NDERFI260510-NOTIFICATION OF APPROVED PROVIDERS.docx

This is a Notification of Approved Providers letter issued by the Nebraska Department of Education on June 5, 2026, in response to Request for Information NDERFI260510. The RFI, issued on May 19, 2026, sought qualified providers to assist in writing and implementing grant projects aligned with four strategic priorities: accelerating student achievement, growing the educator pipeline, equipping learners for the workforce, and providing exceptional service. The procurement encompassed two distinct service categories—grant writing management and implementation support—with vendors permitted to respond to either or both categories. Responses were due electronically by June 1, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. CST, with opening scheduled for 3:00 p.m. CST the same day. Written questions had to be submitted by May 22, 2026, with responses posted by May 27, 2026. Evaluation of submissions occurred from June 1-4, 2026, with results published on June 5, 2026. Three providers were approved and added to the Approved Providers List: National Center for Grow Your Own, LSI, and EdCount.

Grant writing deliverables included hourly-based consulting support for grant development, while implementation services required detailed cost sheets covering grant-funded activities on either an hourly or deliverables basis, along with reporting, compliance, monitoring, and evaluation activities. Required qualifications included demonstrated capacity and experience with federal, state, and private grant projects, a comprehensive corporate overview addressing vendor ability and character, and a detailed scope of work specific to the selected service area. The RFI contained no set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises and indicated the opportunity was open to qualified providers broadly. No incumbent vendors or current contractors were identified. The Nebraska Department of Education prioritized vendor flexibility regarding upfront costs for grant writing services, seeking partners willing to engage at no initial cost, while cost structures for implementation services remained subject to vendor proposals and negotiation. Selected vendors will be considered for future discretionary funding applications for NDE grant projects, though no guaranteed contract award was specified and the state retained discretion regarding subsequent Request for Proposal issuance or contract awards.