The Chesterfield County Purchasing Department today announced a notice of award to SSC Service Solutions for custodial services during the 2015-16 school year. The notice was made after a six-person evaluation committee recommended that Chesterfield County Public Schools negotiate a contract with SSC Service Solutions.
A contract with the national cleaning firm is expected to take effect at 41 Chesterfield County schools on July 1, is projected to save Chesterfield County Public Schools $3.6 million next year and includes the eight schools currently being served by GCA Services Group. Negotiations with SSC Service Solutions were designed to support current school division custodians, maintain a secure learning environment and include financial penalties if certain responsibilities are not completed.
SSC Service Solutions focuses on K-12 schools and higher education. Virginia Commonwealth University and Texas A&M University are two of the company’s higher education clients. Current K-12 clients include Henry County Public Schools (GA), Denton Independent School District (TX), Durham Public Schools (NC), Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools (NC) nd Powhatan County Public Schools.
Aligning with the school division’s work to maintain safe, supportive and nurturing learning environments, SSC Service Solutions has a number of security measures in place. They include annual background checks on all custodians, a key protection system, uniforms and identification badges.
As part of negotiations with Chesterfield County Public Schools, SSC Service Solutions will offer current full-time custodians who are part of the school division’s reduction in force full-time employment (260 days) at their current hourly rate. The job offer is contingent on passing the company’s background check. Custodians who remain with the school division next year will be offered full-time employment for the 2016-17 school year at their 2015-16 hourly rate. School division employees who join SSC also are eligible for health-care and retirement benefits and may also be eligible to receive tuition reimbursement from the company and a bonus for recruiting people to work for SSC.
SSC Service Solutions will have a transition team in place for the first 120-160 days of the contract being finalized and will be in Chesterfield County within the next few weeks to begin discussions regarding hiring. With school division input, SSC also will hire a regional manager who will be devoted entirely to Chesterfield County Public Schools. In order to provide accountability, monthly report cards will grade the company’s work and offer suggestions for enhancements.
The firm was one of eight companies that submitted proposals. After discussions with the RFP evaluation team — which included a Facility Services Department representative, two school principals and Central Office leaders and which was guided through the public procurement process by a county Purchasing Department representative — SSC Service Solutions was selected after it was determined the organization best met the school division’s needs.
For more information about SSC Service Solutions, visit www.sscserv.com. A list of the 41 schools that will be cleaned by SSC accompanies this news release.
