Pre-Advertisement Notice for AFRD Captains & Lieutenants Promotional Testing Services

CITY OF ATLANTA
FIRE - RESCUE DEPARTMENT
ANDRE DICKENS 226 Peachtree St., SW RODERICK M. SMITH
MAYOR Atlanta, GA 30303-3749 FIRE CHIEF
PHONE (404) 546-7000
ICHIEFS ID - ATLFDHQ
Scope of Service for
Lieutenants and Captains Promotional
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Testing on Behalf of AFRD
OBJECTIVE:
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The City of Atlanta(the"City") Department of Procurement (the"DOP") on behalfofthe Atlanta
Fire Rescue Department(the "AFRD") is seekingbidsfrom qualifiedfirms whospecializeinPublic
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Safety promotional testing.TheVendorshall beresponsible for the development,oversight, scoring and
analysis of alltesting required forthe Fire Captain and Fire Lieutenant promotionaltesting. The
anticipatedterm ofservicesshallbeforfour(4) yearswiththeoptiontorenewforfour(4)additional years,in
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two(2) yearincrementsatthesolediscretion oftheCity.
BACKGROUND:
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The AFRD is responsible for ensuringpromotionaltesting is afforded to all qualified staff as
defined in the City Code of Ordinance. Generally,these opportunities are conductedevery two (2) years
on an as neededbasis for the attemptedranks of Fire Lieutenantand Captain. All testingopportunities
shall adhereto AFRDpolicies,the AtlantaCity CodeSections 114-227 through114-245, with therelevant
standardsof the Commissionon Fire Accreditation International and National Fire Protection Association
andallotherassociatedgovernmentregulations.
1.0 MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (required submittals outlined below):
1. Vendors must ensure that their bid for services clearly outlines their ability to comply and
adhere to all the below-referenced minimum qualifications. Additionally, Vendors are required
to provide previous work samples in the bid submissions, to assure AFRD of compliance
capabilities with the minimum requirements.
1.1 Complete a Job Task Analysis: This should include identifying the technical and
managerial knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the essential functions of the Fire
Captain and Fire Lieutenant positions and establish content validity for the written tests. A
description of the methodology for completing the job analysis survey is required by the Vendor

and shall be included. Upon completion of all testing, the Vendor will provide AFRD with the job
analysis and validity studies for the ranks surveyed. The Vendor will be responsible for providing
subject matter experts ("SMEs") to assist in the process. The SMEs must originate from a
jurisdiction outside the purview of the AFRD. AFRD may determine that additional SMEs are
required at which time the Fire Chief or his/her designee may appoint staff members as needed.
1.2 Test Development: A multiple-choice written examination for the ranks of Fire
Lieutenant and Captain to be administered and scored by Vendor in both an in-person format and
a virtual format. Test results shall be provided to the City of Atlanta Commissioner of Human
Resources or his/her designee only. The Vendor shall provide evidence and assurance of the ability
to develop race and gender neutral, validated examinations, including tests and procedures.
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1.2.1 Testing Formats. The Vendor must offer at least two testing format
options for consideration: an in-person format and a virtual format providing multiple
choice options for testing. The Vendor must provide a secure space option for both testing
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format options and the question challenge period. Vendor abilities to comply with this
requirement must be represented in a narrative sample and multiple-choice exam sample
with submitted bid. A
1.3 Candidate Orientation and Preparation:To include virtual classes that cover
study methods,a review of test logisticsand general test contents, and a review of test taking
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strategies. The Vendor must be prepared to give the test preparation class so that it
accommodates the AFRD shift schedules for a 24-hour operation over a minimum of six (6)
opportunities andthree(3) days.TheVendormustincludea sampleof previousprepcoursesoffered
and completDelydescribethe contentandlengthof the testpreparationclasses.
1.4 Administer exams: The Vendor will be responsible for booking and procuring
suitable testing sites in proximity of the City of Atlanta city government buildings. Additionally,
the Vendor representatives will be on site for in-person examinations to administer the written
examinations. The Department of Human Resources and AFRD will be responsible for the
signing-in of test takers and administrative functions associated with that sign-in process for in-
person examinations. The Vendor shall have adequate staff on site each day of the written
examination to ensure proper administration and scoring of exercises.
1.4.1 The Vendor shall provide a secured electronic system for administering
multiple question exams to all test takers providing program evaluation and
written notice of system safety features.
1.4.2 The Vendor shall score and provide the Commissioner of Human Resources
or his/her designee with a final list of test scores and provide each employee
with a copy of his or her exam.
1.4.3 The Vendor shall also be responsible for maintaining control, custody and
security of the exams and for providing the appropriate number of copies of

the exam, the delivery of the exam, grading of the exam, and defense of the
correctness of questions contained in the exam.
1.5 Feedback reports and Debriefing Candidates: The Vendor shall be responsible
for providing AFRD with individual feedback reports for each participating candidate, at the
conclusion of each component of the examination to include the written phase, whether virtual or
in person. The Vendor must completely describe the data provided in their feedback reports. To
provide assurance to AFRD, Vendor must demonstrate compliance capabilities for this
requirement, a narrative sample for previous feedback reports offered should be provided with
your bid.
1.6 Appeal process: The Vendor will provide recommendations and subsequently
prepare a detailed plan to describe the appeal process Tfor the written test only whether virtual or
in-person. To provide assurance to AFRD, Vendor must demonstrate compliance capabilities for
this requirement, a narrative sample for previous feedback reports offered should be provided with
your bid. F
1.7 Recruit and Train Assessors: The Vendor will recruit, select and pay for the travel
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and accommodation expenses of suitable, diverse, sworn comparably sized fire department
assessors. The Vendor is required to provide assessor training and must fully describe assessor
training methods. The Assessors must be completely independent of AFRD with no past or
present, direct, or indirRect affiliations. The training will be conducted on-site, one to two days
prior to the beginning of the Oral Interview process.
1.8 DOral Interviews: The Vendors shall describe their method for conducting oral
interviews and how candidates' performances are recorded. The oral interviews must be work
related and provide a demonstration of knowledge, skills, abilities and behaviors determined to be
essential for success as a Fire Lieutenant and Captain. Vendors will design a scoring process for
the oral interviews that can be readily explained to the candidates. The oral interview panels will
consist of (8-12) scenarios based on the AFRD policies, City of Atlanta ("City") Ordinances, and
other relevant material. To provide AFRD with an idea of your abilities for complying with this
requirement, a narrative sample for oral interviews managed should be provided with your bid.
To provide assurance to AFRD, Vendor must demonstrate compliance capabilities for this
requirement, a narrative sample for previous feedback reports offered should be provided with
your bid.
1.9 Submit Final Report to Agency: The final technical report must be submitted by
the Vendor, which will include: the results of the job analysis; the linking of the job analysis to
the examination; an analysis of employee performance on the examination; an analysis of response
by questions for the written exam, if applicable; the process by which scores and weights were
validated; and, other relevant test data. To provide assurance to AFRD, Vendor must demonstrate
compliance capabilities for this requirement, a narrative sample for previous feedback reports
offered should be provided with your bid.

1.10 The Vendor shall be responsible for developing and managing schedules to
ensure the efficient utilization of personnel and other resources and to control costs. The Vendor
shall establish the schedule based upon the written examination dates provided by the User
Agency. If a scheduling conflict arises, the Vendor and User Agency shall collaborate in good
faith to identify and propose mutually acceptable alternative dates. Any changes to the established
examination schedule shall be subject to the approval of the User Agency prior to implementation.
1.11 Resource Allocation: Vendor shall submit an itemized list of milestones and Key
Intended Outcomes (KIOs) detailing the Vendor's proposed fees and projected duration indicating
the resources allotted to the various parts of the plan. This breakdown shall include: the cost per
candidate; the various Vendor personnel to be used; other miscellaneous fees and costs such as
travel costs for consultants, panelists, shipping, study mTaterials; and other pertinent items that can
be attributed to Resource Allocation.
1.11.1 The CITY will reserFve the right to accept or reject, in full or in part, any
portion of the Resource Allocation response.
1.12 Legal Assistance: TAhe Vendor will include the ability to provide expert testimony
and/or other legal assistance should any part of the promotional testing process result in litigation
at no additional cost to the CITY/ Atlanta Fire Rescue Department for a minimum of five (5)
days. R
END OF SCOPE OF SERVICES
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