External Evaluator Request for Proposals.pdf

Request for Proposal # 10282025 External Evaluator

Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) is requesting proposals from qualified contractors to serve as the External Evaluator for the NSF Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) – Math Advising Grant.

Scope of Services, Qualifications, Responsibilities, and Scoring

Scope of Services

The external evaluator will design and facilitate an evaluation plan to measure progress toward project objectives related to math advising, placement, and student success in developmental and gateway math pathways. The evaluator will use mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) to assess project implementation, outcomes, and impacts across the three-year grant period.

The evaluator will:

• Develop and implement an evaluation framework aligned with NSF goals and MHCC’s institutional priorities for equity and student success in STEM.

• Analyze disaggregated data by student demographics to examine gaps and patterns in course success, retention, and persistence.

• Collaborate with project leadership, Institutional Research, and faculty leads to ensure data integrity and contextualize findings.

• Provide annual formative reports to guide program improvements and one final summative evaluation report at the conclusion of the grant.

• Evaluation activities may include surveys, interviews, focus groups, and analysis of institutional data related to math placement, advising interventions, and student performance.

Evaluator Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience conducting program evaluation in postsecondary education (community college experience preferred).

• Experience with STEM or advising-focused grants, particularly those funded by the National Science Foundation or similar federal agencies.

• Proficiency in quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods.

• Understanding of equity-centered evaluation practices and the ability to analyze data disaggregated by student populations.

• Strong communication and collaboration skills for working with interdisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively with Mt. Hood Community College’s Math Advising Grant leadership team, including project PIs, the co-PI, Institutional Research, and Student Services representatives, to ensure alignment between evaluation activities and project goals.

• Conduct quarterly check-in meetings with the PI, co-PI, and, as appropriate, the advisory committee to review progress, discuss findings, and identify areas for improvement.

• Prepare brief written summaries of each quarterly meeting that capture progress updates, key observations, and any recommendations arising from the discussion.

• Meet with project staff and partners, and conduct focus groups or interviews to validate quantitative findings and provide contextual insight into the data analysis and interpretation.

• Establish and maintain ethical standards and confidentiality procedures throughout all evaluation phases.

• Provide annual written evaluation reports following Years 1 and 2, and a final comprehensive evaluation report after Year 3. Reports should offer an objective analysis of project progress, include both quantitative and qualitative data, and provide actionable recommendations to improve project management, outcomes, and sustainability.

Scoring Criteria Proposals will be evaluated according to the following weighted criteria:

Qualifications and Experience — Demonstrated experience conducting program evaluation within postsecondary education, with specific experience in NSF-funded projects (IUSE, ATE, or similar STEM/advising initiatives) strongly preferred.

Evaluation Approach and Technical Expertise — Demonstrated ability to oversee data collection and analysis, apply both formative and summative assessment methods, and provide actionable recommendations grounded in data.

COBID / Local Partnership — Preference may be given to firms or individuals certified through the Oregon Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID) or based in the local region.

Total Possible Points 100

Budget, Submission, and Award Information

This solicitation seeks proposals for external evaluation services for the NSF Math Advising Grant at Mt. Hood Community College.

The term of this agreement will be three years (January 2026 – December 2028), with an annual budget not to exceed $12,000 per year and a total maximum award of $36,000 for the full contract period. Payments will be made upon receipt and approval of invoices tied to deliverables and reporting milestones.

Proposals must be submitted electronically in PDF format no later than 5:00 PM on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 to the following contact:

Janine Shockley – Janine.Shockley@mhcc.edu

Questions regarding this Request for Proposal may also be directed to the contact above.

Proposals submitted after the deadline will not be considered. Proposals should not exceed 10 pages and must include the following:

• Overview of relevant qualifications and NSF or postsecondary evaluation experience

• Description of proposed evaluation approach and methodology

• Proposed fee structure and timeline

• Three professional references for similar evaluation work

The award will be made to the proposer providing the best overall value based on qualifications, experience, approach, and cost. MHCC reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, negotiate terms with the selected evaluator, or cancel the solicitation if deemed in the institution’s best interest.

FAILURE TO SUBMIT THIS PAGE MAY BE CAUSE FOR PROPOSAL REJECTION

Due Date: 5:00 pm November 19, 2025

The undersigned, through the formal submittal of this proposal response, declares that he/she has examined all related proposal documents and read the instructions and conditions, and hereby proposes to provide proposals as specified herein.

3 years lump sum fee (expressed numerically in dollars and cents):

Please Submit a proposal with information about your company qualifications and experience to perform the work described in this request for bids (Not to exceed 10 Pages).

Vendor Name:____________________________Address:___________________________________

Address: _______________________________Contact Person: _____________________________

Phone Number:__________________________Authorized Signer:____________________________

Print Name/Title: _______________________________________Date: _______________________

FAILURE TO SUBMIT THIS PAGE MAY BE CAUSE FOR PROPOSAL REJECTION

Due Date: 5:00pm November 19, 2025

REFERENCE FORM

Provide 3 references for whom you provided similar services, within the last 5 years, as those described in this request for proposals.

Client Name:

Address:

Contact Name:

Title:

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Date(s) of Service(s):