SUBJECT:
title
Approval of a resolution authorizing the President & CEO, or her designee, to finalize and execute a contract with Bright Horizons Family Solutions, LLC for the management of the Childcare and Learning Center operations for one base year for a total contract amount of $597,090.
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FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding for this action is available in the FY2024 Operating Budget.
STRATEGIC PLAN:
Strategic Goal Alignment:
☐ 1. Customer ☒ 2. Community
☒ 3. Workforce ☐ 4. Organizational Effectiveness
Strategic Objectives:
☐ 1.1 Safe & Reliable Service ☐1.2 High Quality Customer Experience ☐ 1.3 Accessible System
☐ 2.1 Support Sustainable Regional Growth ☐ 2.2 Become a Carbon Neutral Agency
☒ 2.3 Responsive to Community and Customer Needs ☒ 2.4 Regional Leader in Transit Planning
☐ 3.1 Diversity of Staff ☒ 3.2 Employer of Choice ☐ 3.3 Expand Highly Skilled Workforce
☐ 4.1 Fiscally Responsible and Transparent ☐ 4.2 Culture of Safety ☐ 4.3 State of Good Repair
EXPLANATION OF STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT: CapMetro provides support for the Childcare Center to support CapMetro families and the community that need access to quality childcare.
BUSINESS CASE: Maintaining the Center allows Capital Metro to fill a childcare void in the community while also benefiting CapMetro employees who are able to utilize the Center. Since the Center’s inception in 2006, over 900 children have received high quality early childhood education at that Center. The proposed contract award is based on Bright Horizons’ proposal to provide high quality education, maintain National Association for Young Children accreditation and commitment to keeping enrollment at 80 percent of capacity.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: This item was presented to the Finance, Audit and Administration Committee on March 18, 2024. No recommendation was made.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: CapMetro opened the Childcare and Learning Center in 2006 as a benefit to employees and as a mechanism to attract and retain employees. Over the past several years, changes to the CapMetro workforce such as additional work locations and increased teleworking have resulted in reduced utilization by employee families. In 2012, CapMetro opened the Center to the community to maintain high enrollment and reduce the subsidy required to continue operation of the Center. The Center is licensed for 65 children ages infant to five years old. Typical Center enrollment is now approximately 20 percent CapMetro families and 80 percent community families. Tuition rates for the community are based on market rates for high-quality accredited childcare in the area. Tuition for CapMetro families is approximately 20 percent below the market rate and is on a sliding scale based on income. Bright Horizons Family Solutions has operated the Center since its inception. While CapMetro proposes to continue operation of the Center through the contract with Bright Horizons, we know from a recent survey of employee childcare needs that an alternative approach to assisting employees with varying work hours and locations is also needed. During the FY 2025 budget development process, staff will explore other childcare assistance options. The proposed contract pricing is structured to shift the risk of tuition collections to Bright Horizons with CapMetro paying a fixed fee for the operating cost less projected tuition for maintaining capacity of at least 80 percent of capacity.
DBE/SBE PARTICIPATION: A 4.5% SBE goal was placed on this procurement. SBE participation will be tracked during the term of this contract.
PROCUREMENT: On October 6, 2023, a Request for Proposal was issued and formally advertised for the performance of Childcare and Learning Center Operations Management services. By the closing date of November 20, 2023, one (1) proposal was received. The evaluation team used the following factors in their evaluation of the proposal: 1) The offeror’s demonstrated past performance on recent and relevant programs/projects of a similar size, scope, complexity, and nature; 2) The qualifications, experience, and capabilities of the firm as well as proposed project personnel and any subcontractors on programs/projects of a similar size, scope, complexity, and nature; 3) The offeror’s demonstrated understanding of the project undertaking, the proposed plan for the performance of work (including the overall quality of the work plan) and the technical approach proposed by the offeror; and 4) The offeror’s demonstrated ability to obtain and maintain National Accreditation Commission (NAC) and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) accreditations. The proposal from Bright Horizons Children’s Centers, LLC is determined to be the best value to the Authority, price and other factors considered. The term of the contract is one (1) year from the Notice to Proceed in an amount not to exceed $597,090.00.
RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENT: People and Culture
body
RESOLUTION
OF THE
CAPITAL METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
STATE OF TEXAS
COUNTY OF TRAVIS
AI-2024-1091
WHEREAS, the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors and Capital Metro management recognize the need to outsource the management of the CapMetro Childcare and Learning Center to a third party.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors that the President & CEO, or her designee, is authorized to finalize and execute a contract with Bright Horizons Family Solutions for the management of the Childcare and Learning Center operations for one base year for a total contract amount of $597,090.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, by the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors, that the President & CEO, or her designee, shall provide an update to the Board on childcare center operations and programs supporting CapMetro employee’s childcare no later than July 2024.
____________________ Date: ____________________
Secretary of the Board
Becki Ross