The City of Austin is seeking a qualified contractor to assist the Austin Fire Department (AFD) in developing and implementing a selection process for fire cadet hiring. The selected contractor will partner with AFD to design and administer a valid fire cadet selection process that occurs after minimum qualification screening and before a conditional job offer. The contract will have an initial term of 24 months, with options for two additional 24-month extensions. The process is expected to include validated, standardized assessments to evaluate candidates' knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics required for success in AFD's training academy and on the job. The scope includes developing and administering cognitive and oral assessments for traditional applicants, and a cognitive assessment for lateral applicants. The contractor will be responsible for staffing and administering these assessments, including hiring and training evaluators for oral assessments. The city will provide support in coordinating resources and communicating assessment information to applicants. The city aims to conduct the first administration of the hiring process under this contract by March 2027. Proposals will be evaluated based on concept and strategy, experience, qualifications, personnel, and price.
The city's goal is to conduct the first administration of the hiring process under this contract by March 2027.
All proper invoices received by the city will be paid within 30 calendar days of the city's receipt of the deliverables or of the invoice, whichever is later.
The contractor warrants and represents that all services to be provided to the city under the contract will be fully and timely performed in a good and workmanlike manner in accordance with generally accepted industry standards and practices following the terms, conditions, and covenants of the contract, and all applicable federal, state and local laws, rules or regulations. Unless otherwise specified in the contract, the warranty period shall be at least one year from final acceptance date.
Proposals will be evaluated based on the evaluation criteria listed: Concept and Strategy (30 points), Experience, Qualifications, and Personnel (30 points), Price (20 points), Local Business Preference (up to 10 points), and Small Business Preference (up to 10 points), totaling up to 100 points.
Contractors shall have experience in implementing hiring solutions with municipal fire departments with an authorized strength of at least 300 firefighters, and with applicant pools of 1,500 persons or greater. Contractors shall also have hiring solutions currently utilized by a municipal fire department agency of similar size and scope within the last five years and active for at least one year. Additionally, contractors must be able to produce documentation of the validity of proposed assessment tools in assessing firefighter cadet job-related critical skills and abilities.
The solicitation cover sheet will display if a site visit is being held and if attendance at this meeting is mandatory. If a site visit is planned, the date, location, time, and any other necessary information regarding this meeting will also be displayed in the solicitation cover sheet.
Regarding assessment tools, the proposer should describe how AFD can preview the assessment and if an assessment demo sample is available.
Any protest regarding the solicitation shall be filed no later than five business days prior to the due date and time for proposals. Any protest regarding the evaluation of proposals shall be filed no later than five business days after the notification of award recommendation is posted. Any protest regarding the award of the contract shall be filed no later than ten business days after the date of award.
