27MATALMB1 - Attachment A - FINAL_.docx

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Attachment A

Alternate ID #: 27MATALMB1 COMMBUYS Bid #: BD-26-1026-DOE02-DOE01-130126

Background:

A well-developed screening process that examines all students’ early literacy skills is an important part of an equitable, culturally and linguistically sustaining literacy plan that matches evidence-based instruction and supports to students’ needs. Early literacy universal screening is proactive and designed to gather information on the most predictive literacy skills, making it possible to identify each student’s risk of experiencing reading difficulties, including risk of dyslexia. This screening process and resulting data analysis allow educators to intervene with targeted evidence-based instruction at the first indication that a student may be experiencing challenges in learning to read. Using a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) model, educators use data to inform core instruction, instructional pacing, intensity, and differentiation of targeted intervention, as well as determine if additional assessment is needed (MA DESE Screening Guidance, 2023).

Early Literacy Screening in grades K-3 is a practice supported by evidence (Institute for Educations Sciences) and is a requirement in Massachusetts as directed by the Early Literacy Screening amendment to Regulation 603 CMR 28.03 (1)(f). Early literacy screening assessments provide data to identify students at risk for reading difficulty, including risk for dyslexia. The Massachusetts Early Literacy Panel (2018) and the MA Dyslexia Guidelines (2020) both call for schools to implement early literacy universal screening assessments that demonstrate reliability, validity, classification accuracy and usability. This bid seeks to identify high quality, anti-bias early literacy screening assessments, which demonstrate strong technical adequacy while also measuring predictive reading skills in grades K-3. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) may also identify free, open-source options that meet these same criteria.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education previously (2022) engaged in a review process to identify early literacy screening assessments that comport with the Massachusetts Dyslexia Guidelines and principles of anti-bias. This led to the creation of the state’s current approved list of early literacy screening assessments. As DESE initiates a new, more comprehensive review process, screening assessments, including those currently identified by DESE as “approved,” will need to be submitted for evaluation and possible approval. Vendors should be aware that previous “required” and “preferred” criteria have been adjusted to reflect ongoing research as well as the updated definition of dyslexia by the International Dyslexia Association.

DESE will approve vendors for a Departmental Master Agreement to provide early literacy screening assessments in grades K-3 as well as supports to inform data-based decision-making. DESE intends to approve several assessments that sufficiently meet the criteria described herein and will publicize those assessments on a public list of approved early literacy screening assessments. Approved assessments will also be added to this Master Agreement to facilitate school and/or district purchasing. (DESE will not pay awarded vendors directly; vendors will enter into a contract with the district).

DESE will offer an information session about this bid for interested respondents on June 23, 2026, at 2:00PM EST. Zoom link to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NK6qLGppT-euorceaX_zSw#/registration

Scope of Service:

Through this BID, DESE will approve several vendors for a Departmental Master Agreement (MA). Under this agreement, vendors will be prequalified to provide to Massachusetts schools (under a separate contract agreement with the school):

· Early literacy screening assessments that:

· reflect current research and the goals of the Massachusetts Dyslexia Guidelines,

· measure the predictive literacy skills and meet technical adequacy requirements as identified in this BID,

· reflect principles of anti-bias,

· include progress monitoring tools, and

· provide supports and resources for assessment administration, data collection, data analysis and data-based instructional decision-making.

DESE will evaluate assessments for approval based on the Required and Preferred Qualifications as well as Additional Criteria included in this document. Approved assessments will be compiled and listed on the DESE website. Information gathered through this procurement process will also be shared with educators, including costs, strengths, and weaknesses of the approved assessment as evaluated by DESE during this procurement. Vendors of approved screening assessments may be asked to provide additional materials to support efforts to facilitate guidance and communication to educators.

The Department is seeking technical consistency among DESE approved screening tools, so tools must align to the standards provided. The determination of risk is of particular importance and all tools approved by the Department must define significantly below relevant benchmarks as the 10-20th percentile.

Bidders that respond to this posting by July 15, 2026, will allow for contracts to be executed in time for assessments to be included on the Department’s new approved early literacy screening assessment list. It is anticipated that the approved list will be announced during the 2026-27 school year, though districts will not be required to implement one of the approved screening assessments until the start of the 2027-28 school year. Vendors of approved screening assessments must agree to cooperate with the Department in the collection of screening data three times per year from certain schools.

The Department anticipates opening an additional submission window between April 1, 2027- April 30, 2027. Additional submission windows may be added as deemed appropriate by the Department.

Budget:

Approved vendors will be placed on a Departmental Master Agreement (MA) through June 30, 2031, to provide materials and services to schools.

Bidders must indicate the fee, if any, they will charge for each type of service to be delivered (assessment product, training, and support). The Department has an interest in keeping the cost of assessments affordable for schools, and vendors proposed cost structure will be an important criterion in the Department’s provider selection process. Vendor compensation will come through fees charged to schools. Cities/towns and school districts will enter into their own contracts with the vendor for services requested. The Department is not liable for any costs incurred by vendors.

If approved, costs named in the vendors’ responses will be incorporated into the MA and should remain in effect throughout the duration of the contract, i.e., until June 30, 2031. If necessary, vendors may submit a request to increase / update the cost of their approved product for Massachusetts public schools by submitting a request to the Department. Prior approval to update cost is required by the department and will not be allowed until approval is granted. All requests are subject to evaluation and approval prior to going into effect. DESE reserves the right to reject any request.

Requirements:

For responses to be considered, bidders must first receive a “yes” on Criteria 1-7, shown as the Required Qualification Criteria section of the Evaluation Criteria Scorecard.

Required Qualification A: Constructs Measured At a minimum, the assessment must make available the following constructs in the corresponding grades.

Note: BOY: Beginning of the school year; MOY: Middle of the school year; EOY: End of the school year.

Kindergarten: At a minimum, the assessment must make available the following constructs.

· Phoneme Segmentation

· Elision

· Blending Must measure at least one of the following:

· Phoneme Segmentation

· Elision

· Blending

· Letter Identification

· Letter Sound Knowledge Must measure both of the following:

· Letter Sound Knowledge

· Decoding Nonsense Words

· Objects or Letters Must measure:

· Letters

Must measure at least one of the following:

· Retell

· Passage level listening with follow-up questions

· Sentence Repetition Listening Comprehension Must measure at least one of the following:

· Retell

· Passage level listening with follow-up questions

· Sentence Repetition

Grade One: At a minimum, the assessment must make available the following constructs.

· Phoneme Segmentation

· Elision

· Blending Must measure at least one of the following:

· Phoneme Segmentation

· Elision

· Blending Must measure at least one of the following:

· Phoneme Segmentation

· Elision

· Blending

· Letter Sound Knowledge

· Decoding Nonsense Words Must measure:

· Decoding Nonsense Words Must measure:

· Decoding Nonsense Words

· Word Identification Must measure:

· Passage Reading Fluency

Must measure:

· Passage Reading Fluency

· Letters

Oral Language

Listening Comprehension Must measure at least one of the following:

· Retell

· Passage level listening with follow-up questions

· Sentence Repetition Listening Comprehension Must measure at least one of the following:

· Retell

· Passage level listening with follow-up questions

· Sentence Repetition Listening Comprehension Must measure at least one of the following:

· Retell

Grades 2 and 3: At a minimum, the assessment must make available the following constructs.

· Decoding Nonsense Words Must measure:

· Decoding Nonsense Words Must measure:

· Decoding Nonsense Words

· Passage Reading Fluency Must measure:

· Passage Reading Fluency Must measure:

· Passage Reading Fluency

· Reading Comprehension Must measure:

· Reading Comprehension Must measure:

· Reading Comprehension

Oral Language (Grade 2 Only) Listening Comprehension Must measure at least one of the following:

· Retell

· Passage level listening with follow-up questions

· Sentence Repetition Listening Comprehension Must measure at least one of the following:

· Retell

· Passage level listening with follow-up questions

· Sentence Repetition Listening Comprehension Must measure at least one of the following:

· Retell

Required Qualification B: Technical Adequacy B1. Classification Accuracy (Minimum Thresholds) Must provide a statement of affirmation that the screening assessment meets the following threshold for the “significantly below” risk level for grades K-3.

· Sensitivity: greater than or equal to 0.70

· Specificity: greater than or equal to 0.70

· Area under the Curve (AUC): greater than or equal to 0.70

Required Qualification C: Scoring, Risk Determination, and Reporting

· Provides a composite percentile rank as part of the reported score

· A composite risk level (e.g., at risk/requires intervention) is identified for each student

Required Qualification D: Technical Manual

· Provides a Technical Manual which includes, at a minimum, detailed information about test development, scoring, norming, reliability and validity of the assessment.

Required Qualification E: Administration, Usability, and Support:

· Assessment is designed to be administered at least twice per year in kindergarten and three times per year in grades one, two and three at a minimum (fall, winter, spring)

· Offers professional development, technical support and customer service to public school educators using the assessment

· Provides a user-friendly parent report of the student’s results.

· Statement of willingness to cooperate with DESE on the collection of data three times per year from certain schools.

Preferred:

Preferred Qualification A: Additional Constructs to Measure On the Evidence Form, provide specific requested information.

Preferred Additional Constructs

· Rapid Automatized Naming (RAN): Grades 2 and 3

· Encoding/Spelling: Grades K-3

Submission Requirements:

Please respond to the following:

1. Organization and Assessment Information: In a narrative submission that does not exceed 2 pages, provide a brief overview of your organization and the assessment product being proposed for approval.

1. Technical Manual: Submit a current Technical Manual which provides, at a minimum, detailed information about test development, scoring, norming, reliability and validity of the screener.

1. Evidence Form: Complete the Evidence Form in which the vendor provides evidence of specific additional criteria.

1. Costs: As a separate document, submit the following costs, including the availability of volume discounts, if available:

3. Screening tool(s) and accompanying progress monitoring tools

3. Support Materials, if any

3. Professional Development

2. Specify if costs reflect, in-person, virtual, webinar or other mode of training

1. Attachment B – Contact information form

Please note: Note: The costs submitted in your response will be incorporated into a Departmental Master Agreement with DESE, if your submission is approved. This agreement allows MA public schools and districts to purchase your product(s) at the prices stated until the contract expires (June 30, 2031).

Responses MUST be uploaded to COMMBUYS. Responses not posted to COMMBUYS will not be considered for evaluation. Do not Email and/or mail responses to the department.

To respond to this bid, please register on the COMMBUYS website. If you need assistance contact the OSD Help Desk at OSDHelpDesk@mass.gov or (8am - 5pm ET Monday – Friday) at 1-888-627-8283 or 617-720-3197.

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