Request_For_Information.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

This is a request for information (RFI) issued by the NEA as a means of conducting market research to identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support a potential requirement to 1) construct a theory of change and a measurement model and 2) design/conduct a mixed methods evaluation for the

NEA’s Our Town program.

The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to this procurement is 541720.

THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AT THIS TIME. This request for information does not constitute a request for proposals; submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary; the government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred.

If your organization has the interest and potential capacity to perform these services, please provide the following information:

1) Organization name, DUNS number, address, email address, Web site address, telephone number, and size and type of ownership for the organization; and

2) Capability statements or similar appropriate literature addressing the particular services requested, highlighting the organization’s capabilities and qualifications in the designated area. If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capability, organizations should state this.

3) Identify whether or not your organization is a small business concern, or other socioeconomic small business concern. Documentation verifying status as a particular concern is welcome (SAM registration is acceptable).

Based on the responses to this RFI, this potential requirement may be set-aside for small businesses or procured through full and open competition.

Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions.

Submission Instructions: Interested parties who consider themselves qualified to perform the above-listed services are invited to submit a response to this RFI by 5:00 PM EST, Friday, January 29, 2015. All responses must be emailed to chaudhryu@arts.gov.

For questions regarding this opportunity please email chaudhryu@arts.gov.

Services Description

NEA Our Town Program Evaluation

The contractor shall 1) construct a theory of change and a measurement model and 2) design/conduct a mixed methods evaluation for the NEA’s Our Town program, which supports projects that help to transform communities into lively, beautiful, and resilient places with the arts at their core. The theory of change/ measurement model shall be informed by a rapid scan of outcomes, metrics, and data tools used mailto:chaudhryu@arts.gov mailto:chaudhryu@arts.gov by other place-based initiatives - as well as by NEA staff consultations, interviews with field experts, and reviews of Our Town final grant reports - to identify a) the appropriate outcomes that can be achieved by

Our Town grants, and to determine b) which of those outcomes are most conducive to short-term measurement. Based on the theory of change and measurement model, the contractor shall design and conduct a mixed-methods evaluation of Our Town program implementation and outcomes over the program’s 5-year history. Key deliverables include the following: a framing document that articulates the theory of change and measurement model, evaluation plan, case studies report, national survey report, and final evaluation report that synthesizes findings and proposes revisions to the theory of change and/or measurement model. An estimate of the potential period of performance is 18 months.

In particular, the contractor shall be able to demonstrate a range of expertise across the fields of arts, design, community planning, and the evaluation of place-based programs or initiatives at all levels of government. The contractor must be able to demonstrate experience with projects of a similar scope and magnitude as this project, including having successfully produced study reports and best practices briefs, developed rigorous evaluation designs and conducted briefings for senior-level Federal policy officials. In addition, the contractor should be able to demonstrate expertise in geospatial mapping, survey methodology, network analysis, qualitative data collection and analysis, advanced statistics, and mixed-methods study designs.

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