NDERFP241101_Vendor Questions.pdf

SPB Form 26 Effective 7-19-2024

SOLICITATION ADDENDUM NDERFP241101

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Date: 3/4/25

To: All Bidders

From: Alyson DenBeste Nebraska Department of Education

RE: Addendum for NDERFP241101 to be opened March 12th 2025 at 2:00 p.m. CST

Questions and Answers

Following are the questions submitted and answers provided for the above-mentioned solicitation.

The questions and answers are to be considered as part of the solicitation. It is the responsibility of bidders to check the State Purchasing Bureau website for all addenda or amendments.

Question Number

RFP

Section

Reference

RFP

Page

Number

Question State Response

1. NA NA Does the NDE anticipate any changes to this grant funded program considering recent administrative changes in the federal government?

The NDE is operating under current funding expectations and standards set by the US Department of Education. The NDE has not been notified of any changes to the CLSD grant.

2. NA NA What is the total amount to be allocated to

CLSD

program evaluation for the period of performance?

The budgeted amount for program evaluation is up to $350,000 for the period of performance.

3. NA NA What is the total amount to be allocated to

CLSD

program evaluation for the initial one-

The budgeted amount for program evaluation for the initial one-year term of the contract is $65,000.

year term of the contract?

4. P 16 The RFP mentions preference for a resident disabled veteran or business located in a designated enterprise zone. What is the scoring weight of this preference?

Nebraska Revised Statutes 73-107 (https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=73-

107) and 13-2102 (https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=13- 2102) establish the requirements for these preferences.

5. V. A 34 How many school districts have been selected as sub-awardees?

0. Sub-awardees have not been selected.

6. V. A 34 How many teachers and leaders are expected to be trained in each year of the program?

Project specific performance measures indicated at least 4,000 teachers each year will participate in professional learning.

This figure does NOT include the number of aspiring teachers that will receive Science of Reading training through their Educator Preparation Program which will count toward the 23,000 total amount trained.

7. V. F 36 Can you elaborate on your expectations is they relate to “an active role for evaluators in program activities”?

The proposed evaluation framework will incorporate a developmental approach. This approach is preferred for its ability to provide a dual focus on processes and outcomes as it positions the evaluator as a key partner in determining the next steps. NDE is seeking an evaluator who has demonstrated flexibility in allowing for feedback and adjustments, emergent learning from unexpected outcomes, and collaboration with multiple state agencies, LEAs, and stakeholders.

8. NA NA Do you expect meetings and engagement activities to take place in person, virtually, or a combination?

How many onsite meetings, and at what cadence, do you expect of the evaluator?

Meetings and engagement activities will be a combination of in person and virtually, as mutually agreed upon. The initial meeting will be in person with subsequent meeting formats to be mutually agreed upon. Evaluation will consist of a minimum of quarterly updates and annual reporting.

https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=73-107 https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=73-107 https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=13-2102 https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=13-2102

9. V. F 36 Will preference be given to evaluators that have previous CLSD funded program evaluation?

Yes.

10. Grant Application

44 Was an evaluator consulted to assist with development of the evaluation framework as presented in the grant application?

Who was that evaluator?

No.

11. Part I, Procurement Procedure, Section E

Page 3 If a bidder is not currently registered to do business in the State of Nebraska, would they be eligible to apply if they would be able to complete registration within 90 days after an intent to award is received?

Please see SECRETARY OF STATE/TAX COMMISSIONER REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS (Nonnegotiable) (Section I.E.) in the RFP.

12. Part VI, Section A.I, Solicitation Response

Submission

Page 27 The solicitation requires submission of financial statements.

Should the bidder provide only the most recent available financial statements, or are multiple years required?

The most recently completed fiscal year.

13. Contractual Agreement

Form

Page 30 This form includes a section entitled:

Nebraska Vendor Affidavit, and two other certifications.

If a bidder is not a Nebraska vendor, a resident disabled veteran, or licensed by the CBVI, should those sections be left blank, or is it mandatory for a bidder to qualify under one of these categories?

Leave blank if not applicable.

14. V. Project Description and Scope of Work- A-

G. & VI.A.II.

Technical Response

Pages 24-26, &

Page

Please clarify if the instructions indicating "any answers to specific questions articulated in Section V in the Technical Proposal required in RFP Section 6.A.4." should read "RFP section 6.A.2."

Furthermore, confirm that the required bullet points in section VI.A.II.

(6. A.

2.)Technical Response appear as distinct subheadings within the required

Your observation is correct. There is no 6.A.4. Please respond to section 6.A.2.

headings under section V. A through G.

15. VI.A.I

Corporate Overview

Page 27 In the Corporate Overview, if the listed subdivision does not apply, should bidders include a statement to that fact?

Yes.

16. VI. II

Technical Response

Page 29 Please clarify what the format and order requirements are for the following instructions provided:

"Content requirements for the Corporate Overview, Technical Response, and Cost Sheet are presented separately in the following subdivisions:

format and order:"

There is no specific order & format requirement from NDE.

Bidder are expected to provide the requested information in their best possible solution providing way to fulfill those needs.

Link to Cost Sheet: Request for Proposal for Agency Processed Services

17. Appendix A Page 45 Table 5.1 lists a number of surveys that will serve as data sources for objectives and performance measures.

Are these surveys already developed and/or

No.

https://das.nebraska.gov/materiel/purchasing/NDERFP241101/NDERFP241101.html https://das.nebraska.gov/materiel/purchasing/NDERFP241101/NDERFP241101.html administered by NDE?

18. VI.A.I

Corporate Overview

Page 29 Do resume references count in the 3 page limit?

No.

19. Appendix A Page 46 Objective 2.a:

Is there already a plan for how to roll out the training over the 5 years? This will affect the design of the impact study, if the training rollout is designed in a certain way (but this can also be part of the developmental evaluation).

Similarly, the goal is to have all 23,000 educators trained--will this include teachers in districts that are not CLSD subgrantees?

23,000 teachers will include all incoming teachers by the end of the grant

20. Appendix A Page 47 Objective 3.a:

Will all 248 districts in Nebraska be expected to adopt HQIM?

Or only CLSD grantees?

There is no requirement that all Nebraska districts adopt HQIM.

If a CLSD sub-awardee plans to use CLSD funds to purchase instructional materials, the instructional materials must be in English Language Arts and must be HQIM.

21. Attachment

A. NDE

CLSD

Project

Narrative

Page 12 When do you anticipate announcing subawards?

The earliest subawards could be announced is July 2025.

22. Attachment

A. NDE

CLSD

Project

Narrative

Page 24 Do you have a list or database with NDE’s approved HQIM? If there

NDE defines HQIM as those which, "align to academic standards, have clear learning outcomes, and reflect evidence-based practices."

This addendum will be incorporated into the solicitation.

is not a list, what is NDE’s definition of

HQIM?

23. Attachment

A. NDE

CLSD

Project

Narrative

Not Provided

What is the anticipated count of statewide literacy coaches?

There are 17 statewide literacy coaching positions that will be funded through state funds. There may be additional literacy coaches funded through CLSD grant funds.

24. Attachment

A. NDE

CLSD

Project

Narrative

Not Provided

How many schools do you anticipate that each coach will serve?

The number of schools served by each literacy coach varies based on the number of districts served by each Education Service Unit (ESU). There may be additional literacy coaches funded through CLSD grant funds.

25. Attachment

A. NDE

CLSD

Project

Narrative

Not Provided

Additionally, approximately how many schools will be served in total?

There may be up to 48 grant applications funded. The number of schools may vary depending on how many schools would be served by an application.

26. Attachment

A. NDE

CLSD

Project

Narrative

Page 45 Is there a statewide reporting system for the TS Gold?

Yes. District-level data is available through this system at the current time.

Questions and Answers