R1342: Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) and Associated Services

• RFP Due Date and Time: PROPOSALS MUST BE RECEIVED BY NO LATER THAN 1:00 P.M. EST, OCTOBER 25, 2023. LATE PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
• PRE-PROPOSAL Conference: September 28, 2023, from 1:00 P.M. to 2:30 P.M. EST Virtually on Microsoft Teams. The link to the pre-proposal conference is here . We recommend that proposers download the free Microsoft Teams Application on their computer and/or mobile device to participate in the Teams Live Event in advance of the conference and attendees should plan to log in 5 minutes prior to the conference start time.

The New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) on behalf of the Office of Assessment (OA) is seeking proposals from organizations experienced and capable in providing a computerized adaptive testing (CAT) program, in addition to a paper-based version of the program for a small number of test-takers who cannot sit for the computer-adaptive test, with the objective of selecting students for admission to New York City’s specialized high schools. New York State Education Law, through the 1971 Hecht-Calandra Act, mandates that admissions to the Specialized High Schools be determined by a single competitive examination.

The Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) is designed to satisfy the aforementioned state mandate. It is meant to assess some of the knowledge and skills that students have learned through middle school. The assessment covers high-level mathematics and English language arts (ELA) knowledge for students who have completed 7th or 8th grade, and the test will take no more than three (3) hours, including directions, to complete. Students may be tested at their home schools during the school day or on weekends, with separate morning and afternoon sessions on both Saturday and Sunday.

The successful proposer will provide the content and platform for a CAT as well as a paper-based version of the test for a small number of test-takers who cannot sit for the computer-adaptive version because of a disability. The successful proposer will also provide all ancillary materials related to the development, production, delivery, administration, scanning, scoring, reporting, and preparation for the SHSAT for both versions of the test. For the purposes of this RFP, the term “computerized adaptive testing” (CAT) refers to a digital exam that dynamically sequences questions in order to identify a reliable score for the student’s ability in fewer total questions than a fixed-length paper-based version of the exam. Detailed service description and requirements are provided in the Request for Proposal (RFP) solicitation.

This RFP may result in one (1) requirements contract agreement. The awarded contract will be for a term of six (6) years and three (3) months, with services anticipated to commence on or about July 1, 2024, and ending on September 30, 2030.

THERE IS NO FEE FOR THIS RFP.

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If you cannot download this RFP, please send an e-mail to VendorHotline@schools.nyc.gov with the RFP number and title in the subject line of your e-mail for assistance.

Questions regarding this solicitation should be addressed in an e-mail including the RFP number and title in the subject line to COPContracts@schools.nyc.gov by no later than 4:00 P.M. EST, October 3. 2023.