LETTER TO REQUEST PROPOSALS

April 11, 2008

The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), Information Services Division (ISD) is soliciting proposals from qualified consultants (Bidder) to provide targeted onsite training and education services as part of an ongoing initiative to expand and mature project management capabilities.

Purpose

The purpose of this solicitation is to procure the assistance of a consulting organization in partnership with the ISD’s Project Management Office (PMO) to facilitate training and education of ISD staff on project management standards, methodology, and industry best practices for planning and executing IT or related project initiatives.

Background

The ISD provides a range of technology services supporting over sixteen thousand Washington state court customers’ automation needs. Ongoing technical support is provided by a dedicated staff of up to 100.

Statement of Work

The ISD has identified the deliverables below as a part of this engagement.The ISD will also entertain recommendations for additions and/or changes to the statement of work in order to best satisfy meeting targeted deliverables.

Deliverable #1 –Training “Workshop” Program

The Bidder must outline its structure and approach to delivering general and focused project management training and education. The Bidder’s response must include but need not be limited to a proposed program description, course/workshop outline, format and structure.

Proposed deliverable must consider the following:

Audience Type

  • Project Managers – Staff with mixed knowledge, training, and experience
  • Business and Technical – Staff with varying levels of training and exposure to structured project management methodologies and practices

Workshop Type

  • General – A broad cross section of managers and line staff. Focus of training and education is grounding on core concepts and industry recognized best practices.
  • Targeted – Specialized training by role and function as a follow up to the general introduction based on identified audience types. Focus should be on detail exposure and practical application of methodology, process, and relevant industry best practices.

Deliverable #2 – Training (Workshop) Work Plan and Schedule:The bidder will provide a detailed work plan outlining all activities associated with this engagement from inception to conclusion. As part of delivering the work plan there should also be a proposed schedule with options for implementing the training and education as outlined in Deliverable #1.

Deliverable #3 –WorkshopImplementation: The bidder will facilitate and conduct the actual training program workshops. The desired length and duration of the program necessary to execute what is described in Deliverable #1 is 45 – 60 days. The end result of this period will coincide with kickoff of other work activities to continue maturing ISD organizational capabilities in project management.

Deliverable #4– Retrospective and Recommendations:Upon completion of the training workshops, the bidderwill present and deliver a project retrospective. The retrospective should evaluate the progress made, provide lessons learned and based on live interaction with ISD staff provide recommendations for continued training, education, and growth for staff.

All travel expenses, per diem, and ancillary expenses are to be included in the bid submitted.

Minimum Qualifications

Consultants must meet the following minimum criteria:

  • Have a minimum of three tofive (3-5) years of experience providing the services outlined in this solicitation.
  • Have at least three (3) non-bidder owned customer references for whom the bidder has provided similar services during the past thirty-six (36) months preceding the bid due date.

Proposals from bidders whodo not meet these minimum qualifications shall be deemed to be unresponsive, will not be evaluated and no score will be assigned.

The proposal is to be brief but should include:

  • Methodology and Approach strategy to providing the services
  • Experience in delivering similar services for private and/or public sector organizations
  • Qualifications of the resource(s) that will facilitate the training workshops
  • Names, addresses and telephone numbers of three non-bidder owned business references
  • Work plan
  • Schedule to accomplish the project
  • Costs or fees – which should be based on the deliverables described in the Statement of Work above including all related expenses

Proposals will be evaluated by the AOC based on the response to the information requested above. All items must be addressed for the proposal to be considered responsive. The deadline for submission of responses is 5:00 p.m. local time in Olympia, Washington on May 9, 2008. LATE BIDS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AND WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFIED FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION. TIME EXTENSIONS WILL NOT BE GRANTED.

Proposals are to be mailed, e-mailed, or hand-delivered to:

John Bell
Administrative Office of the Courts
1206 Quince Street SE
PO Box 41170
Olympia, WA98504-1170
Phone: 360.357.2126
Fax: 360.586.8869
E-Mail:

Bidders assume the risk for the method of delivery chosen. The AOC assumes no responsibility for delays caused by any delivery service.

The AOC reserves the right at its sole discretion to reject any or all proposals. This Letter to Request Proposals does not obligate the AOC to contract for the services specified herein. The final selection will be the proposal that in the opinion of the AOC best meets the requirements as set forth above and is in the best interest of the AOC. The AOC may call the primary facilitator to assist in their selection. The AOC is not obligated to select the lowest priced bid. The AOC shall not be responsible for any costs associated with a bidder’s preparation of a bid in response to this Letter to Request Proposals.

In submitting a response the bidder agrees to accept the terms set forth herein. The selected Consultant will be required to sign a Contract, including General Terms and Conditions.

Any requests for information about this project are to be directed to Gregg Richmond.

Manny Najarro
Administrative Office of the Courts
1206 Quince Street SE
PO Box 41170
Olympia, WA98504-1170
Phone: 360.704.4028
Fax: 360.586.8869
E-Mail:

Thank you for considering this solicitation.

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