NDE Responds to Questions for NDERFI250707.pdf

This document is a response to written questions submitted for a Request for Information (RFI) issued by the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) regarding Grant Writing Implementation Providers. The RFI seeks qualified vendors to provide grant writing services, implementation support services, or both, aligned with four strategic priorities: accelerating student achievement, growing the educator pipeline, equipping learners for the workforce, and providing exceptional service. Grant writing providers must develop comprehensive management plans demonstrating the ability to complete grant applications within thirty days of a Notice of Funding Opportunity, including proposed meeting schedules, timelines, and vendor responsibilities. Implementation providers must submit action plans detailing approaches to reporting, compliance, monitoring, and evaluation for discretionary funding from federal, state, or private sources. All vendors must submit a Corporate Overview, Scope of Work, completed Form A (Vendor Contact Sheet), and Form B (Vendor Cost Sheet) with detailed hourly rates or deliverables-based pricing. The written questions deadline is December 22, 2025, with RFI responses due electronically by January 21, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Central Time. NDE may conduct oral interviews, presentations, and demonstrations between February 2-6, 2026, if deemed necessary. Responses must be submitted via email to NDE.Procurement@Nebraska.gov.

The RFI does not specify an award value, budget range, or set-aside designations, suggesting flexibility in vendor selection and project scopes. NDE explicitly prioritizes vendors willing to provide grant writing services at no cost to the department, indicating preference for cost-effective solutions. No specific incumbent vendors are mentioned. The procurement is designed to create a pool of qualified providers for future grant applications, with the understanding that selection for a specific grant project is not guaranteed. Vendors are required to provide detailed pricing through Form B, which may include hourly rates or deliverables-based pricing structures. This RFI supports NDE's ability to access qualified grant writing and implementation support across multiple strategic educational objectives without committing to specific project allocations at the time of vendor selection.