Become A “Consulting Architect”

Announcement: Common Cents/Shared Services Initiative (identify potential cost savings for school districts) Due September 14 (Aug 10), Pennsylvania Department of Education

Their Description: It is the intent of this Department to create a new system of shared services, entitled the Common Cents Program, whereby a consultant or team of consultants would evaluate eleven specific areas of school administration and operations for potential cost savings. These savings would be realized through combined services with other districts contained in each Intermediate Unit. The consultant would guide districts that chose to adopt the recommendations through full implementation....

Analysis of each of the following service areas is required:
(1) Transportation
(2) Food services and nutrition
(3) Instructional services
(4) Safety and security
(5) Health services
(6) Purchasing
(7) Finance and payroll
(8) Facilities and real estate
(9) Human resources
(10) Technology services
(11) Administration

Analysis shall include:
a) Reviewing data and other information provided by each participating school district within each participating Intermediate Unit region...
b) Interviewing pertinent school district staff/personnel;
c) Developing written reports, findings, and specific cost saving recommendations....

Recommendations
Recommendations of the study shall not be binding upon any participating school districts... Recommendations shall provide for combining services and activities across school districts within each participating Intermediate Unit in order to promote improved service delivery, efficiency, economy of operations, and cost savings. Recommendations must include projected savings... Recommendations of the study may also include sharing of services or activities with a municipality.

Report
a) Upon completion of the analyses/review(s), the supplier will provide both a written and electronic copy of the findings to the Department and each of the participating school districts.
b) The supplier should be available to present and discuss the report/recommendations during a public meeting....

Implementation Assistance
a)...The supplier will develop all necessary MOUs and/or RFPs that will be necessary in order to establish the selected shared service(s), as well as other elements of implementation assistance.
b) The supplier will provide...implementation documents that include the items specified in (a) for
each school district within 30 working days...
c) The documents may include a list of potential suppliers for each of the services to be provided... but the contractor may not recommend a single supplier.
d) The contractor will provide assistance and support to the participating school districts in enacting the MOUs and/or RFPs....

Technical... (e)valuation will be based upon the following in order of importance:
1. Qualifications
2. Knowledge/Experience
3. Understanding the Problem
4. Implementation Strategy
5. Company Stability

Our Thoughts: A new kind of k-12 business need is emerging: to provide schools and districts unbiased advice on operations, followed by the selection and even the oversight of third party providers. The function is analogous to the consulting architect or engineer in construction. Firms here will be expert in k-12 operations but will not be engaged in consulting to sell their own solutions. This RFP offers an example of the future and a entryway to it. ••••