4-Complete with Docusign 03 Packet Sole Sourc.pdf

Only one known source that can provide the commodity or service.

Procurement of public utility services Compatibility (e.g., a public safety, CCC requiring a specific piece of equipment to be compatible with an existing equipment system) Limited or proprietary systems (i.e. additional licenses, updates, specialized replacement parts, etc.)

A professional expert is requested.

Sales territories or product availability within limited geographic boundaries.

Other

Rev 3/2023 VC Initial ψψψψψψ

Sole Source/Bid Waiver Justification

Below are the following Sole Source/Bid Waiver Criteria. If your purchase meets any of the following criteria, please complete the form and submit to Procurement Services at solesource@ccc.edu

What is a Sole Source Procurement?

A “sole source” procurement can be defined as any contract entered into without a competitive process, based on a justification that only one known source exists or that only one single supplier can fulfill the requirement. Although CCC generally does not permit non-competitive procurements by statute, exceptions are allowed where competition is not feasible. Even though the procurement isn’t competed, you still need to maintain a history of the process. It will be especially important for you to document the circumstances and rationale for not competing the solicitation. This form is used for this documentation.

Examples of acceptable exceptions from the competitive procurement process may include (but are not limited to):

Only one known source exists for supplies of services or products as determined by documented research.

No other reasonable alternative source exists that meets the CCC requirements.

Only one source meets the business needs of the CCC (e.g., compatibility, unique feature to meet CCC’s

Procurement of public utility services.

What’s not a Sole Source Procurement?

A CCC requirement for a particular proprietary product or service does not automatically justify a sole source procurement if there is more than one potential bidder of offeror for that item.

A CCC preference for a specific brand or name product does not justify a sole source procurement.

A good’s or service’s “uniqueness” alone may not qualify the producer or supplier of the good or service as a sole provider.

Why are you requesting a Sole Source Waiver?

Check the reason below explaining why you are requesting a Sole Source/Bid Waiver for this purchase:

business need, etc.)

VC Initial ψψψψψψ

Sole Source/Bid Waiver Justification Application

Email address:

Contract or Board Report number:

Vendor:

Actual Estimated Value of initial term, or if a renewal, value of this renewal: $ (Attach the proposal received)

Number of potential/remaining renewals:

Length of each renewal in months:

Choose one of the following:

New Sole Source

Sole Source renewal Change Order or Amendment to an existing Sole Source Value of all/remaining renewals: $

Provide a description of the supplies or services required:

Select the type of funding to be used: Educational Funds Capital Funds Grant Funds

Other (Explain):

This purchase is economically only available from a single source because it is:

Art or Entertainment Services or Athletic Events

Critical changes to the existing contract are necessary and best accomplished by the original contract holder Federal/CCC Grant requires contract with specific vendor

(attach Grant Award Agreement) Item is copyrighted or patented and the item is only available from the holder

Copyright or Patent Number(s):

Media for advertising Organization memberships (Dues, fees, conference charges including mandated travel and related expenses)

Has CCC purchased these supplies/services in the past? Yes No

If yes, STARTING WITH THE MOST RECENT CONTRACT AND WORKING BACKWARD, for the entire relationship with this vendor for this supply or service, list each term, value, short description and type of procurement of each:

¢ŜNJƳ ¢ŜNJƳ CNJƻƳΥ ¢ŜNJƳ ¢ƻΥ ±ŀƭdzŜ 5ŜǎŎNJƛLJǘƛƻƴ ±ŜƴŘƻNJ {ŜƭŜŎǘƛƻƴ hƴŜ ¢ǿƻ

¢ƘNJŜŜ

CƻdzNJ CƛǾŜ {ƛȄ

{ŜǾŜƴ 9ƛƎƘǘ bƛƴŜ ¢Ŝƴ

LŦ ƳƻNJŜ ǘƘŀƴ мл ȅŜŀNJǎΣ ŜȄLJƭŀƛƴΥ

Rev 3/2023

Name of requestor:

Department/School:

Project title:

Compatibility with existing/current equipment, accessories, replacement parts or service

Items are needed for trial use or testing

Public utility regulated services Radio and television broadcast rights software license/ upgrade/maintenance

Other (Explain):

Blanca Acevedo bacevedo4@ccc.edu

Institutional Effectiveness

Director Grants Administration EduDREAM LLC

50,000 ■

An external evaluator to conduct a summative evaluation of the METAS HSI STEM grant required by Department of Education. Evaluation will assess program effectiveness and outcomes, document lessons learned, and inform continuous improvement approved in Year 5 budget.

Summative evaluation required by DOE

05/01/2026 09/15/2026 50,000.00 Summative EvaluationEduDREAM LLC 08/30/2025 09/30/2025 9,858.00 Final Interim EvaluationEduDREAM LLC 07/18/2025 08/17/2025 9,858.00 Interim Evaluation EduDREAM LLC x

VC Initial ______

Business Rationale

1. Provide a detailed explanation of the need for the supplies or services:

2. What are the unique features of the supplies or services that are not available in any other product or by any other vendor?

Provide specific, quantifiable factors/qualifications:

3.

4. Were alternative supplies or services evaluated? Yes No

a. If yes, what were they and why were they unacceptable? If no, why were alternatives not evaluated?

Please be specific with regard to features, characteristics, requirements, capabilities and compatibility:

5. What efforts were made to get the best possible price?

6. Will this purchase obligate the CCC to this vendor for future purchases such as maintenance, licensing or continuing needs?

Yes No If yes, please provide details regarding future obligations and/or needs:

7. Why is the price for this purchase considered to be fair and reasonable?

8. If this is a renewal, describe why circumstances are such that competitive selection is still not an alternative since awarding the original contract:

9. What will be the financial or other impact to CCC if this sole source is not approved and a competitive solicitation is required?

Department/College Representative Signature Printed Name Date

Rev 3/2023

If professional services, what are the unique qualifications the vendor possess?

Provide specific. measureable factors/qualifications:

Department/College Representative Signature Required I know and understand the contents of this Sole Source /Bid Waiver Justification and attest that all statements are true and correct.

Department/College Representative Signature Printed Name Date

VC/ College President Signature

Procurement Approval and Signature Required

Printed Name Date

Printed Name Date

DOE required summative evaluation for the HSI METAS grant in Y5. Evaluation will assess whether the program has achieved its intended outputs and outcomes, as defined in the grant objectives. A performance evaluation is appropriate to assess the programs overall effectiveness using available data. The approach will be grounded in the programs theory of change and will use a mixed-methods design to assess the extent to which expected outcomes were achieved

Professional services below:

Established in 2016, EduDream is a Latina-founded, women-owned research consulting firm inspiring transformation within education by bringing community voice and rigorous research together. EduDream previously partnered with CCC to conduct an implementation evaluation of the Chancellors Retention Grant and Working Credit programs and conducted the Intermin evaluation for METAS in FY24. Lastly, EduDREAM vendor was approved in the Y5 budget by Department of Education.

Wayne State University - Professor Amy Watson, Evaluator for th CRSS MXC Grant (little to no expertise in evaluating STEM HSI grants) UChicago - Kelly Hallberg (delayed response)

Negotiations with current vendor around timeline and due dates required by Department of Education.

Scope of services is fair and reasonable.

This vendor has been approved by Department of Education in the Year 5 METAS budget, and has content and background knowledge working with METAS students as part of the Interim evaluation conducted in FY24.

Malcolm X College will not be able to navigate through system processes seamlessly, and will not meet the Department of Education requirement of a summative evluation for the HSI STEM METAS grant.

Blanca Acevedo 01/16/2026

Tiffany Dixon 01/21/2026

David A. Sanders 01/22/2026

5/20/2026 | 9:18:38 AM CDTNicholas Gibb

January 16th, 2026

Business Rational Justification

Provide a description of the supplies or services required:

The services of an external evaluator to conduct a required summative evaluation of the METAS HSI STEM grant, as mandated by the U.S. Department of Education. The evaluation will assess program effectiveness and outcomes; document lessons learned and inform continuous improvement efforts. This activity was approved in the Year 5 grant budget.

1. Provide a detailed explanation of the need for the supplies or services:

The U.S. Department of Education requires a summative evaluation of the METAS HSI grant in Year 5. The evaluation will determine the extent to which the program has achieved its intended outputs and outcomes as outlined in the approved grant objectives.

A comprehensive performance evaluation is necessary to assess overall program effectiveness using available quantitative and qualitative data. The evaluation will be grounded in the program’s theory of change and will employ a mixed methods design to assess progress toward expected outcomes, identify successes and challenges, and provide actionable recommendations for sustainability and improvement.

3. If professional services are, what are the unique qualifications the vendor possesses? Provide specific. measurable factors/qualifications:

EduDream is uniquely qualified to conduct this evaluation. Established in 2016, EduDream is a Latina-founded, women-owned research and evaluation consulting firm specializing in education programs serving historically underserved populations. EduDream has prior experience with the institution, having conducted an implementation evaluation for the Chancellor’s Retention Grant and Working Credit programs, as well as the interim evaluation for the METAS grant in FY24. Their familiarity with the METAS program design, data systems, and grant objectives ensures continuity, efficiency, and methodological rigor. Additionally, EduDream was explicitly approved as the evaluator in the Department of Education–approved Year 5 budget.

Signed:

Blanca Acevedo |Director, HSI STEM METAS 1900 W. Jackson Blvd | Chicago, IL 60612 p 312.850.3560 | w www.malcolmx.ccc.edu http://www.malcolmx.ccc.edu/

January 12, 2026

Blanca Acevedo Director, HSI STEM METAS Malcolm X College City Colleges of Chicago

RE: EduDream LLC Sole Source Justification

EduDream LLC is pleased to provide this Sole Source Justification Letter regarding the HSI STEM METAS grant evaluation at Malcolm X College.

Malcolm X College (MXC) is committed to advancing educational equity for its diverse student population, particularly Hispanic and low-income students pursuing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. Guided by a comprehensive Equity Plan, MXC works to remove institutional barriers and provide targeted academic and social supports that help students persist, graduate, and transfer to four-year institutions.

Many of MXC’s students come from underperforming, low-resourced high schools and enter college less academically prepared than their peers, making holistic support essential. One ongoing challenge MXC faces in serving underrepresented student populations is cultivating a sense of belonging and connectedness, especially in the absence of on-campus housing and regular extracurricular programming. Research has shown these dynamics can improve retention, persistence, and academic outcomes.

To address these challenges, MXC launched the Mathematics, Engineering, Technology, Apoyo, and Science (METAS) initiative, funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The METAS program has three main objectives: 1) to cultivate the academic and professional identities of Hispanic and low-income students in STEM; 2) to enhance instructional quality and collaboration through culturally responsive pedagogy; and 3) to facilitate students’ transitions to four-year institutions and economically viable careers. Now in the fourth year of a five-year grant, CCC seeks an external evaluator to conduct an interim and summative evaluation of the METAS program. The evaluation will assess program effectiveness and outcomes, document lessons learned, and inform continuous improvement.

EduDream is uniquely qualified for the HSI STEM METAS grant evaluation at Malcolm X College. Established in 2016, EduDream is a Latina-founded, women-owned research consulting firm inspiring transformation within education by bringing community voice and rigorous research together. Founded by culturally responsive and experienced researchers, Michelle Oliva and Monica Martinez, EduDream partners with foundations, nonprofits, and educational institutions to provide community-centered research, evaluation, and strategy. Our team has extensive experience conducting systematic human-centered data collection while serving as thought partners and critical friends.

We’ve worked with leading national and place-based philanthropic and education organizations, including the Gates Foundation, Kansas Health Foundation, Erikson Institute, Partnership for College Completion, and Big Shoulders Fund. Our team of experts provides rigorous and evidence-based inquiry with a strong focus on community collaboration. Through our work, we’re redefining the potential of research while shifting the education system toward an equitable and just future.

EduDream’s evaluation capabilities include developing conceptual frameworks and evaluation questions, co-designing evaluation plans, facilitating interviews and focus groups, creating and administering surveys, developing databases, conducting rigorous analyses of qualitative and quantitative data, and delivering actionable, evidence-based findings in clear and concise reports. For example, in 2022, EduDream partnered with a network of high schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District to understand the disconnect between college counseling practices and college enrollment and persistence outcomes. We developed and implemented a learning evaluation that consisted of in-depth interviews with principals and college counselors, as well as focus groups with high school seniors.

Additionally, EduDream previously partnered with CCC to conduct an implementation evaluation of the Chancellor’s Retention Grant and Working Credit programs. The evaluation assessed the programs’ implementation fidelity and explored students’ experiences with the programs. EduDream developed and administered data collection tools, including surveys and focus group protocols, and facilitated interviews and focus groups with students and program staff. We also led qualitative analysis of survey and focus group data. Findings indicated that, despite some programmatic challenges, both students and staff viewed the programs positively. Students reported that the financial support eased their burdens and helped them stay enrolled and focused on their academic studies.

Our team members are highly experienced facilitators in virtual and in-person settings.

We have led conversations with diverse stakeholders, including nonprofit leaders and staff, board members, teachers, students, and parents. For example, we have facilitated consensus-building, information-seeking, and learning sessions on a range of topics, including: making race more explicit in mission statements, navigating change management in higher education, helping school teams interpret data, and working through a problem of practice with K12 school district leaders.

For these reasons, sole source procurement of EduDream is warranted to ensure continuity, cultural relevance, and compliance with grant timelines.

Best wishes, Monica Martinez Cofounder

Certificate Of Completion Envelope Id: 204E6B0B-724E-471B-9868-8EA80CDCCED1 Status: Completed

Subject: Complete with Docusign: 03. Packet Sole Source- Bid Wavier EduDream vdas (1).pdf

Source Envelope:

Document Pages: 7 Signatures: 1 Envelope Originator:

Certificate Pages: 1 Initials: 0 William Moore

AutoNav: Enabled

EnvelopeId Stamping: Disabled

Time Zone: (UTC-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) wmoore48@ccc.edu

IP Address: 50.219.59.3

Record Tracking Status: Original

5/20/2026 | 09:15 AM

Holder: William Moore wmoore48@ccc.edu

Location: DocuSign

Signer Events Signature Timestamp Nicholas Gibb ngibb1@ccc.edu

Security Level: Email, Account Authentication (None)

Signature Adoption: Pre-selected Style

Using IP Address:

2601:241:8d01:ac0:aca9:23b9:42d3:99b

Sent: 5/20/2026 | 09:16 AM

Viewed: 5/20/2026 | 09:18 AM

Signed: 5/20/2026 | 09:18 AM

Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure:

Not Offered via Docusign

In Person Signer Events Signature Timestamp

Editor Delivery Events Status Timestamp

Agent Delivery Events Status Timestamp

Intermediary Delivery Events Status Timestamp

Certified Delivery Events Status Timestamp

Carbon Copy Events Status Timestamp

Witness Events Signature Timestamp

Notary Events Signature Timestamp

Envelope Summary Events Status Timestamps Envelope Sent Hashed/Encrypted 5/20/2026 | 09:16 AM

Certified Delivered Security Checked 5/20/2026 | 09:18 AM

Signing Complete Security Checked 5/20/2026 | 09:18 AM

Completed Security Checked 5/20/2026 | 09:18 AM

Payment Events Status Timestamps