March 10, 2003

SDE Requests Proposals from Contractors on
Supplemental Educational Services for Eligible Children

(Santa Fe, NM)—The New Mexico State Department of Education (SDE) is seeking proposals for the 2003 school year from prospective contractors regarding supplemental educational services, including tutoring and academic enrichment activities, for eligible children in schools that have failed to make adequate yearly progress. Eligible children include those attending the 14 schools named as corrective action schools for 2002.

Potential contractors must respond by no later than 2:00 p.m. MDT on Friday, April 11, 2003. A pre-proposal conference will be held on Monday, March 17, at 9:00 a.m., at the SDE, Mabry Hall, for prospective contractors.

“We are seeking contractors who can enhance students’ academic achievement in New Mexico,” said Juan Cervantes, procurement manager at the SDE. “Our goal in arriving at an approved list of contractors is to facilitate this process for school districts and parents.”

The NCLB Act requires school districts to provide parents with choices relative to supplemental educational services if schools are not making progress. The services must be provided in addition to the regular school day and must be of high quality, research-based and specifically designed to attain academic proficiency and increase academic achievement. In addition, the SDE is searching for providers who can work with special education and English Language Learner (ELL) students.

Selected contractors will be offered statewide price agreements by the New Mexico State Purchasing Agent (SPA). Services will begin as soon as possible and end within one year, although SPA reserves the right to extend any or all of the contracts for up to two additional terms.

Eligible contractors include local school districts, private nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations and other entities.

For more information, please visit the SPA’s web page at www.state.nm.us/spd/, “Educational Supplemental Services for NCLB.”