Spanish Language Reading Comprehension and Proficiency Web-based Assessments

July 13, 2026
RFP Number: 4617.2
Due Date: August 17, 2026
Open Time: 2:00 p.m.
To: Prospective Respondents:
The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to solicit proposals from qualified bidders,
that demonstrate competence and possess the ability and experience to provide Montgomery
County Public Schools (MCPS) with evidence-based, researched, and reviewed assessments
targeted to students in Grades 3-5 in Two-Way Immersion Programs that measure their
progress on Spanish Language and Literacy comprehension. This RFP seeks assessment
providers ("Respondents" or "Offerors") who share a vision for ensuring that all students have
access to the highest quality assessments aligned to best practices in Dual Language education
and assessment. The respondent should offer high-quality, web-based, and adaptive, questions
with grade and age-appropriate item types that measure language and literacy skills in Spanish.
The assessment system should also provide real-time and longitudinal data with easily
accessible and customizable reports at the district, school, grade level, classroom, and student
levels. Individual student data must be producible in an accessible way for families in multiple
languages.
The contractor must submit their offer per the instructions under the RFP, Section 13.0
Mandatory Submissions. The submission must be signed by an official having authority to
contract with MCPS. The firm and official's name shall be used. This solicitation does not
commit the district to pay any costs incurred in the submission of proposals or guarantee that
an award will be made.
In the event of emergency closing of the MCPS Board of Education offices, this RFP will open
at the same time on the next regular working day.
Sincerely,
Angela McIntosh Davis, Director
Department of Procurement
AMD: se
Copy to:
RFP File

Division of Financial Management
MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Department of Procurement, Suite 3100
45 West Gude Drive
Rockville, Maryland 20850
Request for Proposal #4617.2
Spanish Language Reading Comprehension and Proficiency Web-based Assessments
1.0 INTENT
The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to solicit proposals from qualified bidders, that
demonstrate competence and possess the ability and experience to provide Montgomery County Public
Schools (MCPS) with evidence-based, researched, and reviewed assessments targeted to students in
Grades 3-5 in Two-Way Immersion Programs that measure their progress on Spanish Language and
Literacy comprehension. This RFP seeks assessment providers ("Respondents" or "Offerors") who
share a vision for ensuring that all students have access to the highest quality assessments aligned to
best practices in Dual Language education and assessment. The respondent should offer high-quality,
web-based, and adaptive, questions with grade and age-appropriate item types that measure language
and literacy skills in Spanish. The assessment system should also provide real-time and longitudinal
data with easily accessible and customizable reports at the district, school, grade level, classroom, and
student levels. Individual student data must be producible in an accessible way for families in multiple
languages.
The selected provider(s) must offer high-quality assessment questions with grade and age-appropriate
item types in Spanish. Respondents may propose assessments serving any or all of the K-5 grade
levels; however, 3rd-5th grade is the target audience. The assessment system should also provide
customizable reports at the district, school, grade level, classroom, and student levels. Assessments
must include at least (2) tests per year with options to assess additionally as needed.
2.0 INTRODUCTION
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is the 15th largest school system in the United States,
and the largest in the state of Maryland. During the 2025-2026 school year, it is projected that MCPS
will serve more than 156, 000 students from 157 countries speaking 162 languages. With a Fiscal
Year (FY) 2026 Operating Budget of approximately $3.6 billion, MCPS employs more than 25,000
employees. Among the 211 schools that MCPS operates, 39 are National Blue-Ribbon schools. Six
MCPS high schools rank in the top 200 of The Washington Post's 2015 High School Challenge, and
all 25 MCPS high schools appear on this list, which only includes the top 11 percent of high schools
in the country. MCPS has one of the highest graduation rates among the nation's largest school
districts, according to an Education Week report. In 2010, MCPS was the recipient of the Malcolm
Baldrige National Quality Award, the highest presidential honor given to American organizations for
performance excellence. The student demographics of MCPS in 2016 are as follows:
Hispanic/Latino: 35.3%

2 RFP 4617.2
White: 23.9%
Black or African American: 21.6%
Asian: 13.7%
Two or more races: 5.3%
American Indian or Alaskan Native: 0.2%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander: 0.1%
In alignment with our strategic priorities, MCPS believes that each and every student matters;
outcomes should not be predictable by race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status; equity demands the
elimination of all gaps; and creating and maximizing future opportunities for students and staff is
necessary. Therefore, MCPS holds high expectations for all students and staff; distributes resources as
necessary to provide extra supports and interventions so all students can achieve; identifies and
eliminates any institutional barriers to students' success; and ensures that equitable practices are used
in all classrooms and workplace.
MCPS also believes that we must engage every student, every day; learning is achieved by cultivating
curiosity and encouraging determination, focus, and hard work; and adult learning and engagement
are key to student learning. Therefore, MCPS encourages and support critical thinking, problem
solving, active questioning, and risk taking to continuously improve; stimulate discovery by engaging
students in relevant and rigorous academic, social, and emotional learning experiences; and challenge
ourselves to analyze and reflect upon evidence to improve our practices.
The selected provider(s) must offer high-quality assessment questions with grade and age-appropriate
item types in Spanish. Respondents propose assessments serving any or all the K-5
grade levels; however, 3rd-5th grade is the target audience. The assessment system should also
provide customizable reports at the district, school, grade level, classroom, and student levels.
Assessments must include at least (2) tests per year with options to assess additionally as needed.
3.0 SCOPE OF SERVICES
The requirements outlined in this RFP, although extensive, is not exhaustive and is intended to provide
interested Respondents with sufficient basic information to submit proposals,
meeting minimum requirements but is not intended to limit a proposal's content or exclude any
relevant or essential information. Proposals should address the entire scope of services requested.
Requirements include:
3.1 Assessment and Materials Requirements
(a) Comprehensive assessment materials aligned to research-based practices in assessing students in Dual
Language settings, and adaptable to meet the needs of students with exceptionalities.
(b) Assessment demonstrates authentic connections between standards, progress towards literacy goals
and proficiency metrics.
(c) Provide developmental and age-appropriate assessments that are adaptive for 3rd-
5th learners including but not limited to those receiving special education services and accelerated
students.

3 RFP 4617.2
(d) The assessment must be able to assess student progress and/or proficiency towards language and
literacy in Spanish.
(e) The assessment must be culturally and experientially relatable for students from culturally and
linguistically diverse backgrounds.
3.2 Assessment Purpose and Use
(a) The assessment must have reliability and validity to ensure that results represent accurate information
about students for the intended use of the assessment.
(b) Practice assessment materials should be pre-made and readily available.
(c) Directions should be available in English and Spanish.
(d) Assessments should provide students and teachers with a student's current level of proficiency and
anticipated growth targets.
(e) Assessments must effectively measure incremental student growth in Spanish language and literacy.
3.3 Developmental appropriateness
(a) Assessments should be age and developmentally-appropriate. in order to accurately assess students'
language proficiency.
3.4 Item Types
(a) All questions must be inclusive and free from bias in the portrayal of ethnic groups, gender, age,
cultures, religion, and people with exceptionalities.
3.5 Usability
(a) The assessment must be computer-based and must include online tools capabilities, such as lockdown
browser, highlighter, magnifier, color contrast, etc.
(b) Include features that support the access of students with disabilities and are adaptable to meet the needs
of students who are blind or visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing, those with print disabilities,
and students with significant cognitive disabilities.
(c) Must allow for flexibility in meeting the needs of a wide range of students and include
accommodations for special populations, including Language Learners, students with disabilities,
including students who are visually impaired and/or deaf or hard of hearing, those with print
disabilities, and students with significant disabilities, and students identified as gifted and talented.
3.6 Data and Reporting
(a) Generate data reports that include proficiency as growth measures over time.

4 RFP 4617.2
(b) Assessment rubrics that are grade-level appropriate
(c) Data reports must contain detailed performance and progress information in both written and graphical
form to facilitate the use of the scores for instructional planning and decision-making.
(d) Include reports that provide parents/guardians and others with necessary information about the
progress of the learner so that they may provide support at home or outside the school setting.
(e) If the assessment tool is computer-based, it provides accessible digitally available student-facing,
teacher-facing, and parent/guardian facing data reports in multiple languages.
3.7 Support, Training, and Professional Development
(a) The proposal shall describe the initial training and professional development necessary to begin
implementation of the proposed assessment system. The training plan should include mechanisms to
train district teachers and central staff, including the availability of digital professional learning tools.
(b) The proposal shall allow respondent representative(s), in a timely manner, to work on a regular basis
with district/school personnel to answer all questions regarding production or financial matters
pertaining to the individual services required.
(c) Administration recommendations and expected timing per student.
(d) Suggestions for how assessment results can be leveraged by the teacher to examine self-practice and
improvement.
(e) Suggestions for how the results can be referenced by the school and district leaders to examine school-
wide growth and performance.
4.0 TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS AND VENDOR EXPERIENCE
4.1 Materials are accessible from any Internet-enabled device including but not exclusive to personal
computers, laptop computers, Chromebooks, Apple iPads, tablets, and smartphones. A comparison of
features or functionality that vary across device types should be provided as applicable (ex. web-based
experience v. mobile application).
4.2 The Respondent supports single sign-on (SSO) for staff and students. District-supported options for
SSO include Microsoft Azure/AD (now called Entra ID), Google SAML, and Clever SSO.
4.3 Compatible with all modern Internet browsers including but not exclusive to Microsoft Edge, Google
Chrome, and Safari using default installation settings and without additional system hardware or software
components required on end-users' devices.
4.4 The Respondent provides automated processes for the provisioning and management of user accounts.
District-supported processes for account provisioning and management include Secure File Transfer
Protocol (SFTP), OneRoster, and Clever rostering.

5 RFP 4617.2
4.5 The Respondent includes centralized management of digital or online materials for all users that
enables MCPS to establish, customize, and control levels of user access and can be managed by the
district locally.
4.6 The Respondent shall provide MCPS with statistics regarding usage of online resources by MCPS
and its authorized users according to the then current standards in the industry.
4.7 The Respondent shall conduct daily backups of MCPS data, either incremental or full, and must
conduct full weekly backups. If the Respondent's products and services retain data for individual students,
such data shall be retained in the Respondent's online system for a minimum of five years following the
creation of each student account and one year following the graduation of each student, unless otherwise
as specified or directed by MCPS.
4.8 The Respondent shall have the ability to configure a nightly (or more frequent) transfer of system
data to MCPS' Student Information System (SIS) or any updated, upgraded, or alternative systems that
MCPS adopts at its sole discretion.
4.9 The Respondent includes district level and site level reporting options.
4.10 For digital or online assessments, assessment systems shall have the capability to automate the
transfer of student assessment data. If this cannot be done via direct connection, assessment data can be
readily imported in at least one of the following file formats into Unify: .csv (comma delimited) or. tsv
(tab delimited).
4.11 Processes and provisions regarding the handling, use, storage, and retention of MCPS data and
information to ensure the privacy of staff, students, and parents/guardians, consistent with the MCPS
General Contract Articles and elsewhere in this RFP.
Examples of similarly completed projects, or projects in progress, that demonstrate the Respondent's expertise
and capabilities in each of the above-listed areas. Examples might include, for example, detailed descriptions
supported by screenshots, references, websites or apps for MCPS review.
5.0 ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
5.1 Compliance with WCAG standards:
The Vendor shall be responsible for ensuring that any and all products and/or services
provided under this Contract shall meet all accessibility requirements and standards set forth
in applicable federal and State laws and regulations, including, without limitation, Education
Article 7-910 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, COMAR 13a.06.05, Title II of the
Americans with Disabilities Act, the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 28 C.F.R. 35
(including the Final Rule on "Accessibility of Web Content and Mobile Apps Provided by
State and Local Governments" the ("Final Rule")), and the technical standard set forth in the
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines ("WCAG") 2.1, Level AA.
5.2. Digital Product Accessibility Overview Checklist

6 RFP 4617.2
Vendors will complete the MCPS Digital Product Accessibility Overview Checklist detailing
each of the distinct digital components of the proposed product with accompanying login
credentials for testing from both a Teacher and Student point of view, (Attachment F).
5.3. Requirement to provide an Accessibility Compliance Report (ACR)
For each distinct digital component listed in the Digital Product overview form, Vendor
provides a comprehensive Accessibility Compliance Report (ACR) based on the March 2022
revision of the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT 2.4Rev WCAG) provided
by the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI). The ACR should include a review for
each unique digital component of the Vendor's product and identify whether the document
was completed by internal staff or a named third-party contractor.
5.4. NIMAC coordination
By agreeing to deliver materials within this contract, and as per the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA), the publisher shall prepare and submit, within 30 days of the contract
start date, a National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) file set to the to
the NIMAC that complies with the terms and procedures set forth by the National Instructional
Materials Access Center (NIMAC) (IDEA Title I, Part D, sec. 674(e)).
The files will be used for the production of specialized formats as permitted under the law for
students with disabilities. The publisher also will submit to MCPS a Certification from NIMAC
to demonstrate submission of the file.
The publisher also agrees to mark up materials eligible for NIMAS submission that contain
mathematical and scientific instructional content by using the MathML modular extension of
the DAISY/NIMAS Structure Guidelines, as posted and maintained at the DAISY Consortium
website (refer to the latest applicable version).
Should the vendor be a distributor of the materials and not the publisher, the distributor agrees
to immediately notify the publisher of its obligation to submit NIMAS filesets of the purchased
materials to the NIMAC. The files will be used for the production of accessible formats as
permitted under the law for eligible students (IDEA Title I, Part B, sec. 612(a)).
5.5 Accessibility of Print and Printable Digital Materials
All print materials, including digital materials intended for printing, shall be provided to
MCPS in an accessible digital format. Minimum accessibility features include: Document
Language, Logical Reading Order, Appropriate Nesting, Table & Chart Accessibility, and
Alternate Text for all images.

7 RFP 4617.2
6.0 TIMELINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION AND KEY STAFF
The vendor's proposal shall propose a plan and schedule for implementation. The proposal shall
provide a general timeline and sequence of experiences that will be available for participating
students.
In addition, the proposal shall identify key staff members on the project team, describe each team
member's relevant experience and describe the role he or she would play in the project. Such key
staff shall not be substituted with other personnel or reassigned to another project without MCPS'
prior approval.
7.0 DATA PRIVACY AND SECURITY
As specified in more detail in the MCPS General Contract Articles and elsewhere in this RFP, the
vendor will comply with all federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances applicable
to this project, including but not limited to the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act ("FERPA"), 20 U.S.C. 1232g, and its implementing regulations (34 C.F.R. part 99),
the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act ("COPPA"), 15 U.S.C. 6501-6505, and its
implementing regulations (16 C.F.R. 312, et seq.), the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment,
("PPRA") 20 U.S.C, 1232(h) and its implementing regulations (34 C.F.R. 98.1 et seq.), the
Maryland Student Privacy Act of 2015, Md. Ed. Code Ann., 4-131, Code of Maryland
Regulations (COMAR) 13A.08, as well as applicable Board of Education policies and MCPS
regulations, including but not limited to MCPS Regulation AFA-RA, Research and Other Data
Collection Activities in Montgomery County Public Schools, MCPS Regulation JOA-RA, Student
Records, and MCPS Regulation JFF-RA, Federal Requirements for Use of Protected Student
Information.
8.0 TRAINING
The vendor will provide on-site and/or interactive web-based training to school district personnel as
needed. Fee structures for more comprehensive professional development can be provided as part of
the response to this RFP. Any included asynchronous training materials should be provided on an
accessible digital platform. All professional learning videos should include accurate closed captions.
It is the intention to award to the most favorable respondent(s) based on the evaluation criteria in
Section 16.0. However, the Montgomery County Board of Education reserves the right to make
awards according to the best interest of MCPS. This request for proposals may result in multiple
awards particularly if multiple Spanish language proficiency or reading comprehension assessments
meet complementary needs across K-5 grade levels.
In determining the qualifications of an offeror, MCPS will consider the offeror's record and
performance of any prior contracts with MCPS, federal departments or agencies, or other public
bodies, including but not limited to the offeror's record providing online digital curriculum services

8 RFP 4617.2
to MCPS or other schools or school districts. MCPS expressly reserves the right to reject the proposal
of any offeror if the investigation discloses that the offeror, in the opinion of MCPS, has not properly
performed such prior contracts or has habitually and without just cause neglected the payment of bills
or has otherwise disregarded its obligations to subcontractors or employees.
MCPS may conduct any necessary investigation to determine the ability of the offeror to perform the
work, and the offeror shall furnish to MCPS all such information and data requested, such as
information about its reputation, past performance, business and financial capability and other factors
that demonstrate that the provider is capable of satisfying MCPS' needs and requirements for a
specific contract. MCPS reserves the right to reject any proposal if the evidence submitted by the
offeror or investigation of such offeror fails to satisfy MCPS that such offeror is properly qualified to
carry out the obligations of the contract and to complete all requirements contemplated therein.
Consideration will be given to any previous performance with MCPS as to the quality and the
acceptability of bidder's services.
All offerors submitting a proposal shall include evidence that they maintain a permanent place of
business. Copies of any appropriate licenses necessary to perform this work shall be submitted with
each proposal. Offerors also shall demonstrate that they have adequate staff to perform the required
services. Use of subcontractor(s) and/or third-party providers, if any, must be specifically identified
within the proposal. Subcontractor and/or third-party provider roles shall be clearly expressed. MCPS
reserves the right to accept or reject use of proposed subcontractor(s) and/or third-party provider(s).
MCPS reserves the right to add or delete Contractors throughout the contract term should
MCPS determine, in its sole discretion, that there be a need for additional services not available
from the awarded Contractors.
9.0 CONTRACT TERM
The initial term of contract shall be for an initial two years as stipulated on the RFP. However, the
contract may not begin until one day after approval by the MCPS Board of Education and will conclude
as stated under the contract term. MCPS reserves the right to extend this contract at existing prices,
terms and conditions for up to three additional terms for one (1) year each. Written notice indicating
MCPS' intention to pursue the extension of the contract will be issued to the successful vendor 90 days
prior to the expiration of the original contract. The vendor shall have ten (10) days from the date of
notification to return the notice acknowledging its intent to accept or reject the extension.
Once all responses are evaluated, MCPS staff may make a recommendation to the MCPS Board of
Education to extend the contract or decide to rebid. If the contract is extended by the MCPS Board of
Education, a contract amendment will be issued.
10.0 CONTRACT TERMINATION
MCPS reserves the right to cancel the contract in whole or in part at any time in accordance with Article 12 of
the MCPS General Contract Articles. MCPS also reserves the right to cancel the contract with a Respondent
for failure to comply or failure to fulfill the terms of this contract in accordance with Article 13 of the MCPS
General Contract Articles.

9 RFP 4617.2
11.0 REFERENCES
All offerors shall include a list of a minimum of five references who use the firm's digital content,
assessments, professional development, and customization services who can attest to the firm's quality
of work and, if possible, shall include school districts of comparable size to MCPS that have utilized
the respondents' services. Include names of client, contact person, email address and phone number
of all references. Also, as an attachment, offerors shall include a list of all current school district
clients.
References may or may not be reviewed or contacted at the discretion of MCPS. Typically, only
references of the top ranked short-listed offerors are contacted. MCPS reserves the right to contact
references other than, and/or in addition to, those furnished by an offeror.
Contact Phone
Company Name & Address Person Number
1. _______________________________________________________________________
Email __________________________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________________
Email __________________________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________________________
Email __________________________________________________________________
4. _______________________________________________________________________
Email __________________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________________________
Email ___________________________________________________________________
12.0 FORMAT OF RESPONSE
12.1 Response to this RFP shall be submitted in the same order as the RFP and provide an individual
response to each RFP specification.
12.2 Contractors shall include any and all statements and representations made within its proposal
in the contract for services with the MCPS. This includes, but is not limited to, the vendors' s
point-by-point response to this RFP. If the vendor responds only "Understand and comply," it
is assumed that the vendor complies with MCPS' understanding of the requirement.