NDERFP250312_Vendor Questions.r2.pdf

This document is a Vendor Questions Response from the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) for the NDERFP250312 - TEACH solicitation, addressing potential vendor inquiries about a comprehensive Educator Licensure System (ELS) replacement project. The document details responses to various technical, operational, and implementation questions, with NDE seeking a custom-developed licensure system tailored specifically for Nebraska. The project aims to implement a new ELS by July 1, 2025, with approximately 40 NDE staff users and stakeholder access for Nebraska institutions, K-12 public and private accredited schools. The initial contract term is 12 months, with NDE anticipating a full statewide launch and expecting vendors to handle data migration, system testing, and implementation.

The vendor responses reveal several key technical and operational details, including the use of MS SQL and Ed-Fi data standards, Elavon as the payment processor, and plans for creating testing sites for each public-facing system before production implementation. NDE will issue approximately 14,000 certifications annually and requires integration with existing systems like the Nebraska Portal and school district data verification processes. The system will support 3 license types, 16 license subtypes, and over 95 endorsements with varying grade levels. The department is not seeking a phased implementation approach and expects the vendor to handle data cleansing, migration, and system testing. Notably, the RFP emphasizes a custom-developed solution specifically designed for Nebraska's unique licensure requirements, with a focus on maintaining operational efficiency and data integrity throughout the transition.