EOC_Cap_Statment_Instructions_JAN.11.16.docx

EOC Capability Statement Instructions

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION SCIENCES

NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION EVALUATION AND REGIONAL ASSISTANCE

STUDY OF AN INFORMATION STRATEGY TO INCREASE

ENROLLMENT IN POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

SOLICITATION # ED-IES-16-R-0008

CAPABILITY STATEMENT INSTRUCTIONS

The U.S. Department of Education (the Department) is conducting market research to determine if sufficient interest and capability exists in the marketplace for the Study of An Information Strategy to Increase Enrollment in Postsecondary Education requirement, hereafter referred to as “EOC”. This notice is NOT a request for proposals, but is an invitation for potential offerors to express interest and provide information regarding their relevant knowledge, skills and capabilities. Information submitted in response to this Sources Sought Notice may be used to assist the Department in finalizing its acquisition strategy.

Disclaimer: The Department will not pay for the provision of any information nor will it compensate any respondents for providing this information. This notice in no way obligates the Government to award any contract to any interested party. Feedback will not be provided to any interested party who submits information to the Department in response to this notice.

Capability Statement Submission Deadline The deadline for submitting Capability Statements and Basic Information responses is January 21, 2016 by 12:00 noon (ET) via e-mail to the following individuals: Gibran.Mills@ed.gov, and cc: Veronica.Price@ed.gov Primary Point of Contact:

Gibran Mills Contract Specialist Gibran.Mills@ed.gov

Secondary Point of Contact:

Veronica Price, Sr. Contracting Officer Veronica.Price@ed.gov Capability Statement Instructions In response to the attached DRAFT EOC Performance Work Statement (PWS), the Department hereby solicits capability statements from eligible, interested parties. Capability Statements shall be no longer than 3 pages (single-spaced, with a minimum of one-inch margins and 12 point font).

Interested Parties shall provide responses for all content areas noted below. The information requested in the Basic Information Section ONLY does NOT count against the 3 page Capability Statement page limitation.

BASIC INFORMATION

1. Please state your business/company name and address. Include contact information such as a corporate email address and website URL.

1. Please state your business size status (i.e. large or small) in the stated NAICS code of 541720. Also provide all socio economic categories for your company and the corresponding NAICS code, and a statement as to whether NAICS code of 541720 is the most appropriate code.

1. State if the requirement should be set-aside for small business, and why (or why not)?

1. State if your business believes that GSA OASIS contracts are a viable procurement tool; and if so, under which pool?

1. State if your company believes that the DRAFT EOC PWS contains any unduly restrictive language or content? Why? Please cite specific examples and provide feedback.

1. State if the DRAFT EOC PWS content provides opportunities for small business subcontracting. Why or why not?

CAPABILITY STATEMENT CONTENT AREAS

The capability statement must describe the collective expertise and experience of your company’s personnel, in each of the following areas:

· Experience and skill in managing, designing and conducting large-scale random assignment studies of interventions designed to improve educational outcomes. Interested parties shall provide a minimum of two examples of personnel’s successful past experience designing and implementing multi-site impact studies of interventions designed to improve educational outcomes. This should include demonstrated experience managing costs and timeliness.

· Experience closely collaborating with research sites on random assignment. Interested parties shall provide a minimum of two examples of personnel’s past experience on projects that required coordinating with multiple research sites on random assignment, similar to that that described within the DRAFT EOC PWS.

· Experience and skill in authoring well written, policy relevant publications with clear take-home messages for wide audiences. Interested parties shall provide a minimum of two examples of personnel’s involvement with authoring publications that clearly summarize experimental findings and present them in a manner such that they can be understood and used by a wide audience.

· Substantive knowledge relevant to the intervention described within the DRAFT EOC PWS, including behavioral nudges, student messaging, college enrollment activities, and student advising. Interested parties shall provide a minimum of two examples showing that personnel have relevant knowledge to design the messaging intervention, particularly capitalizing on what is known from the behavioral and information sciences.

In addition, the capability statement shall address the following experience and capacity at the corporate level:

· Experience with projects similar in nature to that described in the Draft EOC PWS. Interested parties shall provide evidence of successful corporate experience with a minimum of two past projects that are similar to that described in the Draft EOC PWS, in terms of the specific tasks to be performed and the anticipated level of effort required.