JOFOC: NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD SOLE SOURCE: COUNCIL OF CHIEF STATE SCHOOL OFFICERS TASK FORCE

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD SOLE SOURCE

See attached JOFOC for more information.

Description

The National Assessment Governing Board intends to award a sole source contract to the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) in accordance with the authority of 41 United States Code (U.S.C.) 253(c)(1) as set forth in FAR Subpart 6.302­1(a)(2) "Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements."

The membership of the Council of Chief State School Officers provides unique state perspectives on education matters, which is essential for informing the Governing Board's work. CCSSO membership includes Chief State School Officers and state education policymakers who have the knowledge and capacity to provide state perspectives and outreach services representing all 50 states. This coordination among all 50 states and the federal government is essential for making informed policy decisions related to The Nation's Report Card and for carrying out the Board's congressionally mandated responsibilities under the requirements of Public Law 107­279. More information on the work of the National Assessment Governing Board can be found at www.nagb.gov.

This notice is being posted under the requirements of FAR Subpart 6.3 ­ Other Than Full and Open Competition. This notice is not a request for competitive proposals. A formal solicitation will not be issued. The procurement will be awarded in or around April 16, 2023. The contract period of performance will include a 24-month base period as well as one option year, for a maximum duration of 36 months.

Background

The National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB or Governing Board) has a congressional mandate to set policy for the National Assessment of Educational Progress ­ also known as The Nation's Report Card ­ and to take appropriate actions that improve the form, content, use, and reporting of assessment results. The Governing Board is also responsible for the initial public release of NAEP report cards. Facilitating the Governing Board’s work and disseminating NAEP data rely on expanded outreach activities with target audiences across the nation. Thus, it is critically important to encourage and expand the involvement of policy makers and educators in providing input to the Governing Board in executing its congressionally mandated responsibilities. As a continuing component of its policy making and outreach activities, the Governing Board seeks input from stakeholders who are keenly interested in NAEP.

Task Force History and Collaboration

Since September 2007, the Governing Board has been working collaboratively with the Task Force, which comprises high-level state education agency staff. The Task Force discusses current issues, policy decisions, and effective avenues for outreach. The goal of this collaboration is to continue eliciting state leaders’ feedback to inform the Governing Board's policy-setting work in specific areas.

Discussion topics addressed to date include NAEP reporting, inclusion and accommodations; NAEP assessment schedule; Grade 12 NAEP; trends in NAEP results; NAEP contextual questions; misuse and misinterpretation of NAEP data; international benchmarking; research with NAEP data; and several Board initiatives. Topics to be discussed by the Task Force include release and communications activities for NAEP reports, follow-up on previously discussed topics, as well as a variety of policy issues and activities from the Governing Board's Strategic Vision.

The Task Force conducts its work through webinars and in-person meetings. A Task Force member attends each quarterly meeting of the Governing Board to promote communication between the Governing Board and the Task Force and provides routine reports on the Task Force's ongoing work. Project activities of the Task Force are available to the public via the Board's website and meeting transcripts of the Governing Board's quarterly meetings, which include an annual briefing for the Board delivered by the Task Force chair.

Opportunity for Comment and Capability Statements

Organizations and persons may identify their interest in and capability to respond to the requirement. Please submit capability statements to anthony.r.white@ed.gov by March 3, 2023. A determination by the government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the government.