Missouri 08-09 Contract Info

[bdavery]

Next year's Missouri state championship question request is now out. Deadline to submit a proposal is July 14. To get an official copy from MSHSAA, contact [email protected] Past years have requested 13 rounds only, so this year's increase to 21 is interesting. Writers must promise not to use their 21 Missouri rounds in any other event/state/competition anywhere else until after the Missouri championships next April/May.


The Missouri State High School Activities Association requests proposals for serving as the Official MSHSAA District and State Academic Competition Question Provider for the 2008-09 school year. In order to be considered by the Missouri State High School Activities Association Academic Competition Advisory Committee and Board of Directors, the proposal submitted shall be in accordance with the specifications as indicated in the enclosed documents.

A sample game of questions, written in the specified Missouri format, is required with each proposal. All proposals must be mailed to the Missouri State High School Activities Association and received on or before the due date and time. Facsimile proposals or sample games will not be accepted.


The due date for receipt of all proposals is 11:00 a.m. CST Monday, July 14, 2008. All proposals will be reviewed on Monday, July 14, 2008, at the MSHSAA offices. This review is open to the public. Proposals in accordance with the specifications will then be copied and distributed to the members of the MSHSAA Academic Competition Advisory Committee for review. The advisory committee will then make a recommendation to the MSHSAA Board of Directors regarding the provider selected.

Should you have further questions concerning this proposal process, please contact:

Stacy Schroeder
Assistant Executive Director
Missouri State High School Activities Association
P.O. Box 1328
Columbia, MO 65205-1328
Telephone (573) 875-4880


Proposals For:

THE AWARD OF CONTRACT RIGHTS TO SERVE AS THE OFFICIAL MSHSAA DISTRICT AND STATE ACADEMIC COMPETITION QUESTION PROVIDER DURING THE PERIOD FROM JULY 1, 2008 TO JUNE 30, 2009:

Proposals will be received by the undersigned at the offices of the Missouri State High School Activities Association, 1 North Keene Street, Columbia, Missouri 65201, until 11:00 a.m., CST, Monday, July 14, 2008. All proposals will be reviewed on Monday, July 14, 2008, at the MSHSAA offices. Proposals in accordance with the specifications will then be copied and distributed to the members of the MSHSAA Academic Competition Advisory Committee for review. The advisory committee will then make a recommendation to the MSHSAA Board of Directors regarding the Official Question Provider for 2008-09.

Specifications and the conditions of proposal, together with the printed form ON WHICH PROPOSALS MUST BE MADE, may be obtained from Stacy Schroeder, Assistant Executive Director, Missouri State High School Activities Association, 1 North Keene Street, P.O. Box 1328, Columbia, Missouri 65205-1328.

The Association reserves the right to reject any or all proposals on any basis. The Association also reserves the right to waive any informality or non-substantial irregularity in any proposal. Incompletion may be a basis for rejection of any proposal.

PROPOSAL TIMELINE

Proposals Due:
Proposals must be received at the MSHSAA Office at or before 11:00 a.m. CST, Monday, July 14, 2008.

Review of Proposals:
1. MSHSAA staff review: Monday, July 14, 2008
2. MSHSAA Academic Competition Advisory Committee review: via mail packet soon thereafter; duration of committee review will be no less than two weeks.

Advisory Committee Recommendation to MSHSAA Board of Directors for Acceptance of Proposal:
Tentatively August, 2008

Board of Directors action on Advisory Committee Recommendation:
No later than the date of the September Board of Directors Meeting, 2008

Notification of Proposal Acceptance:
Successful vendor will be notified no later than September 30, 2008
All companies submitting proposals will be notified of the results at this time.

The specified sets (games) of Academic Competition Questions written in Missouri format, per specifications, are to be delivered to MSHSAA per the schedule listed below via electronic file (in Microsoft Word format on CD or via email attachment) for use in the 2008-09 MSHSAA District and State Academic Competition Tournaments.

Schedule for Delivery:
Seven (7) Games to be delivered by December 1, 2008
Seven (7) Games to be delivered by January 1, 2009
Six (7) Games to be delivered by February 1, 2009
Total Games: Twenty (21)


GRAND TOTAL (21 games) $

Proposals must be received by Assistant Executive Director Stacy Schroeder at the address above no later than 2:00 P.M. CST Monday, July 14, 2008.

1. PROPOSALS – GENERAL INFORMATION:

A. All proposals MUST BE SUBMITTED on the Proposal Form accompanying these specifications and must be enclosed in a sealed envelope plainly marked "PROPOSAL TO SUPPLY ACADEMIC COMPETITION QUESTIONS" and addressed, mailed or delivered to the place specified in the Advertisement for Proposals. Bidders shall be responsible for actual delivery of proposals during business hours at the above address, and it shall not be sufficient to show that a proposal was mailed in time to be received before scheduled closing time for receipt of proposals.

B. No bidder shall stipulate any condition not required on proposal form.

C. All bidders shall include in their proposal price, and shall assume and pay, all Federal, State, and Municipal taxes and contributions which are payable by virtue of the furnishing and delivery of the item(s) specified herein. Materials and services furnished the Association are not subject to Missouri State Sales Tax. Exemption certificates shall be furnished upon request.

D. Price proposed is to be firm and final with any handling, processing or shipping charges included and itemized within the price. Please note that the Provider will _not_ be selected on the basis of price alone.

E. The Association reserves the right to reject any and all proposals on any basis. The Association also reserves the right to waive any informality or non-substantial irregularity in any proposal. Incompletion may be a basis for rejection of any proposal.

F. Proposals shall be signed by: at least one partner for a partnership, at least one authorized officer (with title) for a corporation, the specific individual doing business under a firm name, or an individual that is representing him/herself only.


2. BIDDER QUALIFICATIONS:

A. The Association is an equal opportunity employer, pursuant to federal and state law and regulations, and each bidder submitting a proposal shall be considered to be an equal opportunity employer in compliance with federal and state laws, unless the bidder sets forth on the Proposal Form, to the contrary.

B. Successful bidder covenants and agrees to comply with all applicable State and Municipal laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations. All licenses or permits required by municipality or political subdivisions for operation on property not belonging to the MSHSAA shall be obtained and paid for by successful bidder. Successful bidder covenants and agrees to comply with all rules and regulations of the MSHSAA in operating under the concession granted.

C. In awarding the contract, the Association will take into consideration the skill, experience, ability, responsibility, and the previous work of the bidder or bidders. The amount of other work being carried on by the bidder during the period of time within which the questions are to be furnished and delivered will also be taken into consideration due to the necessity of prompt delivery of the questions herein described. The inability of any bidder to meet the requirements mentioned above may be cause for rejection of his/her proposal. Each bidder submitting a proposal shall present a statement in written form of his/her experience, qualifications, and ability to carry out the terms of the contract.

D. The bidder shall submit three professional trade references (customers) which shall include company name, company address and telephone, and the designated contact person.


3. EXECUTION AND SCOPE OF CONTRACT:

A. The MSHSAA proposes to grant to successful bidder, subject to the terms of this agreement, exclusive rights to supply academic competition questions for the MSHSAA District and State Academic Competition Tournaments for the period July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009. The MSHSAA warrants that it has the full right and power to grant the rights as represented herein.

B. The MSHSAA covenants and agrees that successful bidder shall be designated as the "Official Academic Competition Question Provider" of the Missouri State High School Activities Association for the duration of the contract. As such, the MSHSAA covenants and agrees that successful bidder shall have the sole and exclusive right to supply MSHSAA with academic competition questions and the MSHSAA will not grant rights to supply academic competition questions to any other entity except with prior written agreement of successful bidder.

C. The Official Provider will provide 21 sets of questions (see specifications below) via electronic file (in Microsoft Word format on CD or via email attachment) to be used in the MSHSAA District and State Academic Competition Tournaments. [The electronic file will be used only for the purpose of correcting any errors found prior to printing duplicates for the tournaments.]

D. The successful bidder shall, within ten (10) days after the receipt of formal notice of award of the contract to him/her, enter into a written contract, in triplicate, upon a form to be furnished by the Association. The contract period shall begin July 1, 2008, and shall conclude June 30, 2009.

E. The contract to be awarded and any amount to be paid there under shall not be transferred, sublet or assigned without the prior approval of the Association.

F. The successful bidder shall pay for all royalties, license fees, or copyrights and defend all suits or claims for infringements of any copyrights involved in the items furnished hereunder. The successful bidder shall hold and save the Association and its officers, agents, servants and employees harmless from liability of any nature or kind, including cost and expenses, for or on account of, any copyrighted material furnished in the performance of the contract, including its use by the Owner, unless otherwise specifically stipulated.

G. MSHSAA reserves the right to cancel all or any part of the contract if shipment is not made as promised, by the due date. Successful bidder shall notify the MSHSAA no later than two weeks prior to any scheduled delivery date, if shipment of questions cannot be made as promised, by the respective scheduled delivery date.


4. SPECIFICATIONS LIST

A. Questions: Each set of questions shall consist of 57 toss-up questions and 27 four-part bonus questions, written to the following specifications:
1. LENGTH: _All games must be comfortably and consistently completed in approximately 45 minutes, regardless of Moderator speed, and assuming all bonus questions are read._
2. Each set of questions shall be divided into four competition quarters.
3. Each question shall specify the category, and shall be followed by the answer in bold print.
4. The first and third quarters shall consist of 15 toss-up questions each: the second and fourth quarters shall consist of 10 toss-ups, each with an accompanying four-part bonus question (for a total of 10 four-part bonus questions).
5. The question categories shall be placed in random order, and in the second and fourth quarters the toss-up questions shall be randomly associated with the accompanying four-part bonus questions.
6. Second and fourth quarter questions shall be structured with a toss-up followed by a four-part bonus question.
7. Each set of questions shall be numbered 1 through 50, with bonus questions utilizing the same number as the accompanying toss-up in the second and fourth quarters, and the replacement questions being numbered 1 through 7.
8. Each set of questions shall also include 7 extra toss-up questions and 7 extra four-part bonus questions to be used as replacement questions if needed. These questions shall follow the 50 game questions and shall be labeled “replacement questions.”
9. In each quarter questions shall be written in the following categories and quantities:

1st QUARTER: 15 toss-up questions in the following breakdowns by category: Science=3; Mathematics=3; Social Studies=3; Literature=3; Fine Arts=1; Language Arts=1; Miscellaneous=1
2nd QUARTER: 10 toss-up questions in the following breakdowns by category, each with an accompanying four-part bonus question: Science=2; Mathematics=2; Social Studies=2; Literature=2; Fine Arts or Language Arts=1; Miscellaneous=1
3rd QUARTER: 15 toss-up questions in the following breakdowns by category: Science=3; Mathematics=3; Social Studies=3; Literature=3; Fine Arts=1; Language Arts=1; Miscellaneous=1
4th QUARTER: 10 toss-up questions in the following breakdowns by category, each with an accompanying four-part bonus question: Science=2; Mathematics=2; Social Studies=2; Literature=2; Fine Arts or Language Arts=1; Miscellaneous=1

10. Categories for Questions (The moderator will announce the category of each question):

[Please note that there must be a GOOD BALANCE among all sub-categories in EACH GAME.]

Science: general science, earth science, biology/physiology/anatomy, chemistry, physics, astronomy. [Total needed: ten (10) toss-up and four (4) four-part bonus]
Mathematics: general math, geometry/elementary trigonometry, algebra, computers, analytic geometry/advanced trigonometry/calculus (No more than 2 from the last group of topics). [Total needed: ten (10) toss-up and four (4) four-part bonus]
Social Studies: world history, government, geography, American history, economics/consumer education, psychology, sociology (No more than 2 questions from last three topics). [Total needed: ten (10) toss-up and four (4) four-part bonus]
Literature: world literature (all genres), American literature (all genres), British literature (all genres), mythology, journalism. [Total needed: ten (10) toss-up and four (4) four-part bonus]
Fine Arts/Performing Arts: art, music, dance, philosophy, architecture, theater. [Total needed: three (3) toss-up and one (1) four-part bonus]
Language Arts: grammar/usage, spelling, vocabulary, speech. [Note: Students may pronounce spelling words prior to spelling them but the answer must be completed within the specified time limit.] [Total needed: three (3) toss-up and one (1) four-part bonus]
Miscellaneous/vocational education: sports, business education, agriculture, home economics, driver’s education, health/physical fitness, industrial trades/industrial arts. [Total needed: four (4) toss-up and two (2) four-part bonus]

B. Restrictions on Questions:

1. No true-false or other types of two-option questions will be permitted.
2. Multiple choice toss-up and bonus questions will not be permitted except in the case of vocabulary (analogy) toss-up questions.
3. All questions included in a bonus question must be on a related topic.
4. For all math calculation and science calculation questions, the question shall indicate “CALCULATION” for the moderator, and shall show ALL answers that are acceptable.
5. Spelling questions must be short enough to complete the answer within 10 seconds.
6. For all questions that must be answered in simplest terms, state such at the beginning of the question.
7. Make games 7 through 20 (state tournament games) more difficult than games 1 through 6 (district tournament games).
8. Limit the number of “trivia” and “pop-culture” type questions.
9. There shall be no listing questions that require calculation.
10. Bonus questions shall be ALL of the same FORMAT due to our timing rules (i.e. Don’t combine 2 listing questions and two single-part questions in one bonus question.)

C. TERMS

1. _The questions written for the Missouri District and State Series shall be unique and shall not be duplicated within any set of questions that have been sold previously or will be sold during the duration of the contract period. To insure the integrity and fairness of the MSHSAA contests, no recycled questions may be used. All questions shall be written specifically and exclusively for the MSHSAA District and State Series for the applicable school year. _
2. The Provider shall put in place an effective proofing/error correction process to which all questions shall be subjected, prior to finalizing and shipping the question sets to MSHSAA by the due date.
3. All sets of questions, via electronic data file (in Microsoft Word format on CD or via email attachment) shall be received at the MSHSAA office on or before the scheduled due dates.
Schedule for Delivery:
Seven (7) Games to be delivered by December 1, 2008
Seven (7) Games to be delivered by January 1, 2009
Six (7) Games to be delivered by February 1, 2009
Total Games: Twenty (21)

4. The Provider shall grant the Association the exclusive right to sell the questions used in the MSHSAA District and State Tournaments to Missouri schools for a period of one year from the date of the State tournament finals. The Association will not sell to schools outside the state of Missouri. At the end of the one year period, the questions will become the exclusive property of The Provider.

5. SAMPLE REQUIREMENTS: An exact sample of one game, in the Missouri format, as specified above, must be furnished to MSHSAA along with the other required proposal materials, by the due date. The sample set of questions may include recycled questions, and should be representative of the question-writing style, format and capabilities of the Provider. The sample game will be duplicated, only for the purpose of distributing proposal information to the Academic Competition Advisory Committee members for review in preparation for a recommendation to the Board of Directors.

[AKKOLADE]

Moving this to Misc HSQB since it's information about the contract for Missouri quiz bowl next year, and not talk about the actual competition.