Old_Contract_PWS.docx

ED-CFO-10-A-0074/0001 PWS Version Date: August 28, 2014 INCLUDED FOR COMPARISON PURPOSEES ONLY. DO NOT USE TO PLAN/PRICE YOUR PROPOSAL TO ED-OII-15-R-0014 Performance Work Statement Charter Schools Program Monitoring and Data Collection U.S. Department of Education, Office of Innovation and Improvement

II. Purpose The U.S. Department of Education (ED), Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII), requires the services of a contractor to support Charter Schools Program (CSP) monitoring and data collection. In addition, this contract will assist the program office with recommended policy and guidance for quality grant administration and the expansion of high-quality charter schools.

The purpose of the CSP Monitoring and Data Collection Project is to support grantees that receive CSP funds during the implementation of their grant programs, provide guidance for project management, and ensure accurate accounting of grantee and subgrantee award data. Monitoring for the CSP is not limited to the annual submission of a performance report and this effort will help to ensure that grantees are implementing their programs as designed and approved.

III. Scope of Work The contractor shall provide monitoring and data collection services necessary for evaluating the progress of the CSP programmatic goals. These monitoring services will ensure that federal funds help to expand high-quality charter schools through the planning and implementation of high-quality practices and models that result in increased parent choice options and student academic proficiency.

Monitoring services provided by the contractor shall encompass the following activities:

· Meet and communicate with ED representatives

· Develop and/or refine monitoring framework and monitoring instruments

· Prepare a yearly monitoring schedule

· Train monitors

· Collect and analyze performance data

· Coordinate performance data with other data collections

· Prepare comprehensive and synthesized reports

· Conduct an analysis of monitoring performance data

· Collect and analyze grantee and subgrantee award data, merging with EDFacts data

· Prepare annual reports based on grantee and subgrantee award data

· Respond to ad hoc requests for data on charter schools or analyses of charter school subgroups

· Develop recommendations for program policy and grant administration

· Develop recommendations for technical assistance

· Assist with planning sessions for project directors meetings and other technical assistance activities

· Submit expenditures and progress reports

The period of performance for this requirement is 12 months from the date of award, with 3 option periods of 12 months each.

Where unspecified, allow a minimum of 2 weeks for review and approval of all contractual deliverables. Unless otherwise specified, the contractor shall submit one electronic copy of all reports. We will welcome deliverables in advance of their due date..

IV. Authorizing Legislation The Charter Schools Program is authorized under Title V, Part B, Subpart 1, Sections 5201 through 5211 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended.

V. Overview/Background The purpose of the CSP is to increase national understanding of the charter school model and to expand the number of high-quality charter schools available to students across the Nation by providing financial assistance for the planning, program design, initial implementation, or expansion of charter schools, and to evaluate the effects of charter schools, including their effects on students, student academic achievement, staff, and parents. The CSP offers discretionary grants to SEA (State Educational Agency), non-SEA, and CMO (Charter Management Organization) applicants.

The CSP provides grants to eligible SEAs to enable them to conduct charter school grant programs within their states. Awards can be from three to five years. SEAs receiving a grant under this program must use grant funds to award subgrants to one or more eligible applicants in the State to enable eligible applicants to plan and implement a charter school, or for use as dissemination.

If an eligible SEA chooses not to apply, or an application from an eligible SEA is not approved, charter school developers (non-SEAs) may apply directly to ED. Awards may be for no more than three years. Non-SEA eligible applicants may use grant funds to plan and implement a charter school, or they may apply for a dissemination grant.

Grants are also available to Charter Management Organizations (CMOs) for the replication and expansion of high-quality charter schools. Awards may be for up to five years. Grantees may use grant funds to plan and implement the expansion of an existing charter school, or to open one or more new charter schools that are based on the charter school model for which the eligible applicant presented evidence of success. The CMO competition first made grant awards during FY 2010.

In addition to conducting grant programs, the CSP is required by statute to conduct national activities. Under Title V, Part B, Section 5205 of the ESEA, the Secretary reserves CSP funds to carry out national activities to provide charter schools with information, to evaluate and study charter schools, and to provide other types of technical assistance.

As recommended in GAO’s January 2005, “To Enhance Education’s Monitoring and Research, More Charter School-Level Performance Data Are Needed,” ED needs to help CSP grant recipients, especially States, track Federal funds to charter schools and report the number of charters started with program funds. ED also needs to augment its charter school performance data and include accountability in its planned charter school impact evaluation. As reported, “Education’s inability to disaggregate charter schools in its routine monitoring and analysis activities has limited its ability to provide policymakers information on the academic performance of charter schools.”

Based on these recommendations, the Department has previously contracted to both monitor SEA and non-SEA grantees, and to collect performance data on these programs. Under this contract, the contractor shall continue implementation of monitoring and data collection activities, build on these current monitoring and data collection platforms, and develop materials to include the new CMO grant program.

The contractor shall assemble sufficient performance data on CSP grant programs to respond to Department and program needs, and shall report on standard indicators of performance accomplishments and assist with program policy, guidance, and technical assistance for grant administration. The contractor shall perform this work for CSP grantees each year of the contract; because the CSP makes grant awards annually, the specific number and composition of grantees for each year of the contract is not known.

All tasks will be done in the base year and option years.

VI. Technical Work Requirements

1. Task 1: Meet and Communicate with OII The Contractor’s Project Director/Manager and up to three other key people from the contractor’s staff or subcontractors/consultants shall participate in a one-day meeting in Washington, DC with CSP staff within five business days after the award of the contract for the first year in which the contract is awarded, and shall participate in either a phone or in-person meeting within five business days after the award of the contract in any subsequent years. The purpose of the meeting is to clarify work requirements, procedures, and to review the contractor’s activities and plans. Within five business days after each meeting with CSP staff, the contractor shall submit clarifications and understandings of the meeting.

The contractor shall communicate by phone with CSP staff each month to discuss work requirements, activities, and plans. The contractor shall provide an agenda, and supporting material as necessary, for this discussion.

2. Task 2: Develop and/or refine monitoring framework and materials

The contractor shall develop or refine a framework that will guide monitoring CSP grantees’ administration and performance. The framework should address the following areas:

· Overall structure for securing monitors

· Methodological approach for state-by-state performance data collection

· Number and description of tools used to monitor SEA, non-SEA, and CMO grantees

· Number and description of tools used to monitor subgrant recipients

· Follow-up for grantees identified as needing intervention

· Recommended technical assistance

The framework and the accompanying instruments for the SEA and non-SEA grantees should be refined based on discussions with ED and grantees. In order to obtain feedback from grantees, the contractor shall conduct discussions at the SEA and non-SEA Project Director (PD) meeting to address any updates or changes to the monitoring framework and instruments.

The framework and accompanying instruments should be created for the CMO grantees. These instruments should remain similar in nature to the SEA and non-SEA instruments. The contractor shall create a draft plan in preparation of conducting an advisory committee or other stakeholder meeting at the CMO PD Meeting as coordinated with ED for field review and feedback of proposed plan and framework for organizing and conducting monitoring activities that address the aforementioned areas.

3. Task 3: Prepare a Monitoring Schedule The contractor shall prepare a monitoring schedule to evaluate each SEA, non-SEA, and CMO grantee’s performance and progress in administering the CSP grant. The contractor shall update the monitoring schedule as changes occur. The contractor shall submit updated schedules to the COR and CSP representatives.

The contractor shall prepare a schedule that includes, the following:

· Recruitment strategy for monitors.

· Plan for contacting grant recipients.

· Chart of grantee monitoring for each year.

· Justification for order in which grantees are monitored.

· Selection process for SEA subgrantee recipients and CMO replication and expansion schools that will be visited.

· Contingency plans for revisiting grantees in the same year or in the same grant period due to findings or unforeseen circumstances.

4. Task 4: Train Monitors

The contractor shall solicit participation from qualified candidates for the monitoring of CSP grantees. CSP may submit some potential candidates. The contractor shall determine the team composition, in consultation with ED. Teams should range from 3-6 monitors, based on the size of the grantee to be monitored. The contractor shall select monitors with expertise in the following areas:

· State Education Agency (SEA) grant administration

· Federal grant administration

· Charter school planning, program design, and implementation

· Charter school dissemination

· Charter school assessment and evaluation

· Charter school policy and research

· Charter school authorizing

· Charter school technical assistance and resources

· Charter school teaching and professional development

· Charter school administration and operation

· Charter school governance

· Charter management organizations

The contractor shall develop a comprehensive training module for monitors, and the contractor shall be responsible for all activities related to the training of expert monitors. Monitor training shall include purpose and requirements of the CSP, CSP regulations and guidance, use of monitoring instruments, performance data collection methods, monitoring techniques, and methods of reporting. Monitor training shall be conducted in a webinar format.

Each year, the contractor shall make updates to the monitor list and the training based on changes occurring over the previous year.

5. Task 5: Develop and Refine Monitoring Protocol The contractor shall refine the monitoring protocol for SEA and non-SEA grantees as necessary, and shall develop a monitoring protocol for CMO grantees with subsequent updates as necessary. The monitoring protocols shall include quantitative and qualitative measures for determining implementation levels and fulfillment of grant objectives and program requirements, and shall include sections for monitoring both the grantee and subgrantee where appropriate. Updates to the monitoring protocols may be necessary during the contract period, due to changes in the CSP’s authorizing legislation or Department needs and grantee feedback. Chances to authorizing legislation may occur in the yearly appropriations, or with ESEA reauthorization. The contractor shall discuss changes based on Department needs and grantee feedback annually following PD Meetings (Subtask 7.2).

The contractor shall submit a draft detailed protocol for monitoring CMO grant administration and performance data reporting within 60 days of the effective date of the contract for review by OII. This protocol shall include quantitative and qualitative measures for determining implementation levels and the fulfillment of grant objectives and program requirements. The protocol shall include sections for monitoring the grantee, and subgrantee as appropriate. The protocol shall also include a schedule for submitting collected performance data to ED.

6. Task 6: Collect, Analyze, and Synthesize Performance Data

The contractor shall use trained monitors to travel nationally to collect performance data using the monitoring protocol as outlined in Subtask 5. Performance data will serve to identify CSP grantees that have encountered implementation problems both in compliance and performance as well as those that have successfully implemented their CSP grant, resulting in the planning and implementing of highly successful charter schools.

Monitoring needs will vary each year of the contract, based on the annual cohort of grantees and Department needs. Typically, ED monitors grantees in the second year of their multi-year award; however, ED may also select grantees for monitoring based on Department concerns. Each year, ED shall identify grantees for monitoring.

In the first year of the contract, eleven SEA grantees will be in their second year: New Hampshire, Arkansas, Michigan, Georgia, Rhode Island, California, Colorado, Texas, Missouri, South Carolina, DC, and Indiana. The contractor shall propose a monitoring plan for a pool of five grantees from this list, and shall identify tasks and costs associated with adding additional grantees through eleven.

Twelve CMO grantees will be in the first cohort: Achievement First (NY, RI, CT), Aspire (CA), Foundation for a Greater Opportunity (NY), IDEA Public Schools (TX), KIPP (national), LEARN (IL), Mastery (PA), Noble Network of Charter Schools (IL), Project Yes (TX), Propel Schools (PA), Success Charter Network (NY), Uncommon Schools (NY, NJ). The contractor shall propose a monitoring plan for a pool of five grantees from this list, and shall identify tasks and costs associated with adding additional grantees through twelve.

The Department anticipates monitoring four non-SEA grantees in the first contract year.

The Department will determine each subsequent contract year’s monitoring levels when awarding option years. Tasks shall be based on the proposal from the first year pool.

SEA and CMO monitoring, with some possible exceptions, shall be done on-site in the state. Non-SEA monitoring shall be done remotely, through the use of document review and telephone discussions. The contractor shall refine the SEA and non-SEA protocol, and develop a CMO protocol, for performance data collection and for submitting collected performance data to OII. The contractor shall also develop a system for synthesizing collected performance data.

The contractor shall review performance data on grantees prior to each visit. This data includes performance reports, applications, and previous monitoring reports, as well as other information provided by the Department’s program officer assigned to the grant. This review shall help develop and inform each monitoring visit.

The contractor shall complete a comprehensive report of collected performance data for each grantee, analyzing each protocol indicator, full document review, and grantee response to draft report. Monitoring reports, in the past, averaged between 50-100 pages for SEA grantees, and between 25-50 pages for non-SEA grantees. Past SEA reports typically included up to 50 separate appendices.

The contractor shall develop a draft report and send to ED for review. The contractor shall incorporate ED’s comments or questions and send a copy to the grantee. The contractor shall include grantee comments in the final report. The contractor shall send a copy of the final report to both ED and the grantee.

Utilizing all monitoring reports from each year, the contractor shall develop a chart to synthesize results across grantees, showing scores for each indicator, and a report of collected information, including, but not limited to, grantee by grantee analyses and a summary of findings by grantees across program areas. Each year, after completing all monitoring visits, the contractor shall provide recommendations in writing for technical assistance and successful practices and models to support program goals based upon the grantee’s visits and monitoring reports.

7. Task 7: Recommendations for Grantee Technical Assistance and Highlighting Grantee Successful Practices and Models

The contractor shall recommend program technical assistance targets based upon grantee site visits, performance reports, and other data collection protocols. Recommendations will serve to identify grantees that encountered implementation problems as well as those that have successfully implemented their CSP grant, resulting in the planning and implementing of highly successful charter schools.

The contractor shall participate in three Project Director (PD) Meetings in Washington, DC, for SEA, non-SEA, and CMO grantees, as requested by ED. PD Meetings typically occur annually, in the late fall or winter. They will provide a session on results and trends identified from the project. In addition, they shall develop a session for the National Charter Schools Conference each year, and present, if the session is accepted.

Each contract year, the contractor shall collaborate in the development of 2 webinars designed for SEA grantees in technical assistance, as requested by ED. Under contract # ED-04-CO-0109/0004, Learning Point Associates holds monthly webinars. These webinars are 1 hour in length, and include significant participation by SEA grantees. Examples of previous webinars held for SEA grantees can be found at www.charterschoolcenter.org. LPA would host these webinars; the contractor shall develop and deliver content.

8. Task 8: Develop/Refine and Deliver Orientation and Technical Assistance for New SEA Project Directors

The contractor shall update training modules for new SEA project directors as they take over administration of their state’s CSP grant. This orientation and training will focus on the CSP monitoring process and the specific indicators on which the monitoring will focus. The topics covered may include,: the subgrant application and award process; previous monitoring reports; outreach, guidance, and technical assistance; state CSP quality and performance assessment; subgrantee monitoring and performance, administrative and fiscal responsibilities; and dissemination subgrant applications and awards. While the training should contain information that is applicable to most or all states, it is anticipated that the contractor shall also provide an orientation program that best fits the needs of each new project director. In receiving in-depth training, new SEA project directors will transition more smoothly into their new roles and will have a deeper knowledge of both the expectations of the CSP program in grant administration and the standards to which they will be held during CSP grant monitoring.

The training for new project directors will help them transition to their new roles, provide information on the expectations of the CSP program in grant administration and performance, and inform them of the standards and requirements of CSP monitoring.

The contractor shall ensure that any training tools they develop will be formatted in a way that can be shared with project directors and referred to after the training session.

The contractor shall provide an intensive orientation for new SEA project directors as they take over administration of their state’s CSP grant, based on the module approved in Deliverable 8.2. After notification from CSP staff that there is a new SEA project director in a given state and within 30 days of ED confirmation of the new project director training agenda and participants, the contractor shall provide training for that new project director and provide an orientation in understanding the requirements of the monitoring process and the CSP grant.

It is anticipated that the contractor shall train 2-3 new SEA project directors each year, with each orientation lasting approximately one business day and occurring remotely. CSP staff should be available and present during the orientation session.

Each year, the contractor shall make updates to the new director training based on changes occurring over the previous year.

9. Task 9: Data Assembly and Analysis

As recommended in GAO’s January 2005, “To Enhance Education’s Monitoring and Research, More Charter School-Level Data Are Needed”, ED needs to help States, which are CSP grant recipients, track Federal funds to charter schools and report the number of charters started with program funds. ED also needs to augment its charter school performance data and include accountability. The contractor shall assemble sufficient data on charter schools from grantees to respond to Department and program needs, and shall report on standard indicators of performance accomplishments and assist with program policy and guidance for grant administration.

The contractor shall update a reporting mechanism to acquire data on CSP grantees. The primary target data required by the Department are (1) detailed financial information on States’ implementation of CSP grant activities; (2) data responding to Department and program performance and efficiency measures; and (3) national charter school information from other data sources, such as the Common Core of Data (CCD), Education Data Exchange Network (EDEN), and the Consolidated State Performance Report: Parts I and II to augment and supplement Department and Program reporting.

A. Implement Data Collection Activities

The contractor shall implement the Department’s current information assembly plan, collecting data with the submission of the Annual and Final Performance Reports. The data collection form is currently approved under OMB Number 1855-0016. We receive approximately 15-20 SEA Annual Reports per year, 7-10 SEA Final Reports, 20-30 non-SEA Annual Reports, and 10-15 non-SEA Final Reports. Actual numbers each year will vary based on the number of grantees. The contractor shall propose estimates for cost and tasks based on a minimum of 15 SEA submissions, 20 non-SEA submissions, and 10 CMO submissions, and estimates for increases in increments of 5 per program. Grantee numbers may vary in accordance with each other (i.e., the CSP makes fewer grants in all programs) or independently (i.e., because SEA grants decrease, the CSP makes more non-SEA grants).

Annual Performance Reports for all grantees are due in June. Final Performance Reports are due 90 days after each performance period end date, which can vary by grantee.

The contractor shall send data collection submissions via email to the CSP within 10 days of being finalized. As updated in Subtask 10D, the contractor shall conduct training sessions with SEA, non-SEA, and CMO grantees, in accordance with the approved training plan. The contractor shall answer grantee questions regarding data collection in a timely manner (by the next business day), and be reachable via email and telephone. The contractor shall provide the COR with annual summary reports on grantee questions and resolutions.

Subtask A

B. Update Plan to Assemble completed Data Sets from Grantees The contractor shall develop a draft updated plan, including an Annual/Final Performance Report template, to gather consistent and complete data sets from CSP grantees (including SEA, non-SEA, and CMO grantees) and on charter schools nationally. The primary data required by the Department are (1) detailed financial information on States’ implementation of CSP grant activities; (2) data responding to Department and program performance measures; and (3) national charter school information to augment and supplement Department knowledge. The plan shall address various aspects of program effectiveness and efficiency, including but not limited to: the program information needs outlined in the January 2005 GAO report and program information required to determine achievement of the CSP GPRA indicators, to successfully respond to the OMB and other program assessments.

(1) Implementation of CSP Grant Activities Data on implementation of CSP grant activities shall focus on administration of CSP grant awards, including grant and subgrant award amounts, subgrantee contact information, grantee results accomplished, and such other data as the Department may require. CSP grantees are required to self-report this information in Annual and Final Performance Reports.

The Department uses a standard Annual/Final Performance Report (ED 524B) to collect information from grantees who will receive continuation funds (annual report) as well as those who will conclude their grant performance periods (final report). Because this standard form has not captured complete data sets from CSP grantees in the past, the contractor shall update the CSP-specific template if program requirements change to collect annual and final performance information consistently from grantees, and design a template for CMO grantees.

ED collects Annual Performance Reports to determine if the grantees have made sufficient progress to merit a continuation award. ED collects the Final Performance Reports to determine if the grantees met the goals and objectives for which they were awarded the grants. The same reporting mechanism is used for both reports.

(2) Program Performance Measures

Program performance measures include data to respond to the CSP’s Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) objective to encourage the development of a large number of high quality charter schools. The Secretary set an overall performance target that calls for an increase in both the number of States with charter school legislation, and the number of charter schools in operation around the nation; the contractor shall report on these indicators. In addition, through the OMB Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) process, the Department developed efficiency measures for the CSP, measuring the cost per student of establishing a successful charter school (defined as a charter school in operation for at least three years) under the CSP. Lastly, the Department developed a measure to examine the academic achievement of charter school students, by measuring the percent of charter schools students who are achieving at or above proficient levels on State examinations in reading and mathematics. The contractor shall report on all these items.

(3) National Charter School Information

The contractor shall gather information on charter schools nationally to augment and supplement Department knowledge. The contractor can find such detailed information in the Common Core of Data (CCD) and EDFacts, and shall merge data from the data collection forms with performance and demographic data from these sources. The contractor shall determine which schools and student subgroups are above or below proficiency levels. Schools are matched by NCES code; if a school on the data collection form does not have an NCES code, the contractor shall investigate why and update reports accordingly.

The CSP and ED shall use this information to respond to program performance, efficiency measures, and to gain a better understanding of charter school performance across the nation.

The contractor shall deliver the draft updated data collection plan to the COR. The COR will provide feedback which the contractor shall use to make appropriate revisions and develop a final data collection plan and reporting template for reporting on charter school information.

For any applicable activities, the contractor shall obtain its own Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval. The contractor shall submit the documentation of IRB approvals to the COR. The contractor shall prepare a forms-clearance package that includes the necessary forms required for OMB approval for the annual and final performance report templates, or change to the current templates. The contractor shall ensure that the clearance package justifies the necessity of the project and comprehensively responds to each item required in the instructions. Currently, the existing forms will expire on December 31, 2011. Any newly developed forms for the CMO grantees will require approval.

Subtask B

C. Analysis Plan for CSP Grantee-Reported Data The contractor shall develop a draft data analysis plan for the data provided by CSP grantees. The plan shall address various aspects of program effectiveness and efficiency, including but not limited to: the program information needs outlined in the January 2005 GAO report, program information required to determine achievement of the CSP GPRA indicators, and other information to successfully respond to the OMB Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART). The plan shall also include information gathered by the contractor from national sources such as the Common Core of Data (CCD), the Education Data Exchange Network (EDEN) and the Consolidated State Performance Report: Parts I and II to respond to program performance and efficiency measures.

The data analysis plan shall involve checking the accuracy of data submitted by CSP grantees, and matching it to data in EdFacts. The goal of data analysis is both accurate submissions by grantees, and correct identification of charter schools in EdFacts. The contractor shall perform data analysis with each submission of data collection forms.

After receiving feedback from OII on the draft data analysis plan, the contractor shall make appropriate revisions and develop a final data analysis plan.

Subtask C

D. Training Plan for CSP Grantees The contractor shall draft a training plan to educate CSP grantees on the data collection process. The training plan shall include training options for a project director’s meeting, and individual sessions online or over the phone. CMO grantees will require more intensive training in the first contract year than SEA and non-SEA grantees. The contractor shall produce a draft training manual and plan. The contractor shall deliver the draft training plan and manual to the COR no later than 3 months after the effective date of the contract. OII will review these drafts within 2 weeks of receipt. The contractor shall make revisions and submit a final training plan and training manual to the COR within 4 months of the effective date of the contract.

In subsequent contract years, the contractor shall update the training plan to reflect changes in project directors and grantee participation.

Subtask D

10. Task 10: Data Reporting

The contractor shall annually implement the approved data analysis plan (Subtask 10C) and prepare a report and data file based clearly on the findings of the data collection to be publically released. Files shall be suitable for posting at www.ed.gov.

The contractor shall write and organize the report for a national audience; users may include charter school developers, operators, board members, teachers, parents, researchers, authorizers, and others. The contractor shall include in the report a non-technical, stand-alone executive summary of the study’s findings suitable for public dissemination. The contractor shall provide a draft copy of the report and the summary electronically for ED comments and approval. The contractor shall submit a hard copy of the final report, as well as an electronic version in Word or PDF to the COR.

The contractor shall propose a high-quality system for presenting data findings to the public. While this should not include the new development of any systems, it could include partnering with other organizations or using already-developed systems external to ED. The contractor shall post information to the system when the study findings have been reviewed and approved by ED. Any web sites developed or maintained under this SOW shall meet the technical standards for web accessibility under Section 508 located at 36 CFR 1194.22, and it must comply with Federal website policies at: http://www2.ed.gov/internal/extsite-tips.html.

The data file shall contain all data collected for the evaluation. The contractor shall provide documentation for the file including variable labels, category labels, weights, and how missing data will be addressed. In addition, documentation accompanying the data shall include the unit of observation for each data file.

The contractor shall annually gather and display data on charter schools in each state in annual Charter School State Profile reports. The contractor will also coordinate with Department of Education staff and Department IT consultants as needed to enable the transfer of data as an online version of the static state profiles is developed.

The contractor shall also respond to specific charter school-related data query and analysis requests from the Department, which may relate to charter school performance, demographics, and other relevant issues. The contractor shall respond by providing: data analysis, interpretation, and the policy context to explain how the data fit in the broader understanding of charter schools.

The contractor shall allocate 900 staff hours for ad hoc requests, and shall provide flexibility to ED in requesting various analyses and reports throughout each year as allocated staff hours allow.

Requests from ED may fall into three categories based upon the extent of data collection, analysis, and reporting required to fulfill each request. The three categories are:

Tier 1: Tier 1 requests are the simplest, usually requiring the identification of charter schools that did or did not receive CSP funding, or a count of charter schools matching a certain description (e.g., the number of charter school run by a particular EMO or funded in a certain state). Reporting the results of these requests shall usually be done in the form of an email or basic data table. Each Tier 1 request shall require approximately 24 staff hours to complete and respond.

Tier 2: Tier 2 requests are moderately complicated and require additional analysis, typically using performance data to describe the achievement of charter schools or student subgroups (e.g., EL students or students with disabilities). Tier 2 requests shall each require, on average, 72 total staff hours to complete and respond. Brief summaries of the analyses may be required as well.

Tier 3: Tier 3 requests are the most complex, demanding the recoding of variables and analysis of multiple outcome variables. These requests may also necessitate the collection of additional data or the merging of additional databases collected in the past, either by the contractor or others. In addition, the reporting for Tier 3 requests may include multiple data tables and a written summary of the findings that can be disseminated to ED staff and others. Tier 3 requests shall each require, on average, 120 total staff hours to complete and respond.

During the course of the contract, the contractor shall prepare to present briefings of the results for program staff and/or policy makers, if necessary. These briefings would most likely occur by telephone, or at a conference or meeting.

Task 11: Progress Reports

The contractor shall communicate and work closely with the COR in all aspects of the procurement by making telephone calls to discuss project progress, hindrances, anticipated problems and resolutions of outstanding concerns.

Written reporting requirements will include monthly progress reports. In the progress report, the contractor shall summarize the major activities and accomplishments during the reporting period and provide information for each project task regarding significant findings and events, problems encountered, suggested solutions, and staff utilized. The contractor shall specific in the reports the extent to which the project is on schedule. The contractor’s reporting format shall be consistent from month to month.

The contractor shall create a final report on their findings and what they have learned throughout the time period of this contract, including all option years. In this report, the contractor shall summarize the major activities and accomplishments of all monitoring tasks over the entire time period of this project. The report shall provide information regarding significant findings and events, problems encountered, and suggested solutions. This document is envisioned as a ‘Lessons Learned’ document to discuss the questions that answered through the tasks in this contract, what was learned, and how ED staff and SEA CSP project directors can apply this knowledge to improve the CSP program, both in effectiveness and efficiency.

All reports shall show the project title and task order number on the cover or first page. The reports shall state the U.S. Department of Education (ED), Office of Innovation and Improvement – Charter Schools Program is funding the project.

12. Task 12: Delivery of all contract items to the Office of Innovation and Improvement, Charter Schools Program

The contractor shall deliver to the Charter Schools Program all information collected throughout the contract and all (if any) systems created for the contract to collect information. Delivery must include all (if any) html pages, I.P. addresses, code, scripts, applets, graphics, flash, or other animation, domain registration, and databases directly or indirectly related to the operation of this website, internal notes and documents pertaining to website maintenance and day to day operations and all other such materials and information required for operating and maintaining data collection. All back-ups on or off site are to be returned to the Department.

Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6 The Contract shall provide COTS solutions that are IPv6 capable. An IPv6 capable system or product shall be capable of receiving, processing, transmitting and forwarding IPv6 packets and/or interfacing with other systems and protocols in a manner similar to that of IPv4. Specific criteria to be deemed IPv6 capable are:

An IPv6 Capable system must meet the IPv6 base requirements defined by the USGv6 Profile and Testing program as found here “http://w3.antd.nist.gov/usgv6/testing.html”.

Systems being developed, procured or acquired shall maintain interoperability with IPv4 systems/capabilities.

Systems shall implement IPv4/IPv6dual-stack and shall also be built to determine which protocol layer to use depending on the destination host it is attempting to communicate with or establish a socket with.

If either protocol is possible, systems shall employ IPv6.

The contractor shall provide IPv6 technical support for system development, implementation and management.

Schedule of Deliverables (Base Year)

· Period of Performance for the Base Period: September 26, 2011 – March 29, 2013

explanation Due date prior to Mod. 0004 Due date after Mod. 0004

Subtask 1

Subtask 2

Subtask 3

Subtask 4