27TALKT3 - Due Diligence - FINAL.docx

135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149 | 781.338.3000 | TTY: N.E.T. Relay (800).439.2370

Due Diligence Posting

|_| Education Secretariat (EEC, EOE, DHE, CTF, DOE)

Renewal Option: |_| Yes / |_| No If yes: of Renewals (up to a maximum of 12 months for each renewal option) Renewal Dates: From: to

Anticipated Expenditures, Funding or Compensation for Expected Duration:

|_| Contract will have a Maximum Obligation Amount (Initial Duration Amount Only): TBD |_| Contract will be based on Rates (For use with Departmental Master Agreements (MA) only):

|_| Contract will be no cost to the Commonwealth Total Contract Amount (Initial Duration PLUS Renewal Amount): $0.00

Appropriation / Account #: 7010-0033 | Unit Code: 465Z | Federal Program Code:

*This information is subject to change prior to and/or during award

Bid opening date: August 31, 2026 | Bid opening time: 12:00 (Eastern Time) |_| AM / |_| PM

All Questions with corresponding Answers will be posted to COMMBUYS in either the Q & A tab or as an uploaded document.

Questions Submission Deadline: Date: 8/24/2026 Time 5:00 (Eastern Time) |_| AM / |_| PM

Due Diligence Posting of Notice of Intent to Accept a Best Value Offer:

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (“DESE” or “Department”) of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts announces its intent to Accept a Best Value Offer pursuant to the Commonwealth’s Due Diligence Posting policy, to accept the following from Watershed Advisers (“Offeror”), pending the results of this Notice of Intent (“Notice”):

Description The Department seeks to accept services from Watershed Advisers to develop a strategic plan and conduct communications related to new reading legislation. $25,000 will be supplied by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Watershed secured $75,000 that will be gifted by a philanthropic organization to support the three year plan - totaling $100,000.00 for this project. DESE reserves the right to add additional funds via an organization support or internal funds, if services expand under the same scope.

Watershed Advisers will deliver a three-year strategic plan, including but not limited to:

1. Student-centered vision and goals for K-3 literacy, paired with specific student outcome goals, including targets for grade-level proficiency, growth for students reading below benchmark, and reductions in outcome gaps.

2. Annual priorities for Years 1, 2, and 3, sequenced to statutory deadlines. Two to four priorities per year, each tied to specific student outcome targets and strategies.

3. Implementation chain. Role-specific high-priority actions across DESE program teams, regional supports, districts, schools, coaches, and teachers, making the path from state policy to classroom practice visible and accountable.

4. Strategy. How DESE will deploy its levers to shift educator practice across the entire implementation chain. These include state policies and programs, federal funding, accountability, training and support, communications, and regulations/guidance.

5. Data collection plan. What student outcome and adult action data DESE will collect, including the data required by Right to Read (annual district reporting cycle, screening data using the new below-benchmark cut point, educator-prep accountability); what tools will be used; where data will live; the cadence of review; and how findings will drive plan adjustments.

6. Year 1 operational roadmap. Sequenced detail for Year 1 (milestones, internal and external capacity, owners, cost estimates, timeline) tied to statutory deadlines. Years 2 and 3 outlined for refinement in subsequent annual planning.

7. Communications. Deliver final presentation and three-year plan to MA DESE leadership, key stakeholders, and funders.

The Department is posting this Notice rather than conducting a full procurement because the Department believes this opportunity represents best value to the Commonwealth and is utilizing this Due Diligence Posting to ensure that the process is open, fair and competitive.

Determination of Other Interested Vendors The intent of this posting is to determine if there are any other interested and qualified vendors. Any such vendors must submit documentation that they can provide a comparable or better offer.

Response Requirement and Deadline All Interested Vendors and Offerors interested in responding to this Notice, regardless of prior communications with the Department, must submit a Response to this posting containing evidence of their qualification and interest, and a proposed scope of technical assistance that is comparable to or exceeds the value of the services proposed by Watershed Advisers.

If, after the posting deadline has passed, interest is generated by this Notice, the Department will review all Responses and will determine whether they will: accept the offer from the Offeror.

Quote Submission Method Online Quote Submission via COMMBUYS is required. All Interested Vendors and Offerors must submit Quotes online using tools available only to Sellers registered in COMMBUYS. COMMBUYS provides Seller registration functionality at no charge. To register, go to www.COMMBUYS.com and click on the “Register” link on the front page. All Interested Vendors and Offerors who are awarded a contract resulting from this Notice, if any, will be required to maintain an active account during the duration of the Contract, by reviewing their registration information regularly and maintaining its accuracy.

COMMBUYS Quote Submission Training and Instructions The following resources are provided to assist Interested Vendors and Offerors in submitting Quotes:

· An online job aid on How to Create a Quote;

· Webcast video on How to Find Bids (Solicitations) and Submit Quotes (Responses) through COMMBUYS;

· Instructor-led trainings (ILT) and live webinar sessions on “How to Locate and Respond to Bids” may also be available. Check the OSD Training Courses schedule for Sellers/Business Entities for available locations, dates and times. Note that space is limited and pre-registration for trainings is required to attend. Follow instructions on the course schedule to register.

COMMBUYS Support Technical assistance is available during the procurement process. Every effort is made to respond to inquiries within one business day.

· Website: Go to https://www.commbuys.com/bso/view/login/login.xhtml and select the COMMBUYS Resource Center link offered under Key Resources.

· Email: Send inquiries to the COMMBUYS Helpdesk at OSDHelpDesk@mass.gov.

· Telephone: Call the COMMBUYS Help Desk at 1-888-MA-STATE (1-888-627-8283). The Help Desk is staffed from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday Eastern Standard or Daylight time, as applicable, except on federal and state holidays.

Interested Vendors and Offerors are advised that COMMBUYS will be unavailable during regularly scheduled maintenance hours of which all users will be notified.

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