Agenda Item
a. RFP 20-476 Nursing Services for Medically Fragile Students with Disabilities Contract Extension (Year 3 of 4) – (School Health and School Nursing Services for more than $50,000.00 per vendor but not to exceed a total contracted amount of 3,000,000)
Summary: Presented by: Ms. Stacy E. Stepney, Chief Academic Officer, Division of Curriculum & Instruction
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve the contract extensions with Pediatric Services of America, Inc. dba Aveanna Healthcare; Cobb Pediatric/The Stepping Stones Group; Delta T Group; and Maxim Healthcare as the most responsive and responsible bidders to provide school health and school nursing services for more than $50,000.00 per vendor but not to exceed a total contracted amount of $3,000,000.00.
Why: Under the individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), school health services and school nurse services are defined as related services. Section 504 works together with IDEA to protect children and adults with disabilities from exclusion and unequal treatment in schools, jobs, and the community. These services are required, according to IDEA and Section 504 guidelines and physician’s orders, for students with significant medical needs to access their education.
Currently, there are 24 special education nurses that are district employees. The District is currently contracting with ten (10) nurses anticipating an additional sixteen (16) nurses for one-to-one services for students with significant medical needs who are eligible for special education services, and two (2) nurses anticipating an additional six (6) to support students with significant medical needs who are eligible for Section 504 services. Additional resources are needed to address the school-based nursing requirements and to provide IDEA and Section 504 mandated services to students with disabilities. Therefore, the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) has contracted with nursing vendors to provide registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) with specialized knowledge when the District is unable to hire them directly.
The request for an increase in the contracted amount from $1,500,000 to $3,000,000 is a result of contracted vendors requesting a rate increase to maintain the District’s ability to compete with other local school districts seeking contracted nursing support for medically fragile students.
Details: The Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued on November 14, 2019, and approved February 10, 2020. The approved DCSD RFP process was followed. Five (5) of the twelve (12) vendors who responded were selected based on the following criteria: ability to provide needed staff, hourly rates, and experience with school-based settings. The five (5) selected vendors were Aveanna Healthcare, ATC Healthcare, Cobb Pediatric, Delta T Group, and Maxim Healthcare.
Financial impact: The total contract amount will not exceed $3,000,000.00.
The general budget charge codes are as follows: $1,500,000 (100.2100.530000.00011.7340.2021.8010.035.0000)
$500,000 (100.2100.530000.22711.7320.9990.8010.035.0000)
The IDEA federal budget charge code is:
$1,000,000 (404.2100.530000.05021.7340.2824.8010.035.2023)
The financial impact is contingent upon the number of registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) provided through contracted services. The rates for these services are as follows: RNs $39.00 - $60.00 per hour and LPNs $32.00 - $45.00 per hour. The total contracted amount will not exceed $3,000,000.00.
Contact: Ms. Stacy E. Stepney, Chief Academic Officer, Division of Curriculum & Instruction, 678.676.0731
Ms. Michele Summerlin, Executive Director Exceptional Education, Division of Curriculum and Instruction, 678.676.2163
Effective: May 1, 2023 - April 30, 2024
Status: Attorney approval not required
Evaluation of Contracted Staff
Vendor Name: Delta-T Healthcare
Evaluator Name: SH
Date- 9/2/22
Strongly Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly
Agree (5) (4) (3) (2) Disagree
(1)
Staff follow x
District
procedures
once provided
orientation or
training
Staff comply x
with general
duties and
responsibilities
of the position
Staff accept x
feedback from
District
personnel
Total 12
Comments:
Evaluation of Contracted Staff
Vendor Name: Maxim Healthcare
Evaluator Name: SH
Date- 9/2/22
Strongly Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly
Agree (5) (4) (3) (2) Disagree
(1)
Staff follow x
District
procedures
once provided
orientation or
training
Staff comply x
with general
duties and
responsibilities
of the position
Staff accept x
feedback from
District
personnel
Total 12
Comments:
Evaluation of Contracted Staff
Vendor Name: PSA/Aveanna
Evaluator Name: SH
Date- 9/2/22
Strongly Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly
Agree (5) (4) (3) (2) Disagree
(1)
Staff follow x
District
procedures
once provided
orientation or
training
Staff comply x
with general
duties and
responsibilities
of the position
Staff accept x
feedback from
District
personnel
Total 12
Comments:
Evaluation of Contracted Staff
Vendor Name: Cobb/Stepping Stones Group
Evaluator Name: SH
Date- 9/2/22
Strongly Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly
Agree (5) (4) (3) (2) Disagree
(1)
Staff follow x
District
procedures
once provided
orientation or
training
Staff comply x
with general
duties and
responsibilities
of the position
Staff accept x
feedback from
District
personnel
Total 12
Comments:
Evaluation of Contracted Staff
Vendor Name: Delta-T Healthcare
Evaluator Name: EB
Date- 9/2/22
Strongly Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly
Agree (5) (4) (3) (2) Disagree
(1)
Staff follow x
District
procedures
once provided
orientation or
training
Staff comply x
with general
duties and
responsibilities
of the position
Staff accept x
feedback from
District
personnel
Total 12
Comments:
Evaluation of Contracted Staff
Vendor Name: Maxim Healthcare
Evaluator Name: EB
Date- 9/2/22
Strongly Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly
Agree (5) (4) (3) (2) Disagree
(1)
Staff follow X
District
procedures
once provided
orientation or
training
Staff comply X
with general
duties and
responsibilities
of the position
Staff accept x
feedback from
District
personnel
Total 12
Comments:
Evaluation of Contracted Staff
Vendor Name: PSA/Aveanna
Evaluator Name: EB
Date- 9/2/22
Strongly Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly
Agree (5) (4) (3) (2) Disagree
(1)
Staff follow x
District
procedures
once provided
orientation or
training
Staff comply x
with general
duties and
responsibilities
of the position
Staff accept x
feedback from
District
personnel
Total 12
Comments:
Evaluation of Contracted Staff
Vendor Name: Cobb/Stepping Stones Group
Evaluator Name: EB
Date- 9/2/22
Strongly Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly
Agree (5) (4) (3) (2) Disagree
(1)
Staff follow x
District
procedures
once provided
orientation or
training
Staff comply x
with general
duties and
responsibilities
of the position
Staff accept x
feedback from
District
personnel
Total 12
Comments: