Title_III_Amendment_0001.pdf

NSN 7540-01-152-8070 STANDARD FORM 30. (Rev. 10-83) Previous Edition unusable Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

Page of Pages AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT 1. Contract ID Code

2. AMENDMENT MODIFICATION NO. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (if applicable)

6. ISSUED BY CODE 7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than item 6) CODE

(x) 9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (NO., Street, Country, State and ZIP Code)

CODE FACILITY CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of offers is extended, is not extended.

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

(a) By completing items 8 and 15, and returning ______ copies of amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted;

or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OR OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment your desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required)

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

Check One A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE

CONTRACT ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not, is required to sign this document and return _______ copies to the issuing office.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible)

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print) 16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

15C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

16C. DATE SIGNED

See Attachment Page.

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91990019R00040001 MAR 19, 2019

CAMPCP

US Dept of ED-550 12th Street SW - Room 7169 Washington DC 20065

91990019R0004

MAR 08, 2019

See Schedule

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Attachment Page

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91990019R0004 Version Date: 03.18.2019

INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

STUDY OF PRACTICES FOR ENGLISH LEARNERS: TITLE III IMPLEMENTATION

EVALUATION, EXAMINATION OF SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND IMPACT

FEASIBILITY STUDY

Solicitation No.: 91990019R0004

The outside of the proposal packaging, the cover of each proposal, and the header of each proposal page must contain the title "Study of Practices for English Learners.” The Government will evaluate proposals in accordance with the evaluation criteria set forth in the Technical Evaluation Criteria of this request for proposals. It is understood that the proposal will become a part of the official contract file. The Government reserves the right to award the contract without discussions, per FAR 15.306(a)(3).

This Request for Proposal (RFP) does not commit the Government to pay any cost for the preparation and submission of a proposal. In addition, the Contracting Officer is the only individual who can legally commit the Government to the expenditure of public funds in connection with this acquisition.

Offerors must prepare separate technical and business/cost proposals for the project. Each proposal must be separate and complete in itself so that evaluation of one may be accomplished independently of the other. Cost information must be restricted to the business proposal, and the technical proposal must not contain reference to specific costs (although resource information may be included so that the offeror’s understanding of the scope of the work may be evaluated).

Past performance information must be included in the technical proposal.

An official authorized to bind your organization must sign the proposal. Offerors must submit the technical proposal electronically in PDF format and the cost proposal (including a narrative description of costs) electronically in PDF format. The offeror must also electronically submit an EXCEL WORKBOOK version of the cost proposal.

Proposals are due, via email, by 2:00 PM Eastern on April 8, 2019. Proposals shall be emailed to the primary and secondary contacts listed below:

Primary Points of Contact:

Jonathan Bettis Contracting Officer/Contract Specialist Jonathan. Bettis @ed.gov

Catherine Shade Contract Specialist Catherine.Shade@ed.gov

Secondary Point of Contact:

Ryan Battad Contracting Officer/Source Selection Authority Ryan.Battad@ed.gov

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NOTE: If an email’s attachment size exceeds 15MB, it is recommended that the offeror break up the proposal into smaller attachments in separate emails. If the submission exceeds 15MB, the Department may not receive the proposal.

Clarification Questions

The Department will accept clarification questions from potential offerors. Clarification questions must be submitted, via email, to: Jonathan. Bettis @ed.gov and Catherine.Shade@ed.gov with a cc to Ryan.Battad@ed.gov, no later than 2:00 PM Eastern on March 14, 2019. The Department does not guarantee that a response will be given to clarification questions submitted after the due date. Offerors will not receive a response until all questions have been received by the due date.

Any information given to a prospective offeror concerning a solicitation will be furnished promptly to all other prospective offerors if that information is necessary in submitting offers or if a lack of information would be prejudicial to any other prospective offerors. This information will be sent to all offerors that respond to the RFP.

Volume I: Technical Proposal Instructions

Through the technical proposal, the offeror must show a thorough understanding of the goals and activities of the Performance Work Statement (PWS) and demonstrate that proposed staff have the necessary experience and expertise to meet task objectives. While the intent of each task is spelled out in the PWS, this should be considered a starting point, and technical proposals must include detailed work plans and illustrative examples to fully describe the offeror’s plans to accomplish each task and the relevant deliverables. A proposal that simply repeats the language of the PWS without providing details about how the offeror will carry out the activities will not be considered eligible for award.

Offerors are encouraged to suggest improvements to the approaches detailed in the PWS, along with a justification of the merits of these alternative approaches. Offerors may find it necessary to make adjustments to the schedule provided in the PWS, in accordance with the newly proposed strategies and/or procedures. In this case, offerors shall clearly identify any changes in the schedule and explain their rationale, keeping in mind the Department’s objective of completing the requirement within the stated time frame.

Note: although the Department encourages alternative approaches, all technical approach information will be evaluated in accordance with the stated evaluation criteria.

Formatting Requirements:

Technical proposals must not exceed 50 double-spaced pages with a 12-point font size and margins of at least 1 inch.

o Included: the page limit includes the narrative and corresponding tables/graphics, abstracts of selected relevant corporate work, and lists of the current contractual commitments of proposed staff.

o Excluded: the page limit does not include the appendix containing any relevant letters of commitment and résumés for key project staff. However, résumés must be no more than 3, single-spaced pages each. The Department will not review any pages that exceed the maximum page limit.

Offerors must number consecutively all pages, including appendices.

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Bulleted and numbered lists within the regular text of the proposal shall be double-spaced. They are not required to be indented, however. Footnotes may be single spaced and 10-point font. However, inserting frequent and/or lengthy footnotes that contain substantive information as a strategy to convey more content in the same number of pages is strongly discouraged. Overuse of footnotes is distracting to a reader and can make the proposal more disjointed or disorganized.

Figures, tables, and graphics may be single spaced and 10-point font. However, offerors are strongly discouraged from converting substantial blocks of text into tables, figures, or graphics as a strategy to convey more content in the same number of pages. For example, offerors shall not convert a bulleted or numbered list into a table simply to save space.

Figures, tables, and graphics shall only be used if they substantially improve the organization and presentation of material. Figures, tables, and graphics with a large amount of text are typically ineffective ways to present information.

Technical Proposal Format and Contents

Proposals must include, but are not limited to, each of the following sections:

A cover sheet with the name and address of the firm and signed by an officer of the firm.

(Does not count toward the page limit.)

Table of Contents. The Table of Contents must provide a means of quickly accessing important points of discussion in the proposal. The table of contents must also provide the name of the senior author (and coauthors, if applicable) of each section. (Does not count toward the page limit.)

Introduction. The offeror must provide an overview that demonstrates knowledge of: (a) issues relevant to the purpose of the procurement; and (b) design and analysis issues relevant to the study as described within the performance work statement. In addition, the introduction shall also briefly describe the proposal, provide a rationale for why the proposed approach will best meet the intent and requirements of the contract, and describe the ways in which the proposed approach is unique, insightful, or particularly comprehensive.

Technical Approach (Task Descriptions). This section shall completely and concisely explain the strategies, operations, and procedures the offeror proposes to achieve the contract’s objectives, addressing each subtask, in the order presented in the PWS. This section must include a discussion of any potential issues that might arise and the proposed solutions to address them. Offerors are encouraged to suggest technical improvements to the work, so long as the suggestions are justified and feasible.

Proposed Personnel and Management Plan. This section shall provide the names of the proposed leadership team (project director, deputy project director, principal investigator), other key personnel, subcontractors, and consultants. For each staff person (including subcontractors and consultants), offerors shall indicate the number of proposed hours for each subtask and in total. Using the attached template, offerors shall provide hours by subtask and in total, along with the percentage of FTE for each named staff member or position title (for unnamed staff). This section must describe the specific responsibilities of each proposed staff person and shall include an organizational chart to illustrate management roles and responsibilities.

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This section must include a narrative description that clearly describes how staff qualifications and experience relate to the requirements of the performance work statement and proposed task assignments must be included. For staff charged with project management, experience monitoring project costs and carrying out quality control activities shall be described.

To indicate the availability of staff persons to work on this contract, offerors must also indicate the proportion of each staff person’s time (including subcontractors and consultants) that is committed to current and pending federal and non-federal projects from July 2019 through June 2022. The offeror shall also indicate the proposed proportion of each staff person’s time that would be committed to the current contract during this time frame (by year and total).

Any sub-contractual arrangements shall be described thoroughly, and it must be clear which tasks will be completed by subcontractors and the role that they will play. The offeror shall assure that proposed subcontractors/consultants are free of conflicts of interest that might bias their approach to this work. Letter(s) by proposed subcontractors/consultants indicating willingness to serve, if the offeror is selected, shall be included with the offeror's proposal as an appendix.

The offeror shall present a proposed timeline that includes start and end dates for each project task and activity. It must be clear when work related to each subtask, deliverable, and data collection activity will be accomplished, the key staff responsible for the work, and how time for Department approval of deliverables has been budgeted. This section must also discuss how the offeror will assign staff and oversee their work (including subcontractors and consultants), resolve problems, and ensure work quality, timeliness, and cost control.

This section must be accompanied by an appendix that includes résumés of no more than 3, single-spaced pages each for key staff members. The resumes must include educational and professional background and must only highlight experience relevant to the contract.

The narrative and/or resumes must provide sufficient detail about prior projects for reviewers to assess relevance to the performance work statement in terms of the specific tasks to be performed, content, methodology, complexity, scope, sample size, and data collection modes).

Relevant Corporate Experience. This section shall discuss prior corporate experience similar to the current project. Offerors must provide sufficient detail about prior projects for reviewers to assess their relevance to the current project in terms of the specific tasks to be performed, content, methodology, complexity, scope, sample size, and data collection modes.

Past Performance

To support the review of past performance, offerors shall submit identifying information such as the title, contract number, contract value, award date, end date, and client contact information for all projects cited in the proposal as relevant corporate and staff experience, with the first three listed being the most relevant. The Source Selection Official/Contracting Officer reserves the right to obtain past performance information from other external sources such as CPARS/FAPIIS for these or other projects. The

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Government also reserves the right to obtain past performance information from other sources, such as contacting identified clients. The Department will consider the offeror’s reputation in terms of quality, problem resolution, cost control, timeliness, business relations, and customer service.

Offerors must include a list of all contracts (title, contract number, award date, end date, and client contact information) with the National Center for Education Evaluation in the Institute of Education Sciences for which the offeror or its proposed subcontractors served as prime contractor (currently active as well as active at any time during the past five years) and were not included in the list from the paragraph above. This list may be included in a table in the appendix and will not count toward the proposal page limit.

If an offeror does not have recorded past performance in the CPARS/PPIRS system, offerors may request that past performance information be submitted directly from references using the "Contractor Performance Information” form (Attachment C). Each reference is to complete the form and return it to the points of contact listed below, as prescribed on the form. Completed forms from references are due on the same day as Technical & Business Proposals under this solicitation. Request that the reference please return the completed form via email to the following individuals:

to: Jonathan.Bettis@ed.gov and Catherine.Shade@ed.gov and a cc to:

Ryan.Battad@ed.gov

Note: if an offeror does have recorded past performance in the CPARS/PPIRS system, then there is no need to submit the Attachment C forms. This form is intended to provide an opportunity to demonstrate past performance if an offeror does not have prior government experience or if an evaluation for prior Federal government experience is not available in CPARS/PPIRS.

Small Business Participation. The Department values an approach where substantive work in a meaningful capacity is performed by capable small businesses. A valued approach for the anticipated contract will be one where technical, analytical, data collection, or other significant services are performed by one or more small businesses that are capable of doing this work.

Offerors other than small businesses must describe the work to be performed by a small business(es), the name of the small business(es), the socioeconomic status of each small business concern, and the percentage of work proposed to be performed by each small business concern (by and for each performance period, inclusive of option periods).

NOTE: Any small business or consultant not incorporated as a business entity and registered with SAM.gov does not count towards the small business subcontracting goal.

Do not include cost information in this section.

Volume II: Business Proposal

The Department anticipates awarding a Cost Reimbursement Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract.

There is no page limit to the business proposal. The offeror shall submit proposed costs for each task and subtask and for the project overall. The proposed budget for each task and subtask (total, by contract period, and by contract year) shall include the number of hours each staff person

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(including subcontractor level of effort/cost/price) is expected to commit, the labor category, and the hourly labor rate.

Business volumes must contain sufficient information for the Department to conduct a cost analysis and make a fairness and reasonableness determination. The offeror is expected to use their best business judgment in submitting the necessary information.

Where applicable, Offerors must ensure that its company, and its proposed sub-contractor and consultants follow the General Services Administration’s (GSA) Federal Travel Regulations (FTR). Please provide a statement saying that the offeror will comply with the FTR.

Cross Referencing:

a. Each part shall be written on a stand-alone basis so that its contents may be evaluated without cross-referencing to other parts of the proposal.

b. Information required for proposal evaluation, which is not found in its designated part, will be assumed to have been omitted from the proposal.

Business Proposal Contents

The Business Proposal must include each of the following:

A cover sheet with the name, address, and DUNS number of the firm and signed by an officer of the firm.

Abstract. A one-page summary is to be provided abstracting the proposal contents in language understandable to an informed layperson. The abstract shall indicate full acceptance of the solicitation requirements or note any offeror or assumptions justified. A summary chart showing the proposed Cost Reimbursement costs for the full performance period shall be included.

Cost Accounting, Estimating, and Purchasing System Information. The offeror shall include information on the status of your accounting system, estimating system, and purchasing system. If these systems have been reviewed and approved by a Government Agency, include a copy of the approval letter.

Labor Rates. Offerors must use unburdened labor rates. The labor mix and labor categories proposed must be consistent with the personnel proposed in the technical proposal. Any rate higher than $800 per day for any proposed consultant requires justification.

Breakdowns for Other Direct Costs and Other Resources. Offerors shall submit proposed costs itemized for each task/subtask, as well as a total proposed cost for the entire work to be performed under the contract. The proposed budget for each task and subtask must indicate the number of hours being proposed for each staff person (including subcontractor personnel) and breakdowns of direct charges for materials, supplies, consultants, equipment, telephone, copying, travel, and any other major budget items, as well as indirect cost rates used in preparing the cost estimate. Indirect rates shall

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91990019R0004 Version Date: 03.18.2019 be in accordance with your current provisional billing rate agreements. A copy of current indirect rate agreements shall be included with the business proposal.

The business proposal shall also include costs itemized by project year.

Subcontractor Cost(s). Offerors must submit its price/cost analyses of all subcontractors proposed whose costs exceeds the threshold for certified cost or pricing data (as applicable). The following information must be addressed (as applicable):

o If a subcontract proposal exceeds the threshold for certified cost or pricing data (FAR 15.403-4(a)) and is not otherwise exempt from other exceptions in accordance with FAR 15.403-1(b), please include the prime contractor’s price/cost analyses establishing the reasonableness of each subcontract price.

o In accordance with the thresholds in FAR 15.404-3(c) and FAR 15.408, Table 15-2 II.A.(2), Cost and Pricing data, a copy of each subcontractor’s proposal must be provided.

o Identify in the proposal the degree of competition and the basis for establishing the source and reasonableness of price for each subcontract priced on a competitive basis (FAR 15.408, Table 15-2 II. A. (1)) exceeding the threshold at FAR 15.403-4(a).

o Additionally, in accordance with FAR 52.215-22 Limitations on Pass- through Charges – Identification of Subcontract Effort, if applicable, if the offeror intends to subcontract more than 70% of the total cost of work to be performed, the proposal must identify (i) the amount of the offeror’s indirect costs and profit applicable to the work to be performed by the subcontractor(s) and (ii) a description of the added value provided by the offeror as related to the work to be performed by the subcontractor(s).

Validity of Offer: Include a statement to the effect that the proposal submitted is firm for a period of at least 120 business days from the due date for proposals specified by the Government.

Conflict of Interest Plan and Certificate. The offeror shall submit a Conflict of Interest Plan, providing details on its policies and procedures to identify and avoid potential actual or apparent organizational or personnel conflicts of interest. The Plan must also address procedures taken to neutralize or mitigate such conflicts if they have not been or cannot be avoided. The Plan must indicate that such policies and procedures are operative throughout the period of outside activities financial interests, or other significant connections or identifications that would establish, or give the appearance of establishing, a conflict of interest. A method for periodically reviewing financial interests of employees, subcontractors, and consultants, and their immediate families, in order to assess actual or apparent conflicts of interest, must be included in the plan. The term “potential conflict” means a reasonably foreseeable conflict of interest.

Note: Offerors must disclose any potential conflicts in this section and must provide a mitigation plan for any disclosed conflicts.

Small Business Subcontracting Plan. Other than small businesses must submit a subcontracting plan consistent with the requirements of FAR Clause 52.219-9 (Alternate II).

If the other than small business offeror provides a small business subcontracting plan that

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91990019R0004 Version Date: 03.18.2019 does not or cannot meet the Department’s stated goals in the solicitation, the plan must provide enough information detailing the rationale to not do so. Subject to the limitation described above regarding the business status and SAM.gov registration of proposed consultants, please provide consultant information here as applicable.

FY 2019 Subcontracting Goals Small Business Category Goal Small Business 31.00% Small Disadvantaged Business 5% Women-Owned Small Business 5% HUBZone Small Business 3% Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business 3%

Attachment D Level of Effort Chart

In addition to the formatting requirements described above, please complete the Attachment D: Level of Effort Chart and submit as an Excel attachment with the Business Proposal Submission.

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91990019R0004 – Title III Questions and Answers

1. The Past Performance requirement describes two lists of required project details: one containing all projects cited in the proposal as relevant corporate and staff experience, and another containing all contracts with NCEE within the past 5 years. Can ED please confirm that both lists may be included as tables in the appendices and will not count toward the page limit?

Response: Yes, this information may be included as a table in the appendices and will not count against the page limitation in the technical volume.

2. For the implementation study data collection, the PWS refers to “review of state and local plans from all SEAs.” Does “all SEAs” include all 50 states in addition to Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico or does it also include outlying territories?

Response: All SEAs includes all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

3. The PWS lists the start date of the project as 6/14/2019 but the schedule on p. 2 of the RFP lists a start date of 6/30/2019. Can you confirm the correct start date?

Response: Please assume a start date of 06/14/2019.

4. The PWS requires the contractor to develop interview protocols for “states, districts, and program developers” (under subtask 6.1 on page 40 of the RFP) but mentions only interviews with LEAs and program developers in the data collection summary on page 30 of the RFP. Please clarify whether state interviews should be included as a data source for the feasibility study.

Response: The government assumed subtask 6.1 would include two types of respondents (LEAs and program developers). Offerors should propose (and justify) what they feel best meets the requirements described in the PWS.

5. Is the offeror required to enter the goal of its subplan in the Attachment B Small Business Tool?

Response: Yes.

6. It appears that IES anticipates that the contractor will not obtain OMB clearance for the site visit protocols for either the feasibility study or the implementation study. Please verify whether this assumption is correct. If so, should the contractor prepare for data collection with exactly nine LEAs and program developers rather than with at least nine LEAs and program developers as stated on page 30 of the RFP?

Response: The government assumed nine respondents for all site visits. The government does not anticipate that a larger sample would be necessary for the feasibility study, but did not want to arbitrarily limit the sample for the implementation study based on OMB requirements (thus, the language “at least nine.”). Offerors should propose (and justify) the sample size they feel best meets the requirements described in the PWS for the implementation study. Should the offeror propose and justify a sample of more than nine respondents, revisions to add to the cleared OMB package can be submitted. The clearance of the amended package would take between 10 and 30 days.

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91990019R0004 – Title III Questions and Answers

7. One potential offeror expressed concern and requested clarification regarding the following language included in the Instructions to Offerors at Page 70 of the Request for Proposals (note that the entire email is not repeated here):

NOTE: Any small business or consultant not incorporated as a business entity and registered with SAM.gov does not count towards the small business subcontracting goal.

Response: After reviewing the potential offeror’s references to FAR 19 and FAR 2, this requirement is removed. Note, however, that the requirement was originally intended to enable Department staff to easily identify and confirm the small business status of proposed subcontractors. In lieu of registration in SAM as originally required, the prime contractor must assure that proposed small businesses in each proposed socioeconomic subcategory are, in fact, certified as small businesses if the Department is unable to verify the claim by reviewing the proposed subcontractor’s representations and certifications on SAM.gov.