RFI US Citizenship Naturalization Educational Requirements Testing 09182025.pdf

Request for Information (RFI) U.S. Citizenship Naturalization Educational Requirements Testing

70SBUR25I00000018

Introduction U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is seeking information from industry stakeholders regarding capabilities to support a redesigned naturalization test. USCIS is committed to ensuring that the naturalization process reflects the values, principles, and responsibilities associated with U.S.

citizenship while maintaining fairness, consistency, and accessibility for aliens applying for naturalization.

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10 and does not constitute a solicitation or obligation on the part of the Government. Responses to this RFI will be used to inform the development of future requirements and acquisition strategies.

Background USCIS leadership envisions a redesigned naturalization test that provides a more comprehensive assessment of an alien’s understanding of the English language, U.S. civics, history, and values, as well as their attachment to the Constitution.

In general, an alien applying for naturalization must demonstrate an understanding of the English language, including an ability to read, write, and speak words in ordinary usage. An alien must also demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of the history, principles, and form of government of the United States (civics). These are the English and civics requirements for naturalization.1 An alien may qualify for an exception from the English requirement, civics requirement, or both.

An alien is exempt from the English language requirement but is still required to meet the civics requirement if:

• The alien is age 50 or older at the time of filing for naturalization and has lived as an LPR in the United States for at least 20 years;2 or

• The alien is age 55 or older at the time of filing for naturalization and has lived as an LPR in the United States for at least 15 years.3

1 See INA 312. See 8 CFR 312.

2 See INA 312(b)(2)(A).

3 Se INA 312(b)(2)(B).

http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title8-section1423&num=0&edition=prelim https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?&node=pt8.1.312

The alien may take the civics test in his or her language of choice with the use of an interpreter if:

An alien receives special consideration in the civics test, by law, if at the time of filing, the alien is 65 years of age or older and has been living in the United States for periods totaling at least 20 years subsequent to a lawful admission for permanent residence.4

USCIS received approximately 1,001,200 applications for naturalization in fiscal year 2024.

The redesigned test may include:

• Standardized English Proficiency Testing at External Sites: Aliens seeking to naturalize will complete the English proficiency test at designated testing centers as an element of the naturalization application. The English proficiency test must assess reading, writing, speaking and understanding of “ordinary usage” in the English language as determined by and in coordination with USCIS.

• Standardized Civics (U.S. History and Government) Testing at External Sites:

The civics test must assess knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of the history, principles and form of the government of the United States. Some aliens are eligible to take the civics test in their language of choice based on age and the length of residency eligibility criteria.

• Essay Component: As part of the redesigned naturalization test, aliens will respond to essay prompts designed to assess their attachment to the Constitution and their understanding of what it means to be an American. The essay will be utilized to assess English proficiency and evaluated by USCIS in the adjudication of the naturalization application for the alien’s attachment to the U.S. Constitution.5

Objective The objective of this RFI is to gather information from industry stakeholders regarding their capabilities to support the implementation and administration of a redesigned naturalization test.

USCIS is particularly interested in solutions that include innovative approaches to ensure accessibility, security, and scalability and address the following:

• Test Development: Expertise in designing standardized tests that assess English reading, writing, speaking and understanding, and knowledge of the history, principles, and form of government of the United States.

4 See INA 312(b)(3). For additional information, see USCIS Policy Manual Volume 12, Part E, English and Civics Testing and Exception [12 USCIS-PM E], available at https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-e.

5 See INA 312 and INA 316(a)(3).

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1423&num=0&edition=prelim https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-e

• Testing Center Operations: Capabilities to establish and manage secure, accessible testing centers with a nationwide footprint and availability internationally for military personnel, ensuring aliens’ identities are verified in the testing environment. Reference Attachment 1 for a heat map of Application for Naturalization (Form N-400) filings in fiscal year 2024 and fiscal year 2025 (through August 2025).

• Technology Integration: Use of technology for test administration, scoring, and reporting/transmitting testing (including essays) to USCIS while ensuring data security and integrity.

• Accessibility: Approaches to ensure the test is accessible to individuals who are eligible for exemptions from the English language requirement as described above or who may need an accommodation due to a disability.6 Capabilities to seamlessly incorporate an interpreter into the testing process or offer the civics test in a broad array of languages.

• Scalability: Solutions that can accommodate varying volumes of aliens geographically distributed across the country.

Requested Information Interested parties are invited to submit responses that address the following:

• Capabilities Statement: Provide a detailed overview of your organization’s capabilities related to test development, testing center operations, technology integration, accessibility, and scalability.

• Experience: Describe relevant experience in designing and implementing standardized tests, particularly in a government or high-stakes context.

• Innovative Solutions: Share any innovative approaches or technologies that could enhance the integrity of the naturalization testing process.

• Challenges and Mitigation Strategies: Identify potential challenges associated with the proposed redesigned testing format and propose strategies to address them.

• Cost Considerations: Provide high-level cost estimates or pricing models for the proposed solutions.

Submission Instructions Responses to this RFI must be submitted electronically via email to Eric Bishop at

6 See USCIS Policy Manual Policy Manual Volume 12, Citizenship and Naturalization, Part C, Accommodations, Chapter 3, Types of Accommodations, Section B. Accommodations for the Naturalization Test [12 USCIS-PM C.3(B)], available at https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-c-chapter-3.

https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-c-chapter-3 eric.m.bishop@uscis.dhs.gov. All responses shall include a Cc to johana.gaviriavilla@uscis.dhs.gov.

Submission Deadline: All responses shall be submitted no later than 10:00 AM Eastern Time (ET) on Friday, October 3, 2025. Submissions should be in PDF format, using the following format for the subject of the email “RFI Response U.S. Citizenship Naturalization Educational Requirements Testing — [Company Name]” and should not exceed four (4) pages. Telephonic and mail/courier responses will not be accepted.

Disclaimer This RFI is issued for market research purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation or a commitment by the Government to procure any supplies or services. USCIS will not reimburse respondents for any costs incurred in responding to this RFI. Responses will be treated as informational only and will not be considered binding. USCIS may reach out to any RFI respondents for follow-up discussions and/or in-person meetings to discuss their capabilities and any information contained in the RFI response.

Point of Contact For questions or clarifications regarding this RFI, please contact the Contract Specialist, johana.gaviriavilla@uscis.dhs.gov and Cc the Contracting Officer, eric.m.bishop@uscis.dhs.gov

USCIS appreciates your interest and looks forward to your responses.

mailto:eric.m.bishop@uscis.dhs.gov mailto:johana.gaviriavilla@uscis.dhs.gov mailto:johana.gaviriavilla@uscis.dhs.gov mailto:eric.m.bishop@uscis.dhs.gov