Request for Information (RFI)

Request for Information (RFI) (docx)

RFI - Direct Support Professional Training Platform

Please respond by submitting your information electronically in BidBuy at:

Due Date: Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. Central Time

Purpose and Objective

Summary

The Illinois Department of Human Services (Agency or DHS), Division of Developmental Disabilities (the DDD) would like to thank your organization in advance for reviewing this Request for Information (RFI) and assisting the DDD in their efforts. The DDD is interested in learning more about computer-based Direct Support Professional (DSP) trainings that are currently accredited by the National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals (NADSP).

The RFI is not a procurement method and will not result in a participant receiving a contract (44 Ill Adm. Code 1.15). Response to this RFI is not a prerequisite to participate in any potential future procurement related to this RFI. Response to this RFI shall not provide any advantage to the participants in future solicitations.

Participants are invited to provide non-price, non-proprietary information within the scope of the RFI. All information provided in participant's response must be non-proprietary, shall not contain any confidential information. Responses shall be made available for public review (44 Ill Adm. Code 1.2050(j)).

Participants providing price, details of customized solutions, sample procurement specifications, or any other information outside the specific scope of this RFI may be disqualified from participating in any future procurements related to this RFI (30 ILCS 500/50-10.5[e]).

Participants may provide general information about industry trends and innovations, products, services, or industry best practices that are not specifically tailored to meet the DDD's needs. For additional information on prohibited vs. non-prohibited information, please see 44Ill. Adm. Code 1.2005(v).

Response Information:

The Agency will review the responses for the purpose of identifying key concepts and industry trends that may be beneficial in creating a future RFP, should the agency decide to move forward in that direction. All Responses, including late submissions, become the property of the State and will not be returned. All Responses will be open to the public under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 ILCS 140) and other applicable laws and rules. A request for confidential treatment will not supersede the State's legal obligations under FOIA. The State will not honor requests to keep entire responses confidential. Participants must show the specific grounds in FOIA or other law or rule that support confidential treatment. Regardless, the State may disclose participants' names and the substance of the response.

Responses to this RFI should include a high-level description of current industry practices that relate to this RFI.

The Agency recognizes considerable effort is required to respond to RFIs. Please note, this is not a request for services and that respondents are responsible for all costs for preparing a submission.

Process Overview:

Responses to this RFI must be submitted electronically as attachments in BidBuy no later than the Bid Opening Date specified in BidBuy.

Information regarding this RFI, including updates, will be published on BidBuy for Illinois Procurement at https://www.bidbuy.illinois.gov/bso/. Procurement information may not be available in any other form or location. Participants are responsible for monitoring BidBuy. The State will not be held responsible if Participants fail to receive the optional email notices provided by BidBuy.

Questions regarding this RFI should be directed to:

Illinois Department of Human Services
Kathleen.michals@illinois.gov

Scope:

The DDD provides Home and Community-Based Waiver services to approximately 24,000 individuals. There are about 19,000 Direct Support Professionals that work across approximately 325 provider agencies. On average there are between 4,000-5,000 DSPs trained on a yearly basis. The DDD's current training is as follows:

  • Train-the-trainer
  • Paper-based
  • 40 hours of classroom work and 80 hours of On-The-Job Training
  • Completed on the provider level

Additional information regarding DDD's current training processes may be found at:

DSP Required Classroom Training Please respond briefly to the following. 

Company Profile:

Please provide a summary of your company. The summary can include the following:

  1. How long your company has been providing accredited training.
  2. How users are able access the training (phone, tablet, computer).
  3. Please list the states in which your training is presently being used.

Content:

Please provide a summary of the content in your training. For questions regarding historical information/experience, please include links to any publicly available information that are applicable. The summary should include the following:

  1. Does your platform provide both informational competencies (classroom) and on-the-job training curricula? If yes, please provide a list, including a description, of each competency.
  2. How frequently is your content updated?
  3. Describe your experience adapting curricula to meet states' and local areas' specific needs
  4. Can additional trainings be added?
  5. Provide a detailed description of ongoing training assessment and development support currently in practice by your entity.
  6. What experience do you have making recommendations to be included in the credentialing process?

Technical:

Please provide a summary of the technology that your platform currently uses. The summary may include the following:

  1. Role and user management capabilities and permissions,
  2. Systems security and encryption, and
  3. Type (written/video/helpdesk) and availability of training support is offered.

Tracking/Reporting:

Please provide a summary of the way in which your organization demonstrates that users comprehended the material. This may include:

  1. Your product's use of tests,
  2. The type of information that is captured in the portal (e.g., duration spent in a module, number of times a quiz is taken),
  3. What is the process/options for how data is shared and saved with users based upon current practice,
  4. What type of records are maintained (e.g., name of DSP, provider agency).