Finance committee approves multi‑award RFP for 25 out‑of‑school‑time vendors

The finance committee reviewed a multi‑award procurement (RFP 26020) to select vendors for out‑of‑school‑time activities and agreed to recommend the awards to the full board.

Adrienne Sanchez, executive director of procurement, said the RFP produced a vendor list of 25 organizations that will be used to provide enrichment programming; the packet included examples such as New Mexico Jazz Workshop, Tutor Doctor and the YMCA. The awards are multi‑award (multiple vendors per service type) and will be exercised as needs arise.

Board members asked how evaluation criteria — including approach, methodology and past performance — were weighed for vendors without prior APS contracts. Sher Jet, the district's chief academic officer, said evaluators used the submission materials and tabulated scores during the evaluation committee process. Sanchez noted New Mexico procurement code preferences for resident businesses and veterans apply, and that APS does not separately include a minority/women‑owned business preference beyond state‑authorized preferences.

"Each of these organizations prepared a comprehensive application," Sher Jet said; board members asked that scoring tabulations be available if they want to review specific vendor evaluations.

The committee recommended the multi‑award vendor list for placement on the board consent agenda.