FBO_RFI_posting.docx

U.S. Department of Education Title: Education Data Technical Assistance Support Services (EDTAP) Solicitation Number: ED-IES-16-R-0019

General Information This REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) is for market research and planning purposes only and shall not be considered to be an obligation by the Government to acquire any products or services. Responses to this RFI will be accepted via e-mail to the address listed below. This is not a solicitation announcement for proposals and no contract will be awarded from this RFI.

Request for Information The Department is soliciting feedback on the planned procurement, including on the draft Performance Work Statement (PWS). Examples of feedback include:

· Unclear sections of the PWS.

· Additional information that an offeror would require from the Department before it could submit a proposal (e.g., necessary updates to the PWS).

· Concerns over the timeline(s) described by the Department in the PWS.

· Material mistakes or typos in any of the Department’s documents.

· Disagreement over the planned NAICS code for this procurement.

Format Requirements: The response to the RFI shall be a single document that is either MSWord or PDF format. There shall be a cover page that shall states “Response to Request for Information (ED-IES-16-R-0019),” the name of the company submitting the response (unless it is submitted on behalf of an individual), and the name, telephone number, and email address of an individual that the Department may contact if we have additional questions. The remainder of the document may be as long as 8 pages (in addition to the 1-page cover page). It shall be formatted with no smaller than 12-point font (single spacing is permitted), though these formatting restrictions do not apply to any tables or charts.

Description of Services Required:

Given the increased number of SLDS grantees and the growing complexities of state data systems, the EDTAP contractor shall provide a comprehensive set of services and products to help foster, feed, and facilitate the fast-growing body of knowledge around developing a longitudinal data system. The technical assistance (TA) will be aligned to the areas where the greatest needs exist. This includes formalizing how topic areas, lessons learned and best practices are identified and shared among SEAs and others involved in the design, implementation, and use of data systems. The contactor shall actively identify, develop, and disseminate best practices and facilitate the sharing of lessons learned to help grantees avoid complications experienced by their peers. For areas where best practices do not exist and for new SLDS requirements that States are struggling with, the contractor shall develop publications, white papers, case studies, issue technical briefs, and conduct training to assist in the formulation of solutions to meet these challenges.

Additionally, the contractor shall focus on helping grantees make effective use of the wealth of information contained within the newly-developed SLDSs while still ensuring the protection of individual privacy. This shall be achieved through a partnership with the leading technical experts and willing states, to create best practice guides and resources to educate stakeholders on how to disseminate, share, and use data collected to improve student learning and school practices.

Finally, the contractor shall utilize an IT platform to support the delivery of technical assistance services, to facilitate the sharing of documents and products through an on line repository of best practices, and to enable grants monitoring services among the SLDS community.

This EDTAP contract shall:

1. Provide technical assistance (TA) to grantees, and non-grantees, around the design, development, implementation, and use of longitudinal data systems;

2. Work with the Department’s Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) in the Institute for Education Sciences to develop materials and communicate guidance about data system development and data use best practices;

3. Create a repository of best practices through collection of existing documents and resources as well as the development of new materials and publications;

4. Create a shared community among the data system stakeholders in early childhood, K-12, postsecondary, and workforce data systems through the use of webinars, conferences, and regional gatherings.

Due Date for RFI Response: Responses must be submitted no later than 1 PM, Eastern Time, Monday, August 8, 2016. Responses to the RFI will not be returned and will not be accepted after the due date. Submit RFI responses via email to Pavan.Mehrotra@ed.gov with a copy to Helen.Chang@ed.gov.

Disclaimer: Participation in this RFI in no way influences the source selection for these services. This is not an invitation for bid, request for proposal or other solicitation. This RFI is not to be construed as a commitment on the part of the Government to award a contract nor does the Government intend to directly pay for any information or responses submitted as the result of this RFI.