Head Start Program so they have necessary reading and learning materials for the summer.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes the ratification of a one-time purchase agreement with Scholastic, Inc. for 3,250 School Readiness Kits for a total of $149,467.50. Funding is available and included in the FY 2020-2021 Head Start Grant Program Budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the ratification for the one-time purchase of 3,250 School Readiness Kits from Scholastic, Inc. in the total amount of $149,467.50.
The purchase was made through a cooperative program and a contract disclosure form is not required.