Notice of Intent to Award - The Blind Mule Behavioral Services

Project Description: NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A CONTRACT WITHOUT ENGAGING IN A STANDARD PROCUREMENT PROCESS
Issuing and Conducting Procurement Unit: Alpine School District
Alpine School District Purchasing Department has received a request to make the following award without engaging in a standard procurement process:
Requesting School/Department: Administration
Vendor: The Blind Mule Behavioral Services
Term: Five (5) years
Total Estimated Cost: $136,000
No renewal options unless separately justified and posted in accordance with Utah procurement law.
Procurement Description:
Special Education Consulting and Compliance Monitoring Services pursuant to a legally binding litigation settlement agreement.
Background
Alpine School District (“ASD”) entered into a formal settlement agreement resolving litigation related to special education services and compliance.
As a material term of the settlement agreement, ASD is required to retain The Blind Mule to provide specific special education consulting and compliance monitoring services for a defined period of five (5) years.
The services required under the settlement include: Review of ASD policies and procedures related to special education services and transportation of special education students. Training of best practices related to these topics and on-going monitoring of compliance with best practices.
Sole Source Justification
This sole source determination is made in accordance with Utah Code 63G-6a-802 and Utah Administrative Rule R33-108, which authorize a sole source procurement when only one source is reasonably available.
Because the vendor is specifically identified as part of a binding legal agreement, no other vendor is legally authorized or capable of fulfilling this obligation.
District Reconfiguration and Assignment Language
Alpine School District is currently preparing for a statutory reorganization that will dissolve ASD and create three independent school districts effective July 1, 2027.
This sole source procurement is structured to:
Allow continuity of legally required services through the transition period; and permit assignment or cooperative use of this contract by the successor districts (Lake Mountain, Aspen Peaks, and Timpanogos) to the extent permitted by law and agreed to by the vendor.
The ability of successor districts to utilize this contract ensures uninterrupted compliance with the settlement agreement and protects the legal and financial interests of the transitioning public entities.
Public Notice and Contest Period
This Notice of Intent to Award a Sole Source Contract is published in accordance with Utah Code 63G-6a-406 and 63G-6a-802.
Any vendor that believes this procurement does not qualify as a sole source procurement must submit a written contest, including specific evidence demonstrating the ability to fulfill the legally mandated requirements of the settlement agreement, no later than seven (7) calendar days from the date of this posting.
Protests must be submitted to:
Kimberly Richards
Purchasing Director
kwrichards@alpinedistrict.org