JOFOC-CCSSO-EDNAGB-25-00013.pdf

Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition

Authority: FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)

Pursuant to FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) and in accordance with the documentation requirements of FAR 6.303-2, the following justification is that only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

1. Agency and Contracting Activity:

Department of Education: National Assessment Governing Board (Governing Board).

2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Approved:

The Governing Board intends to award a sole source purchase order to the following:

Council of Chief State School Officers 1 Massachusetts Ave #800 Washington, DC 20001

The purchase order will be awarded around October 19, 2025, to further collaboration via a Task Force. The period of performance will include a 24-month base period as well as one option year, for a maximum duration of 36 months.

3. Description of Supplies or Services Required:

The Governing Board is mandated by Congress to set policy for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) - also known as The Nation's Report Card - and to take appropriate actions that improve the form, content, use, and reporting of assessment results. The Governing Board is also responsible for the initial public release of NAEP results. Facilitating this work relies on expanded outreach activities with target audiences across the nation. Thus, it is critically important to encourage and expand the involvement of policy makers and educators in providing input to the Governing Board in executing its congressionally mandated responsibilities. As a continuing component of its policy making and outreach activities, the Governing Board seeks input from stakeholders who are keenly interested in NAEP.

The Governing Board / Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) Task Force conducts its work through recurring meetings. Discussion topics addressed to date include NAEP reporting, inclusion and accommodations; NAEP assessment schedule;

Grade 12 NAEP; trends in NAEP results; NAEP contextual questions; misuse and misinterpretation of NAEP data; international benchmarking; research with NAEP data;

modernization of the NAEP administration platform; and several Board initiatives.

Topics to be discussed by the Task Force include release and communications activities for NAEP results, follow-up on previously discussed topics, as well as a variety of policy issues and activities from the Governing Board.

A Task Force member attends meetings of the Governing Board to promote communication between the Governing Board and the Task Force and provides routine reports on the Task Force's ongoing work. Completed project activities of the Task Force are available to the public via the Board's website and meeting transcripts of the Governing Board's quarterly meetings, which include an annual briefing for the Board delivered by the Task Force chair.

4. Identification of Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open

Competition:

FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) - Soliciting from a single source for purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. The contracting Officer (CO) has determined that only one source is reasonably available.

5. Reason for Cited Authority:

The membership of the Council of Chief State School Officers provides unique state perspectives on education matters, which is essential for informing the Governing Board's work. CCSSO membership includes Chief State School Officers and state education policymakers who have the knowledge and capacity to provide state perspectives and outreach services representing all 50 states. This coordination among all 50 states and the federal government is essential for making informed policy decisions related to The Nation's Report Card and for carrying out the Board's congressionally mandated responsibilities under the requirements of Public Law 107-279.

Since September 2007, the Governing Board has collaborated with the Task Force, which comprises high-level state education agency staff. The Task Force discusses current issues, policy decisions, and effective avenues for outreach. In addition, Task Force members also provide invaluable insights into how NAEP results are used in their states to inform state-level policy. The goal of this collaboration is to continue eliciting state leaders’ feedback to inform the Governing Board's policy-setting work in specific areas.

The Council of Chief State School Officers, for the reasons listed above, is the only organization with access to its membership and the ability to utilize their members effectively, efficiently, and with no learning curve or interruption in service.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition:

Every three years upon recompete, a sole-source notice and Justification for Other Than Full and Open competition was made publicly available to allow organizations and persons to identify their interest in and capability to respond to the requirement.

To date, no response to the sole source notice had been received from any viable entity. A determination by the government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to these notices is solely within the discretion of the government.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost:

At the time of award, the CO shall make a fair and reasonable price determination on the pricing proposed by CCSSO. The Contracting Officer shall undertake a thorough review of the pricing based on market conditions and make a determination on fair and reasonable pricing.

8. Market Research:

The Council of Chief State School Officers, for the reasons listed above, is the only organization with access to its membership and the ability to utilize their members effectively, efficiently, and with no learning curve or interruption in service.

Organizations and persons may identify their interest in and capability to respond to the requirement as a part of our market research.

9. Additional Supporting Facts:

None

10. Interested Sources:

None

11. Proposed Actions to Overcome Barriers to Competition

The Government will continue to conduct thorough market research to gauge the marketplace capabilities for future requirements.

12. This JOFOC has been Prepared and Certified by:

Technical Certification

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Laura LoGerfo, Assistant Director for Reporting & Analysis (COR) Date

Contracting Officer Certification

In accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), as a warranted contracting officer, I hereby determine that the circumstances of the acquisition make only one source reasonably available for the reasons provided above.

Tony White, Contracting Officer Date

Executive Certification

I have reviewed this justification and find it adequate to support other than full and open competition.

Lesley Muldoon, Executive Director Date

LAURA LOGERFO

Digitally signed by LAURA

LOGERFO

Date: 2025.07.16 13:51:59 -04'00'