NDE Response to Q&A for NDERFP250709 (NLDD).pdf

Nebraska Department of Education Response to Vendor Questions

NDERFP250709

Nebraska Literacy Data Dashboard (NLDD)

Amendment to Data Dashboard RFP

This amendment is being provided for clarification in the NDE needs and vision for a data dashboard.

The NDE has identified a need for a data visualization tool that can take data from the Instructional Practice Guide (IPG) and put it in a visual format that will show Core Actions as areas of strength or areas of need. The IPG is a content-specific observation tool used to assess standards alignment, effectiveness of instruction, and meaningful student engagement.

The Core Actions represent three critical factors in increasing student achievement:

Raise the level of the content that students are taught

Increase the skill and knowledge that teachers bring to teaching of that content Increase the level of students’ active learning of the content

The data dashboard is intended to be an internal tool for the Nebraska Department of Education with the capabilities for various users to input content from the IPG tool. The data dashboard would need to integrate with existing NDE data sources including statewide assessment data and student demographic data. It is anticipated that classroom data would be the smallest unit and the data dashboard would not include student personally identifiable data.

The data dashboard and any associate systems will be hosted in NDE’s Azure Tenant. Existing SRS systems are SQL based and NDE can provide interconnection APIs or DB connections..

See Examples of Literacy IPG Coaching Tool Foundational Literacy IPG example ELA IPG example

Clarification of technical expectations:

Uptime SLA: 95% (System can be down for up to 1.5 days per month.)

Response Time SLA: 95% of user requests answered within 3 seconds RTO/RPO: 2 weeks/1 week (In case of a critical system outage, they have 2 weeks to bring it up, with data that is no more than a week old.)

Support Response/Availability:

Level 1: 24 hrs response time, M-F Level 2: 72 hrs response time, M-F Level 3: 1 Week, M-F

Questions Answer

To inform appropriate planning for system architecture, hosting environment, and data management tools, can NDE provide additional clarity on anticipated system scale and performance expectations? Specifically: a) Approximately how many users (e.g., administrators, educators, district personnel) are expected to access the dashboard concurrently? b) What is the anticipated volume of data to be stored and visualized (e.g., number of records, districts, schools, and years of data)? c) What is the anticipated volume of data to be stored and visualized (e.g., number of records, districts, schools, and years of data)? d) Will the dashboard need to include longitudinal data capabilities to support multi-year trend analysis and cohort tracking?

Understanding these parameters will help ensure that the proposed technology stack, infrastructure, and data integration approach are properly aligned with NDE’s performance and scalability requirements.

a) The dashboard is intended for NDE internal use with a limited number of concurrent users (fewer than 30). b) Initial focus will be the 46 CLSD grant recipients, which include approximately 150 districts. c) the current school year will be the foundation for longitudinal data for five years d) some longitudinal data capabilities will be needed from the current school year through 2029 with this contract

To ensure full alignment between the proposed Nebraska Literacy Data Dashboard (NLDD) and the Department’s broader vision for data interoperability and instructional impact, can NDE confirm whether the selected vendor will have access to existing literacy-related data sources (e.g., state assessment data, teacher professional learning participation data, or curriculum resource usage data) through secure APIs or established data-sharing agreements?

It is anticipated that the vendor will have access to existing literacy-related data sources with a data sharing agreement in place.

In reviewing the Scope of Work, can NDE clarify whether “dashboard functionality” as referenced in this solicitation is intended to include both data visualization tools (for aggregate and disaggregated reporting) and data management capabilities (such as filtering, tagging, exporting, and user-specific data views)? The current language could be interpreted narrowly as front-end visualization or more broadly to include user-level data interaction, permissions, and administrative controls. To avoid making assumptions when developing our technical response and cost structure, clarification on the intended breadth of “dashboard functionality” would be appreciated.

Yes

Please clarify whether the Nebraska Literacy Data Dashboard (NLDD) is expected to include functionality for tracking or correlating educator professional learning participation data— such as training completion, instructional strategy implementation, or literacy intervention fidelity—with student literacy outcomes? The solicitation references “data integration and reporting” but does not specify whether educator learning and implementation data are considered in scope.

No

Should vendors include the entire Page 18, or may they simply create a similar table and add it to their proposal?

Either sign and submit page, or create a table.

Should vendors include the entire Page 24, or may they simply create a similar table and add it to their proposal?

Either sign and submit page, or create a table.

Should vendors include the entire Page 31, or may they simply create a similar table and add it to their proposal?

Either sign and submit page, or create a table.

Per the RFP, the NDE Vendor Cost Sheet will be made available on the DAS website for bidders to submit as a separate attachment with their proposal. Could NDE please clarify the preferred method of submission: via email or through an online portal?

Email submission to NDE.Procurement@nebraska.gov in addition to the proposal

Could NDE please confirm the required file format for the cost sheet? Specifically, should it be submitted as a separate PDF or Excel file?

PDF

Could NDE please clarify the submission method for the cost sheet? Must it be uploaded as a standalone attachment, or should it be incorporated directly into the proposal response?

Separate

Could NDE please clarify if a vendor who is not a Nebraska vendor, a resident disabled veteran, a business located in a designated enterprise zone, or a person licensed by the Commission for the Blind & Visually Impaired is still eligible to participate in this bid?

Yes

Could NDE please clarify how a vendor who does not qualify for any of the listed preference programs (Nebraska vendor, resident disabled veteran, enterprise zone business, or person licensed by the Commission for the Blind & Visually Impaired) should complete Attachment B? Should this section be left blank?

Only check the boxes that are applicable and complete the rest of the form.

Could NDE please clarify: if vendors want to keep a portion of their response confidential, must this section be submitted as a separate file? If not, could you please explain the correct process for submitting proprietary information?

Please see Section I.H.1 of the RFP.

Are there scores for the evaluation criteria? If yes, could you please disclose it?

Yes. Corporate Overview, technical proposal, cost proposal. The NDE reserves the right for optional demo sessions for selected vendors.

Are electronic signatures allowed? Yes.

Is there any incumbent to this solicitation? If yes, could you please provide the information?

No

Could NDE please grant an extension on the due date? Yes. See the updated schedule

Is it necessary to be register to do business in Nebraska at the time of the submission or is required post-award?

No

Do vendors need to include a Business License in the proposal response? If that's the case, can we include proof that we are currently in the process of obtaining it?

No. This information could be included with the corporate overview.

Does NDE accept remote resources to work on this engagement?

Yes

Does NDE accept offshore resources to work on this engagement?

No

Does NDE prefer on-site resources to execute this engagement? No

If the resources we provide at the time of proposal submission are not available at the time of a potential contract award could vendors replace them with equally qualified resources?

Yes

In case firms are submitting confidential information in the response, is it required to provide a redacted version?

Please see Section I.H.1 of the RFP.

Could the NDE please clarify if firms can utilize subcontractors to meet the requirements of this opportunity?

Please see Section VI. A.1. J. of the RFP.

Could the NDE please clarify if subcontractor references are allowed to be used for the services provided?

Please see Section VI. A.1. H. of the RFP.

Are commercial references allowed? Yes

How many references should vendors provide? Please see Section VI. A.1. I. of the RFP.

In case firms are submitting confidential information in the response, could the State please clarify the proper way for vendors to mark it as confidential?

Please see Section I.H.1 of the RFP.

Are vendors permitted to make modifications to the provided pricing template, or must it be submitted exactly as issued?

Please follow the general outline of the cost sheet, only adding to the template, not removing items.

Could NDE please confirm if vendors can meet the disabled veteran resident or enterprise zone business requirement by partnering with a company that itself meets those requirements?

See section I.P.

Please confirm how bidders should identify the subdivisions under the “Project Description and Scope of Work” section within the proposal. Should this be addressed within the Technical Response Section?

Yes

Are bidders permitted to propose a yearly rate adjustment (Cost-of-Living Adjustment – COLA) in Attachment A: NDE Vendor Cost Sheet? If so, may this be included under Other Associated Costs?

See section III.G and follow the cost sheet template

Please confirm whether three references are mandatory for each resume, or if fewer references will be acceptable.

Three references are required.

Are bidders allowed to submit subcontractor resumes and references (narrative project descriptions), as part of the proposal?

Yes

For Completed Sections II through IV, please confirm if bidders are only required to present the following information in table format: Acceptance of all terms and conditions within the section as written (initial) Exceptions taken to terms and conditions within the section as written (initial) Detailed list of exceptions, specifying the clause (including section reference), rationale for the exception, and proposed alternative language within the solicitation response.

Please see Section II of the RFP

Can multiple project team members have the same set of references since they have worked together on projects?

Yes, team members can use the same references if they worked on the same projects, as long as those references can speak to each person's individual contributions.

Could NDE clarify the primary objective of the centralized literacy dashboard — is it primarily for monitoring literacy progress, supporting instructional improvement, or both?

Both

Is NDE expecting a custom-built solution or open to a COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf) both options would be considered

How does this project align with the existing NDE data infrastructure (e.g., data warehouse, reporting tools, or analytics platforms currently in use)?

NDE currently utilizes SQL Server databases, both on-prem and in Azure. Our current reporting tool is Power

BI.

Will the dashboard also support family-facing or public reporting views, or is it intended solely for internal users (teachers, principals, SEA staff)?

Internal use only

Can NDE share details on existing data systems and formats (e.g., SIS, assessment systems, LMS)

There are a number of SIS systems in use in Nebraska including PowerSchool, Infinite Campus, Synergy. There are various assessment systems in place including NWEA, ACT, and Cambium. LMS is Canvas.

Does NDE maintain a central data warehouse or ODS where literacy and demographic data currently reside?

Student level demographic data is housed in an Ed-Fi ODS with access available via API. Aggregate data is stored in on-prem SQL databases and do not have API access.

What is the expected data refresh frequency (e.g., real-time, nightly, weekly)?

Weekly

Could NDE elaborate on the intended functionality of the internal data collection tool?

The intended functionality is to provide a centralized visual display of key metrics related to student reading performance.

Should it capture teacher-entered observations, walkthrough data, or program implementation metrics?

It should capture walkthrough data based on rubrics referred to as the Instructional Practice Guides.

Is it expected to work offline and sync later, or must it operate in real-time?

It can work offline and sync later.

Will this tool replace any existing classroom observation or IPG-based tools, or is it meant to integrate with them?

Integrate with the NDE IPGs

What user groups will utilize the collection tool (teachers, instructional coaches, district administrators)?

All listed plus ESU staff developers and building administrators

Should the tool support mobile/tablet interfaces for use in classrooms?

Yes

Does NDE expect the tool to include custom form builders, validation rules, or predefined literacy indicators aligned with CLSD frameworks?

The tool must align with the NDE IPGs

Does NDE have a preferred visualization platform or technology stack (e.g., Power BI, Tableau)?

NDE uses Power BI. We do not use Tableau

What is the priority level between different dashboard functions

— e.g., student outcome tracking vs. fidelity monitoring vs. trend analysis?

Trend analysis is top priority, followed by fidelity monitoring

Can NDE provide examples or mockups of desired visualizations or KPIs

The KPIs are the Core Actions of the NDE IPGs

Should the dashboard support role-based drill-downs from state to district to school to student level with varying permissions?

Yes

Are there reporting templates or formats (PDF, Excel, CSV) that the vendor must support for compliance submissions?

It may be possible for integration with NDE's Advisor system that vendors use a csv template.

Is NDE expecting predictive analytics or AI-driven insights, such as identifying at-risk students or intervention effectiveness trends?

Yes

What are the state-mandated data privacy and hosting requirements

Data needs to be physically hosted in continental US.

Should the system integrate with Nebraska’s Single Sign-On (SSO) or other identity management systems (e.g., Azure AD, Entra ID)

Yes

How many users (state, district, and school-level) are expected to be trained in the first phase?

200-300

Is there an expectation for helpdesk or technical support SLAs beyond standard business hours?

No

What are the key milestones and review gates expected before full deployment?

Requirements Confirmation Document and confirm functional and data requirements for approval.

Data Integration & Validation Connect data sources and validate data accuracy and completeness.

Prototype Dashboard Deliver a prototype for stakeholder review and feedback.

Functional Build & Testing Complete development, conduct UAT, and ensure accessibility compliance.

Security & Governance Review Verify data security, masking, and role-based access controls.

Pre-Production & Go-Live Deploy to staging for final verification and obtain authorization for production release.

What is the anticipated budget range or funding allocation for this initiative under the CLSD grant?

The grant budget allows for up to $125,000 for the initial period, followed by four additional periods of up to $65,000 each. Due to the nature of the NDE receiving annual GANs, the contract will be written in one year periods, with renewals dependent upon continued grant funding through September 30, 2029.

Is there a preferred or prohibited list of subcontractors or vendors?

No

Are there any restrictions on where the work must be performed (e.g., within the issuing state, within the U.S., or onshore vs.

offshore)?

Within the U.S.

May work be performed offshore if not by a prohibited entity and data remains U.S.-based?

Yes

Is remote work permitted for any portion of the work? If so, for which roles or phases?

Yes, that is determined by the vendor.

Are out-of-state subcontractors permitted if compliant with Nebraska registration and U.S. data privacy laws?”

Yes

Are there any data residency or data sovereignty requirements that would restrict where data can be accessed or stored?

Data needs to be physically hosted in continental US.

Does any portion of the work (e.g., hosting, support, development) need to be performed on-site or within government facilities?

No

Other than FERPA and the Foreign Adversary Act, are there state IT or cybersecurity policies restricting out-of-state or offshore resources?

Data needs to be physically hosted in continental US.

Please confirm any security requirements for remote users (VPN, MFA, device encryption, etc.).

Remote users will be handled by state of Nebraska or Department of Education's systems. Both of these require MFA.

Are there geographic restrictions on where the system may be hosted?

The system must be hosted in continental US.

Does the agency/client have a preferred cloud provider (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)?

Azure

Is there an existing cloud strategy or mandate that this work must align with (e.g., cloud-first policy, state contract with a cloud vendor)?

State contracts with a cloud vendor - Microsoft Azure.

Are hybrid or multi-cloud architectures acceptable?

Hybrid On-Prem/Azure may be acceptable. Other cloud providers are not acceptable.

Please confirm whether Nebraska requires FedRAMP, StateRAMP, or equivalent for cloud hosting

No requirement.

If the solution must be hosted on government infrastructure, is a move to the cloud anticipated in a future phase?

Azure clould is acceptable.

Is there a preferred delivery methodology for this engagement (e.g., Agile, Waterfall, Hybrid)?

NDE uses an Agile approach to move through each milestone iteratively—validating data, refining design, and incorporating stakeholder feedback at every review gate. This ensures the dashboard evolves based on real user input, maintains data quality, and is ready for deployment with minimal rework.

Is the agency open to Agile or iterative approaches, particularly for discovery, prototyping, or phased delivery?

NDE prefers Agile

If Agile is acceptable, are there internal stakeholders (e.g., Product Owners, Scrum Masters) who can participate in ceremonies (standups, sprint reviews, etc.)?

Yes, Product Owners would participate

Are there existing constraints that require a Waterfall approach (e.g., funding models, regulatory gates, legacy SDLC)?

No.

Are there existing tools or platforms the agency uses to support Agile delivery (e.g., Jira, Azure DevOps, Confluence)?

Azure DevOps

Please identify the core data systems that must integrate with the dashboard (vendors, data formats, APIs).

Student level demographics are hosted in an Ed-Fi ODS with API access.

Is the dashboard expected to include any predictive analytics, machine learning, or AI functionality?

No.

What is the expected data refresh frequency (real-time streaming, daily sync, or periodic batch)?

Periodic batch

Should the proposed solution include the internal data collection tool as a custom-built component, or integrate with an existing NDE tool?

Integrate with the NDE IPGs

Will the system need to support district-specific dashboards or role-based multi-tenant access?

Yes

What security frameworks (e.g., NIST 800-53, StateRAMP, SOC 2 Type II) does NDE require or recognize as sufficient?

NIST 800-53, SOC 2 Type II

Will NDE provide identity management services (e.g., SSO, MFA) or should the vendor supply and manage these?

The NDE will provide

Does NDE have a preferred hosting region or approved state IT infrastructure vendor (e.g., AWS GovCloud, Azure Government)?

Azure

What encryption standards are required for data in transit and at rest?

TLS 1.2, TLS 1.3; AES-128, AES-256, HTTPS, SSH

What are the expectations for data retention, archival, and secure destruction at project end?

Current records retention schedule can be found here:

https://sos.nebraska.gov/records-management/records-retention-and-disposition-schedules-state-govt

What is the required timeline and process for notifying NDE of a suspected or confirmed data breach?

Within 24 hrs.

Who owns derived or aggregated datasets generated by the dashboard?

The NDE

Are there standardized data-sharing agreements with school districts or will vendor participation be needed?

Standardized data sharing agreements are in place

Does NDE have a data governance framework or data dictionary to align with?

NDE utilizes an internal Data Governance framework

Please define target SLA metrics for: System uptime (%);

Response/resolution times for severity 1-3 tickets; Data recovery RTO/RPO expectations

System Uptime 99.95%, Severity 1 - Critical : Response Time: Within 15–30 minutes, Resolution Time: Within 4 hours (or workaround provided) Support Availability: 24/7 (including weekends and holidays) Severity 2 - high: Response Time: Within 1–2 hours Resolution Time: Within 1 business day Support Availability: Business hours or extended hours depending on SLA. Severity 3 - Medium/Low: Response Time: Within 1 business day Resolution Time: Within 3–5 business days Support Availability: Business hours. RTO/RPO: 3 business days/1 day

What support hours does NDE expect (e.g., 8x5 Central Time or 24x7)?

8-4 Central Time

Are there required maintenance windows or blackout periods during testing seasons?

No

What project governance structure does NDE anticipate (e.g., steering committee, working groups)?

Steering committee

How often are project status meetings expected (weekly, biweekly, monthly)?

Weekly

Will NDE provide a project manager or product owner counterpart?

Yes, there will be a NDE point of contact for this project.

What is the formal acceptance process for deliverables?

NDE will approve deliverables after verification of functionality.

How many NDE and district users will require training, and what training formats are expected (in-person, virtual, recorded)?

50-100. Various training formats are acceptable including in-person or virtual.

What is the intended timeline for transitioning ownership from vendor to NDE staff?

This process will occur prior to the end of the current contract period, which is pending renewal and the allocation of additional federal funding to support ongoing project activities and future deliverables.

Anticipated grant period will run through Sept. 30th dependent on annual renewals.

Will NDE permit price adjustments in the BAFO phase?

No, the budget is determined by the grant with no adjustments.

Can bidders propose optional pricing for future enhancements beyond the base scope?

Yes, optional pricing may be proposed.

What key metrics will NDE use to evaluate project success?

Functioning data dashboard meeting the deliverables identified in the contracting process.

Who is responsible for end-to-end testing and validation of data integration?

The vendor will conduct full end-to-end testing and validation of all data integration processes to ensure data accuracy, completeness, and reliability. NDE will perform verification of business rules, calculations, and displayed results to confirm that data is represented accurately within the dashboard environment.

Regarding the 10% retainage mentioned, could the State please clarify the specific criteria and process for the final release of this retainage upon "successful completion of the project"? For instance, is completion defined by the acceptance of the final deliverable, the end of the warranty period, or another milestone?

(Section II.T, Page 23)

The completion is defined by acceptance of the final deliverable, a functional dashboard.

The RFP states that NDE shall own exclusive title to "any deliverable developed as a result of this contract." To ensure clarity, can the State confirm that this ownership right does not extend to a bidder's pre-existing, proprietary software, tools, code, or intellectual property that may be used to build or operate the final dashboard solution? (Section III.I, Page 26)

Questions of intellectual property and work product ownership will be resolved as part of the contract award process when drafting the final contract. Pre-existing products and associated intellectual property and copyright works would remain in the vendors’ ownership unless otherwise agreed to between the parties in the final agreement. Similarly, NDE will retain its pre-existing rights (including any data entered into the dashboard by NDE) unless otherwise agreed to in the final contract

To facilitate a more accurate solution design, could the State provide a list of the primary "existing state and district systems" with which the NLDD will need to ensure interoperability, including any known Student Information Systems (SIS), assessment platforms, or other data sources currently in use?

(Section V.C.1, Page 33)

NDE houses student level information in an Ed-Fi ODS with data available via an API.

For the "internal data collection tool" to be developed, does the NDE have a preference for the platform (e.g., web-based application, dedicated mobile application for iOS/Android) on which this tool will be used by educators in classrooms? (Section V.C.2, Page 33)

Web-based application

To properly scope the system architecture and training plan, what is the estimated number of total users anticipated to require access to the dashboard, broken down by role (e.g., state administrators, district leads, school leaders, educators, coaches)? (Section V.D.5, Page 34)

SEA Administrators = 20; District Leads = 500, School Leads = 1500, Educators =1000, Coaches =50

While the RFP mentions a Service Level Agreement (SLA), it does not specify uptime requirements. What are the State's expectations for system uptime and availability (e.g., 99.9%, 99.95%) for the production environment of the NLDD? (Section V.D.7, Page 35)

99.95%

Section V.C.7 mentions the "gradual transition of system ownership and management to NDE staff," while Section V.D.7 requires "Regular system maintenance, software updates, and security patches" from the vendor. Could the State please clarify the long-term vision for system support? Does NDE intend to assume responsibility for source code maintenance and future development after the initial period of performance, or will the vendor be expected to provide ongoing technical maintenance and support services for the life of the system? (Section V.C.7 & V.D.7, Pages 34-35)

NDE will plan to assume responsibility for source code maintenance and future development after the initial period of performance.

Given the comprehensive nature of the requirements, would the State consider extending the proposal submission deadline from October 27, 2025, to provide bidders additional time to formulate a more thorough and competitive response? (Section I.C, Page 11)

Proposals will be due Oct. 31, 2025

To ensure proposed solutions are appropriately scaled and aligned with the State's financial expectations, could the NDE provide an estimated budget or budget range for this project?

(Not specified in RFP)

The grant budget allows for up to $125,000 for the initial period, followed by four additional periods of up to $65,000 each. Due to the nature of the NDE receiving annual GANs, the contract will be written in one year periods, with renewals dependent upon continued grant funding

To help bidders focus their responses on the areas of most significance to NDE, could the State please provide the scoring weights or the relative importance of the main evaluation criteria (Corporate Overview, Technical Response, and Cost)? (Section I.P, Page 14)

Evaluation Points Breakdown - Corporate Overview = 40 Weighted Points, Technical Proposal = 40 Weighted Points, Cost Proposal = 20 Weighted Points. If a demo session is requested, there is an opportunity for up to 20 additional points.

The RFP mentions 'defined service level response times' for helpdesk support. Could the State please specify the expected response and resolution times for technical support requests based on severity (e.g., critical, high, normal)? (Section V.D.7, Page 35)

Critical issues will require 24 hour response time; high issues will require 48 hour response time, normal issues will also require 48 hour response time

Is the vendor expected to host the proposed solution, or will NDE support hosting within a state-managed environment such as an Azure tenant? (Section V, Page 33)

Preference is for state-managed Azure tenant

If NDE hosts the solution, can the State provide its requirements or standards for ongoing maintenance, security patching, and ensuring solution availability? (Section V, Page 33)

These will be provided if the NDE hosted solution is selected.

The RFP mentions "Longitudinal tracking capabilities." How many years of historical and future data are intended to be housed within the solution? (Section V.D.4, Page 34)

Student achievement data = 3 years historical data; IPG data = current year. Future data housed will be through September 30, 2029 with the ability for the NDE to continue after that.

Will data migration from existing systems be required? If so, could the State provide an estimate of the number of years of data and the volume of records to be migrated? (Section V.D.2, Page 34)

Student achievement data = 3 years historical data.

There are approximately 330,000 Nebraska students, each with multiple data points including statewide assessment, demographic data,etc.

Will the awarded vendor be required to collaborate with other NDE vendor partners to complete this work? If so, could the State identify these partners? (Section III.E, Page 25)

No

The RFP notes co-development as part of the scope. Could the State elaborate on which specific components or workstreams will be co-developed and what percentage of the development effort for each will be performed by NDE staff versus the vendor?

(Section V.C.4, Page 33)

The vendor will be expected to collaborate with NDE staff for data access and to ensure operability.

To understand the scope of integration, how many distinct assessment platforms or tools will need to be integrated with the dashboard? (Section V.D.2, Page 34)

All data will be integrated from NDE

Does the State have a current system or method for tracking student interventions, and will data from that system need to be integrated? (Section V.D.3, Page 34)

The SEA does not currently have a system for tracking progress monitoring.

Does NDE or the State of Nebraska have any specific policies, restrictions, or guidelines regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in solutions or services provided to the state?

(Not specified in RFP)

No.

Does the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) have a preferred business intelligence or analytics platform for the dashboard (e.g., Power BI, Tableau), or may vendors select the software solution that best meets the functional and integration requirements?

Power BI

Does NDE have a preferred cloud environment, or do they have notable constraints related to internal IT policies?

Azure

Can you confirm that the vendor is responsible for the dashboard's cloud-based hosting or infrastructure in the short term, followed by a "gradual transition of system ownership and management to NDE staff, ensuring long-term sustainability and reduced vendor dependency"?

Yes

A reference is made to a copy of NDE's CLSD grant application as Attachment A. Attachment A refers to the Vendor Cost sheet elsewhere in the RFP and posted on the RFP website. Can you please provide a copy of the CLSD grant application?

Please see page 33 for the CLSD goals. See NE CLSD website for additional information:

https://www.education.ne.gov/clsd-2/

The scope of work includes "Data Integration and Reconciliation - Ensure interoperability with existing state and district systems." Can you please provide a list of the existing state and district systems.

NDE houses student level information in an Ed-Fi ODS with data available via an API.

A reference is made to a copy of NDE's CLSD grant application as Attachment A. Attachment A refers to the Vendor Cost sheet elsewhere in the RFP and posted on the RFP website. Can you please provide a copy of the CLSD grant application?

Please see page 33 for the CLSD goals. See NE CLSD website for additional information:

https://www.education.ne.gov/clsd-2/

The scope of work includes "Data Integration and Reconciliation - Ensure interoperability with existing state and district systems." Can you please provide a list of the existing state and district systems.

NDE houses student level information in an Ed-Fi ODS with data available via an API.

Does NDE have a preferred cloud platform for this project? Azure

Does NDE have a preferred reporting and data visualization tool it would like to integrate into this solution?

Power BI

What does “transition of system ownership and management” entail? What aspects of the Data Dashboard does NDE plan to own and manage in the future to set up for long-term sustainability?

Due to the nature of the NDE receiving annual GANs, the contract will be written in one year periods, with renewals dependent upon continued grant funding through September 30, 2029. Transition of 100% system ownership and management of the Data Dashboard will need to happen by the end of the contract.

What are the existing systems, tools and platforms used across the state and districts for which the Data Dashboard will need to be interoperable? What are the specific interoperability requirements? Is there an existing data warehouse for the state that will be used in support of this Data Dashboard?

NDE houses student level information in an Ed-Fi ODS with data available via an API.

What information is included in a “student profile” as referenced in the statement: “Drill-down functionality from the state level to individual student profiles.” Who and what are the intended users and use

This would be more classroom level, versus student level data.

How many users at each level of the system are expected in year 1 and in each of the 4 subsequent years? Specifically: How many state staff, ESU staff, district staff, and school-based staff? How many districts and schools are expected to be participating in each of the 5 years? How many observations are expected during a given year?

SEA Administrators = 20; District Leads = 500, School Leads = 1500, Educators =1000, Coaches =50. Two observations per year are expected per teacher.

Should the Professional Development provided by the vendor be focused on effective platform use only, or should it also include training on the observation indicators?

Effective platform use only

Will proposals be considered that include a majority of core functionality though will require collaborating with another partner to deliver the full solution?

Yes.

Is the cost sheet required to be submitted as a separate document or may it be included in the technical proposal?

Separate document

What format will the data requiring consolidation be in? Most likely .csv

What is the desired launch date for the dashboard or what activities should be expected to be completed during the first contract year?

Operational by July 1, 2026. Planning and collaboration with NDE staff will occur during the first contract year.

How many systems are planned got integration as mentioned in the first bullet of this section?

Can you provide an estimated of the number of state and district systems, as well as the different types of systems beyond those mentioned?

This system is intended for internal NDE use, with external users adding information from Instructional Practice Guides. Data is not intended to be shared with external users.

Please clarify the length of engagement and support necessary during the “scaling” phase of the project.

Planning and collaboration with NDE staff will occur during the scaling phase.

Please provide an anticipated number of users by user group, particularly those that would require direct onboarding and training.

SEA Administrators = 20; District Leads = 500, School Leads = 1500, Educators =1000, Coaches =50. SEA Administrators will require direct onboarding and training.

Would NDE provide the budget allocated for this project?

The grant budget allows for up to $125,000 for the initial period, followed by four additional periods of up to $65,000 each. Due to the nature of the NDE receiving annual GANs, the contract will be written in one year periods, with renewals dependent upon continued grant funding

Is there an estimated level of effort or budget maximum that must be considered for this opportunity?

The grant budget allows for up to $125,000 for the initial period, followed by four additional periods of up to $65,000 each. Due to the nature of the NDE receiving annual GANs, the contract will be written in one year periods, with renewals dependent upon continued grant funding

What are the target milestones for development work? For example, what is the desired project kick-off date, user acceptance testing date, plot launch date, and full launch date?

Project kick-off date by March 1, 2026; Full launch date July 1, 2026. User acceptance testing date and pilot launch date to be determined within these dates