25PPA-002 - PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS/TESTING

Agency:	New Castle County
State:	Delaware
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	Q - Medical Services
Posted:	Jan 24, 2024
Due:	Feb 21, 2024
Solicitation No:	25PPA-002 - PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS/TESTING
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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New Castle County

Purchasing Division

87 Reads Way

New Castle, DE 19720

(302) 395-5250

Bid# 25PPA-002

PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS/TESTING

New Castle County is seeking priced proposals for professional psychological services from

experienced and qualified vendors to conduct valid, reliable, and cross-cultural psychological

testing for those applying for County employment in the County’s Department of Public Safety.

Additionally, psychological testing may include fitness-for-duty evaluations for County personnel

on an as-needed basis.

Interested parties are asked to submit a priced proposal to New Castle County Purchasing

Division, New Castle County Government Center, 87 Reads Way, New Castle, DE 19720, stating

their interest and qualifications.

Proposals are to be received by 2PM on February 21st, 2024 and must include one (1) USB drive

of such (deemed the original) and one (1) printed hard copy (deemed the back-up) within a

sealed envelope. The USB drive received is deemed the original for the purposes of evaluation,

If there are any discrepancies between the electronic version and the hard copy, the electronic

version will be consider the proposal of record. It is the responsibility of the interested party to

ensure the electronic version and the hard copy are identical. The hard copy is only to be

considered if the electronic version cannot be viewed.

Questions concerning the bid should be submitted in writing via email to Frank Penta at

frank.j.penta@newcastlede.gov by noon on Friday, February 2nd, 2024.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

➢ Sealed proposal envelopes must clearly display Bid #25PPA-002 PSYCHOLOGICAL

EVALUATIONS/TESTING in the lower left quadrant on the front.

➢ Facsimile transmissions of proposals are unacceptable and will be rejected without any

notice to the bidding vendor.

➢ Bidders are responsible to retrieve the bid specifications and all addendums from the

New Castle County Purchasing website at www.newcastlede.gov/Bids.aspx.

1/12/24

Bid# 25PPA-002

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New Castle County

Purchasing Division

87 Reads Way

New Castle, DE 19720

(302) 395-5250

Bid# 25PPA-002

PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS/TESTING

Pursuant to New Castle County Code and Delaware Law, each bidder must submit proof

satisfactory to the County or its designated representative that the bidder and every

subcontractor possesses valid and effective licenses required by the United States, State of

Delaware, County and any applicable political subdivision in which the project is located to do

business within each such jurisdiction and to perform the labor and/or supply the materials

involved in the performance of the contract. No contract will be executed prior to the

submission of such proof and the acceptance thereof by the County or its designated

representative.

Awards, if any, will be made in conjunction with the Delaware Code, Subchapter 2, Chapter 69,

Title 29, and the New Castle County Code.

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Bid# 25PPA-002

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New Castle County

Purchasing Division

87 Reads Way

New Castle, DE 19720

(302) 395-5250

Bid# 25PPA-002

PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS/TESTING

General

New Castle County (the “County”) is seeking proposals for professional services for psychological

evaluations/testing for pre-employment testing for positions determined to be significantly

stressful, such as emergency communication operators and specialists, emergency medical

services personnel, sworn police positions, deputy sheriff positions, and any other classifications

determined by the County to fall into this category. The testing is required by the County as part

of a comprehensive background investigation of applicants. The purpose of these services is to

evaluate whether said applicants are acceptable candidates for public safety positions.

Additionally, psychological testing may include fitness-for-duty evaluations for County personnel

on an as-needed basis.

The County provides law enforcement and public safety services consistent with the needs of the

community. Such services are directed toward creating and maintaining an environment that is

safe, and as free of crime and disorder as legal, ethical and resource constraints permit. New

Castle County Division of Police (“NCCPD”) is charged with the task of promoting a safe, secure,

crime free environment along with maintaining order and providing safe and expeditious flow of

traffic. To accomplish this formidable task, it utilizes the services of approximately 400 sworn

officers and 50 support personnel. New Castle County Division of Emergency Management

Services (“NCC EMS”) is staffed by approximately 124 employees; of whom approximately 120

are Paramedics. NCC EMS is charged with the task of protecting people by providing responsive

and humanitarian health services essential to public health, safety and well-being. The New

Castle County Division of Emergency Communications (“NCC 911 Communications”) is the lifeline

between the citizens needing assistance and the proper emergency agency being dispatched to

render professional services. NCC 911 Communication is comprised of approximately 90 911

operators. The New Castle County Sheriff’s Office provides service of process for writs issued by

the Courts of the State of Delaware and subpoenas issued by the Department of Justice and

Department of Labor. The Sheriff’s Office is comprised of approximately seven (7) deputy sheriffs

and 14 support personnel.

Scope of Services

Assessing the psychological suitability of candidates for public safety positions is one of the

essential functions in the hiring process as these employees must be able to tolerate the stresses

of working in a fast-paced environment, follow rules, use resources responsibly, behave in a

trustworthy manner, use good judgment, and refrain from off-duty behavior that would reflect

poorly on the department. These evaluations provide assurance that candidates are free of job-

1/12/24

Bid# 25PPA-002

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New Castle County

Purchasing Division

87 Reads Way

New Castle, DE 19720

(302) 395-5250

Bid# 25PPA-002

PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS/TESTING

relevant emotional and mental impairments, possess adequate stress resilience and emotional

stability, and can meet the behavioral, social, and cognitive demands of public safety

employment. The Vendor will analyze the data, conduct the clinical interview and present a

recommendation to the County’s Risk Manager that will identify: (1) positive psychological,

characteristics associated with successful job performance, (2) traits that may interfere with

effective job performance, (3) emotionally unsuitable candidates, (4) potential for violence,

suicide, aggression and substance abuse, (5) personality problems and emotional disorders, (6)

stress management characteristics, etc., which help in the determination of whether or not a

candidate is mentally, emotionally and mature enough to work in the public safety field.

Pre-employment evaluations will be performed for the following positions, but shall not be

limited to these positions:

• Police Officer

• Deputy Sheriff

• Paramedic

• Public Safety Operator I

• Telecommunicator I Police

• Assistant Platoon Leader Police

• Telecommunicator, I Fire Medical

• Assistant Platoon Leader Fire Medical

and any other designated classification as determined by the Office of Human Resources.

New Castle County looks to a humanistic evaluation of candidates’ potential for success. In

addition to the clinical test, providers shall also take into consideration the candidates’ file

when determining the pass/fail of the individual.

Additionally, psychological testing may include fitness-for-duty evaluations for County personnel

on an as-needed basis.

Minimum Qualifications

Psychological services must be rendered by a psychologist (one whom possesses a

doctoral-level degree) with the following credentials:

1/12/24

Bid# 25PPA-002

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New Castle County

Purchasing Division

87 Reads Way

New Castle, DE 19720

(302) 395-5250

Bid# 25PPA-002

PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS/TESTING

1. Licensed in accordance with the most current APA Standards for Providers of

Psychological Services in the State of Delaware (in good standing).

2. Must possess credentials in assessment procedures for Police and Public Safety

workers, including test interpretation and psychological assessment techniques.

3. Must have significant experience and must be regularly and continuously engaged

in providing pre-employment psychological screening for law enforcement, first

responders and dispatchers.

4. Has first-hand knowledge of police officers, paramedics and emergency call

personnel jobs as those jobs are performed by that agency.

5. Knowledge of research literature related to psychological screening for police,

paramedics, EMT’s, emergency call personnel, and sheriffs.

6. Has working knowledge of the Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection

Procedures, the American Disabilities Act, and associated fair employment issues.

7. Has working knowledge of the regulations issued by the EEOC regarding

psychological and mental disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act of

1990.

8. Is willing to testify in a court of law and at administrative hearings to the validity

of the psychological screening process. This requirement shall survive the

termination or expiration of the subsequent agreement.

9. This requires that the psychologist has:

o a working knowledge of the law surrounding the screening.

o an understanding of the tests as they relate to employment selection; and

o maintains data supporting the validity of the screening process as conducted

by the agency.

1/12/24

Bid# 25PPA-002

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This is the opportunity summary page. You are currently viewing an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation. For more information, please visit the Publication URL Web page.

Bid Title:	25PPA-002 - PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS/TESTING
Category:	Professional Services (RFPs)
Status:	Open

25PPA-002 - PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS/TESTING

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