Agency Health Department

Contractor BLIND, Inc.

SWIFT Contract Number 206544

Project Name COVID Community Coordinator

Project Number (if applicable) {Empty}

Summarize purpose of the contract, including why it was necessary: BLIND, Inc. will take a two-prong approach to comprehensive health recovery from COVID-19 and its future CCC engagement, being specifically focused on: one, meeting emerging workforce needs through expanding its Career Development programming to blind and disabled persons. And two, expand its Youth Services programming with a focus on Extended School Year (ESY) training and addressing the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) to blind children and youth. BLIND, Inc. will run up to two summer programs annually which will focus on learning and applying the ECC in the environment. To narrow the education gap between peers, BLIND, Inc. will hold group seminars and one-on-one classes for youth needing additional ESY services, working with students whose IEP goals are not being met due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Project Duration

Start Date Fri, 07/01/2022 - 00:00

Original end date Sun, 06/30/2024 - 00:00

Actual end date Mon, 01/01/2024 - 00:00

Did project finish on time? No

Total billable hours utilized (if applicable) {Empty}

Contract Amounts

Original contract: $369999.84

Amendments $0

Contract total $369999.84

Did project finish within budget? No

What was the funding source? Federal (FEMA vaccine funding and ELC grant funding)

Is this a sole source contract? No

If this was a single source contract, explain why the agency determined there was only a single source for the services (if applicable) {Empty}

Evaluator Name Rachel Garaghty

Evaluator Email Address Rachel.Garaghty@state.mn.us

Evaluate the contractor's timeliness Satisfactory

Evaluate the contractor's quality Satisfactory

Evaluate the contractor's cost Satisfactory

Evaluate the contractor's overall performance Satisfactory

Would you engage the contractor's services again? Yes

Describe any negative action taken during the duration of this contract (i.e., termination, pursuit of suspension, etc.): Contractor had to temporarily suspend all of its programs as of January 1, 2024 due to its current financial and organizational circumstances, primarily due to significant and expensive renovations needed to its office, which is a historic building. Contractor was seeking a new location at the time of suspending services, but was not able to fulfill its CCC work, or its other programs, due to this circumstance. Besides the decision to suspend services, BLIND, Inc. was an excellent, diligent, and high performing contractor. When its circumstances with its location improve, it would be a strong vendor for MDH again.

Please rate the overall experience with the contractor 5 - very satisfied