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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Viviana Ramirez, Chief Community Services Officer
Simon Rodriguez, Youth Services Manager
Jeff Anderson, Deputy Chief Information Officer
DATE: March 26,2024
SUBJECT:
A Resolution to award a contract for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics (STEAM) training services from APS Training Academy, 105 E Galena Blvd Fourth Floor, Aurora, IL 60505 for a three-year term with two one-year options for an amount not to exceed $2,525,000.00.
PURPOSE:
The City desires to continue to empower vulnerable communities in Aurora by providing free and low-cost education and vocational opportunities in STEAM; and promote economic equality so the community will not simply survive but thrive through the cultivation of a diverse tech-based workforce.
BACKGROUND:
Since 2021, the City has supported a public-private partnership to provide STEAM courses to Aurora Kindergarten through 8th grade students. This program has been successful in attracting students and developing an interest to explore STEAM opportunities in the future and assimilate their knowledge around key STEAM topics.
The City desires these courses and professional services to be performed fully by a Training Provider. This includes providing Aurora STEAM Academy course services to 2000+ learners in the City of Aurora. Implementation also includes course scheduling, registration, parent communication, demographic data collection, hiring and training of necessary staff, staff payment, course instruction, course follow-up, transportation of staff and materials to satellite location.
DISCUSSION:
In collaboration with the City's Community Services Department and Information Technology Department, the City's Procurement Division, the City issued RFP 23-101 on the following schedule:
-- Publicly posted and distributed the RFP documents on the City website, The Beacon News and DemandStar for vendors to retrieve and complete in order to be included in the selection process.
-- It was posted and distributed on 10/23/2023 and closed 11/15/2023.
-- There were five (5) responses completed by the deadline
-- After reviewing the data, project leaders determined that two of the submissions did not meet the standard the City required. Subsequently, City staff from Community Services and Information Technology met with representatives of APS Training Academy, NextWave STEM and TinkRworks to learn more about their solutions.
-- Meetings were held with the three potential partners from January 10 through January 25, 2024. City staff reviewed presentations and submitted final scoring on February 5th.
-- NextWave STEM provided variable pricing for their courses ranging from $3,000 to $7,000 per session with an average cost per student of $299. The proposal from NextWave STEM did not provide any locations within the City that had been secured for instruction.
-- TinkRworks submitted flat-rate pricing of $200 per student. The proposal from TinkRworks did not provide any locations within the City that had been secured for instruction and TinkRworks desired the City to help secure training locations.
-- APS Training Academy (APS) submitted flat-rate pricing of $250 per student. The proposal from APS includes 12,000 square feet of learning space consisting of 10 classrooms, a makerspace, a competitive robotics area and an industrial robotics laboratory.
-- Based on the proposals received and meetings held with the three vendors, APS Training Academy was unanimously selected as the preferred partner for the following reasons:
- expertise in providing these courses previously
- strength of training staff
- the only partner with immediately availability of Aurora-based training locations
-- Annual fees for the APS courses are listed below.
|
Year 1 |
505,000.00 |
|
Year 2 |
505,000.00 |
|
Year 3 |
505,000.00 |
|
Year 4 |
505,000.00 |
|
Year 5 |
505,000.00 |
|
Total |
2,525,000.00 |
APS fees above are based upon a full schedule of 2,020 students annually. APS will invoice the City twice a year for the required kits for the program and after each quarterly session for the number of students provided instruction in the previous quarter.
Twice each year, APS will report deliverables and outcomes including demographics for all students receiving instruction. This report will be provided to City Council as part of a Staff Report on the STEAM program.
First year funds have been budgeted for this project in account 215-1280-419.50-30.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Without the implementation of a professional services partner to provide STEAM courses to Aurora students, the program will not grow at the rate desired by the City.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the resolution be adopted.
cc: Finance Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution to award a contract for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics (STEAM) training services from APS Training Academy, 105 E Galena Blvd Fourth Floor, Aurora, IL 60505 for a three-year term with two one-year options for a total amount of $2,525,000.00.
body
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, since 2021, the City has supported a public-private partnership to provide STEAM courses to Aurora Kindergarten through 8th grade students; and
WHEREAS, this program has been successful in attracting students and developing an interest to explore STEAM opportunities in the future and assimilate their knowledge around key STEAM topics; and
WHEREAS, the City desires these courses and professional services to be performed fully by a Training Provider; and
WHEREAS, the City conducted a Request for Qualifications in search of a partner to best fit the City's needs; and
WHEREAS, first year funds for this project are budgeted in account 215-1280-419.50-30 this purchase.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: the Director of Purchasing to purchase Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics (STEAM) training services from APS Training Academy, 105 E Galena Blvd Fourth Floor, Aurora, IL 60505 for a three-year term with two one-year options for a total amount of $2,525,000.00.