Notice of Intent 50 States Contracts.pdf

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD

SOLE SOURCE CONTRACTS

TO

EACH OF THE 50 STATE EDUCATION AGENCIES

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), U.S. Department of Education intends to enter into firm-fixed-price (FFP), sole source contracts with approximately each of the 50 State Education Agencies (SEAs) to initiate a partnership between individual SEAs and NCES. The partnership enables NCES to provide SEAs with the technical assistance described in the legislation. The proposed action will allow SEA’s to participate in activities and projects developed by the Department to further establish the purpose of the partnership. This requirement will be conducted using FAR 6.302-1, only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

DEMONSTRATION THAT THE PROPOSED CONTRACTOR’S UNIQUE

QUALIFICATIONS OR THE NATURE OF THE ACQUISITION REQUIRES USE

OF THE AUTHORITY CITED:

The SEAs possess the unique capabilities and qualifications to meet the requirements of the work outlined in the Performance Work Statement (PWS) and are the only sources that can provide the full-time NAEP State Coordinators to provide services and ensure participation in the national cooperative education statistics system. A primary requirement of the PWS is to employ a full-time staff member to ensure the effective implementation of the NAEP for timely and effective administration of assessments at the local level as required by the program. In order to fulfill the requirements of the program, the contractor must have access to local school districts and student information. The Chief State School Officers (employed by each SEA), or appointees thereof, have exclusive access to school districts and student information. Another requirement is to participate in activities that will enable SEAs to designate representatives to the Cooperative System who can speak for state interests, provide recommendations about Cooperative System activities, and initiate action at both the state and national levels to further the Cooperative System's goals. Therefore, SEAs are the sole sources for award of these contracts.

Each SEA is responsible for providing information, resources, and technical assistance on educational matters to the schools and residents of its state. In addition, the SEA is also responsible for the state assessment of students in public education and therefore can gain access directly to schools in its state. NCES works directly with SEAs in order to have a national influence on the implementation of the NCES State Partnership System that integrates the work of the NAEP State Coordinator into the SEA state assessment program. There is no other group within the individual states with the authority and expertise to enter into the NCES State Partnership System and facilitate the implementation of the NAEP state assessment.

This requirement is not suitable for competition based in part on the inaccessibility of the required information. The information needed to help fulfill the terms of the expected contract is only accessible by SEA employees. Some of the work also requires manipulation of state record systems that are only available to employees of each respective SEA.

Participation in the Program shall involve a continuing relationship between SEAs and NCES and will include the designation of a NAEP State Coordinator. The Coordinator shall act as the SEA representative in the schools for the administration of the assessment and in other matters concerning the program. It will also designate participants in the Cooperative System that can speak to state interests and provide recommendations concerning the program.

Responses to this notice must demonstrate clear and convincing evidence that 1. competition would be advantageous to the Government, 2. would not be cost or time prohibitive, 3. would not pose unreasonable risk to the Government, and 4. would not hinder the mission objectives of the Agency. This response would carefully be evaluated against all known information to ascertain if the Government’s current decision should be changed.

The determination not to compete the proposed actions is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered for the purposes of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. The Government has already determined that the work cannot be subdivided or otherwise broken down into smaller tasks or deliverables. The Government will not be responsible for any costs incurred by responding to this notice. This is NOT a request for quotes or Respondent’s submissions. Questions or comments to this Notice of Intent should be directed to the Contract Specialist Alyson Allman at alyson.allman@ed.gov no later than December 20, 2024.

mailto:alyson.allman@ed.gov

DEMONSTRATION THAT THE PROPOSED CONTRACTOR’S UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS OR THE NATURE OF THE ACQUISITION REQUIRES USE OF THE AUTHORITY CITED: