Education Department Issues RFI for Information Management System

The Florida Department of Education is seeking information from vendors on replacing its current SQL-based management information system with a cloud-based commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) solution.

According to the department’s request for information (RFI), “The Commission for Independent Education currently uses an SQL-based database with a Microsoft Access interface to facilitate the licensure and regulation of approximately 1,000 licensed postsecondary education institutions.”

The database also tracks yearly licensure applications, retains documents submitted by institutions for public records requests, produces documents for the commission’s six annual bimonthly meetings and tracks complaints submitted against licensed and unlicensed institutions.

Moving forward, the commission seeks to obtain more information regarding cost ranges, system availability, scale and feasibility for a new COTS solution that offers the following capabilities:

• Electronic submission of applications, reports, data collection and documents by institutions 
• Customizable online forms with database integration 
• Collaboration between staff and institutions on applications and documents 
• Role-based access for staff to create new records, input or update select data   
• Secure web access for approximately 40 staff members and 1,000 licensed institutions (about 2,000 unique users) based on their individual roles 

More information about RFI 2025-108 can be found online. All vendor questions must be submitted by 2 p.m. Dec. 16, and all proposals must be submitted by 2 p.m. Jan. 7.