RFP for Direct Student Intervention and Academic Improvement Services

South Delta School District
South Delta School District
P. O. Box 219
86 Middle School Road
Anguilla, Mississippi 39159
Telephone: (662) 873-4302
Fax: (662) 873-6114
Contact: Eddwin Smith, Federal Programs Director
RFP 2027
Request for Proposals for Direct Student Intervention and Academic
Improvement Services
Issue Date: June 25, 2026
Submission Deadline: July 16, 2026, at 10:00 AM CST

SDSD RFP for Direct Student Intervention and Academic Improvement Services
SOUTH DELTA SCHOOL DISTRICT
Request for Proposals for Direct Student Intervention and Academic
Improvement Services
The South Delta School District ("District") solicits sealed bids from qualified vendors to provide direct
student intervention and academic improvement services designed to increase student achievement in the
following service areas:
Elementary School
Grades 2-5 ELA, Mathematics, and Science Student Intervention and Academic Improvement Services
Middle School
Grades 6-8 ELA Student Intervention and Academic Improvement Services
Grades 6-8 Mathematics Student Intervention and Academic Improvement Services
Grades 6-8 Science Student Intervention and Academic Improvement Services
High School
Grades 9-12 ELA Student Intervention and Academic Improvement Services
Grades 9-12 Mathematics Student Intervention and Academic Improvement Services
Grades 9-12 Science Student Intervention and Academic Improvement Services
The District will accept both hard-copy and electronic proposal submissions.
Hard Copy Submission
Vendors submitting hard copies shall provide 5 copies of the proposal for each grade span for
which they are applying. A vendor may include multiple service areas within the same grade
span in a single proposal package, provided all applicable service areas are clearly identified on
the cover sheet. A vendor seeking an award for both grades 6-8 and grades 9-12 shall submit
two separate proposal packages: one for middle school services and one for high school services.
Mr. Eddwin Smith, Federal Programs Director
South Delta School District
P. O. Box 219
106 Athletic Drive
Rolling Fork, Mississippi 39159
Proposals may be delivered by hand, United States Postal Service, or by private carrier. The vendor is solely
responsible for timely delivery, regardless of the method of transmission.
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SDSD RFP for Direct Student Intervention and Academic Improvement Services
Electronic Submission
Vendors submitting electronically shall email proposals to eddwinsmith@sdelta.org.
Questions
All questions regarding this RFP must be submitted in writing to Federal Programs Director Eddwin Smitgh
at the address listed above. Oral statements, interpretations, or clarifications are not binding on the District.
The deadline for submission of written questions is July 2, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. CST. Responses to written
questions and any revisions to this RFP will be issued in writing by the District.
Only written responses issued by the District in reply to written inquiries shall be considered
official and binding. The District reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to determine the
appropriate response to any request for clarification.
Any addenda, notices, and official correspondence regarding this RFP shall be issued
exclusively by the South Delta School District.
1.0 Background
The South Delta School District, located in the Mississippi Delta region, serves approximately 550 students
across three campuses. The District's elementary school, located in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, serves
students in pre-kindergarten through grade 5. The middle school, also located in Rolling Fork, serves
students in grades 6 through 8. The high school, located in Anguilla, Mississippi, serves students in grades
9 through 12.
This Request for Proposals (RFP) is issued to procure evidence-based intervention services designed to
improve student outcomes in English Language Arts (ELA), mathematics, and science. The District seeks
qualified vendors with demonstrated experience delivering measurable results through direct student
support services.
The South Delta School District seeks Direct Student Intervention and Academic Improvement Services in
the following areas:
Elementary School
Grades 2-5 English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science
Middle School
Grades 6-8 English Language Arts
Grades 6-8 Mathematics
Grades 6-8 Science
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SDSD RFP for Direct Student Intervention and Academic Improvement Services
High School
Grades 9-12 English Language Arts
Grades 9-12 Mathematics
Grades 9-12 Science
Any contract awarded pursuant to this RFP shall be funded exclusively with federal funds. The successful
vendor shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and grant requirements.
2.0 Overview
The District seeks proposals from qualified vendors to provide direct, high-impact, evidence-based
intervention services in ELA, mathematics, and science for students in grades 2-12. The objective of this
procurement is to strengthen academic performance and support student proficiency in alignment with the
Mississippi College and Career Readiness Standards.
Each proposal must demonstrate alignment with District goals and address identified student needs. The
proposal must describe evidence-based practices capable of producing measurable gains in ELA,
mathematics, and science, as reflected in the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program and District
benchmark assessments. Vendors must clearly describe the methods, instructional strategies, student data
utilization, and monitoring processes they will use to accelerate student growth and improve academic
outcomes.
The successful vendor shall serve as a strategic service partner to the District and collaborate with District
personnel to monitor student progress, evaluate program effectiveness, and make instructional adjustments
as necessary to support the desired outcomes.
3.0 Scope of Work
3.1 Timeline for Services
All services shall be performed during the 2026-2027 school year, excluding District and state testing
windows and scheduled holidays, unless otherwise approved in writing by the District.
3.2 Services
The District shall identify the students eligible to receive services under any resulting contract. The roster
of participating students may be revised during the school year at the District's discretion and in the best
interest of students.
At the principal's discretion, services may be delivered in the regular classroom through individual, small-
group, or large-group instruction and/or through pull-out services, as appropriate to the needs of
participating students.
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SDSD RFP for Direct Student Intervention and Academic Improvement Services
3.3 Implementation and Expectations
The principal shall establish implementation expectations consistent with evidence-based best practices.
The District encourages vendors to propose innovative methodologies and value-added components that
support measurable student outcomes.
The successful vendor shall ensure that implementation practices:
* Focus on students as active learners and provide a wide range of learning opportunities to help them
solve problems, from simple to complex.
* Emphasize higher-order thinking skills, knowledge transfer, and the collection, analysis, and
synthesis of information and data from multiple sources.
* Utilize data from state assessments, benchmark assessments, interim assessments, and other data
points to drive instruction and improve student academic achievement.
* Align all instructional strategies, resources, and materials to the Mississippi College and Career
Readiness Standards
* Implement evidence-based, best practice strategies to improve student academic achievement
* Collaborate with school leadership teams
4.0 Vendor Deliverables
The successful vendor shall perform all services and furnish all labor, supervision, materials, and incidental
items necessary to satisfy the requirements set forth in the Scope of Work. In addition to the foregoing, the
vendor shall:
* Meet with the principal daily to review the work plan and conduct an end-of-day debrief.
* Meet with District administrators as requested by the Superintendent.
* Sign in and sign out each day.
* Submit daily work reports to the principal, Federal Programs Director, and Superintendent in a
timely manner.
* Submit invoices to the Federal Programs Director, or designee, and to Accounts Payable in
accordance with the District's Accounts Payable schedule.
5.0 Data Privacy and Security Compliance
The District and the vendor acknowledge that the effective implementation of this project may require the
timely exchange of data necessary for decision-making, service delivery, and payment processing.
5.1 Data Privacy and Security Compliance
The vendor shall comply and shall assist the District in compliance, in all material respects, with federal
and state laws and regulations regarding the privacy of information and confidentiality of student records,
including, without limitation, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Protection of
Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Vendor
agrees to abide by and maintain adequate data security measures, consistent with industry standards and
technology best practices, to protect District Data from unauthorized disclosure, use, acquisition,
destruction, and modification.
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SDSD RFP for Direct Student Intervention and Academic Improvement Services
5.2 School Official
To the extent the vendor has a legitimate educational interest in student educational records and
information and must access such records and information to provide services to the District and its
employees, agents, teachers, and students, the District designates the vendor a "school official" within the
meaning of FERPA. The vendor will be under the District's direct control with respect to the use and
maintenance of personally identifiable information and education records, as those terms are defined by
FERPA. The vendor may use personally identifiable information and education records solely to perform
its obligations under the CONTRACT and as authorized by state and federal laws and regulations.
5.3 Data Ownership
All student and staff data remains the sole property of the District and shall be used exclusively for purposes
of performing under this RFP and any resulting contract. Upon completion of the contract, all data must be
returned to the District, and any unofficial documents containing such data must be destroyed.
5.4 Data Breach
The vendor or contractor shall immediately notify the District in the event of a data breach.
6.0 Contract Timeframe
A contract may be awarded to the responsible vendor whose proposal is determined to be most advantageous
to the District, taking into consideration price and the evaluation factors set forth in this RFP. Any resulting
contract shall become effective upon approval by the South Delta School District Board of Education,
execution by all required parties, and the issuance of a District Purchase Order.
The total number of contractual days will be determined by the vendor's per-day cost and the availability
of Federal Funds, as approved by the Mississippi Department of Education. A contract day shall be defined
as a regular school day and, at a minimum, must encompass the times students are at school.
Services may begin upon contract execution as defined above and must be completed within the principal's
established timeline prior to the spring 2027 MDE MAAP administration. Final invoices are due no later
than five business days after the last date of service.
7.0 Acceptance of Proposals
The District reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to waive minor informalities or irregularities in any
proposal received, provided such waiver does not prejudice the interests of the District or provide an unfair
competitive advantage to any vendor.
8.0 Selection Criteria and Procedures
All proposals received by the deadline shall be evaluated in accordance with the evaluation criteria set forth
herein. Proposals shall be reviewed and scored by an Evaluation Committee designated by the District.
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SDSD RFP for Direct Student Intervention and Academic Improvement Services
The vendor's proposal will be evaluated only in the area(s) of proposal submission identified on the
Proposal Cover Sheet.
Each vendor shall submit its best and final pricing with its proposal. The District reserves the right to
conduct discussions, request clarifications, or negotiate with one or more responsible vendors after receipt
of proposals and prior to award; however, the District may make an award based solely on the initial
proposals received.
The District reserves the right to award one contract, multiple contracts, or no contract, as determined to be
in the best interest of the District.
PROPOSAL EVALUATION INSTRUMENT
POSSIBLE
SCORING CRITERIA
POINTS
Organizational Experience
* Vendor's experience and success in conducting similar work
* Experience in fulfilling contracts of a similar nature
* Qualifications and abilities of personnel proposed to be assigned
to perform the services 20
* Record of past performance of similar work within the last 3
years.
* Letters/references of support detailing levels of success with the
services rendered.
* Program Design
* Overall approach and vendor's grasp of the project as shown by
the depth, breadth, and clarity of the proposal
* Direct student intervention
* Student outcomes 35
* Evidence-based instructional support
* Ability to maintain alignment with Mississippi College and
Career Readiness Standards, ELA Shifts, Math Practices and
Science Practices
Cost Efficiency and Service (20 points)
* Total cost of proposed services
* Service and support cost 20
* Quality and completeness of proposal
* Number of years in business
Program Operations (25 points)
* Adequacy of resources, including personnel, equipment,
financial stability, and other related factors
* Plan for performing required services
* Quality of the procedures and organizational structures proposed
25
for completion of the work as it relates to scheduling of
consultants, submission of services reporting, availability to
provide technical assistance, communication with District and
school leaders, and project management systems.
* Timeliness of services
TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS 100
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SDSD RFP for Direct Student Intervention and Academic Improvement Services
9.0 Exceptions
The District reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive minor informalities or irregularities,
to request clarifications, to negotiate with one or more vendors, and to award a contract or contracts as
determined to be in the best interest of the District.
10.0 Conditions of Request for Proposal
The issuance of this Request for Proposals does not constitute an award commitment by the District, nor
does it obligate the District to pay any costs incurred in the preparation or submission of a proposal.
11.0 Format and Procedure for Delivery of Proposals
Proposals must be complete, clearly organized, and submitted in accordance with the requirements of this
RFP.
The proposal must be prepared in 11- or 12-point font, single-spaced, and bound without staples, clips, or
rubber bands. Each page of the proposal and all attachments must identify the vendor's name. The proposal
must be organized in the order set forth in this RFP.
The proposal shall consist of seven parts as follows:
Each copy shall consist of the seven parts as follows:
1. Part I Proposal Cover Page: The Cover Page is included in this RFP and shall serve as the Cover
Page of the vendor's proposal (one page only).
2. Part II Vendor Certification and Acceptance: The vendor's signature serves as agreement with
the terms and conditions as set forth in the RFP. If the vendor objects to any of the Standard Terms
and Conditions, such objection may constitute an adequate cause for rejection without further
negotiation.
3. Part III Vendor Profile: The vendor shall provide sufficient evidence of the vendor's
qualifications, organizational capacity, and ability to perform the services described in this RFP in
a timely and satisfactory manner. The Vendor Profile shall include: (a) the vendor's background;
(b) the vendor's relevant experience related to the specific service area(s) for which the vendor
seeks award; (c) the vendor's knowledge and application of the Mississippi College and Career
Readiness Standards; (d) a description of at least three successful experiences in demographically
similar school districts; (e) a plan for performing the required services; and, (f) procedures and
organizational structures proposed for completion of the work as it relates to scheduling of
consultants, performance of services, reporting, availability to provide technical assistance,
communication with the District and school leaders, and project management systems.
4. Part IV Program Narrative: The vendor shall provide a clear and concise plan describing (a) the
area(s) of focus the vendor is proposing to support, (b) how the services will be managed, delivered,
and evaluated to meet the identified needs of the District, (c) the process for submitting reports, (d)
the process for communicating with the District, and (e) the process for evaluating services
rendered. The Program Narrative may not exceed five pages. Vendors may include a menu of
services in an appendix; however, the appendix will not replace the Program Narrative.
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SDSD RFP for Direct Student Intervention and Academic Improvement Services
5. Part V Budget: The vendor shall include the vendor's complete cost proposal and shall encompass
all requirements of this RFP. To be considered responsive, the vendor shall submit a budget
narrative/cost proposal for a daily rate that includes all service expenses. The daily rate stated in
the cost proposal shall constitute the vendor's total proposed compensation. The District shall not
be responsible for any costs exceeding the amount proposed. Indirect costs shall not be allowed.
6. Part VI Personnel: The vendor shall provide resumes for all personnel involved in the delivery of
the service (from principals to field technicians), including their experience in this area of service
delivery. Indicate the level of involvement by principals of the company in the day-to-day
operations of the contract.
7. Part VII References/Resumes: The vendor must provide at least three references for contracts of
similar size and scope to those that will be implemented in the District. References must be from
contracts awarded during the past three years. Include the name of the school district, date and
length of the contract, a summary of the work, and the name and telephone number of a contact in
the district.
12.0 Disposition of Proposals
All submitted proposals become the property of the District and shall not be returned to the vendor.
13.0 Notice of Intent to Award
The District shall notify the vendor whose proposal is determined to be the most advantageous to the
District, taking into consideration evaluation factors set forth in the RFP.
14.0 Right to Protest
14.1 Interested Party
An actual or prospective vendor that may be aggrieved by the RFP or award of a contract, or by the
protest.
14.2 Protestor
An actual or prospective vendor who is aggrieved in connection with the RFP or the award of a contract
and who files a protest.
14.3 Protest Procedures
The protest procedure is as follows and, in the sequence, as listed:
1. The vendor shall submit a formal letter of protest to the District Superintendent of Education,
detailing the exact nature and reason(s) for the protest. The letter shall specify precisely which
terms in the RFP and/or decisions related to the award are being challenged, stating the reason for
each protest.
2. The letter shall state the title of the RFP at issue in the protest and shall be signed by the vendor
representative who signed the bid proposal documents.
3. No verbal protest shall be acknowledged by the District.
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SDSD RFP for Direct Student Intervention and Academic Improvement Services
A review committee shall be appointed by the District Superintendent to review each valid protest submitted
by a vendor that has followed the established procedures. A decision regarding the protest shall be made in
a timely manner. The review committee shall base its recommendation on the written evidence presented
by the vendor and the Superintendent or designee. The review committee's recommendation shall be
submitted to the Superintendent for approval. The protesting vendor shall be informed of the decision in
writing at the earliest practicable date. The decision of the review committee, as approved by the
Superintendent, shall be final.
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