Evaluation Factors.pdf

Evaluation Factors Adult Achievement Test

The Bureau will evaluate each offer based on the best value, trade-off process as outlined in the Federal Acquisition Regulations, part 15.101-1-Tradeoff Process. All evaluation factors and sub-factors other than price, when combined, are significantly more important than price. Evaluations will note the strengths, deficiencies, weaknesses (to include significant weaknesses) and risks of each proposal, in a summary format with supporting narratives.

Definitions.

• Strength is an aspect of the proposal that increases the likelihood of successful contract performance.

• Deficiency is a material failure of a proposal to meet a Government requirement or a combination of significant weaknesses in a proposal that increases the risk of unsuccessful contract performance to an unacceptable level.

• A weakness is a flaw in the proposal that increases the risk of unsuccessful contract performance. A “significant weakness” in the proposal is a flaw that appreciably increases the risk of unsuccessful contract performance.

• A Risk is a potential to cause disruption of schedule, increased cost or degradation of performance.

The Government reserves the right to award a contract to an offeror other than the offeror proposing the lowest price when the Government’s evaluation determines a proposal is significantly superior from a non-price standpoint and warrants payment by the Government of a premium.

NON-PRICED FACTORS:

Factor 1: Technical

This written proposal shall contain the following: (DUE NO LATER THAN PROPOSAL DUE DATE)

A. Qualification Requirements

1. The adult achievement test must be aligned with the National Reporting

System (NRS) for Adult Education, as authorized by Section 212 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

2. The vendor must clearly demonstrate that the adult achievement test will assess the inmate learner’s basic skills in Reading, Language Arts, and Mathematics.

B. Test Delivery

1. The adult achievement test shall be available in paper-based test (PBT) batteries, and at a minimal, assess Language Arts, Reading, and Mathematics.

2. The adult achievement test shall be provided in English and Spanish.

3. The vendor shall provide alternative formats (Braille, English and Spanish audio, and screen-reader technology) for assessing inmates with disabilities.

4. The implementation of test accommodations during a test session must be allowable.

5. The Language Arts test must, at least, assess correct grammar and usage;

using synonyms, homonyms, and antonyms; using contractions; writing complete sentences; and developing paragraphs.

6. The Reading test must, at least, assess identifying topic sentences, main idea, and supporting details; using context clues; comparing and contrasting; cause and effect; making inferences and drawing conclusions;

and identifying fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry.

7. The Math test must, at least, assess adding and subtracting whole numbers, decimals, fractions, and integers; estimating values; using statistics and probability; using and converting measurements; finding and converting percentages; reading charts, graphs, and tables; solving math problems using order of operations; and solving for unknown values using algebra and geometry concepts.

C. Scoring Tests and Reports

1. The vendor shall provide at least two options for scoring paper-based tests.

The scoring options must include staff training manuals and at least two live training webinars for bureau staff.

2. The vendor shall provide the Bureau with instant reporting regarding inmate testers, as well as provide statistical reports, trend analysis, and empirical data via an interactive reporting system with on-demand and secure data retrieval. This data and reporting shall be available for all tests.

3. The reporting system shall provide an individualized prescriptive score report for each Language, Reading, and Math pretest and posttest completed by the inmate.

4. Based on the results of any scored Language, Reading, and Math test, the individualized prescriptive score report shall include the inmate’s score; skill areas mastered; skill areas of weakness; suggested topics of study; study plans correlated and customized to multiple published material (print and electronic) with specific page, unit, module, screen, etc. references.

D. Professional Development

1. Approximately twice a year, the COR may request the vendor’s resource staff members provide specialized training (test administration, using test results for goal setting, and creating student learning plans, etc.). No additional costs shall be incurred.

2. Upon the COR’s request, the vendor shall provide additional trainings for specific identified topics. The developed training material shall be available for continued use by the Bureau.

3. Upon the COR’s request, the vendor shall provide trainers (professional highly experienced trainers) to conduct/deliver a day (approximately 6 hours) of in-person adult achievement test training for BOP Education staff at sites identified by the COR. If in-person trainings are not feasible, based on the COR’s decision, the vendor will present a minimum of six 1-hour live webinars to BOP staff. The live webinars shall be recorded and made available for the posting to the Bureau’s website for future trainings.

E. Technical Requirements

1. The testing platform shall allow the government the capability to manage

(add, delete, and edit) user accounts. Provide a bulk account creation and deletion process.

2. The testing platform shall provide the user a self-service feature for password or account reset.

3. The testing platform shall provide a failed login attempt threshold with government notification.

F. Contract Support and Management

1. The vendor shall provide examiner policy and procedure manuals, training materials, and other necessary materials (hard copies or electronic) with copyright permission for use at all test centers as these manuals and materials become available.

2. The vendor shall dedicate resource staff specifically to address all issues associated with this contract. This support shall include, but is not limited to, BOP staff user account support; troubleshooting test, records, and reporting systems; and contract administration and operation. No additional costs shall be incurred for the resource staff.

3. The vendor shall provide, on a monthly basis, an itemized invoice sent via e-mail to the FBOP Central Office Business Office and the COR for the base year ‘start-up’ initial costs associated with the adult achievement test implementation process.

4. The vendor shall dedicate a resource staff specifically (working with the institutions) for the re-ordering of test booklets, answer sheets, and other consumable materials that will assist the institutions with maintaining the testing program. The resource staff will also serve as the institutional point-of-contact and ensure that all institutional orders (during the option years) will be invoiced/billed directly to the requesting institution for payment from the requesting institution.

Factor 2: Past Performance

Recent and relevant past performance will be evaluated on its performance under existing and prior contracts for similar services, with an emphasis on the similarity of the Offeror’s experience to the Request for Proposal (RFP). The purpose of Past Performance is to allow the government to review the Offeror’s recent and historical probability of meeting the solicitation requirements.

A Offeror’s past performance information shall include three (3) of the contractor’s most recent contracts occurring during the past five years that are similar and relevant in nature to the services required in the Statement of Work. Contracts listed may include those entered into with the Federal Government, agencies of state and local government, and commercial entities. Offerors shall address any instances of past performance problems in the referenced contracts and explain how these problems were resolved. The Government may consider efforts performed by the Offeror for agencies of the federal, state, or local governments and commercial customers as potentially relevant to the Past Performance evaluation.

Offerors should not provide general information on their performance on the identified contracts.

General performance information MUST be obtained from the references on the Past Performance Questionnaire and submitted along with the Offeror’s proposal. Offeror’s without a record of relevant company past performance or for whom information on Past Performance is not available will not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on Past Performance. References other than those identified by the Offeror may be contacted. Information utilized may be obtained from the references listed in the proposal, other customers known to the Government or of whom it becomes aware, and any others who may have useful and relevant information (i.e. Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS), System for Award Management (SAM), Federal Awardee Performance & Integrity Information System (FAPIIS), and internet).

Factor 3: Price

Price is defined as the Offeror’s price proposal. The Contracting Officer will evaluate price independently. Pursuant to FAR 17.203(b), the Government’s evaluation of offers shall be inclusive of options. Price proposal in Schedule of Items (Attachment I) will be evaluated on the base period and options periods in total.