Executive Search Firm Services for Superintendent of Schools

Frisco Independent School District (Frisco ISD or the District) is soliciting proposals from firms experienced in providing executive search services to assist the District and its Board of Trustees in identifying and selecting candidates for the position of Superintendent of Schools.

The intent of this RFP is to identify a firm with demonstrated expertise in educational executive recruitment, particularly within Texas public school districts of comparable size and complexity, to facilitate a comprehensive and transparent superintendent search process.

This is a Request for Proposal (RFP) in accordance with TAC 109.41. (See the Financial Accountability System Resource Guide (FASRG) 5.16.1-5.16.7.) It complies with TEC 44.031 and Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR) Part 200 requirements. FISD may purchase goods and/or services from vendors qualified through this RFP with local, state, federal, or other grant funds.

NO BID NOTIFICATION REQUEST

Frisco ISD pursues competitive pricing on all purchases. We value our quality vendors and want to keep your firm as a supplier. Therefore, please tell us why you are not bidding on this RFP. We will analyze responses to determine if future changes to our solicitation process are necessary. If you are not interested in this solicitation, please click the ACTIONS button at the top right-hand side of this screen and then click NO BID. Please type your reason in the box provided and then submit your response.

BACKGROUND

Frisco ISD is approximately thirty miles north of Dallas, Texas and encompasses seventy-five square miles in Collin and Denton counties, including most of the city of Frisco and portions of neighboring Plano, McKinney and Little Elm. The District has 12 high schools, 18 middle schools, one intermediate school, 43 elementary schools and three special programs centers serving more than 63,000 students. We employ over 8,000 staff supporting the District’s mission: to know every student by name and need.

BUDGET AND TERM

The contract awarded through this RFP shall remain in effect for a period not to exceed (1) one year, unless determined earlier by either party in accordance with the terms of the resulting agreement.

This RFP is not a contract. Purchases are made with an approved purchase order. The Frisco ISD terms & conditions document is an attachment to this solicitation. It must be signed and attached to your response in the Response Attachments tab.

FISD will not accept deviations to our Standard Attributes, Certifications and Terms & Conditions. Furthermore, Frisco ISD will not accept a proposing entity’s terms & conditions in place of the District’s. Please do not attach.

Deviations or exceptions stipulated in a vendor’s response may result in disqualification. Any language to the effect that the vendor does not consider this RFP to be part of a contractual obligation may result in disqualification of the vendor’s proposal. Vendors must not alter any language in this solicitation or any language in any attachment to this solicitation.

****NO PRODUCTS OR SERVICES SHOULD EVER BE PROVIDED BEFORE THE VENDOR RECEIVES A PURCHASE ORDER.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Statements of Qualifications (Proposals) demonstrating your organizations qualifications to provide services outlined in the Scope of Services section below must not exceed 25 standard pages (8.5" x 11"). Entities must also provide the following items (1) a cost proposal, which will serve as the baseline for contract negotiations, and (2) resumes or curricula vitae for the individual(s) who will lead this engagement on behalf of the proposing firm. The cost proposal and CVs are excluded from the 25-page limit.

Submissions must be organized and tabbed in the order in which activities are listed in the scope of work below. Failure to follow the required order may result in disqualification or reduced evaluation scoring.

A cover letter that includes an executive summary of your proposal, signed by the individual authorized to contract with Frisco ISD, must accompany your submission.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS

To be considered responsive, proposing firms must meet the following minimum qualifications:

1. Required Experience : The firm must have successfully completed at least three (3) superintendent searches for Texas public school districts with student enrollment of 15,000 or more within the past five (5) years. "Successfully completed" means the selected candidate accepted the position and completed at least one full contract term or is currently serving in the position.

1. Texas Expertise : The firm must demonstrate knowledge of:

• Texas Education Code requirements for superintendent qualifications and certification
• Texas superintendent salary and benefits practices
• Texas public school governance and board-superintendent relationships
• Texas Open Meetings Act and Public Information Act requirements
• Current educational leadership trends in Texas

1. Professional Credentials : Lead consultants assigned to the FISD search must provide evidence of professional credentials, training, or certifications in executive search, human resources, or educational leadership.

1. Staffing Requirements : The firm must have adequate professional staff to conduct concurrent searches if necessary and must guarantee availability of assigned personnel throughout the search process.

Proposals that do not clearly demonstrate these minimum qualifications may be deemed non-responsive and eliminated from further consideration.

SCOPE OF SERVICES

Frisco Independent School District’s Board of Trustees intends to identify a firm with demonstrated expertise in educational executive recruitment: the successful proposer will facilitate a comprehensive, transparent, and confidential superintendent search that engages internal and community stakeholders while maintaining professional standards and compliance with all applicable Texas laws.

The selected firm shall provide the following services to support the District in conducting a superintendent search:

1. Strategic Planning and Board Consultation

• Board meetings to identify priorities and develop search timeline
• Facilitate discussions on search criteria and leadership profile
• Provide market analysis for competitive compensation
• Guide communication strategy and Texas legal compliance

2. Stakeholder Engagement

• Plan and facilitate focus groups with faculty, staff, parents, students, and community
• Administer surveys and organize forums
• Conduct stakeholder interviews
• Analyze input and present findings to Board
• Develop communications throughout search

3. Position Profile and Marketing

• Create comprehensive position profile covering district overview, priorities, qualifications, and compensation
• Develop professional recruitment materials and application instructions

4. Candidate Recruitment

• Targeted advertising in educational leadership publications and platforms
• Direct outreach to potential candidates
• Engage professional networks to ensure diverse candidate pool
• Maintain candidate database and provide Board updates

5. Application Management

• Manage all applications confidentially per Texas law
• Screen candidates based on Board criteria
• Prepare summary reports and provide complete materials to Board

6. Background Investigation

• Verify credentials, degrees, licenses, and employment history
• Conduct comprehensive reference checks (6-8 per candidate minimum), including past supervisors and supervisees
• Perform criminal background check and media research
• Review social media presence and public records
• Check for disciplinary actions and litigation
• Provide written investigation reports to Board

7. Candidate Assessment

• Evaluate candidates against criteria
• Conduct in-depth interviews with semi-finalists
• Prepare detailed candidate profiles with qualifications, references, strengths, and fit assessment
• Present semi-finalists to Board with recommendations

8. Interview Coordination

• Coordinate interview logistics including scheduling, travel, accommodations, expenses and off-site interview locations
• Develop competency-based interview questions
• Facilitate Board interviews
• Provide evaluation tools
• Conduct post-interview debriefings

9. Selection and Contract Support

• Guide Board through selection process
• Conduct final background checks on finalists
• Assist with extending formal offer
• Support contract negotiations including compensation review and terms advice
• Coordinate public announcement of lone finalist

10. Confidentiality and Legal Compliance

• Maintain confidentiality per Texas Open Meetings Act, Public Information Act, and Education Code
• Ensure compliance with equal employment opportunity laws
• Maintain secure information systems
• Execute required confidentiality agreements

11. Post-Selection Support (Optional)

• Transition planning for new superintendent
• Board-superintendent team development
• Executive coaching during transition

DELIVERABLES

1. Written search plan with timeline
2. Stakeholder engagement materials
3. Position profile and recruitment materials
4. Regular progress reports
5. Applicant summary with screening recommendations
6. Candidate profiles for semi-finalists and finalists
7. Background investigation reports
8. Interview materials and evaluation tools, including a candidate evaluation rubric
9. Final comprehensive search report
10. All applicant files and work products

TIMELINE EXPECTATIONS

The Board of Trustees expects the search process to be completed within approximately three (3) months from contract execution, with the new superintendent named by March 2026 and beginning employment by July 1, 2026, or as negotiated. The selected firm shall work with the Board to develop a detailed timeline that accommodates Board meeting schedules, holiday breaks, and other District considerations.

Key milestones shall include:

• Contract execution and initial planning
• Stakeholder engagement phase
• Position profile development and approval
• Application deadline
• Semi-finalist selection
• Finalist interviews
• Final selection and contract negotiation
• Announcement and transition

FIRM QUALIFICATIONS AND STAFFING

Proposing firms shall provide:

1. Firm history, experience, and qualifications
2. CVs for all assigned personnel
3. Lead consultant identification
4. Evidence of successful Texas superintendent searches
5. Three references from Texas districts (15,000+ enrollment) served in past five years
6. Search methodology description
7. Professional networks and recruitment resources
8. Quality assurance measures
9. Professional liability insurance proof
10. Subcontractor identification and roles

PRICING REQUIREMENTS

Submit firm fixed-price proposal covering:

1. Professional fees
2. Administrative costs
3. Advertising expenses
4. Background investigation costs
5. Search firm travel
6. Candidate travel and reimbursement
7. Communications and materials
8. Additional costs

Must Clearly Show:

• Total not-to-exceed cost for base services
• Itemized optional services costs
• Payment schedule
• Costs outside base scope

The District will not be responsible for any costs not specifically identified in the proposal.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Guarantee : Proposers shall describe any guarantee or warranty provided if the search is unsuccessful or if the selected candidate does not complete a minimum term of service.
2. Conflicts of Interest : Proposers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest, including any current or former relationships with potential candidates or with FISD staff or Board members.
3. Non-Discrimination : The selected firm shall comply with all federal and state equal employment opportunity laws and shall not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or any other protected characteristic in the provision of services.
4. Insurance : The selected firm shall maintain appropriate professional liability insurance throughout the term of the engagement.
5. Criminal Background Checks : If the selected firm's staff will have any contact with students or access to student information, the firm must comply with Texas Education Code Section 22.0834 regarding criminal background checks and Texas Education Code Section 22A.055 regarding pre-employment and pre-service affidavits.
6. Availability : The lead consultant and assigned staff must be available for in-person meetings at FISD as required throughout the search process, including attendance at Board meetings when requested.
7. Ownership of Materials : All materials, documents, and work products created during the search process shall become the property of Frisco ISD upon completion of the engagement or termination of the contract.

EVALUATION PROCEDURE & CRITERIA

A committee of staff members and Frisco ISD’s Board of Trustees review responses & qualifications and select the search firm for Frisco ISD. The committee may request a meeting with any qualified offeror prior to final selection. Qualifications and responses will be reviewed according to criteria established by TEC 44.031(b).***
In evaluating proposal responses, the following considerations will be considered for qualification recommendations:
(1) The purchase price; market price, hourly rate, emergency rates; (10 points)

(2) The reputation of the vendor and of the vendor’s goods or services; services and references of like sized school district; (25 points)

(3) The quality of the vendor’s goods or services; Relevant experience and qualifications; (30 points)

(4) The extent to which the goods or services meet the district’s needs; Methodology and approach; proposed timeline and availability; (35 points)

(5) The vendors’ past relationship with the district; (0 points)

(6) The total long-term cost to the district to acquire the vendor’s goods or services;  (0 points)

(7) For a contract for goods and services, materials, whether the vendor or the vendor’s ultimate parent company or majority owner; (A) Has its principal place of business in the State of Texas; or (B) Employs at least 500 persons in the State of Texas; (0 points)

(8) Any other relevant factor specifically listed in the request for bids or proposals; (0 points)

*** TEC 44.031 reads districts should consider how vendor evaluation decisions affect its ability to work with historically underutilized businesses (HUBs). However, as a "unit of local government" or “specialized unit of government, not a "state agency," Frisco ISD has limited HUB-specific requirements. Districts are not directly bound by the detailed HUB program in TGC 2161. However, we must:

1. Ensure the purchasing process is fair to all businesses, including HUBs,

2. Follow any HUB programs the Board of Trustees creates, as applicable; and

3. Follow federal rules about working with minority-owned and women-owned businesses when using federal money.

In summary, Frisco ISD upholds fairness, board policies, and applicable federal requirements when working with historically underutilized businesses.

PROPOSAL PROCESS

1. GENERAL INFORMATION: The following instructions are intended to afford proposers an equal opportunity to participate in the proposal process and to provide a predetermined set of criteria representing the District’s business and service requirements. This proposal is governed by the Texas Education Code (TEC), other applicable Texas state statutes, federal statutes and all local FISD Board of Education (Board) policies.
2. QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE RFP: All questions regarding this open solicitation must be submitted through IonWave during the question period. Answers will be published to all bidders, all at once, through this system on or before December 1, 2025. Phone or email requests for information will not be acknowledged.
3. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION: Frisco ISD requests electronic responses. Please contact Sue Schiumo, Senior Buyer, by email at schiumos@friscoisd.org if you require assistance with the online submission process. Your cooperation is appreciated. Interested vendors must first register in Frisco ISD’s e-bidding system, Ion Wave . Register, obtain, and submit proposals using Ion Wave.

4. ADDENDUM: the proposer is responsible for tracking whether an addendum was issued before submitting a proposal. Proposers must be responsive to the RFP and any addendums published.
5. INTERVIEWS: Interviews for finalists will be at the December 15, 2025 Public Board Meeting at 6:30 PM. Finalists invited to interview will be notified on December 11, 2025 by 5:00 PM. Proposer(s) shall demonstrate their competence, qualifications and/or ability to satisfy the District’s RFP requirements. All expenses associated with the interview will be the responsibility of the proposer. The Frisco ISD Board of Trustees will award the successful proposer following the interviews at this meeting.
6. MODIFICATION OR WITHDRAWAL OF PROPOSALS: Proposals may be modified or withdrawn in Ion Wave before the exact hour and date specified as the deadline for receipt of proposals. The proposer must send a written request to the Director of Purchasing to withdraw a proposal after the response deadline.
7. LATE PROPOSALS: Responses submitted after the date and time noted in this RFP shall not be considered.
8. RESPONSIVE & RESPONSIBLE: To be deemed responsive and qualify for evaluation, a proposal must be submitted in time and must materially satisfy all mandatory requirements in this RFP. They must comply with all material and administrative aspects of this solicitation.

** FISD Purchasing Department, at its sole discretion, is authorized to determine if a vendor is responsive and/or within the scope of this solicitation. Proposers must be financially responsible, having enough staff and resources to provide the goods and services requested by Frisco ISD in this solicitation. FISD may request additional documents to consider whether a vendor is financially able to meet the needs stated in this RFP.
9. RECORD RETENTION: All proposal materials and supporting documentation submitted in response to this RFP become the permanent property of FISD and will not be returned to proposer.
10. PROPOSAL COSTS: Proposer shall pay all costs related to the preparation and submission of its proposal.
11. RESERVATION OF RIGHTS: FISD reserves the right to:

A. Cancel this RFP in whole or in part.

B. Accept, reject, or negotiate modifications in any terms of proposal or any part thereof.

C. Reject and/or disqualify any or all Proposals received, award contracts for individual products or services as may appear advantageous and negotiate separately in any manner necessary to serve FISD’s best interests.

D. Not award this proposal.

E. Waive any formalities, technicalities, or other defects if deemed in the best interest of FISD; request clarification and/or correction for the purpose of eliminating minor errors, clerical errors, and/or non-substantive irregularities.

F. Be the sole judge of quality, make all decisions regarding this RFP, including, without limitation, the right to decide whether a Proposal substantially complies with the requirements of this RFP.

G. In case of tie proposals, the award will be made in accordance with Local Government Code 271.901 and Government Code 2252.001 - 2252.004. (NON- RESIDENT BIDDERS). Consistent and continued tie bidding could cause rejection of the bids by FISD and/or investigation for antitrust violations.

12. LIMITED CONTACT POLICY. Once this RFP is published, Frisco ISD staff and representatives will maintain limited contact with potential vendors. Limited contact is a prohibition on any communication regarding this RFP or other competitive solicitations between any person who seeks an award under this RFP, including a potential vendor or vendor’s representative; and:
A. Any Frisco ISD Board member, Superintendent, senior staff member, principal, department head, director, manager, other employee, or consultant who has influence in the evaluation or selection process.

B. Furthermore, campaign contributions, gifts, donations, and any other items of value are prohibited between the parties defined above for any known contract under consideration during the restricted or limited contact period.

C. Limited contact shall not apply to communication with FISD’s Purchasing staff.Such communications shall be limited to the purpose of obtaining clarification or information concerning the RFP. All communication with Purchasing staff must be in writing.

*The potential vendor or vendor’s representative shall send all written communication directly to the designated procurement staff.  All communications regarding this solicitation is to be directed to Sue Schiumo, Senior Buyer at schiumos@friscoisd.org.*

D. Regardless of the above time period, it is not acceptable for a potential vendor to participate in determining the scope of work, strategic direction, technical specifications, or evaluation criteria of such projects. Nothing contained in this policy shall prohibit any potential vendor or vendor’s representative from:

1) Making public representations at scheduled pre-bid conferences or scheduled selection and negotiation committee meetings.

2) Engaging in contract negotiations during any scheduled meeting.

3) Making a public presentation to the Frisco ISD Board during any duly noticed public meeting and answering questions.

4) Conducting business on contracts previously executed and currently in force.

5) Nothing in this policy shall prohibit the procurement staff from initiating a contact with a potential vendor or vendor’s representative and subsequent communication for the purpose of obtaining clarifying information regarding a response to an RFP, bid, or competitive solicitation. Such contact shall be in writing and shall be provided to the members of the applicable procurement staff, including any response thereto.

E. A Vendor may be disqualified before or after the proposals are opened, upon evidence of collusion with the intent to defraud, or evidence of intent to perform other illegal activities for the purpose of obtaining an unfair competitive advantage.

F. Frisco ISD Standard Ethics Statement is on our website and vendors are encouraged to review it.

Failure to follow the District’s Limited Contact Policy may result in proposal disqualification. Vendors who demonstrate a pattern of non-compliance may be barred from working with FISD

Frisco ISD Procurement - Standards of Ethics