A05_PWS_rev1_1.pdf

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SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE Federal contract opportunity
Solicitation number
DOIAFBO250033
Issued by
Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs Bureau of Indian Education

About this file

This Performance Work Statement (PWS) details a contract for ELA/Math Assessments for the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), focusing on providing comprehensive assessment services for BIE-funded schools. The primary objectives include administering operational student assessments for grades 3-8 and high school, with key component areas spanning assessment administration, scoring, data quality, reporting, student registration, training, and technical support.

The contract requires the contractor to develop and deliver paper-based and online assessments for Spring 2026, create a secure student registration portal, provide comprehensive training and technical support, and ensure compliance with multiple federal regulations including privacy guidelines, cybersecurity standards, and accessibility requirements. The contractor will be responsible for producing individual and aggregate student reports, conducting statistical analyses, supporting federal reporting needs, and maintaining robust data security protocols. The initial contract period covers the 2025-2026 school year, with potential option years through 2029-2030 that may include additional services like formative assessments, interim assessments, test item development, and an interactive dashboard.

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Attachment_1_Security_Objectives_-_Services_Level_Agreement_1.pdf PDF
A14_BIE_Sources_Sought_Notice_1.pdf PDF
Attachment_2_DOI_IT_Baseline_Compliance_1.pdf PDF
Attachment_3_Performance_Requirement_Summary_1.pdf PDF

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Performance Work Statement (PWS)

ELA/Math Assessments

1.0 BACKGROUND

The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) is tasked with providing quality education opportunities from early childhood through life, as outlined in 25 CFR Part 32.3 – Mission Statement. The goal is to address the educational needs of Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages, in a manner that supports their cultural and economic well-being, while recognizing the diversity and distinctiveness of each tribe and village as separate cultural and governmental entities.

Additionally, the BIE is committed to addressing the whole person, considering their spiritual, mental, physical, and cultural needs within the context of their family, tribe, or village. As part of its mission, BIE requires the performance of assessments for the students it serves. These assessments will be utilized for reporting and accountability purposes in compliance with 25

CFR 30.100-125.

2.0 SCOPE

The BIE requires the contractor to provide and deliver operational student assessments and professional services for the following:

General component areas:

1. Kickoff Kickoff Meeting - Within 10 business days after award

2. Clear Communication of Assessment Results The Contractor will provide reports in a manner that is easily understood by parents, guardians, and educators, with clear indications of each student’s performance in all assessed academic areas. Acceptable quality level not less than 100%. Inspection weekly.

3. Data Quality The Contractor and the BIE will collaborate to ensure the quality of data exchanged between the parties. Contractor must comply with all Attachments to this contract.

Acceptable quality level not less than 100%. Inspection weekly and as needed.

4. Assessment Administration and Scoring The Contractor shall administer and score student assessments in accordance with BIE standards. Acceptable quality level not less than 100%.

5. Reconciliation of Data The BIE, with the assistance of the Contractor, will reconcile student listings to confirm the number of students who have taken the assessment. Contractor shall comply with all

Attachments to this contract. Acceptable quality level not less than 100%. Inspection annually.

6. Statistical Analysis

The Contractor will perform statistical analyses on the assessment results and will notify the BIE of any issues that may impact the interpretation of the results. This includes identifying patterns such as many students missing a particular test item, unscored items, or instances of invalid results. Acceptable quality level not less than 100%. Inspection at the request of the BIE Chief Academic Officer/Government.

7. Accountability and Federal Reporting For assessments used for accountability and federal reporting purposes (according to EdFacts file specifications), the Contractor will report the student’s performance level, academic growth, and any other indicators specified by the BIE. Contractor shall comply with all Attachments to this contract. Acceptable quality level not less than 100%.

Inspection annually.

8. Section 508 Compliance Contractor shall ensure that all electronic and information technology delivered in compliance with this PWS meets the accessibility standards of 365 CFR 1194.36. CFR 1194 implements Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended March 23, 2018. Acceptable quality level not less than 100%. Inspection no later than three (3) weeks after award, then annually.

9. Compliance with Privacy Guidelines All reports for public distribution will adhere to guidelines concerning Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). These reports will also be subject to approval by the BIE prior to publication.

Contractor shall comply with all Attachments to this contract. Acceptable quality level not less than 100%. Inspection within two (2) months of award.

10. Non-disclosure Agreements (NDA) Contractor employees who will have access to DOI or Service information or will develop custom applications must sign a non-disclosure agreement prior to gaining access. Acceptable quality level not less than 100%. Inspection within three (3) weeks after award.

11. Security Awareness Training (SAT) Contractor employees must take DOI’s end-user computer security awareness training prior to being granted access to DOI data or being issued a user account. Acceptable quality level not less than 100%. Inspection annually.

12. Personnel Changes The contractor must notify the COR immediately when an employee working on the assessment system has been reassigned or leaves the contractor’s employment or a new employee has been added to replace a missing employee. Acceptable quality level not less than 100%. Inspection as needed.

13. Contractor Location Work is to be completed at BIA/BIE authorized facilities. Facilities can be government, tribal, virtual, and/or contractor facilities. Work is to be completed at BIA/BIE authorized facilities and/or tribal facilities and/or virtually and/or contractor facilities. The contractor will do all work in the continental United States (CONUS), the lower forty-eight states.

The data will not be stored outside of CONUS. Acceptable quality level not less than 100%. Inspection daily.

14. Intellectual Property Rights DOI will own the intellectual property rights to any software developed on its behalf to the maximum extent practical. Acceptable quality level not less than 100%. Inspection annually.

15. Report Formats Reporting of assessment results to the BIE will be provided in electronic formats such as Microsoft Excel (.xls or .xlsx), comma-separated values (.csv), tab-delimited (.txt), or SPSS data files. Contractor shall comply with all Attachments to this contract. Acceptable quality level not less than 100%. At the request of the BIE-Chief Academic Office/Government.

16. Student Registration Portal The Contractor shall develop, maintain, and support a student registration portal to facilitate the registration process. Student Registration Portal - Within 60 days after award. System Logon Banner Acknowledgement: Applications developed or maintained under this contract must contain a BIE approved log-on warning advising users of rules, restrictions, and privacy expectations for that application. Acceptable quality level not less than 100%. At the request of the BIE-Chief Academic Office/Government.

17. Reporting (Paper and Electronic) The Contractor shall produce and deliver (within a reasonable time after testing) both paper (gray scale) and electronic reports on assessment results, ensuring timely and accurate distribution to relevant stakeholders. Acceptable quality level not less than 100%. At the request of the BIE-Chief Academic Office/Government.

18. Test Administration Training The Contractor shall provide training to BIE staff and relevant personnel on test administration procedures and associated systems.

19. Data Integration Training The Contractor shall provide training to BIE staff and relevant personnel on the integration of assessment data systems.

20. Project Management Services

The Contractor shall provide project management services to ensure effective planning, execution, and completion of all assessment-related activities.

21. Help Desk Support - All help desk calls are tracked and reported weekly to BIE in a format that categorizes the problems, issues, and concerns and subsequent resolutions.

The report shall be utilized to determine training needs.

The Contractor shall provide helpdesk services for BIE’s bureau-funded schools, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM local time during the registration period (approximately 5 weeks), test administration period (approximately 6 weeks) and post administration period (approximately 3 weeks). The Contractor’s Helpdesk may be in Pacific, Mountain, Central and Eastern Time Zones and include both telephone and online chat support. Federal holidays are excluded. Hold time for Helpdesk Services shall not exceed 15 minutes. (See below for more information.).

22. Helpdesk Services – Four tiers – Roles and responsibilities

Tier 1 The first point of contact for basic issues, like password resets and troubleshooting.

Tier 2 Handles more complex issues, like software and hardware fixes.

Tier 3 The highest level of IT support, involving expert-level knowledge and technical specialists. The Contractor shall offer helpdesk services to assist BIE staff and students with any technical or procedural issues related to the assessments.

Tier 4 Involves external support from vendors and other experts for issues that are beyond the organization's capabilities

23. Information Technology (IT) Support The Contractor shall provide IT support to maintain and troubleshoot the infrastructure required for online assessments and associated systems. The above seven services are required for BIE schools and students beginning in the 2025-26 school year through the 2029-2030 school year. During the option years, BIE may require the following additional components. Contractor will provide all 4 Tiers of support.

24. Optional Services

The Contractor shall provide optional services as requested by BIE, which may include enhancements or additional functionalities. Status reports and updates will be required.

Ad hoc reports may need to be developed from data available.

25. Optional Test Item Development The incumbent Contractor shall develop additional test items, as needed, to support the evolving assessment needs of BIE schools.

26. System Logon Banner Applications developed or maintained under this contract must contain a BIE approved log-on warning advising users of rules, restrictions, and privacy expectations for that application. Approved sample logon banner will be provided within one week of contract award. Acceptable quality level not less than 100%. Inspection daily.

27. System Logon Banner Acknowledgement All access DOI data must acknowledge a government-approved log-on warning prior to each new log-on to the system. Acceptable quality level not less than 100%.

Inspection at request of Government.

28. Incident Reporting The contractor must report computer security incidents affecting DOI/BIE data or systems in accordance with the DOI Computer Incident Response Guide within one-hour of incident detection. Daily during the investigation of said incident and finally weekly during the resolve of said incident. Acceptable quality level not less than 100%.

Inspection will be defined in the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP – Performance Requirements and Assessments, Surveillance Methods, Roles and Responsibilities, and Performance Reporting), Daily, and Weekly. SCH2 Attachment – BIA incident response plan within 5 days of Kickoff, incumbent contractor to receive BIA IA Incident Response form.

29. Quality Control Malware Code

All software and hardware must be free of malicious code.

Acceptable quality level not less than 100%. Inspection at the request of the Government. (See Attachments).

30. Annual Self-Assessment At contractor expense, the contractor must conduct an annual self-assessment in accordance with NIST SP800-37 Rev. 2, NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 and NIST SP 800- 53A Rev. 5 on all MAs, GSSs, and outsourced applications in production or a reference to public facilities, such as a website or office, where it may be accessed. Contractor will engage a 3rd party assessor, also known as 3PAO. (See also Attachments) Acceptable quality level not less than 100%. Inspection annually, and as requested by the Government. (See Attachments).

31. Security Controls

Contractors will be required to ensure compliance with the security control requirements of NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5.1, or current version, and Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 200, Privacy Threshold Analysis/Privacy Impact Assessment, which are appropriate to the sensitivity and criticality of the data or system. Risk management framework (RMF) 800-37 Rev 2. (See also Attachments).

32. Contingency Plan Test After signing the non-disclosure agreement, the Contractor will submit a contingency Plan to: BIA Disaster Recovery Analyst, 1001 Indian School Road NW, Albuq., NM 87104, Room 150D with notice to Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COR). Develop in accordance with NIST SP 800-34 Rev. 1 (as amended) or current version and the DOI Contingency Plan Guide. (See also Attachments). Standard operating procedures, version 2022, may be available. Template will be made available to Contractor. Recovery Time Objectives (RO) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPO):

The BIA helps define the RTO (maximum acceptable downtime) and RPO (acceptable data loss) for each critical business function, which are crucial for developing effective Disaster recovery plans.

33. Vulnerability Analysis All systems operated and managed by the incumbent contractor shall be scanned at a minimum monthly with a vulnerability analysis tool to be consistent with Government requirements. https://www.nist.gov/privacy-framework/nist-sp-800-115.

https://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/sp/800/144/final. (See also Attachments).

34. Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) The contractor shall create a PIA within 2wks of award.

https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/legacy/sp/nistspecialpublication800-122.pdf.

(See also Attachments).

35. Compatibility with BIE Systems Assessment result files will be formatted to align with the BIE's Student

Information System (SIS). The Contractor will coordinate with the BIE and the BIE's SIS vendor to import results after each test administration. Contractor shall comply with all Attachments to this contract. (See also Attachments). Acceptable quality level not less than 100%. Inspection ASAP, Daily, and Weekly.

36. Public Consumption Formats

Reports intended for educators, parents, or the public will be provided in formats such as Adobe Acrobat (.pdf), Microsoft Word (.docx), or another user-friendly formats. Contractor shall comply with all Attachments to this contract.

(See also Attachments).

https://www.nist.gov/privacy-framework/nist-sp-800-115 https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/legacy/sp/nistspecialpublication800-122.pdf

37. Schedule

Schedule to Administer Assessments to all BIE Schools – Within 60 days after Award. General times period will be provided by BIE.

38. Manual

Test Administration Manual – Within 90 days after award. Sample contents will be provided.

39. Coordination

Coordination of Training for Teachers on Administration of the Assessments (formative, interim, summative assessments) Within 90 days after award. Further details on “Coordination” will be provided at a later date.

40. Reports/Training Summative Assessment Reports and Training – Within 60 days after the test administration window. Clarification will be forth coming. (See more information below).

41. Training/Webinars

On-site/Virtual Trainings & Webinars for Teachers and Administrators – (i.e.

formative, interim, summative assessments-test reports training) Within 60 days after award. (See more information below). Clarification of type(onsite/canned/etc.) is forth coming.

42. Meetings – Contractor/BIE One hour Project Management Services-Weekly Meetings, more time to be scheduled as needed. Contractor will develop agenda with input from a BIE subject matter expert and/or the Chief Academic Officer, to include, but not limited to, meeting objectives, discussion topics, date/time, accomplishments, attendees, pending issues, action items, and suggested ways to resolve issues/concerns. Weekly progress meetings shall be used to raise issues, present status, and progress, and make decisions.

43. Technical Support Technical Support for all Assessments (API, assessment setup, office hours) – Daily.

Clarification of type and level of “Technical Support” is forth coming.

44. Development Test Item Development (i.e. culturally relevant test items-future option years).

Definition of culturally and “relevant” are forth coming.

45. Dashboard Dashboard (Option) is not a requirement of this procurement. Reports will be generated from data available from Assessments.

46. Monthly Status Report

Due by the 10th of each month for the preceding month, shall describe accomplishments for the reporting period, issues, current and cumulative financial status, in-process action items, and projected activities for the next reporting period.

47. Quarterly Progress Reporting (QPR) To provide a comprehensive review of the status of the contract to include execution against the schedule and expenditures plan, progress toward addressing action items, potential issues, recommendations for project enhancements, and plans for the next quarter. Project plan with schedule and list of deliverables.

48. Web-based Project Information Exchange.

Additional context will be forth coming. Contractor recommendation shall be delivered to the Government within three (3) weeks after execution of this contract and have an operational BIE support website not later than three (3) weeks from the Governments approval to proceed.

49. Virtual User Training

Contractor shall provide virtual user training (live and/or canned) that will encompass test security agreement and depict training participant's proficiency and generate a certificate of completion. 80% shall be considered passing for participants.

50. Data Validation

Prioritizing the correction of errors in the consistency of data from all schools, it will be necessary for the incumbent contractor to monitor the state database and compare all school’s databases. The synchronization between schools and assessment portal must occur in real time (i.e., API). In collaboration with Contractor, BIE subject matter experts will provide validation of Contractor data and corrective actions.

Break out by: Component No. | Component Activity | Performance Requirements

Component 1. Assessments Administration and Scoring (Paper-based and online) Performance Objective: The Contractor shall provide the production, delivery, and scoring of paper-based and online student assessments annually to BIE-funded schools in sufficient quantity and within the required timeline for Spring 2026 assessment administration. The assessments will be administered to students in grades 3-8 and high school as determined by the BIE Chief Academic Officer. Scoring shall be via scanning method and hand scored. Additional information will be forth coming.

Performance Standard: The assessments must be delivered via internet (address to be provided by BIE subject matter experts) and scored accurately (either manual or electronic), meeting a specified quantity (number has not yet been determined, suggest “price per” be provided) and necessary deadlines (exact dates have not yet been determined and will be determined by BIE at a later date).

A. Assessment Delivery

BIE template for paper and electronic versions (pdf) have not yet been determined.

The contractor shall deliver assessments to BIE schools in both paper and online formats, in the required quantity and in time for the annual spring administration, beginning with Spring 2026.

Paper assessments will be reimbursed at the actual cost to: (a) produce and (b) score.

Assessments may be multi-choice, manual score, computer-based, True/False, bubble scan, digital training.

Accommodated formats for assessments must be designed to support a high population of English Language Learners (ELLs) and students with disabilities. BIE will establish test administration windows, allowing schools to select specific dates for test administration within the provided testing windows.

A. Training

The Contractor shall provide training and technical support to BIE schools.

Training the trainer is required. Location of training can be onsite or virtual.

However, virtual training is preferred method and can be accomplished via Teams technology.

B. Technical Support

The contractor shall provide training and technical support to BIE schools. This includes assistance with assessment implementation and administration activities, such as:

Help desk support – hours defined with this contract (all four levels of support, Virtual office hours, A dedicated dashboard). A support webpage specifically for BIE, Facilitation of reconciliation for any test quantity issues.

Component 2. Student Registration Portal (Standard data elements to collect have not yet been determined)

Performance Objective: The Contractor shall provide a secure, online student registration portal that integrates with the BIE’s Student Information System (SIS). The Contractor is responsible for facilitating the upload of student registration and administrative data for the student assessments, collaborating with BIE and the SIS vendor.

Performance Standard: The Contractor shall provide a functional, secure portal with technical support, including API and manual uploads. An enrollment report and verification of successful registration will be delivered as part of this service every 10th of the month. How measured:

Buying a service and will be include in the QASP, including monthly burn rate, deliverable, when, deliverables. Commercial off the shelf (COTS) and or COTS module are acceptable.

The Contractor will provide the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) and Bureau-funded schools with access to the Contractor’s registration portal/dashboard. The BIE will collaborate with the Contractor to input student information and registration data, as detailed below. The Student Registration Portal will be exclusively dedicated to BIE use and will not be shared with any other State Education Agency (SEA).

A. Uploading Student Information

The Contractor will collaborate with BIE’s Student Information System (SIS) vendor to ensure seamless extraction and upload of accurate student data and demographic files from the SIS into the Contractor’s registration portal. Contractor will discuss/explain how they will get TLS 1.3 data transferred to other side. Requires secure transfer web-based TLS 1.2 or higher (DIT) data in transit and Data at Rest (DAR). Use TEDE. Subject to OMB Cir. A-130. Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) is security feature that encrypts data at rest, meaning the data is protected when it is stored on the storage media (like a hard drive or cloud storage). It encrypts and decrypts data automatically without requiring any changes to application or database users.

1. The Contractor will enable BIE to interface with the BIE SIS to upload student data as necessary to ensure timely and accurate registration for assessments.

2. The Contractor will provide BIE with access to the Contractor’s online administrative portal and provide technical support as needed. The Contractor will create a user role for BIE to allow for entering BIE student information data.

3. The online portal must allow for the import and management of assessment registration data for BIE students, including accommodations and accessibility needs.

4. The online portal must allow authorized users to schedule testing sessions and manage assessment assignments in accordance with BIE and Contractor policies, including the business rules set by both parties.

B. Registering Students

The Contractor will collaborate with BIE and BIE’s SIS (NAISIS 2.0) interconnection security agreement with additional contractor/student information provider vendor to ensure accurate student data is manually and/or automatically extracted via Application Programming Interface (API) integration methods and uploaded into the registration portal.

1. BIE is responsible for uploading the initial organizational information, participation counts, student demographics, and registration information by January 2026. The Contractor will review this data and notify BIE of any discrepancies or quality concerns.

2. BIE will have the opportunity to amend the information in January 2026. Any additional organizations or students entered after this period will be processed as material orders.

3. After the initial upload, BIE-funded schools will be able to access and update student data as needed due to changes in enrollment.

C. Security Plan

DOI-SSPs research. See 800-52 rev. 5 Template compliant with GRC (format forth coming).

The Contractor will follow the same data privacy and security procedures for BIE, as a federal agency, that it applies to other participating states, as described in the Contractor's Operational Security Plan. The Contractor will provide BIE with a copy of this Security Plan.

D. Quality of Work Products

The Contractor is responsible for correcting any errors in work products resulting from activities within its scope of responsibility. The Contractor shall bear the cost of these corrections.

However, the Contractor will not be financially responsible for errors arising from actions taken by BIE. Corrective actions may include, but are not limited to:

1. Conducting analyses to determine the cause and extent of errors.

2. Editing, revising, and/or reprogramming computer-based applications.

3. Reprinting and/or reproducing products or other materials.

4. Replacing and/or correcting data files.

5. Reproducing reports.

6. Shipping replacement products or reports to the school, district, state, or BIE using expedited shipping services.

Component 3. Reporting-Paper Copies Performance Objective: The Contractor shall print and deliver two copies of individual student reports and one copy of a parent report to each BIE-funded school. In addition, the Contractor shall provide aggregate assessment result reports for each school, district, and state to the BIE Central Office.

Performance Standard: All paper reports must be accurately printed and delivered on time.

The Contractor is responsible for all activities necessary to provide the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools with hard-copy and electronic results of Contractor-administered assessments. The specifics of the assessment reports will be determined collaboratively between the BIE and the Contractor as outlined below.

A. Reports The Contractor will print (gray scale) and deliver student test results both in hard-copy and electronic formats. Each school will receive:

1. Two copies of individual student proficiency reports.

2. School-wide grade-level reports that aggregate student proficiency data.

The Contractor will provide access to electronic copies of these reports via a Data Warehouse, with user access roles for stakeholders to retrieve individual student reports, school-level reports, and rosters. Additionally, the Contractor will conduct standard setting, validation, and establish cut scores for assessments in June through August 2027. Preliminary electronic results from the spring 2026 administration will be available in May/June 2026. The BIE and Contractor will agree on a detailed reporting schedule for both electronic and paper reports at a face-to-face meeting.

The Contractor's Responsibilities Include the Following:

1. Contractor shall comply with all Attachments to this contract.

2. Clear Communication of Results: The Contractor will provide reports in a manner that is easily understood by parents, guardians, and educators, with clear indications of each student’s performance in all assessed academic areas.

3. Data Quality: The Contractor and the BIE will collaborate to ensure the quality of data exchanged between the parties. Contractor must comply with all Attachments to this contract.

4. Reconciliation of Data: The BIE, with the assistance of the Contractor, will reconcile student listings to confirm the number of students who have taken the assessment.

Contractor shall comply with all Attachments to this contract.

5. Statistical Analysis: The Contractor will perform statistical analyses on the assessment results and will notify the BIE of any issues that may impact the interpretation of the results. This includes identifying patterns such as many students missing a particular test item, unscored items, or instances of invalid results.

6. Accountability and Federal Reporting: For assessments used for accountability and federal reporting purposes (according to EdFacts file specifications), the Contractor will report the student’s performance level, academic growth, and any other indicators specified by the BIE. Contractor shall comply with all Attachments to this contract.

7. Compliance with Privacy Guidelines: All reports for public distribution will adhere to guidelines concerning Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). These reports will also be subject to approval by the BIE prior to publication. Contractor shall comply with all Attachments to this contract.

8. Report Formats: Reporting of assessment results to the BIE will be provided in electronic formats such as Microsoft Excel (.xls or .xlsx), comma-separated values (.csv), tab-delimited (.txt), or SPSS data files. Contractor shall comply with all Attachments to this contract.

9. Compatibility with BIE Systems: Additional assessment result files will be formatted to align with the BIE's Student Information System (SIS). The Contractor will coordinate with the BIE and the BIE's SIS vendor to import results after each test administration.

Contractor shall comply with all Attachments to this contract.

10. Public Consumption Formats: Reports intended for educators, parents, or the public will be provided in formats such as Adobe Acrobat (.pdf), Microsoft Word (.docx), or other user-friendly formats. Contractor shall comply with all Attachments to this contract.

11. Secure Data Transmission: Transmission of student-level data between the BIE and the Contractor will occur using secure transmission protocols such as File Transmission Protocol (FTP), Secure Socket Shell (SSH), or other secure methods authorized by the BIE (e.g., BIE Box folders mutually agreed upon by the Contractor and the BIE).

Contractor shall comply with all Attachments to this contract.

B. Quality Control The Contractor will follow the same quality control processes for BIE that it applies to other State Education Agencies (SEAs), as detailed in the Contractor’s Operational Quality Plan. The Contractor will provide a copy of this Quality Control Plan to the BIE for review. Contractor shall comply with all Attachments to this contract.

C. Data Integrity The Contractor’s portal and platform will provide robust end-to-end data protections to ensure data integrity while the data is in the Contractor’s possession, covering processing, storage, and transmission between applications and interfaces. These processes will meet federal data integrity requirements. Contractor shall comply with all Attachments to this contract.

D. System Access Security The Contractor’s platform will provide auditable access controls throughout the data management life cycle, including controls for access, confidentiality, monitoring, and threat detection. The platform must meet federal system access security standards. Contractor shall comply with all Attachments to this contract.

E. Data Regulatory Compliance The Contractor must comply with all relevant state and federal regulations, including FISMA, FEDRAMP, FERPA, COPPA, and CIPA, as applicable to the services provided. FEDRAMP compliance is mandatory for the hosting environment, and desired for the platform environment unless waived by the Authorizing Official with concurrence from the DOI CIO. Contractor shall comply with all Attachments to this contract.

F. Version of Assessment Registration Portal and Assessment Delivery Platform The Contractor will provide the BIE with access to the latest version of the online portal, including any necessary Application Program Interface (API) connections, for the duration of the contract. The "latest version" is defined as the most current release of the portal necessary to meet all deliverable dates for the Annual Assessment Administration. Throughout the contract term, the Contractor will upgrade the portal to address performance issues and to implement enhancements agreed upon by both parties, based on user feedback. "Known issues" refers to previously identified performance issues and does not include all requests for enhancements by the Contractor. Contractor must comply with all Attachment to the contract. Contractor shall comply with all Attachments to this contract.

3b. Reporting-Electronic Deliverables Performance Objective: The Contractor shall provide an electronic student data report annually that meets the U.S. Department of Education EdFacts reporting specifications for assessments.

The Contractor shall ensure the online portal provides electronic access to student reports, school-level reports, and rosters for participating schools and the BIE as the State Education Agency (SEA), as well as aggregate student data reports for regional divisions.

Performance Standard: The electronic reports must meet EdFacts specifications and be accessible to all relevant stakeholders via the portal. Contractor shall comply with all Attachments to this contract.

Component 4. Test Administration and Data Integration Training Performance Objective: The Contractor shall develop and deliver both virtual and onsite test administration and data integration training. This training will cover topics such as uploading roster files, ensuring data quality, error reporting, and following testing protocols. The Contractor will coordinate with the COR and the BIE program manager to schedule and facilitate the sessions. Up to 10 virtual or onsite sessions shall be provided, with the location determined by the Government’s COR and BIE program manager. Contractor must comply with all Attachment to this contract.

Performance Standard: All training sessions must be conducted according to schedule, and the Test Administration Manual and Test Coordinator Manual must be provided electronically as part of the training. Student registration into the portal shall also occur during these training sessions. Contractor shall comply with all Attachments to this contract.

Test Administration and Data Integration Training

A. The Contractor shall deliver multiple test administration training opportunities annually to BIE schools, which will include both virtual web-based and on-site sessions (up to 15 sessions per year).

B. The Contractor shall provide online learning resources, including a website and dashboard, designed to support staff in administering the assessments. These resources must include brief tutorials and technical guides that are accessible to all schools.

C. The Contractor shall work with the Government’s Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and Program Manager to develop content for all training sessions. The COR will have final approval authority for all workshops. The Contractor is required to submit a proposed schedule of virtual and on-site training sessions as part of the bid for this contract.

D. The Contractor shall develop a comprehensive Test Administration Manual specifically for BIE, which will be used as a reference for all training sessions.

Component 5. Project Management Services Performance Objective: The Contractor shall provide comprehensive project management services, including invoicing, reporting, and tracking of services provided under the contract.

Monthly calls with the BIE COR will be scheduled to review expenditures, contract balances, and any other contract-related matters. The Project Manager will be accountable for ensuring the overall success of the requirement and maintaining quality control.

Performance Standard: The Contractor must deliver consistent and timely project management reports, address issues promptly, and ensure the quality of service.

A. The Contractor shall be responsible for all work necessary to perform project management services. This includes overseeing task progress/completion, invoicing, reporting, tracking, and monitoring of services rendered under the Contract, including:

1. The Contractor shall deliver financial and tracking reports in a format approved by the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) and submit them within the BIE reporting portals on a quarterly basis.

2. If the BIE has a preferred format for specific reports required under the Contract, the BIE will notify the Contractor and may provide the necessary format/template.

3. Contractor shall comply with all Attachment to this contract.

B. Delayed Dependent Deliverables: If the Contractor experiences delays in delivering services, materials, or required documents or information, the Contractor's time for performance will be extended by a period equivalent to the delay, or a new due date shall be negotiated.

Component 6. Helpdesk Services Performance Objective: The Contractor shall provide a helpdesk service for BIE staff to assist with accessing and navigating the registration portal, as well as for resolving any questions or concerns during both the assessment administration and post-administration phases (e.g., shipping of paper-based assessments).

Performance Standard: Helpdesk services must be available and responsive to inquiries during all relevant phases of assessment administration.

The Contractor shall provide Helpdesk Services to support BIE’s bureau-funded schools during the registration period (approximately 5 weeks), test administration period (approximately 6 weeks), and post-administration period (approximately 3 weeks). These services shall be available Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM local time. The Helpdesk shall provide support across multiple time zones, including Pacific, Mountain, Central, and Eastern Time Zones, and must be available through both telephone and online chat. Federal holidays are excluded from service hours.

The Contractor shall ensure that the hold time for Helpdesk Services does not exceed 15 minutes.

Component 7. Option Years 1-4, Optional Services – Test Item Development Performance Objective: In future option years, the Contractor shall assist in the development of test items aligned with any new standards or revisions that the BIE implements for English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics.

Performance Standard: Test items must meet BIE standards and be delivered within the required timeframe and quality specifications. Contractor shall comply with all Attachments to this contract.

The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) shall own any customized items developed as part of this contract. The Contractor shall add culturally relevant prompts, narratives, and materials over the course of the contract option years, specifically after the base year.

1. Review and analyze the vendor’s test item blueprint.

2. Analyze the BIE’s needs for the development of test items tailored for customization for the student population, including Native American stories and culturally relevant content across all subjects assessed.

3. Identify potential options for developing test items for BIE.

4. Facilitate BIE educator workgroup(s) for item writing.

5. Pilot test items.

6. Add the developed test items to the BIE test item bank.

7. Manage documentation of processes and procedures related to the development and implementation of test items.

Component 8. Optional Services - Option Years 1-4

Subject to the availability of funds, optional services may be added to the contract as “Option” line items and may include the following:

a. Formative Assessments—Contractor shall provide formative assessments aligned to the interim and summative assessments and academic content standards.

b. Interim Assessments – Contractor shall provide interim assessments aligned to the summative assessment and academic content standards.

Performance Objective: The Contractor shall provide interim assessments aligned to the summative assessment and academic content standards. The Contractor shall develop and administer interim assessments for grades 3-8 and one grade in high school.

Performance Standard:

The Contractor shall ensure that the interim assessments meet the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)’s academic requirements. The assessments shall be delivered on schedule as defined in the project timeline.

Acceptable Quality Level (AQL):

• Interim assessments shall be aligned with BIE’s academic standards and curriculum.

• Assessments must be delivered by the agreed-upon deadlines for each option year.

c. Research Paper

Performance Objective:

In future option years, the Contractor shall produce a research paper on areas of needs and/or research questions identified by BIE, which may include up to three possible guiding questions around correlations of growth and interventions.

Performance Standard:

The research paper must adhere to BIE’s academic standards and provide a thorough analysis based on the defined guiding questions. The paper must be submitted by the agreed-upon due date.

Acceptable Quality Level (AQL):

• The research paper must be well-researched, thorough, and based on credible data.

• The Contractor shall ensure that the paper is completed and delivered within the agreed timeline.

• The final paper must meet BIE’s academic standards for clarity, coherence, and scholarly rigor.

d. Interactive Dashboard

Performance Objective:

In the future, the Contractor shall design and implement an interactive dashboard that enables stakeholders to view, analyze, and interpret assessment data. The dashboard shall display both aggregate and disaggregate assessment scores and indicators identified by BIE.

Performance Standard:

The dashboard must be functional, user-friendly, and capable of delivering accurate, timely data insights. The Contractor shall ensure that the dashboard is regularly maintained and updated to reflect the most current assessment data.

Acceptable Quality Level (AQL):

• The dashboard must provide accurate data in real-time.

• The dashboard shall have a user-friendly interface that allows easy navigation for all stakeholders.

• Downtime or malfunctions shall not exceed the agreed-upon threshold of X% per month.

7.0 COMMUNICATION VENUES

1. The Contractor shall conduct weekly virtual meetings with the BIE COR and other BIE CAO staff to ensure that assessment administration remains on track and to address any issues that may interfere with the administration of the assessment, the delivery of assessment results, or other technical issues that may arise.

2. The Contractor shall establish a help desk or similar support system for BIE schools and other personnel to receive assistance with the assessments offered under this contract.

3. The Contractor shall meet in person with the COR at either the COR's physical location or at the vendor's location no more than twice per contract year. The Contractor shall submit a proposed schedule in their bid to accomplish this task.

8.0 PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) requires the provision of student assessments aligned with BIE's standards in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. These assessments are to be designed for students attending BIE-funded schools.

For the base year, the Contractor shall propose a Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) student assessment. For potential option years, BIE reserves the right to require the Contractor to either customize the COTS assessment or develop a new student assessment that meets the specific needs of BIE (refer to Component 8 below).

The Contractor shall also be responsible for managing all necessary licenses associated with the COTS assessments. Contractor shall comply with all Attachments to this contract.

9.0 PERSONNEL - SKILLS and KNOWLEDGE

The contractor shall provide qualified personnel with the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience required to successfully accomplish the tasks outlined in this Performance Work Statement. Personnel must possess relevant expertise aligned with the objectives of the task and demonstrate proficiency in the required skill sets.

10.0 DELIVERABLES AND SCHEDULE

The Contractor is required to provide the following deliverables within the designated timeframes as outlined below:

1. Deliverable Review and Approval Process:

o Upon submission of each deliverable, the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) will have a maximum of fifteen (15) working days from the receipt of the draft deliverable to review the document, provide comments to the Contractor, and either approve or disapprove the deliverable(s).

o The Contractor shall have up to fifteen (15) working days from the date comments are received to incorporate all required changes and submit the final deliverable to the BIE.

2. Workday Clarification:

o All days identified in this section are considered workdays unless otherwise specified.

Deliverable Table

Sections Deliverable Due Date Delivery Method

1. Kickoff Meeting Within 10 business days after award PWS

2.

Student Registration Portal

Within 60 days after award Contractor

3.

Schedule to Administer Assessments to all BIE Schools

4. Test Administration Manual Within 90 days after award Contractor

5.

Coordination of Training for Teachers on Administration of the Assessments

Within 90 days after award Contractor

6.

Summative Assessment Reports and Training

Within 60 days after the test administration window Contractor

7.

On-site/Virtual Trainings & Webinars Contractor

8.

Project Management Services Weekly Meetings

Every Wednesday Contractor

9. Help Desk Support Daily Contractor

10.

Technical Support for all Assessments (API, assessment setup, office hours)

Daily Contractor

11.

Test Item Development (future option years)

TBD by the BIE Contractor

Sections Deliverable Due Date Delivery Method

12.

Formative Assessments and Training

(OPTION)

13.

Interim Assessments and Training (Option)

14.

Dashboard (Option)

12.0 QUALITY ASSURANCE

The Government will implement a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) to assess and ensure the Contractor's performance meets the required standards. The QASP will provide continuous oversight, aiming to maintain performance levels that meet or exceed the agreed-upon task requirements. Additionally, the QASP allows the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) to proactively address potential performance deficiencies and provides measurable input for the Past Performance Information Assessments. The QASP is a dynamic document and may be revised by the Government as necessary. Any revisions to the QASP will be communicated to the Contractor in a timely manner.

13.0 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED EQUIPMENT

1. The BIE-funded schools shall provide computers upon which the assessment may be administered.

2. The BIE-funded schools shall provide an Internet connection to support the administration of the assessment, allowing the assessment to be delivered on the school’s local network.

14.0 TRAVEL

Pre-Travel Approval The contractor will require travel to support requirements outlined in said agreement. Travel arrangement shall have authorization or prior approval, in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations (FTR) 41 C.F.R. § 301-2.1. All travel requests shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) to ensure the proposed travel meets FTR requirements and reasonable cost, per 41 C.F.R § 301-2.3, before approving travel request. The COR’s approval is to ensure travel supports mission requirements/is essential to advancing the services for this

Project. Travel costs that are projected to exceed standard federal travel rates shall be requested and approved in writing by the COR prior to incurring the cost.

Post-Travel Approval Once travel is completed the reimbursement request shall be submitted to the COR for approval, prior to the final submission to the IPP. The reimbursement request shall include but is not limited to the following: traveler name, travel itinerary, purpose for travel, travel receipts (hotel, rental car, gas), tax statement, etc., per 41 C.F.R. § 301-2.2. The COR’s review shall ensure travel meets FTR requirements and reasonable cost before travel reimbursement is submitted to IPP for final payment. For further information on Travel Costs, see FAR 31.205-46. All changes to an already approved travel (i.e., changes for an early return) shall be re-approved by the COR to ensure costs are advantageous for the Government. The traveler shall be responsible for all expenses incurred that are over the allowable reimbursement limits established in the FTR, e.g., all excess costs resulting from circuitous routes, delays, or luxury accommodations or services unnecessary or unjustified in the performance of official business, per 41 C.F.R. § 301-2.4.

Travel costs shall not incur any general and administrative (G&A) and/or profit costs. Travel costs shall be reimbursed using actual cost incurred.

15.0 SECURITY/COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS

1. Includes Section J Attachments.

15.1 General

1. Contractor shall comply with all Attachments to this contract.

2. The vendor/contractor’s information technology (IT) system shall ensure the protection and maintenance of the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the data always.

3. The vendor/contractor’s IT system shall allow access only to authorized users with valid credentials.

4. The vendor/contractor’s IT system shall assign appropriate access levels based on user type.

5. The vendor/contractor’s IT system shall be capable of supporting a Data Leakage Tool.

6. The vendor/contractor’s IT system shall encrypt all sensitive data in accordance with FIPS 140-2 standards.

7. The vendor/contractor’s IT system shall implement all necessary security controls required for a system with a FIPS 199 categorization of Moderate.

8. The vendor/contractor shall comply with the security objectives outlined in Attachment One of this document.

9. The vendor/contractor is required to meet all threshold and security controls specified in this document and its attachments. If any of these requirements are not applicable or if the vendor/contractor is unable to meet them, the vendor/contractor must identify such in their proposal.

15.2 Security Objectives

Agencies require risk assessments that are based on a holistic view encompassing mission, business, and information system perspectives. A significant portion of the assessment is driven by iterative processes within an environment of shrinking resources.

To address these challenges, agencies are…

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