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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESPONSE - RFP - 7413 BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES - HUMAN RESOURCESREQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared for: Ft\Collins STERLING Sterling Infosystems is extremely pleased to present information regarding our pre -employment screening and background checking services to the City of Fort Collins. We are confident that our organization can provide a comprehensive, streamlined, single -source solution for all of your screening needs, while enhancing the overall background screening management through an improved workflow process. The following are descriptions of the services specifically identified in this RFP: Perform data entry of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) or background check forms. Service Provider also offers the option to permit the perspective employee or volunteer to enter the information into the system on-line. To initiate a background check, your designated users can send an E-invite or give a paper consent form to the candidate. The E-invite is a system -generated e-mail that can be customized to your organization's standards that includes a unique Web address and consent form portal code. Both the e-mail and consent form can be sent in English or Spanish. Also, your users can access a blank copy of the consent from your online account. Copies can be printed (for applicants to manually complete) at any time. Sterling's Data Entry Team can facilitate data entry of these forms on behalf of the City of Fort Collins, a process which is often used to accommodate users that do not have internet access or that prefer to work with hard copy. Sterling offers three. different methods of collecting consent forms —a standard E-invite, ATS/HRIS integration, or manual collection. When using the E-invite, the applicant will complete and electronically sign their consent form online. E-signatures are legally binding in all 50 states. Additional information can also be collected from the applicant at this time (such as previous employment or education history), eliminating data entry during the background ordering process. Upon completion, our system will automatically store the e-signed consent form and additional information in the candidate's online record. At this point, your users can simply log into the system and initiate the order. Since the applicant's information is captured electronically by using the E-invite, the information is already pre - populated into the system. The user simply selects the applicant's record and initiates the order. This eliminates the need for users to perform data entry or attempt to decipher poor penmanship. If you chose to utilize our E-invite consent form, the entire process can be paperless. If manually collected, your users enter the information from the applicants completed consent form into Sterling's online ordering system and submit the order. If your staff chooses to be notified once the online forms are complete, they will receive an e-mail with a link to the background check order submission process. Through the screening interface, your personnel select predefined or a la carte screening profiles (depending on your specifications). Background screening services for each prospective employee, contractor, volunteer, or Utilities' customer which may include any or all of the following: I F``ort Collins f� REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES ' Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. bSTERLING ' Regular Basis -Human Resources ' Social Security Number Verification and Validation Sterling Social Security Validator is a SSN based search that performs both a SSN verification and a validation and indicates characteristics and / or irregularities such as: ' ►►Numbers issued to mail box numbers or telephone answering services addresses ►►Date of issuance and expiration, which may reflect fraudulent use. An expired number may denote that the original recipient is deceased. ►►Other names associated with the social security number Name and Address Trace ' Sterling's Social Security Trace identifies an individual by checking over 400 different sources such as major credit headers, US Postal Mail Forwarding Service, utility company billing records, voter registration cards, and other resources where the individual has used the social security number along with a name and an address. Results ' include address histories and any alias/maiden names associated with the SSN. The results of this search tool can be used to broaden the scope of a background check to include additional jurisdictions and names beyond those that the applicant has disclosed. This search is an excellent tool to scan for inconsistencies in a person's history to identify potentially misrepresented information. County Criminal Records Sterling leads the industry in accuracy and turn -around times through CourtDirect, our automated, high- performance electronic connection with numerous county criminal jurisdictions across the United States. Sterling's CourtDirect is the largest, most comprehensive network of any provider anywhere in the world, and we are adding capabilities on a weekly basis. Today, most companies still physically retrieve courthouse data for background screening via court runners. With our breakthrough platform, Sterling successfully digitized and integrated primary source data from hundreds of U.S. court jurisdictions. Over 80% of our criminal record search volume is automated via CourtDirect. By eliminating human intervention from the process and creating direct pipelines of information from nationwide courthouses, CourtDirect allows Sterling to offer numerous benefits, including turn -around times that are 50% faster than the rest of the industry, and hit rates that are up to 30% higher than those of our competitors. State Criminal Records In some states, counties submit criminal data to a state repository. The data submitted varies by state; some states collect all data from all counties while other states may only collect arrest or felony data. Our background screening specialists will work with you to determine if a particular state repository is a good choice for your searches (our Preferred States list). When it is a good match for your needs, a repository search can frequently provide a cost effective way to search for criminal record information in an entire state. Sterling collects criminal records history directly from the state repositories and reports results according to state guidelines and FCRA regulations, ensuring that all data on a Sterling Infosystems report is compliant. Metro County Criminal This is a cost effective way to check criminal records in the multiple counties that encompass many larger metropolitan areas. Where available, you can elect to execute a metro area search to obtain criminal records from the counties within that metro area. We will perform county criminal searches at a combined cost that is less than ordering the individual counties. F�of tCollins _�_ 10 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. pSTERLING Multi-State/Jurisdiction Criminal Records Locator (MSMJ) w/Sex Offender Database Component This is a query made to a criminal records database containing information from 41 states using the applicant's identifiers. It consists of data obtained from the state based department of corrections, administrative office of the courts, bureau of criminal apprehension, office of foreign assets control, registered sex offenders and/or the department of criminal justice records, various county criminal records and data from other applicable government ' agencies where available. Sterling's Multi -State / Multi -Jurisdictional Record Locator Search is fully FCRA compliant and provides a very ' affordable, enhanced level of due diligence that can be incorporated into any company's employee screening program. Sex Offender Searches Sterling offers a number of sex offender searches including the National Sex Offender Registry and state -specific sex offender registries. Our in-house team directly searches 49 states (Nevada Is excluded by law) through the Federal Department of Justice database, which is updated in real time. This search is more comprehensive than an individual state registry search because it is possible to uncover potential sexual criminal history in states where the applicant may have frequented but never lived. ' Additionally, a sex -offender search is included in the multi -jurisdiction National Criminal Database search. This sex offender search is an inclusive database search, meaning that any "hits" are verified with the primary source. Sex offender searches are searched by last name to identify as many iterations of the name as possible. When names are found, first, middle, DOB and sometimes SSN and address are used to validate whether or not the records match the individual in question. ' Federal Criminal Records Federal criminal records detail crimes of a different scale than those at the county level; these crimes are prosecuted in federal district courts and include such charges as international/inter-state drug trafficking, ' kidnapping, etc. Sterling has the ability to obtain federal records from all district courts throughout the United States and related territories. There are currently 94 federal judicial districts, with at least one in every state as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, The Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Department of Motor Vehicle Reports Sterling Infosystems will search the motor vehicle records for the applicants to determine if the license is valid and to identify driving record history. The information found consists of the current status of license as well as any history of speeding, reckless driving, careless driving, driving under the influence, driving while intoxicated, etc. The dates of all incidents are found in these abstracts along with all suspensions with dates and causes of ' said suspensions. Managed Adjudication Ranking System Managed adjudication service is an industry leading ranking solution that systematically applies a pass, review, or fail grade to each applicant according to customer specific hiring criteria. If the applicant is ranked as pass (meets your criteria), no further action is required. A yellow grade signals a review is ' needed for final determination of hiring eligibility and a red grade could simply suspend the hiring process and trigger the Adverse Action process. ' Managed adjudication simplifies the hiring process, improves compliance and hiring uniformity, maintains candidate privacy and reduces critical time to hire. Managed adjudication helps employers avoid unlawful ' r oCottins f F�t``1 11 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES ' Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. W S T E R L I N G employment practices associated with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), by applying consistent customer criteria to every applicant. Adverse Action Notification Whenever you decide not to hire an applicant based in whole or in part on his/her background screening results, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires you to complete Adverse Action. To simplify this process, Sterling will send applicants the necessary correspondence letters (Pre Adverse Action and Adverse Action), copies of the offending background screening reports. We will also manage any applicant disputes and record any correspondence with applicants, allowing the City of Fort Collins to focus on your core strengths. Pre -Adverse Action and Adverse Action letters can also be made available for you to print and send. Periodic Basis: Human Resources Employment Verification -Standard Employment and Department of Transportation (DOT) Information is solicited for such items as dates of employment, position, title, wages and salary, reasons for leaving, eligibility for re -hire, job duties, interactions with others, job performance and disciplinary action. The DOT Employment Verification is conducted as a supplement to the standard employment verification and follows the requirements of the DOT's Title 49. . Consumer Credit Report Sterling Infosystems has the capability to obtain credit reports instantly through Screening Direct. Reports ' include information regarding trade accounts (credit cards, phone bills, car payments, insurance, mortgage, and charge accounts), accounts that have had negative action on them (write-offs, bad debt, collections, foreclosures, and repossessions), and public records (civil judgments, tax liens, bankruptcy). Credit Report (Standard) This is a regular credit report for business transactions (Credit Granting) that does reflect a credit score. *Because a credit score is provided, and the information is variable and subject to consideration, even if a client has Managed Adjudication, we must score the report as a Clear. Civil Record Search Sterling offers both county and federal civil record searches. For county civil records, we search both the upper and lower courts, depending on the dollar amount of the action. We also search federal civil records for actions relating to federal statutes including EEOC, EPA, Treasury of SEC fraud, and civil rights, as well as civil causes of action that cross state lines with dollar amounts in excess of $10,000. Sterling will work with you to determine which searches best fit your needs. Professional License Verification Sterling conducts direct verifications via the state licensing board of specified licenses, certifications or possible reprimands. Some examples of license searches available are: CPA, Attorney, Teacher, Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse, Physician, Psychologist, and Pharmacist. The results include type, status, expiration and limitations. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Search City of Fort Collins 12 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. I pSTERLING ' Individuals and companies, owned, controlled by, or acting on behalf of countries targeted by US foreign policy as terrorists and narcotics traffickers are identified as Specially Designated Nationals ("SDN"). These individuals and companies have their assets blocked and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from dealing with them. The SDN search is conducted using documentation provided by the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC"). Regular Basis -Utilities In addition to the services described above, Sterling has some unique products that can be utilized by the Utilities department: ' Identity Scan Identity Scan is the first step in identifying fraudulent activity such as fraud victim alerts, misused SSN, hot addresses and suspicious phone numbers. It leverages more than a dozen up-to-date public and proprietary database sources to screen application information for known issues and potential misuse. ' Connexus Connexus is a powerful data integration solution that offers a 360 degree view of consumers. Using sophisticated reference database technology, Connexus assigns unique individual, household and address ' identifiers to every consumer, helping you accurately identify individuals regardless of address changes, name changes, or name variations. This product can also be linked to credit files. ' Additional Services Other services Sterling offers include Assessment tools, Occupational Health testing, drug screening, 1-9/E-Verify ' services, business tax credit consulting services, and many others. Additionally, Sterling processes hundreds of different employee screening products that may or may not be applicable to The City of Fort Collins' specific business needs. We would be more than happy to offer recommendations and consultation regarding any specific interests you have. Several additional searches we offer are as follows: CBSV CBSV (Consent Based Social Security Validation) links our Screening Direct system to the Social Security Administration. CBSV instantly verifies whether a name and Social Security Number (SSN) combination match the data in SSA's records. The submitted information is matched against SSA's Master File of Social Security Numbers (SSNs). The matching elements include: Social Security number, name, date of birth and a gender code if available. Each SSN and name combination submitted to CBSV will be returned with a "yes" or "no" verification code indicating that the submission either matches or does not match our records. If applicable, we will report a death indicator ' when our records reflect that the SSN holder is deceased. Please note that the results obtained from CBSV do not confirm or authenticate "proof of identity". ' CBSV requires the written consent of the SSN holder and the verification results can only be used for the reason that the number holder specifies. A copy of the signed consent must be uploaded with each order. ' 1-9 Verification Sterling's integrated 1-9 solution allows you to fill out an employee's 1-9 on-line and immediately validate the employee's work eligibility through the Social Security Administration and the Department of City of F:ort Collins 11" 13 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. I pSTERLING Homeland Security (DHS). Our online system also stores and manages the employee information and sends notifications for required updates. This system will help to insure that member companies are compliant in on -boarding their employees and managing sensitive data effectively. Education Verification To complete education verifications, Sterling's Verification Specialists access requests on our secure website. As our specialists gather information directly from record holding institutions or third parties designated by record holding institutions, they input details into the system and the appropriate department managers proofread results prior to final distribution to the client. Military Verification When verifying military service, Sterling's first step is to directly contact the last duty station/ military base where the applicant served. If the applicant has supplied the name of his or her unit, we can request to speak with either the "Admin Chief' or the "Company First Sergeant". If there are no records at the last duty station, or the senior personnel cannot provide any information regarding the applicant's service, Sterling will follow the official US Military procedure as detailed below: Personal and Professional Reference Verifications Our researchers check your potential employee's personal and professional references by asking a set of dynamic questions that help you to establish a profile of the applicant's professional qualifications, personality, reputation, and character. Understanding the qualities and attributes of your applicants can insure the right fit and high employee retention. Sterling's Reference Verification check is a highly customizable program that can be configured to meet your specifications. International Criminal Search Sterling has extensive experience in performing international background checks. Our capabilities include: Employment & Education Reference Verifications: Worldwide Department of Motor Vehicle Reports: United States & Canada Criminal Background Checks: Over 200 Countries / Territories Worldwide Drug Testing in several countries Sterling can perform and deliver services in over 40 languages throughout the world. We accomplish this through our International Team and our vendors and partners throughout the globe. This aids us in the confirmation of International Verifications, References, Criminal Checks and other services on an as needed basis. Criminal Background checks are available in hundreds of countries worldwide. Pricing, availability, and turnaround 1 times vary widely by country, therefore Sterling will inform our clients of these factors prior to initiating each investigation. Fact sheets by country describing services available and average turnaround times can be provided, upon request. To process international criminal search requests, a previous address in the requested country is ' required. The following countries also require the search subject's maiden name: Argentina, Columbia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, and Venezuela. We will search the highest court within an international country to uncover criminal history, however to make our search more effective, if a customer can provide address history within the country to be search this would increase ' the chances of identifying criminal records. of Fes_ 14 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. I pSTERLING ' Database Management Sterling can manage the database of the City of Fort Collins' employees and volunteers, saving you time and money. By tracking what was ordered and when for a given volunteer or employee, Sterling can determine which elements of the check are required for a change in status or renewal, based on the member's requirements for each position. This is particularly useful for returning volunteers, seasonal workers, volunteers who become employees or employees who transfer to a different job classification. Ongoing Audit Capabilities On an ongoing basis, Sterling recommends conducting random audits of employees and volunteers that have not been screened for a given period. We can run these based on the desired frequency and percentage of screened volunteers, using Screening Direct's upload capability, combined with Tandem Select's random sort capabilities. We could manage this process for your chapters, which would insure that all volunteers are regularly vetted to your end -users parameters. Workers' Compensation Search As premiums for workers' compensation insurance continue to escalade, employers may seek to implement programs to keep those costs down. Such programs may include protecting the company from those who have abused workers' compensation claims. Sterling Infosystems offers to report on workers' compensation history. Special regulations are to be adhered to and differ state to state. Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) Sterling searches the Excluded Parties List System search, which includes information from Interpol, the Office of Inspector General (OIG), the General Service Administration (GSA), The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and 1 numerous other sources both domestic and international. Sterling has the ability to identify individuals that appear on any of these government watch lists through this one search. ' Drug Testing This service consists of a nationwide administration of employee drug and alcohol testing programs that strictly adhere to federal and state guidelines for both Department of Transportation (DOT) applicants and non -DOT applicants. Partnerships developed with several of the nation's top drug testing vendors provide us with thousands of DHHS (Department of Health and Human Services) certified and trained collection sites and one of the largest collection networks in the nation. Screenings are done pre -employment, post -accident, randomly, under reasonable suspicion and for return to work release. Sterling utilizes a system which uses an online, bar-coded chain of custody (which can be emailed to the applicant) rather than the S-part chain of custody. Through automated integration with laboratories, negative results are returned within a few minutes. We can provide the following tests to help ' insure a drug -free workplace: N Alcohol Testing IH Random ' ►► Reasonable Suspicion ►► Post -Accident Testing H Hair/Follicle Testing City of F6Collins REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. 15 I pSTERLING DOT Program Administration Sterling Infosystems can assist our clients to establish and/or maintain a drug -screening program compliant to DOT requirements including Pre -Employment, Post -accident, Reasonable Cause, Random, Return to Duty, and Breath Alcohol Testing as well as 2 year renewable and pre -employment physicals. Additionally, we ensure adherence to DOT regulations regarding record retention and random database maintenance. Driver Qualification File Management Sterling Infosystems' will facilitate management of the driver qualification files as follows: ►► Establish and maintain centralized driver database. H Establish electronic Driver Qualification Files for all drivers. ►► Comprehensive audit of file contents - Identify missing, expired, expiring, extraneous, and incomplete documents in accordance with the requirements of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR), Part 391. H Send electronic, daily notifications of compliance deficiencies. This includes advance notification of expiring documents. N Track, process, and audit all document updates. ►► Comprehensive compliance reporting. ►► Centralized, electronic Driver Qualification File storage and retention. ►► Audit, tracking, and notification for any company -specific documents not required by the FMCSR (optional service subject to a minor surcharge). Physicals Physical exams performed in accordance with DOT regulation for pre -employment and to maintain a CDL current (2 year renewable), are performed at one of Sterling Infosystems' third -party collection facilities. Most facilities require appointments be made in advance for this service. Medical Revew Process Sterling Infosystems' MRO Team monitors drug -testing results for both non -negative results as well as for any abnormal findings that may indicate adulteration. Upon identification of non -negative or abnormal findings, the medical review office contacts the donor to inform them of the findings and to examine possible explanations for said results. All notes made during the medical review process are electronically archived and maintained in a file along with the MRO's copy of the chain of custody form. Fort of F �rt�1 16 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. I pSTERLING Sterling offers a variety of options for submitting a request for background screens, checking the status of a screen, receiving notification of completion, and viewing, storing and managing results. Screening Direct Order Management System Placing, tracking, retrieving and managing orders are easy. Screening Direct, Sterling's internet based order management system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This state -of -the art, easy to use, and secure web based environment allows users to place, track and retrieve orders and manage reports online. Screening Direct access is controlled by password and user name access and multiple levels of user authentication can be incorporated to restrict or enable certain activities. Key features include: ►► 240 availability N Extensive search, filter, and sort capabilities N Flexible printing of order summary or detail reports H Downloading of reports or storage on Sterling's system for two years ►► Application security that allows the customers to define access levels to results and/or data entry within the Screening Direct system Orders can be placed a la carte or for customized, role specific flat rate packages to create efficiencies, improve compliance and ensure that only pre -authorized services are utilized. Consent Portal Applicant Entry Option The consent portal streamlines the on -boarding process by enabling the applicant to commence the background check by entering information relevant to the background screening process. Using this secure and customizable platform decreases the HR resources needed throughout the process, increases the accuracy of candidate input data, and makes the screening process much more efficient. The City has used this option successfully over the past five years resulting in reduced administrative costs and burden. Contractor Portal Credit Card Entry Option Sterling can also accept credit cards on our contractor portal. In fact, this has been set up in three unique ways to support our clients: ►► Always require a credit card (the applicant pays for the background check) N Never require a credit card (the agency pays for the background check) N Ask the applicant if they would like to pay for their background check We have found that many volunteers are willing to pay for their own checks. Often, however, the agency does not feel comfortable asking volunteers to do so or worry that not all volunteers can do so. By making it optional, the agency is able to save on costs associated with bringing on a volunteer. Reports would still be delivered to the agency. ' Integration with Applicant Tracking System Utilizing HR-XML Consortium standards, Sterling can integrate directly with most Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) or proprietary HRIS systems that any of the members may utilize or implement. Fiof t Collins _ 17 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. pSTERLING ' Fax Sterling can perform data entry to the specifications identified in a Scope of Service for orders received via ' fax. Results Reporting Sterling Infosystems has an established history of approaching system development from a "Client Needs" perspective, and therefore have a wide array of options to accommodate each client's specific needs. Our methods for results reporting include: ►► -- ``: Reports can be in HTML, PDF, or plain text format with options for custom content in both the subject and body ►► 1;4x Reports can be faxed automatically to specified users within your company, with options for customizing based on results, department, etc. ►► Screening Direct: Regardless of additional methods, results remain available to authorized users via our ' Screening Direct System. Furthermore, these results are permanently archived and remain available to authorized individuals. ►► Directly to your Applicant Tracking System (e.g., an https post in HR-XML format): Along with the direct ' notification to your ATS, Sterling Infosystems provides "Alert" fields to categorize the results of the particular service. These fields can then be used by the ATS to summarize results in terms of "Pass"/ "Fail" Sterling Infosystems has the ability to evaluate screening results based on the stated policies and hiring criteria established by your company. The results of each investigation can be evaluated against the established matrix, and Sterling Infosystems will clearly report any applicant results that fall into the prohibited categories as defined by your company. Customized results notification can be established at no charge, based on the preferences of your company. This would include distributing criminal "hits" to Risk Management only, while requestors receive only "clear" results. Driving related reporting can be reported separately from any other information. Separate accounts and profiles can be set up for Human Resources, Utilities and Risk Management so that reports and data is not shared or accessible to another department. Separate invoices will also be sent to each group. Fort of C.. / rt�� 18 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. I pSTERLING I TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTORY LETTER ............................................. 2 COMPANY INFORMATION ........................... 3 QUALIFICATIONS..................................................................................... 4 COMPANY HISTORY................................................................................... 6 KEYPERSONNEL..................................................................................... 7 CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY...............................................8 RELEVANT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES .................................................... 9 REGULAR BASIS -HUMAN RESOURCES............................................................... 10 ' PERIODIC BASIS: HUMAN RESOURCES.............................................................. 12 REGULAR BASIS-UTILITIES......................................................................... 13 ' ADDITIONAL SERVICES............................................................................. 13 DOT PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION................................................................... 16 ORDER MANAGEMENT OPTIONS.......................................................... 17 SERVICE LEVEL AND TURNAROUND TIMES ............................................ 19 IMPLEMENTATION AND SUPPORT........................................................ 22 PRICING........................................................................................ 23 SECURITY....................................................................................... 25 SYSTEMS, PROCEDURES AND ACCESSIBILITY ........................................ 27 SYSTEM -SCREENING DIRECT OVERVIEW............................................................ 27 RESULTS REPORTING........................................................................ 30 REGULATORY COMPLIANCE AND UPDATES ............................................ 32 RELATED EXPERIENCE...................................................................... 33 REFERENCES................................................................................... 34 APPENDIX A ... ........................... 3 5 ......................................................... .... LAWSUITS........................................................................................... 35 CERTIFICATE OF LIABILITY INSURANCE............................................................. 37 ADDENDUM NO. 1. .... ........... . 38 .................................... ........... .. .. ....... F�of tCottins `l1 1 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES ' Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. ' ►STERLING fAny screening services requested from the regular basis list must be received by City within a reasonable number of days of the official request being submitted to the vendor. Sterling maintains the fastest turnaround times in the industry, and can ensure that any screening services requested from the regular basis list will be received by the City within a reasonable number of days. The chart below outlines the average turnaround times for our services: & r Criminal Background Check 15 Hours Nationwide Criminal Database Search Consumer Credit Report Instant — Five Minutes Social Security Trace Applicant Evaluation & Skills Assessment _._....._...._--- _ — Employment Verification Education Verification 24 - 48 hours Professional License Verification Department of Motor Vehicle Reports Drug Testing (Negatives) Same Day — 24 Hours Sex Offender Database Searches OFAC Searches Below are the actual turnaround times by products ordered for July, 2012 ' Background Checim: Total <2 Days 23 Days 34 Days 1 45 Days 1 5.7 Daps 7+ Days TAT 1 D5 a 89 52% 5 4.76% 94.29% Q 2.86% 97.14% Q 2 86% 100.00% Q 0.00% 100 00% Q 0.00% 100 00% t 81#(s) 33 Min (s) ITotal Oiderr: 106 Total Applicants: 105 Avg. Applicant Cost: $27.69 General Summary Service : Cow : Pereerrtew : ExPerre : perce"a : Avg TAT Time CRIMINAL RECORD SEARCH (CRIMINAL) 216 3553% $1,539 52 91% 12 Hr(s) 52 Mm(s) MOTOR VEHICLE REPORT (h4VR) (C)" 25 4 11 % $128 4 40% 16 Hr(s) 44 Mm(s) SEXUAL OFFENDER DATABASE SEARCH (S OFFENDER) 278 45 72% Sim 34 70% 3 Hr(s) 34 Mm(s) SOCIAL SECURITY TRACE SEARCH (SSTRACE) 89 14 64°; S_'32 7 99% 0 Mm(s) Total 608 1BOS 52.900 100X i 1 Fort Collins 19 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. I W S T E R L I N G Additional follow-up or periodic screening services may be requested in any area specified above, or in additional areas, on a case -by -case basis, including the handling of State specific forms. Sterling is able to easily accommodate any additional follow-up or periodic screening services requested by the City of Fort Collins. All our services are available a la carte via a drop -down list on the "Order Editor" screen of our user interface, Screening Direct. In addition, Sterling can run audits on regular intervals or on a random basis. Recommended audit products include: N Criminal History Reports H National Criminal Scan ►► Drug Testing N Arrest Direct ArrestDirect Sterling's latest development is ArrestDirect, an innovative new line of search tools that allows employers to check the arrest records of their applicants and current employees within the last 30 days. This addresses definite gaps left by traditional criminal background screens, which only report convictions, leaving the most recent incidents and potential risks unidentified. Additionally, ArrestDirect will expand location searches to include criminal background searches of locations where a recent arrest was made — areas which might otherwise go unsearched. Sterling's new ArrestDirect program is able to search arrest records in a way that is fully compliant with FCRA regulations. The FCRA requires that all information reported must be from a primary source, and must be complete. Arrest data less than 30 days old is considered to be both, as it is the most complete data available on the incident. Sterling is the first company to go to market with this ground -breaking new method for collecting the most recent, up-to-date information on your applicants. ArrestDirect Employee is an ongoing post -hire search of the workforce for arrest activity that could present a potential liability to you based on an employee's job responsibilities. The product searches each new "booking" for the day and matches it against your current employee list. If there is a match, you will be notified with all the details of the arrest. The information can be used as a discussion point with the employee if you deem it to be job relevant and/or you can utilize it to take further action with the employee if it is outlined in your company policy and within applicable state laws. ' With ArrestDirect Employee you can: N Immediately identify employee behavioral intentions that may pose a threat. ►► Be proactive in curtailing potential issues by temporarily re -assigning high -risk employees until a final disposition has been reached. N Enforce your company policy regarding employee obligation to report arrests. H Help protect your workplace and the public from potential criminal events. Managed Adjudication This solution allows for the customization and administration of specific judgment or decision -making criteria for each report type so that employment decisions are made in a simple and consistent manner across the organization with no variance. Our system is able to automatically decide if the background screening report is adverse and when ' used with Managed Adverse Action, Sterling offers a completely automated Managed Adjudication process from start to finish. ' City of Forr—tCollins f1 _ 20 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES ' Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. bSTERLING Managed Hold Notification If you elect to utilize Sterling's Managed Adjudication service, sometimes information will return which does not clearly fit into the established Pass/Fail criteria, and requires your additional review or consideration. In these cases you have the option to keep the order on Hold and initiate a "Hold Notification" letter to the applicant. This allows the candidate an opportunity to resolve the issue in question; and to remain in contact with you if they wish to continue pursuing employment, once the item has reached resolution. At that point, the candidate would contact Sterling's Dispute Resolution department to have the report updated. You would be notified when they make contact to update the report, and again when it closes out, and then have an opportunity to reconsider the candidate, if desired, depending on the outcome. Service Provider will issue a Notice of Adverse Information and Notice of Adverse Action to applicants as appropriate. Service Provider will be the primary contact for individuals who wish to dispute inaccurate data and request of the individual for further court documents, police reports or other supporting documentation. Service Provider will forward files electronically to appropriate Utilities representative. Pre/Post Adverse Action Notices Sterling offers adverse action letter fulfillment to help our clients remain compliant and consistent with federal regulations. Clients have the option to choose Managed Adjudication, where Sterling supplies a "Pass" or "Fail" designation based on client criteria and clients can then initiate the adverse action process in the following ways: N Clients choose Do -It -Yourself Adverse Action, which means Sterling will send free templates of the pre and post adverse action letters and the client is responsible for mailing them in the appropriate timeline. ►► Clients choose Managed Adverse Action, which means Sterling will mail the letters and track the adverse action process from start to finish, with time and date stamps for every exchange. N Sterling sends the applicant a Pre -Adverse Action Letter, a copy of the completed background check, and a Summary of Rights under the FCRA. ' If the applicant contacts Sterling to dispute information contained in a completed background check, we will conduct a reinvestigation. We direct the applicant to contact the appropriate authorities (i.e. courthouses, credit bureaus) to obtain documentation supporting their claims. We will also notify your authorized contacts that one of their applicants is disputing information on the completed background screening report. We will follow the timelines mandated by the FCRA. Utility customers may be making the application via the telephone. The Customer Service Representative needs to be able to key in the Social Security Number, birth date, and current/previous address(es) and have instant validation to approve the new service application. The Utilities department can be set up to utilize one of Sterling's validation and verification products described above. The City of Fort Collins would be directly linked to the website and would receive instant verification of the consumer's identity. City of FortCollins f� 21 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. I W S T E R L I N G Perform an initial consultation with a Human Resources representative only for screening results concerning prospective employees, contractors, or volunteers, meeting specific criteria as outlined by the City of Fort Collins. Sterling's approach is to partner with our clients. One of the essential elements of our partnership is to ensure that requirements and expectations are clearly defined and articulated and that personal relationships are established. If awarded this contract, Sterling would work with The City of Fort Collins to insure the program is meeting any new requirements you may have. Specifically within the Utilities department, we would build an implementation plan that would involve requirements definition, package definition, and a roll -out and support plan. The kick-off meeting for the implementation would involve Utilities personnel as well as Sterling's team of Account Management and Program Implementation. Ongoing updates to the City regarding schedule adherence would also be provided. Sterling can provide training over the phone, via webinar or face-to-face. On an ongoing basis, Sterling will provide regular reports with metrics such as turnaround times, costs, volume and hit rates to the City. In addition to being readily available for a face-to-face meeting with City personnel, we will adhere to a set schedule for regular program reviews. City of Fort `�1 _ 22 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. I pSTERLING Sterling can build any number of position -specific customized package for the City of Fort Collins. Currently we run the following: Package Pricing Standard Employment Package • Name and Address Trace • 7-year Criminal History -we will search the jurisdictions revealed on the Name and Address Trace • National Sex Offender Registry ' • Colorado Sex Offender Registry Price for this package is $19.36 fee inclusive. Employment Driving Package • Name and Address Trace • 7-year Criminal History -we will search the jurisdictions revealed on the Name and Address Trace • National Sex Offender Registry • Colorado Sex Offender Registry • Motor Vehicle Driving Record Price for this package is $21.73 plus DMV fees (some states charge fees to access DMV data which we pass through) Volunteer Package • Name and Address Trace • 1-year Criminal History -we will search the jurisdictions revealed on the Name and Address Trace ' • National Sex Offender Registry • Colorado Sex Offender Registry Price for this package is $19.36 fee inclusive. Volunteer Driving Package • Name and Address Trace • 7-year Criminal History -we will search the jurisdictions revealed on the Name and Address Trace • National Sex Offender Registry • Colorado Sex Offender Registry Price for this package is $21.73 plus DMV fees (some states charge fees to access DMV data which we pass through) MVR with Adjudication Package • Motor Vehicle Driving Record • Adjudication Price for this package is $2.50 plus DMV fees (some states charge fees to access DMV data which we pass through) 1 23_ REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES y Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. I W S T E R L I N G IA la Carte Pricina I 11 l� Name and Address Trace Per Trace $3.50 County Criminal History Check Per County $8.75 Statewide Criminal History Check Per State $8.90 Federal Criminal History Check Per Search $9.50 National Criminal Scan Per Search $6.00 Sex Offender Registry Per Search $3.00 Combined National Criminal Scan and SOR Per Search $8.00 Credit Report Per Report $8.75 Motor Vehicle Driving Record Per State $2.50 I-9 Verification Per Search $6.00 Employment Verification Per Employer $7.50 Education Confirmation Per Institution $7.50 Personal Reference Check Per Reference $7.50 Credential and Professional License Verification Per Confirmation $7.50 Identity Scan Per Search $1.05 Connexus Per Test $4.20 Military Service Verification Per Search $9.00 Patriot Act Scan (OFAC) Per Search $5.70 Workers' Compensation Claims History Per Search $5.90 Drug Test (utilizing eScreen's eCup technology) Per Test $33.00 CandidateCareT"' Per Person Included Pre Adverse Action & Adverse Action (Mailed) Both Mailings $3.90 Managed Adjudication Per Person $2.00 Additional fees maybe charged by repositories, institutions and some third party vendors. Where applicable, Sterling passes those fees through. City of Fort� s REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. 24 I pSTERLING I Service Provider must implement reasonable policies and procedures to detect, prevent and mitigate the risk of identity theft in compliance with the Identity Theft Red Flags Rules found at 16 Code of Federal Regulations part 681. Further, Service Provider must take appropriate steps to mitigate identity theft if it occurs with one or more of the City's covered accounts. The protection of the confidentiality of information obtained from applicants and employees of our clients is a major concern, and is therefore protected through several different procedures. Sterling manages its services through a ' centralized hosting infrastructure, and secure proprietary application and data repositories which interact with our clients via a suite of proprietary web applications. These interactions are protected by layers of security provisions which include encrypted communications with the web browsers (128 bit HTTPS) as well as a series of measures within Sterling's hosting environment which prohibit unauthorized connections and shield data repositories. Our systems and users are monitored and sessions maintained over encrypted pipes. Any documentation Sterling receives is stored in our electronic document -storage application, Documentum. Only Sterling employees have access to this information. No paper copies are maintained — if we do have to print something (to mail or fax to a school, for example), it is shredded immediately afterwards. With regards to the security of your applicants' personal information, Sterling is Safe Harbor Certified, compliant with Directive 95/46/EC, as well as many other domestic and international regulations that deal specifically with the handling and/or disposal of Personally Identifiable Information (PII). Sterling also maintains the IS09001:2000 certification. Sterling manages its services through a centralized hosting infrastructure, and secure proprietary application and data repositories which interact with our clients via a suite of proprietary web applications. These interactions are protected by layers of security provisions which include encrypted communications with the web browsers (128 bit HTTPS) as well as a series of measures within Sterling's hosting environment which prohibit unauthorized connections and shield data repositories. Our systems and users are monitored and sessions maintained over encrypted pipes. Sterling is responsible for maintaining the integrity and security of the data that it collects from 'primary sources'. In our 37 year history, Sterling has never had a security breach, demonstrating our dedication to confidentiality and the effectiveness of our security teams. However, if a breach were ever to occur, Sterling would be responsible for notifying both the client and the candidate with full disclosure to any associated risk as well as providing helpful information and free credit reporting for 1 year. Sterling ensures the confidential information of your applicants remains secure through the following security measures: H Sterling maintains several levels of physical security, starting with the building entry. Our headquarters is located in a building secured by a 24/7 doorman. During "off' hours, one must be buzzed into the building and must show valid identification. ►► Our office is only accessible via fingerprint or buzz -in button at our reception desk. During off -hours when the reception desk is not staffed, an alarm system will notify our security company of any breaches. City of FOr_t Cottins 25 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. � J pSTERLING ►► Each employee wear must wear a photo ID while on the premises. Additionally, all guests on our premises are issued security badges that must be prominently displayed. Governance In order to ensure the highest standards of technology delivery and support, Sterling has engaged with multiple 3d party vendors that provide expertise in IT Governance- especially where it concerns security and risk. Verizon Business Services (formerly CyberTrust) has provided consultation and direction to Sterling for compliance to ISO27001, Sarbanes-Oxley, HIPAA, GLBA and others. This is all a part of their Enterprise Certification and must be demonstrated on a quarterly basis- this includes quarterly penetration and vulnerability scanning. From a CoblT Governance perspective, the audit firm of AssesslT performs periodic reviews of IT Management and Operational processes. These findings are periodically presented to the Executive Committee as well as the Board of Directors. This solution has taken the place of a SAS70-Type II audit in that it addresses the operational and security aspects of Sterling's Technology and Data Security. In 2010 the Verizon Business Services / Cybertrust program was replaced by ISO 27001 Certification along with vulnerability testing and operational attestation performed by Pivot Point Security. (http://www.pivotpointsecurity.com/) SC'Cur1ty and Secunty (wAah"Sage ient With the assistance of Verizon Business Services and Pivot Point Security, Sterling has maintained a program of constant vigilance over its IT systems. Performing quarterly vulnerability scans and process reviews, Sterling ensures the highest degree of adherence to best practice and continuing concern over its technology resources, processes and people. In addition to the 3rd party consultants, Sterling hosts numerous on -site audits from major financial and healthcare organizations annually. Utilizing encryption technologies (TLS, SSL, PGP etc.), Sterling Infosystems ensures that session data is protected, as well as data in its most restful state; this is also true for its messaging systems. Intrusion Detection and Prevention technologies are used at both the host and network layers, providing a robust, secure, firewall segmented platform for its systems- both Production and non -Production, which are geographically segregated environments. All of the requirements are detailed in a series of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and Work Instructions (WI) including: Sterling Acceptable Encryption Policy Sterling Information and Technology Security Policy Sterling Firewall Policy Sterling Data Backup Policy Sterling Change Management Policy (These are just to name a few. All SOP's are available for review during an on -site audit) City of Fort Collins 26 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. pSTERLING System -Screening Direct Overview To initiate a background check, your designated users can send an E-invite or give a paper consent form to the candidate. The E-invite is a system -generated e-mail that can be customized to your organization's standards that includes a unique Web address and consent form portal code. Both the e-mail and consent form can be sent in English or Spanish. Also, your users can access a blank copy of the consent from your online account. Copies can be printed (for applicants to manually complete) at any time. Sterling offers three different methods of collecting consent forms —a standard E-invite, ATS/HRIS integration, or manual collection. When using the E-invite, the applicant will complete and electronically sign their consent form online. E-signatures are legally binding in all 50 states. Additional information can also be collected from the applicant at this time (such as previous employment or education history), eliminating data entry during the background ordering process. Upon completion, our system will automatically store the e-signed consent form and additional information in the candidate's online record. At this point, your users can simply log into the system and initiate the order. !i Since the applicant's information is captured electronically by using the E-invite, the information is already pre - populated into the system. The user simply selects the applicant's record and initiates the order. This eliminates the need for users to perform data entry or attempt to decipher poor penmanship. If you chose to utilize our E-invite consent form, the entire process can be paperless. If manually collected, your users enter the information from the applicants completed consent form into Sterling's online ordering system and submit the order. If your staff chooses to be notified once the online forms are complete, they will receive an e-mail with a link to the background check order submission process. Through the screening interface, your personnel select predefined or a la carte screening profiles (depending on your specifications). IProcedures N Criminal Conviction Searches To provide the most accurate criminal background information available, Sterling Infosystems relies only on primary information sources when conducting searches at the county state and federal levels. We directly access county, state, federal, and national electronic record repositories where available. Where such sources are not available, we employ hundreds of researchers located across the United States who will personally access records on site at the applicable repository. 0 Sterling's CourtDirectSM is our state-of-the-art proprietary technology platform which electronically accesses primary source records from hundreds of Federal, state and local courts on a real-time basis. Today, most courthouse data for background screening is retrieved by individuals, physically going to courthouses. With its breakthrough platform, Sterling has successfully digitized and integrated primary source data from more than hundreds of U.S. court jurisdictions. By eliminating human intervention from the process, and creating direct pipelines of information from nationwide courthouses to Sterling, CourtDirect allows Sterling to offer: City of Collins ���-t._%� 27 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES 1 Prepared by Sterling Infosysterns, Inc. STERLING N More accurate background checks N Ability to search more jurisdictions with less effort and time H Total integration of all levels of federal, state and local data H Turnaround times 50% faster than the rest of the industry Criminal conviction records will contain the following information: 1. Applicant's Name 2. County of Conviction 3. Docket Number 4. Indictment Number 5. Arrest Date 6. 7. Reason for Arrest Disposition Date 8. Disposition Ili* Verifications Defined number Rate of calls over a Place Order Via specific period of and Deliver Screening Direct time per your Quality Check Results specifications by / country. File contact app6cantfor Additional nformat-or Top 5 Reasons for Al File is Sent tq Al Team Results updated in real time 1 EmplotimentDetads Onetion 3 u 3 Education Detaulz Al team contacts via Screening Direct a Per mission to contact current employer 5 Applecantdetads APPLcant or Recruiter 12%of all verificat,ons require a wet signature Dams obtained yra Areouest£or Additional mformabon is made enrad or phone call 3 11% of the bme Obt.neo Data.-, ;ere tofulhRment H Reference Verification/Education Verification: As with Criminal Conviction Searches, our network of researchers access requests on our website using unique user IDS and Passwords. As information is gathered, it is input into the system, where department staff or managers proofread the information prior to final distribution to the client. of Fort Collins 28 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES 1 Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. I bSTERLING David Carey Procurement Manager City of Fort Collins 215 North Mason Street, 2"d Floor Fort Collins, CO 80524 Dear David: I am extreme) leased to enclose Sterling Infos stems' response to The City of Fort Collins request for Background extremely g Y p Y q g ' Checks (RFP 7413). We greatly appreciate being given this opportunity to continue our relationship with the City and potentially expand on our partnership to the Utilities Department. We value the relationship we have had with the City and feel that we have a strong knowledge of your processes, requirements and expectations. We are completely ' confident in our ability to continue to meet or exceed your expectations for accuracy, timeliness, service, flexibility and overall value. ' As you are aware, Tandem Select was purchased by Sterling Infosystems last year and have settled into the synergies of the two companies. We now have the high touch relationships that Tandem was known for powered with Sterling's powerful fulfillment engine, product development, compliance focus and overall resources. We call this "Tandem with a Hemi". ' Should The City select Sterling, our implementation team will meet with the City's HR department and Utility staff to agree upon implementation steps, responsibilities and milestones. The City will continue to have a dedicated Business Relationship Manager and Client Services Executive who will serve as your main link and point -person for addressing both strategic and day-to-day questions or other needs after initial set-up. Thank you again for your interest in Sterling and for your consideration of our proposal. We would be honored to continue to partner with the City of Fort Collins. I Best Regards, Korinne Fancher Account Manager kfancherCc@sterlinginfosystems.com ' 970-491-9655 ext. 2223 Katie Zwetzig Vice President kzwetzig@sterlinginfosystems.com 970-491-9655 ext. 2337 ' ,,C,, r of Port rtCollins 2 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES ' Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. bSTERLING 1 U 1 � I 7 ►► Motor Vehicle Reports: Requests are processed through the Department of Motor Vehicles of the corresponding states. Sterling's in-house Quality Control department reviews results for accuracy and completeness. Availability Standard Customer Service hours are 7 am to 6 pm, but we are available 24 hours a day, 5 days a week. In addition, Sterling's International Help Desk consists of a team of Client Service Representatives available to support our international clients across multiple time zones. Our extended service hours are also available for any applicant calls. The Screening Direct System is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Quality Assurance In order to provide reliable background -screening services, we ensure accuracy by relying on primary information sources wherever possible. Consequently, we employ hundreds of researchers internationally and in virtually every region of the United States to directly investigate employer, court, and other records rather than relying on third - party databases. We also have direct access to national and statewide databases where available. Because of our large and diverse customer base, we have the extensive experience, specialized knowledge, and precisely honed skills required to perform background checks in other countries, including major developing countries like India. Screening Direct automatically sends reference and criminal search instructions to our researchers immediately after a user submits the order request. This research is conducted directly with the applicable records repository. We constantly focus on processes and methods ensure speed and accuracy, performing all services in accordance with written Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS) that are based on our continuous improvement initiatives. Sterling's ISO 9001:2008 certification and strict adherence to Lean Six Sigma business practices inform our operating procedures, which include the following to ensure the integrity of investigation reports: N Social Security Trace / Consumer Credit Reports: Information is automatically gathered from all the major credit bureaus and reviewed by Sterling' in-house Quality Control department. We have initiated a process with multiple databases to better ensure the integrity and breadth of Social Security and address information. ►► Criminal Conviction Searches: Sterling's network of researchers access our secure website via unique user ID and Password, obtaining requests assigned by location. As they gather information, our researchers input data into the system and Screening Direct displays real time updates. If a criminal conviction records search yields a conviction, arrest, or other "non -clear" result, our system diverts the report to our Criminal Records department for review. N Nationwide Criminal Database Search: If a Nationwide Criminal Database Search yields a possible match, Sterling will contact the appropriate individual from your company to recommend performing an additional search at the applicable county or state level to verify the match. ►► Confirmation of Criminal Records: All criminal conviction "hits" are verified prior to release of the final report regardless of the method utilized to conduct the search (i.e. field research or direct data transfer from court repositories or police records). Our protocol to verify the accuracy of the search involves establishing that the applicant's name, birth date, and other key identifiers match court records precisely and to confirm that charges and case numbers correspond. Sterling does not release conviction information until we confirm all details with the court. N External Researcher Audits: All criminal court researchers are audited on a weekly basis. Each researcher is assigned a name that Sterling has previously investigated that was originally found to have a criminal conviction record. We closely scrutinize both the accuracy of information returned and the speed of delivery. Failed tests result in immediate dismissal. FCity of � ins 29 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. �I pSTERLING t Sterling's criminal history reports are very easy -to -read and will help you to reach the right hiring decision. The criminal history report will show your team when to consider a candidate, when there is a potential disqualifying piece of information by marking the search red. If nothing comes back in a search that could be used to potentially disqualify a candidate the search will be deemed clear and will be marked green. Please see the sample report below: *.COMPLETE REPORT CONSIDER "' CONFIDENTIAL BACKGROUND SCREENING REPORT "" C09/+OlHIT pHi1FBn STATUS RESULT Consider + t ".arse REPORT -.t'.ame SAMPLE I �- Marie ONE XXX-XX-886S _,CE O'VXX �-cnde, Female . - on MD -SAINT MARYS (1212) 0000031990 SAINT MARY'S COUNTY DISTRICT COURT Name, DOB REPORT SAMPLE ONE s-vxx 1113:2005 Felony ASSAULT -SEC DEGREE 3;2:2006 Guilty (conviction) JAIL (CONCURRENT SENTENCE): 60 DAYS SUSPENDED DURATION: 60 DAYS COSTS: $22.5 SUSPENDED FINE: $22.5 Sterling provides reports via email, during account reviews, or through our user interface where users may download reports in excel or pdf formats. Sterling offers several reporting options for The City of Fort Collins users: City of Fort Collins z:- 30 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. I W S T E R L I N G 1. Reports Tab: The Reports Tab in Sterling's user interface allows authorized The City of Fort Collins users access to our standard reports and our Ad Hoc Reporting Tool. Our standard management reports include: ►► Executive Summary Report: Consolidated view of account activity for a selected time period including turnaround time, criminal record search and drug test details, year over year comparisons for products and expense. ►► Criminal Hit Report: List of criminal hits for a selected time period. ►► Risk Scores Report: Detail and summary view of background screens completed within a selected time period containing risk score (order result) and risk score comments (adjudication criteria). N Turnaround Time (TAT) Summary Report: Product -level turnaround report (grouped by account) containing searches completed within a selected time period. IH Overall Performance Summary Report: Turnaround time analysis that compares results across several different time periods and service categories (i.e., criminal history, verifications). Background check details and a breakdown of services within a background check are easily accessible by selecting the value in the "Qty" column in the main report. *Invoice Reconciliation Report: Order -level billing information for selected time period and grouped by account. *Open Searches Report with Status Notes: Status of open searches (grouped by account) for a selected time period. 2. Ad Hoc Tool: Ad Hoc Reporting allows the user to build his/her own reports from one of seven different data sets. When stepping through the Ad Hoc Report creation process, the user will select a data set, create report parameters, select specific columns, group and order data, and finally format the report to his/her specifications. The user can save the report under "My Reports" and share reports with co-workers in the same organization. Additional features that can be added to any report include a variety of graphs and export options. 3. Customized Reports: To save The City of Fort Collins personnel the time it takes to create Ad Hoc reports, Sterling IT is happy to offer customized reports based on The City of Fort Collins specifications that authorized The City of Fort Collins users may run on -demand. For example, we can create an expense report that calculates total background screening cost per The City of Fort Collins location/user/region, etc. The City of Fort Collins users could have the ability to choose the parameters and a date range and our system can retrieve the data. These reports are created free of charge. 4. Scheduled Reports: Sterling has the ability to automate regularly scheduled reports tailored to The City of Fort Collins specifications. Scheduled reports are also free of charge. The following reports can be run as often as desired: ►► Criminal Hit Report: List of criminal hits for a selected time period. ►► Risk Scores Report: Detail and summary view of background screens completed within a selected time period containing risk score (order result) and risk score comments (adjudication criteria). ►► Invoice Reconciliation Report: Order -level billing information for selected time period and grouped by account. ►► Open Searches Report with Status Notes: Status of open searches (grouped by account) for a selected time period. ►► Billing: Detailed billing with multiple grouping options. Sterling provides notifications of search progress, delays, and report completion. Reports can be viewed 24/7 by authorized Screening Direct users. City of ForCollins `- t`!"1 31 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared by Sterling Infosysterns, Inc. pSTERLING t Compliance with the FCRA Sterling is committed to "hands on" involvement for meeting and exceeding our clients' legal compliance requirements. Sterling regularly provides best prat a advice to HR, Risk Management, and Internal Security Directors and Managers where we identify, customize, and recommend Pre -Employment Screening protocols that best serve and protect our clients, rather than simply providing a fulfillment service. Sterling's strategic alliance with nationwide labor law firm Jackson Lewis LLP ensures that we stay informed of any issues or changes to employment laws. Jackson Lewis is on legal retainer to provide council regarding administrative and operational support. Additionally, Jackson Lewis provides a risk management helpline relating to labor employment topics to clients via our transactional website, www.sterlinginfosystems.com. We continuously improve our processes and hiring products to help ensure compliance with Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT Act), Driver's Privacy and Protection Act (DPPA), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), American's with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, and other federal, state, and international laws, rules, and regulations. Before we submit completed Screening Reports to Sterling clients, our highly trained Quality Control department thoroughly reviews all results and excludes any information that does not comply with international, state, local, or federal regulations before the report is finalized. Sterling clients have the assurance that all data on completed reports is actionable and may be legally considered in the hiring decision. Compliance vvft �,a' d fc cic_r ,1' y ,'L.11atDoins Sterling is in a uniquely strong position to understand and stay current with changing pre -employment legislation at local, state, and federal levels due to the legal and industryxp eertise of our executive team. Sterling's CEO, William Greenblatt, is an attorney himself and works closely with our Vice President of Compliance to stay ahead of the legislative regulatory curve. We are extremely active in the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS), discussing and influencing the most important employee screening issues today, ensuring that THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS benefits from a screening partner that is not only informed but significantly involved in the newest regulatory debates and laws surrounding pre -employment screening. Our strategic partnership with Jackson -Lewis LLP, a nationally recognized law firm that specializes in employment law and HR legal matters, further enhances our already robust compliance resources. Outside of the United States, Sterling has direct legal representation to ensure compliance with international employment screening law. Sterling clients have 24/7 access to the Jackson Lewis LLP employment hotline, where they can submit legal questions and receive a response from one of Jackson Lewis, LLP's expert attorneys within 24 hours. This is a no -charge service for any Sterling client. Additionally, Sterling periodically hosts HR-specific educational seminars with Jackson Lewis, which act as information sessions that keep you abreast of legal changes and their effects on the administration of your background screening program. The seminars are available via webcast on the Sterling website for up to a year after they are presented. Seminar participants are eligible for HCRI credits towards maintaining PHR/SPHR designations. We also keep our clients updated via email notifications, monthly newsletters, monthly compliance reports for DOT clients, press releases, quarterly reviews, and announcements on our ScreeningDirect dashboard that users can easily view when they log into our system. City of rfns � 32 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. I W S T E R L I N G Sterling has extensive experience providing background screening and drug testing services to municipalities and public agencies, with over 60 state and local government organizations as our current clients, several of which are in Colorado, such as the City of Louisville, the City of Pueblo, and the town of Mountain Village. Below are a couple companies that you can contact that are similar in industry or in scope of services to the city of Fort Collins: Town of Parker Customer Since 2008 Town of Parker utilizes Sterling's electronic invite process which allows users to email candidates the electronic release. Orders are drafted from the electronic release eliminated manual data entry by the HR team. The parent child account relationship Sterling offers makes it easy for the Town of Parker to keep their employee, volunteer, and police department orders separated for hiring and billing purposes. Kristin Kolstedt — Human Resources Analyst P (303) 805 3110 South Suburban Parks and Recreation Customer Since 2008 With 1300 employees and 700 volunteers, South Suburban is the largest recreation district in Colorado. Tandem manages both their employee and volunteer onboarding process. Products include criminal history checks, National Criminal Scan, Sex Offender Registries and SkillSurvey, Tandem's online web -based reference system. Lisa Hoy-HR Administrator P (303) 483 7007 of �� t Cottins 33 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. I W S T E R L I N G Feel free to contact the following references: Poudre School District Customer since 2003 Poudre School District has over 24,000 students and 14,000 volunteers across 58 schools. Sterling manages the volunteer screening program through an HRIS integration (Relatrix) as well as screening for classified and certified employees. Utilizing Sterling's managed adjudication services, PSD's volunteer manager receives a red or green candidate ranking while the HR Department receives yellow -ranked candidates, whose lights they can change. Cyndi Gile, Partnership Center Manager Jamie Engle-HR Manager P (970) 490 3207 1 2407 LaPorte Avenue I Fort Collins, CO 80521-2297 Sheetz, Inc Customer since 2006 Sheetz is a family owned business which started in 1952. With nearly 400 convenience and gas stores across the east coast, Sheetz employs over 10,000 individuals across seven states. Revenue exceeds $3.6 billion. Cindy Drass, HR Manager P (814) 9415282 15700 Sixth Avenue I Altoona, PA 16602 Customer since 2007 The Children's Hospital is ranked one of the Top 10 Hospitals for kids and teens. Their forward thinking attitude of the integration of a strong on -boarding process into their business results makes them a perfect partner for Sterling. Sterling has been screening their volunteers through our applicant portal as well as screening employees and managing the compliance program as it relates to heath care hiring. Randy Williams -Director of HR P (720) 777-6276 1 13123 East 16" Avenue I Aurora, CO 80045 St. Luke's Regional Medical Center Customer since 1998 St. Luke's is a regional medical center with over 4500 employees which serves the entire state of Idaho, eastern Oregon and northern Nevada. Sterling partners with St. Luke's to run both its volunteer and employee screening program. Charlie Norris P (208) 381-2468 1 East Bannock I Boise, Idaho 83172 Cydcor Customer Since 2009 Cydcor is a leading provider of outsourced face -to face sales teams having relationships with major Fortune 100 and 500 companies. They currently have 250 independently owned sales offices throughout the United States which employees over 3,000 sales representatives. Products include criminal history checks, National Criminal Scan, Sex Offender Registries, Employment Verifications, Education Verifications, and drug testing. Joel Daniels — Manager, Compliance and Sales Quality P (805) 277 5520 13011 Townsgate Road I Westlake Village, CA 91361 City of Fort Collins 34 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. pSTERLING Lawsuits 1. Richard Dean Smith v. Sterling Infosystems, Inc., Case No. #:11-cv-438, United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, September 8, 2011. Sterling conducted a background check for UDR, Inc. on 1/14/11. Sterling reported multiple records on the applicant. The client emailed Sterling to send a pre -adverse action letter. Smith disputed the results on 1/27/11. Sterling re -investigated and cleared the disputed records. The complaint was issued on 9/8/11 and Smith is claiming that there was a violation of the FCRA regarding the failure to employ and follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy, defamation and negligence. Negotiations are ongoing. Trial has been set for September 2012. 2. Floyd Banks v. Sterling Infosystems, Inc., Civil Action No. 11-CIV 5948, United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, August 24, 2011. Sterling conducted a background check for White Glove Community Care on 8/26/09. The applicant claims to have sent a letter to Sterling to dispute the case. Sterling received a letter from an attorney on 12/8/10 disputing the criminal records that were reported. Sterling re -investigated and cleared the records on 12/29/10. The corrected report was sent to the applicant and the client. On 6/28/11, Sterling received another letter from the attorney. The demand is $30,000. Based on the claim that Sterling failed to maintain reasonable procedures to ensure maximum possible accuracy and failed to maintain strict procedures to ensure the public record information it reported was complete and up to date. Claimant has asked for an extension. Sterling is waiting for a response from the judge. Michael David Brook v. Sterling Infosystems, Inc. — State of Tennessee Davidson County 20th Judicial District, Civil Action Docket No. 11 C4554 (November 2011). Sterling reported criminal records on the applicant to Gaylord Entertainment where the applicant was employed. The applicant was terminated on 11/17/2010. Our understanding is that Brook is employed by Gaylord at this time. The applicant is suing for negligence, libel, damages, etc. No monetary demand has been made as of 1/5/12. Sterling responded to the interrogatories and requests for documents. The case is ongoing. 4. Jose Sanchez v. Sterling Infosystems, Inc., Class Action CA 12-157L, United States District Court, District of Rhode Island, March 6, 2012 Sterling conducted a background check for SBM on July 28, 2010. There are three counts: 1. Fail to notify the individuals contemporaneously and fail to maintain strict and reasonable procedures; 2. Consent and disclosure — procured report without providing a clear and conspicuous disclosure in writing in a document that consists solely If the disclosure that a report may be obtained for employment purposes; 3. Maximum possible accuracy. The record reported included a first and last name match and year of birth match. The case is ongoing. of FO�t`l �S 35 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. I W S T E R L I N G 5. Leonard Smith v. Sterling Infosystems, Inc., Class Action, Case Number 1:12-CV-534, United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio Eastern Division, March 6, 2012 Sterling conducted a background check for New England Motor Freight on October 19, 2011. There are 4 counts: 1. Fail to notify contemporaneously; 2. Fail to maintain strict procedures to ensure that the information is complete and up-to-date; 3. Fail to ensure maximum possible accuracy; 4. Fail to comply with the FCRA. Sterling reported a record in the Enhanced Nationwide search and verified that record with a primary source search in Franklin, Ohio. The first, middle and last name matched and the day, month and year matched. The applicant did not dispute the record. The case is ongoing. 6. Christopher J. Gerber v. Abso. Abso conducted a background check for Document Technologies, LLC on August 26, 2010. Abso reported that Mr. Gerber was convicted of four crimes. On September 1, 2010, a pre -adverse action letter was mailed to the applicant. On September 8, 2010 an adverse action letter was sent to the applicant. The applicant did not dispute the record with Abso. After re -investigating, it was determined that there was a data entry error. The demand is $132,000. The case is ongoing. 7. Jose Leopoldo Rubio -Delgado v. American Background Information Services, Inc. ABI conducted a background check for Allegis on February 27, 2012. ABI reported that Mr. Rubio -Delgado had a misdemeanor conviction in Alameda, California from 9/8/06. The applicant disputed the result on March 12, 2012 and claimed the case was dismissed. The Clerk of Courts for the Superior Court of Alameda County confirmed the case was dismissed. The demand is $336,748.50. The case is ongoing. 8. Mohamed Ibrahim Abdi v. American Background Information Services, Inc., Case #1252626, King County District Court, Washington, June 6, 2012. ABI conducted a background check for Allegis. ABI reported a criminal record in Dunn, Wisconsin. Adverse action was conducted. Applicant claimed that they record was his. Abdi claims the ABI did not conduct a re- investigation. The case is ongoing. 9. Bridget Robinson v. AISS AISS conducted a background check for Care.com in December 2011. A nationwide criminal database search was completed and a record was reported. Robinson claimed that the record was expunged and provided paperwork to this affect. Robinson opened the dispute on January 3, 2012. AISS re -investigated and removed the record and revised the report. Claimant's attorney is demanding $75K. City of / %�`36 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. STERLING Certificate of Liability Insurance STERL-6 OP ID- RC �acvRn CERTIFICATE OF LIABILITY INSURANCE ' yt` 21OW11� �- , uo9r1, THIS CERTIFICATE IS ISSUED AS A MATTER OF INFORMATION ONLY AND CONFERS NO RIGHTS UPON THE CERTIFICATE HOLDER. THIS CERTIFICATE DOES NOT AFFIRMATIVELY OR NEGATIVELY AMEND, EXTEND OR ALTER THE COVERAGE AFFORDED BY THE POLICIES BELOW. THIS CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE ISSUING INSURERIS), AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OR PRODUCER. AND THE CERTIFICATE HOLDER. IMPORTANT: lithe cortlfccate holder Is an ADDITIONAL INSURED, the pokcy(ms) must bee Smsed If SUBROGATION IS WAIVED, object to the terms and conrjimons of the policy, canon poLctes nmy require an erdorsemertt A stalernont on this certf8eate does not confer ngtes to the cartlficale holder In "Ll of such a+tdasatnard(s). Aeoo�ct■ 516-576-0400 'COW The 88G Coup, 55Writ 516-6761177 55 Anms Coupurt . . Sties i0C Mdnvtwr. NY 1580.1 .�... K*Atmq AFFORM4 CONlmc _ MIK 1 _ mstmA: Chubb Insurance Group F•JLiLD----$fefifny n. os ems nc ttswRa. SterOng Testing Systems _— t 249 West I?m St 6th Floor "U11111111 C. — New York, NY 10011 01940111910 Ylutolr — - YIIYYGe- THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT THE POLICIES OF INSURANCE UST ED 8ELOW HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO THE NSUR EO NAMED ABOVE FOR THE POLICY PER!OD INDICATED NOTWTHSTANOMG ANY REQUIREMENT. TERM OR CONDITION OF ANY CONTRACT OR OTHER DOLUMENT WIN RESPECT TO NNKH THIS CERTIFICATE MAY BE ISSUED OR MAY PERTAIN. 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HOME HALL BE t161NERED IN Evidence of Insurance ACCORDANCE MT/ THE POLICY ►ROVIWONS. Evidence of insurance A L:n.atetcc wvRcsc.�A rva ® 1988.2D1C ACORO COR)VRA nvre. An nQMS reswV'e0. ACORD 25 (2011105) The ACORO ram* and logo are registered marks of ACORD City of `._ Fort CollinS REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. 37 I W S T E R L I N G Sterling Infosystems, Inc. 113 S. College Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80524 To Whom It May Concern: This letter is to confirm receipt of Addendum No. 1 for RFP 7413. It is acknowledged that Sterling Infosystems received the Exhibit Questions and Answers addendum on August 30`h, 2012. � I Korinne Fancher Account Manager kfancher(@sterlinginfosystems.com 970-491-9655 ext. 2223 1 1 City of �tf 38 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. ' pSTERLING 1 Sterling Infosystems, Inc. Address: ' 113 S. College Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80524 Telephone: (970) 491-9655 Toll Free: (800) 350-7941 Facsimile: (800) 355-7941 Website: www.sterlinginfosystems.com Primary Contacts: Account Management: ' Korinne Fancher (970) 491-9655 x 2223 kfancher@sterlinginfosystems.com Service: Stephanie Purdy ' Client Services Executive (888) 889-5248 x 7420 sspurdy@sterlinginfosystems.com ' F�t� 3 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. y EXHIBIT B FEESCHEDULE Page 1 of 2 For Prospective Emolovees. Contractors. or Volunteers Service Name Fee ► Social Security Number Validation $0.90 ► Name and Address Trace $2.90 ► Criminal History Check County Court Criminal Record Checks Searches $8.90* Colorado Multiple County Criminal Record Checks $7.90 Statewide Criminal Record Checks $9.90* Federal Court Record Checks $9.90* International Criminal Searches Varies ► National Criminal Offender Scan $11.90* ► Motor Vehicle Driving Record $2.50* ► Standard Employment and Department of $9.00* Transportation (DOT) Employment Verification (per former employer) ► Sex Offender Registry Check $3.00 Wants and Warrants $9.90* ► IntegraCheckTM ► I-9 Verification ► Applican ► Education Confirmation ► Credit Report ► Military Service Verification ► Workers' Compensation Claim History ► Health and Human Services Report ► Patriot Act Scan (Terrorist Watch List) SA 09/01 /06 8 $6.90 $6.90 Subscription Price Varies $7.90* $8.90 $7.90* $5.90* $5.90 $5.90 EXHIBIT B FEE SCHEDULE Page 2 of 2 Service Name ► Data Entry Services ► Credential and Professional License Verification ► Personal Reference Check ► Personal Reference Check ► Substance Abuse Testing ► Adverse Action Notification Fee $2.90 per candidate $7.90* per license $7.90 per reference $7.90 per reference Fee Varies $6.90 * Indicates that third party fees (state, county, agency, institution, employment verification lines etc.) may be passed through to the City. APPLIES TO "A LA CARTE" ORDERS ONLY. PACKAGE PRICING IS INCLUSIVE OF ALL FEES. • Each additional County Court Criminal History Check $8.90 will be ordered "a la carte". (plus county court fees) • Each additional Colorado Multiple County Court Record Check will be ordered "a la carte" $7.90 Inclusive (No third party fees for Colorado Multiple County Court Checks Bundled, Flat -Rate, All -Inclusive Packages Fee Basic Package $6.80 Standard Volunteer Package $11.80 Inclusive Standard Employment Package $23.66 Inclusive Revised Basic Package $17.80 Inclusive Set Up Fees • There is a one-time $50.00 set-up fee for a standard account. • For Credit Report Access, there is an additional $75.00 set-up fee. 90 Day Review Package pricing is based on an average of 1.6 County Court Record Checks per person. After 90 days of use, Service Provider will work with the City to review actual usage and establish a revised flat rate package price based on the actual number of County Court Record checks ordered. SA 09/01 /06 9 I pSTERLING ' Tandem Select was recently purchased by Sterling Infosystems, one of the largest and most respected background screening companies in America. Sterling was interested in Tandem's client -focused attitudes, cutting -edge solutions, and partnership strategies. We empower companies to make knowledgeable staffing decisions by delivering timely, accurate and cost-effective screening solutions to ensure our clients employ the best candidates. ' Qualifications ' Each firm who proposes must meet the following qualifications: The firm must have the demonstrated authorization to perform all specified services. The proposal must identify and describe the legal representation, advice, licenses, and other authorizations the firm has received to perform this type of work. The proposal must list individually any lawsuits or related claims that have been filed against the company in the last five years related to performing these services. The proposal must describe how the company stays current ' with changing local, state, and federal laws and regulations related to these services, and how the company insures compliance. Sterling is fully authorized to perform the type of work described in this RFP. Sterling has established a strategic alliance with nationwide labor law -firm Jackson Lewis LLP, ensuring we will always informed of any issues or changes to employment laws. Jackson Lewis is on a legal retainer to provide council in regarding administrative and operational support. Additionally, Jackson Lewis provides a risk management helpline relating to labor employment topics to clients via our transactional website, www.sterlinginfosystems.com. To assist with regulatory compliance with the FCRA, Sterling offers the following via our partnership with Jackson Lewis, LLP: ►► Online Risk Management Helpline - Permission -based online access for FIU users providing 24/7 access to submit questions / scenarios; inquiries are returned at no charge within 24 hours. ►► Updated Compliance Library ►► Adverse Action Templates ►► Consumer Notice Templates N Consent & Disclosure (available in a number of languages) ►► State Specific FCRA Documents and Summary or Rights ►► Review Client Documents to ensure FCRA Compliance ►► Advise of Statutory Changes / Case Law In addition, Sterling has a Compliance Department headed by our own employee. Joseph Rotondo, Vice President, Regulatory Compliance directs policy, training and corporate regulatory reporting. With the company since 1978, he City of Fort Collins 4 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. I bSTERLING assures Sterling's operations comply with all federal, state and local statutes. He gained a BS in psychology from Fordham University and a MS in criminal justice from C.W. Post College. We have licenses in New York, New Jersey, Nevada, Florida, Tennessee and Texas. Sterling also has the following certifications relevant to background screening: ►► NAPBS — National Association of Professional Background Screeners (member in good standing since 2005) ►► SHRM — Society for Human Resources Management ►► DATIA — Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association ►► SAPAA — Substance Abuse Program Administrators Association ►► SAFE HARBOR Certification ►► ISO Certification ►► HR-XML — Human Resources — eXtensible Markup Language Sterling's involvement in a variety of industry organizations is of great importance to our company. The time and energy invested provides industry updates including state law considerations and a variety of other compliance issues. In addition, we believe it is important to "give back" to these industry organizations in order to help promote the professionalism that we strive for. Please refer to the section labeled "Regulatory Compliance and Updates" for more information. Sterling's track record regarding lawsuits and applicant disputes has been minimal over our 37-year existence. As a company that provides services to thousands of corporations resulting in millions of searches a year, no legal matter has ever had a material impact on our business. No legal actions involving our company will negatively affect our ability to provide the services described in this RFP. Please see Appendix A for a complete list of our lawsuits within the past 5 years. The firm must have the necessary systems, software, support and procedures to provide the services required. The City prefers strongly that these services be provided through an on-line computer process (including, for example, electronic access to reports) with guaranteed security and confidentiality. The firm must identify the specific technology and processes used, and describe how that sets the firm apart from others in this field, including any special report capabilities. The proposal must also list all information databases that are available to the firm. The firm must have a web service API that both Fort Collins Utilities and Human Resources can integrate with. Sterling possesses the necessary systems, software, support, and procedures to provide the services required. Please reference the section titled "Systems, Procedures, and Availability" for more information. The firm must be fully bonded and Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) certified, including each appropriate employee and subcontractor. In addition, the firm must have Professional Liability Insurance that meets or exceeds the requirements of the City. Sterling is fully compliant with all the requirements listed above. Please see Appendix A for a copy of our Certificate of Liability Insurance. FoCiity of `_ REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. bSTERLING � I Company History ' History & Management Philosophy Sterling Infosystems is one of the largest and fastest growing pre -employment screening and testing companies in the United States. We are also one of the most experienced. Started in 1975, we now serve over 16,000 clients and perform over 11 million background checks and drug tests yearly. Our customer retention rate is over 97%. We attribute our growth and success to many factors. Notably, Sterling combines "high tech" with "high touch." We are committed to hiring and retaining outstanding talent, have a highly dedicated management team, focus intensely on delivering superlative customer service and are passionate about developing and using technology that makes using our services easy, fast, safe and convenient. We also invest significantly in adding value beyond doing the basics of our business extremely well. Providing consultation to our clients and sharing "best practices" is a critical part of what we do and enjoy about our business. Both our management and staff spend an enormous amount of time listening to and understanding our clients' screening goals and objectives. In turn, our clients benefit from the advice we offer on how to improve their organization's recruiting processes. To support these efforts, we also created a Client Advisory Board, which meets quarterly to address topics such as product development and enhancement, hiring practice issues, and the role of technology in human resources. We also recognize our client's pressing needs for credible, authoritative information about compliance and related matters. As a result, we provide a free Risk Management Help Line as part of our website. It gives our clients direct access to advice from one of the nation's preeminent employment law firms, Jackson Lewis LLP. Using the helpline, authorized company associates will be able to submit employment law and related questions to Jackson Lewis. They'll get answers from a Jackson Lewis attorney within 24 hours —at no additional charge to your company! In addition to offering a complete array of background screening and drug testing services, Sterling also offers many other services. These include online employment applications, skills and aptitude testing. Experience Founded in 1975 to test, monitor and verify employee integrity using polygraphs as well as in-store and other investigative techniques, Sterling Infosystems is one of the country's oldest and most experienced employment - screening firms. By building a diverse set of services and flexible operating and data management systems, we are able ' to customize pre -employment screening programs to fit the precise needs of virtually any company. Our client base includes some of the most well-known companies in the country, such as Bed Bath & Beyond, Chrysler, DirecTV, Dish Network, The Walt Disney Company, WalMart, Echostar, Fiserv, Laboratory Corporation of America (LabCorp), L'Oreal, MasterCard International, The McGraw Hill Companies, Inc., Nordstrom, Select Medical, Staples and TD Bank. Our experience and diverse customer base has also enabled us to be excellent partners with our clients. The organizations most attracted to us, we find, are those that want outstanding, highly responsive client service, reliable accuracy and the fastest possible turnaround times. But they are also the most eager to take advantage of our web -based technology, our electronic data entry options, and our flexible approach to setting up user access and reporting and to integrating data and reports for multi -division and multi -location companies. ' City ♦of Fort Collins 6 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES ' Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. pSTERLING We are extremely eager to demonstrate to The City of Fort Collins the overall value that we provide. We are confident that Sterling possesses the experience, depth of service, technology, and flexibility necessary to not only meet The City of Fort Collins' expectations, but exceed them. Our company is built on a culture of passion and a hands-on customer approach, and we look forward to sharing this with The City of Fort Collins as we continue to build our partnerships. Key Personnel Sterling offers support for every level in your organization, with the Account Manager as the main point of contact for The City of ' Fort Collins' senior management and the Client Service Executive as the main point of contact for The City of Fort Collins users. The City of Fort Collins executives will have direct cell phone numbers for Sterling's executive leadership, ensuring close relationships and responsiveness at all levels of your organization. Account Manager Korinne Fancher will continue to be the Account Manager for the City of Fort Collins. Her responsibilities include: N Designated Point of Contact for The City of Fort Collins' senior management and program administrators N Acts as Liaison between The City of Fort Collins and Sterling's operational teams H Provides regular updates to Sterling Executive Council on The City of Fort Collins needs, satisfaction, and overall partnership H Provides consultative guidance and best practices for your industry N Point of contact for account related strategic initiatives N Point of contact for statistical reporting N Introduces new products and services H Responsible for cross -functional escalations H Provides quarterly Account Reviews to The City of Fort Collins senior management ►► A Service Manager supports the Account Manager. The Service Manager is responsible for handling escalated tactical inquiries, maintaining account metrics on a weekly and monthly basis, and managing the Client Service Executive team. Korinne joined Tandem Select over five years ago and has played a key role in our Client Services organization. Her knowledge of the industry's products and services, as well as the City's needs and expectations, allow her to support the City. Client Service Executive Stephanie Purdy will continue to be the Client Services Executive for the City of Fort Collins ►► Point of Contact for all The City of Fort Collins users and applicants N Responsible for day-to-day customer service requests (e.g. order -related issues, adding/deleting users, general inquires about results, etc.) ►► CSEs answer calls within seconds and strive for first call resolution each and every time. Should an issue arise that requires escalation, the CSE works with the Service Manager and Account Manager to develop service enhancements as needed. ►► Analyzes weekly activity and reports any themes/recurrences to Account Management N Addresses billing questions N Facilitates on -going training sessions on Screening Direct ' City of 1 � FOft`Collins 7 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. WSTERLING Stephanie has held various positions within Tandem. She started in our verifications department before moving to our Criminal History department. Prior to joining the Client Services organization, Stephanie led the Drug Screening organization for Tandem. Executive Sponsor Katie Zwetzig will continue to be the Executive level sponsor for the City of Fort Collins. As the previous owner of Tandem, Katie helped develop Tandem's reputation as an exceptional client -focused organization. Under Sterling, Katie will continue to work in a client facing role to insure expectations are met. Our Account Management and Client Service Representatives have been carefully selected for their skills, education, and experience. All must have at least 3 years of experience in the industry, must have completed four years of college, and be proficient in computer skills. Each team member undergoes extensive training in all the services offered by Sterling. The typical period of training lasts several weeks with follow-up training occurring periodically thereafter for all representatives. Among other topics, this training covers FCRA rules and regulations, Screening Direct and training others to use Screening Direct, telephone etiquette, client troubleshooting, billing, and interpreting reports for all services including criminal background checks and credit reports. While The City of Fort Collins will enjoy support from your dedicated local Account Manager and CSE, you will have the advantage of support from Sterling's coast -to -coast United States offices and our robust international presence. In the event of an after-hours emergency, The City of Fort Collins' unique client extension will automatically route to an after-hours client services team to address any questions or requests. While most of Sterling's clients are outside of Northern Colorado, we love the community in which we Live. Most of our employees volunteer in local area non -profits, logging in hundreds of hours each year in community service. Our "Fun" committee regularly plans volunteer efforts for our employees, ranging from maintenance, to working with kids, to providing basic needs to our less fortunate community members. Each month, Sterling sponsors, publicizes and donates to a given charity. Our local Donations Committee donates thousands of dollars to local non -profits. Last year we rolled out our own giving arm, SterlingKind, which provides grants and support to non -profits across the country. We would be pleased to partner with Project Sunshine on some of these endeavors. City of �.FortCollins f� REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 7413: BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES Prepared by Sterling Infosystems, Inc. 8