The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation seeks Proposals from qualified organizations, to provide online computer-based pesticides certification exams in New York State. The selected Contractor will provide online pesticide certification exams, developed by DEC, for individuals seeking commercial or private pesticide certifications and re-certification.

The Contractor selected through this RFP will provide online certification exams and associated support services as described below. The Contractor will work with DEC to ensure their online exams meet all DEC certification exam requirements of 6 NYCRR 325.11. DEC will provide the exam questions and answers to the Contractor. Offering online testing exams will help New York State provide reliable and convenient locations and mechanisms for individuals to become certified pesticide applicators and technicians and enable them to help businesses, residents, institutions, municipalities, and growers effectively and properly manage pests while protecting structures, agriculture, ornamentals, turf, forests, animals, surface waters, commodities, human health and the environment. DEC expects that the convenience, availability, security, and timeliness of online exams will improve the certification exam experience for most individuals seeking to take the exams, whether in heavily urban or environmental justice communities or very rural communities. Over time it will foster the growth of online exams taken either at home or in an office.

Exam services to include, but are not limited to, exam registration, scheduling, scoring, uploading results of online and paper-based exams, technical assistance about the online exam registration and scheduling to individuals seeking to take an online pesticide certification exam, generating reports of statistical and other analyses of exam results, verifying the identity of individuals scheduled to take an exam, and ensuring the integrity and security of exam questions, materials and data, and other direct support activities outlined in this RFP. DEC will provide the Contractor with the names and contact information of individuals DEC determines are eligible to take the exams. The Contractor will provide the exam results for each individual to DEC in a file or other format that can be uploaded into DEC’s NYSPAD database. The Contractor’s proposed solution shall comply with NYS IT policies and standards.