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KDE says SEEK replacement could cost $7–8 million after vendor failed to complete contract
Summary
Kentucky Department of Education officials told a House budget subcommittee Jan. 20 that KDE needs to replace the SEEK application, estimating $7–8 million pending an RFP; staff said the prior vendor failed to complete the contract and sought a change order that would have doubled costs.
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky Department of Education officials told the House Budget Review Subcommittee on Primary and Secondary Education and Workforce Development on Jan. 20 that the state needs to replace its Support Education Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK) application, and that an exact price will depend on a request for proposals.
"We were hopeful that the cost would be between seven and eight million dollars but an exact number could not be known until a request for proposal was completed," said Matt Ross, associate commissioner in KDE’s Office of Finance and Operations. Ross and Chay Ritter, director of district support in the same office, told lawmakers SEEK is funded with both state and local dollars and that the state funding portion is larger though the ratio varies by district.
Representative Tina Bojanowski asked KDE officials about cost estimates; Representative Scott Lewis asked about federal funding history. In response, department staff said previous federal funds had been directed to support an increase in services rather than systems replacement.
Todd Allen, general counsel in KDE’s Office of Legal Services, described problems with the prior contract. He said the previous vendor was unable to complete the terms of the contract and that the vendor attempted "a change order that would have doubled the agreed upon cost of the service." KDE has assigned a team and a project manager to work with vendors on the matter; the original contract was canceled.
No procurement decision or appropriation was taken during the subcommittee meeting; officials said a competitive procurement process (request for proposals) will be used to determine a final cost and scope. The subcommittee did not vote on any related measure and adjourned at 10:15 a.m.
