RFP CLR LER Implementation_FINAL.pdf

Request for Proposals

RFP # 27-001

CLR LER System Implementation

Posted: July 14, 2026

Vendor Response Signature Page

CCCS RFP 27-001 CLR LER System Implantation

Vendors responding to this solicitation must fill out this page in its entirety, sign and return with vendor’s response. This page must bear a physical or electronic signature, as electronic signature is defined in the "Uniform Electronic Transactions Act", section

24-71.3-102 (8), evincing an intent by the vendor to be bound by its response. Failure to do so may disqualify the vendor response.

The undersigned understands and agrees that misrepresentation made in this response and/or subsequent discussions or information presented to the State may be deemed sufficient cause for the refusal by the State to execute a contract as a result, and that that later discovery of any omission or misrepresentation made in the solicitation response and/or subsequent discussions or information presented to the State may be grounds for the cancellation of an existing contract.

LEGAL COMPANY NAME (OFFEROR): _____________________________

AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE

SIGNER’S NAME: _____________________

TITLE: _____________________________

PHONE NUMBER: _____________________

EMAIL: _____________________________

Award notice will be posted on ColoradoVSS. Please provide your VSS ID#, if known: __________________________

CONTACT FOR CLARIFICATIONS

NAME: ___________________________

TITLE: ___________________________

PHONE: _______________________

EMAIL: ______________________

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION 2

A. General Information 2

B. Background 2

C. Overview and Goals 2

D. Sole Point of Contact 2

E. Schedule of Activities 2

F. Pre-Proposal Meeting 3

G. Start Date 3

H. Anticipated Contract Term 3

2. OFFEROR’S EXPERIENCE AND PERSONNEL 4

A. Organizational Experience 4

B. Organizational Personnel 4

3. REQUIREMENTS 4

A. Accessibility Requirements 4

B. Insurance Requirements 4

C. Mandatory Requirements 4

4. Scope of Work 5

A. Scope of Work and Deliverables 5

5. REQUESTED PROPOSAL FORMAT 5

6. EVALUATION METHODOLOGY 6

A. Evaluation Process 6

B. Evaluation Committee 6

C. Proposal Evaluation Criteria 6

D. Demonstrations and Discussions 7

E. Single proposal 8

F. Award 8

Appendix A - Administrative Information

Appendix B - Vendor Disclosure Statement

Appendix C - CCCS Accessibility Disclosure Form

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1. INTRODUCTION

A. General Information

On behalf of the State of Colorado, Insert State Agency/IHE is issuing this Request for

Proposals for Comprehensive Learner Record (CLR) and Learner Employment

Record (LER) Implementation.

B. Background

System Overview

The Colorado Community College System (CCCS), powered by 13 community colleges, enriches lives and builds communities as the premier provider of education that is high-value, career-connected, and life-long. CCCS serves as Colorado's largest institution of higher education and plays a vital role in workforce development, economic prosperity, and educational access across the state.

Mission and Vision

Vision: CCCS will be the first and best path for all to achieve a more prosperous and fulfilling life.

Mission: The Colorado Community College System enriches lives and builds communities as the premier provider of education that is high-value, career-connected, and life-long.

Core Values

CCCS is guided by five core values that shape its strategic direction and daily operations:

• Learners First - Prioritizing success by creating supportive environments that empower learners to define and achieve their goals.

• Educational Excellence - Delivering relevant, data-informed, valuable learning experiences that meet the highest standards of academic and professional training.

• Culture of Belonging - Uplifting diverse communities by ensuring all learners and employees are valued, included, and supported.

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• Bold and Creative Leadership - Seizing opportunities to collaborate, take risks, find solutions, and continuously improve while re-imagining higher education.

• Community Advancement - Integrating with communities to drive shared prosperity by cultivating skilled talent, enriching cultural and civic engagement, and fostering meaningful employment.

The 13 CCCS Colleges

The system comprises 13 distinct community colleges serving diverse regions across

Colorado:

1. Arapahoe Community College (ACC)

2. Community College of Aurora (CCA)

3. Community College of Denver (CCD)

4. Colorado Northwestern Community College (CNCC)

5. Front Range Community College (FRCC)

6. Lamar Community College (LCC)

7. Morgan Community College (MCC)

8. Northeastern Junior College (NJC)

9. Otero College (OC)

10. Pikes Peak State College (PPSC)

11. Pueblo Community College (PCC)

12. Red Rocks Community College (RRCC)

13. Trinidad State College (TSC)

Student Enrollment and Demographics (AY 2024-25)

CCCS serves a diverse student population across Colorado:

• Total System Enrollment: Approximately 130,000+ students annually

• Age Distribution:

o 34.0% are 17-21 years old o 25.7% are 22-24 years old

V02.2026 RFP 27-001 CLR LER Implementation 4 of 44 o 14.0% are 25-29 years old o Significant adult learner population (30+ years)

• Financial Need:

o System-wide Pell recipients ranges from 25.5% to 55.6% by college o FAFSA filing rates range from 51.6% to 76.3% by college o Demonstrates CCCS's critical role in serving economically disadvantaged students

Credential Production and Student Success

CCCS has demonstrated strong growth in credential attainment:

Programs: Offers over 1,500 degree and certificate programs, including nursing, Career & Technical Education (CTE), and Concurrent Enrollment for high schoolers.

Total Credentials Awarded (AY 2020-21 to AY 2024-25):

• AY 2020-21: 20,458 credentials

• AY 2021-22: 19,499 credentials

• AY 2022-23: 19,133 credentials

• AY 2023-24: 20,003 credentials

• AY 2024-25: 21,082 credentials

Notable Growth: CCCS has achieved a 5.4% increase in total credentials awarded from AY 2023-24 to AY 2024-25, with several colleges showing exceptional growth:

• Community College of Aurora (CCA): 25.7% growth

• Pikes Peak State College (PPSC): 20.8% growth

• Arapahoe Community College (ACC): 13.6% growth

• Morgan Community College (MCC): 27.5% growth

Affordability and Access

CCCS remains the most affordable path to a college education in Colorado:

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• Resident tuition is 55% lower than the average cost at the state's public research universities

• Typical full-time student cost: $5,965 in base tuition and fees per year

• Annual savings: $71 million saved annually in college tuition costs through concurrent enrollment programs

Despite being the most affordable option, CCCS operates with the lowest state funding per resident student among Colorado's public higher education institutions yet continues to deliver exceptional results.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) Excellence

CCCS oversees comprehensive Career and Technical Education programs that bridge the skills gap between education and industry needs:

• Concurrent Enrollment (CE) Programs:

o 51,000 high school students served annually by CCCS Concurrent Enrollment o 3,500 credentials awarded to CE students annually o 66% of CE students go on to college o Students earn college credit that applies to both high school graduation and college credentials

• Workforce Partnerships: CCCS collaborates with multiple educational institutions and industry partners to create pathways for students to acquire skills needed by employers.

Technology Infrastructure

CCCS operates a sophisticated technology ecosystem to support its 13 colleges:

Core Systems:

• Ellucian Banner for Student Information System (SIS), Financial Aid, Human

Resources/Payroll and Finance: Official system of record supporting registration, financial aid, finance, human resources and academic operations across all 13 colleges. Students register using Self-Service Banner or EAB

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Navigate, depending on the college. All colleges and the system office are in the same database instance of Banner.

• D2L Brightspace Learning Management System: Supports teaching, learning, and academic operations for faculty and students system-wide.

• External Publisher Platform Integrations: Significant number of D2L courses integrate with external publisher platforms (Pearson, McGraw-Hill, Cengage) where course activities, exams, and assignments occur, with grades syncing back to D2L.

• Colorado Online: Nationally recognized single online learning ecosystem allowing students to seamlessly enroll in online courses and programs across all

13 colleges. Portions of CO Online are in Banner SIS and other components were built in-house.

Technology Diversity: As a large college system, CCCS utilizes diverse technologies across 13 community colleges, requiring robust integration and interoperability to maintain operational efficiency and data integrity.

Strategic Initiatives and Innovation

CCCS is actively pursuing several strategic initiatives to enhance student success and operational excellence:

• Seamless Transfer Pathways: Creating clear pathways for students to transfer to four-year institutions

• Smart Operations and Innovative Delivery: Operating with the efficiency of a statewide system and the flexibility of local colleges

• Statewide Communication Strategy: Developing robust internal and external communication to elevate CCCS colleges by highlighting pathways from learning to earning

• Data-Informed Decision Making: Leveraging institutional research and business intelligence to drive continuous improvement

Challenges and Opportunities

Current Challenges:

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• Fraudulent Applications: Some colleges receive up to 50% fraudulent applications, with sophisticated fraudsters using stolen identities to obtain financial aid refunds, resulting in significant financial and operational impacts.

• State Funding: Despite delivering exceptional results, CCCS receives the lowest state funding per resident student in Colorado.

• Technology Integration Complexity: Managing diverse technologies across 13 colleges requires sophisticated integration and change management.

Opportunities:

• Credential Innovation: Implementing comprehensive Learner Employment

Record (LER) systems to provide students with verified, portable digital records of achievements.

• Competency-Based Education: Shifting from traditional grade-based assessment to comprehensive competency-based learning.

• Enhanced Employer Connections: Strengthening pathways between education and employment through verified credentials and skills documentation.

Community Impact

CCCS drives shared prosperity across Colorado by:

• Cultivating skilled talent for state and regional economies

• Enriching cultural and civic engagement

• Fostering meaningful employment opportunities

• Supporting nationally recognized programs (CNCC Flight Team, rodeo programs at LCC and NJC)

• Providing vibrant educational experiences in both urban and rural Colorado communities

Governance and Leadership

CCCS operates under the oversight of the State Board for Community Colleges and

Occupational Education (SBCCOE), with system-level leadership provided by the

Chancellor and System Office, while maintaining local autonomy through individual college presidents and leadership teams.

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C. Overview and Goals

CCCS is seeking proposals from qualified vendors to implement a comprehensive

Learner Employment Record (LER) system that will provide students with a verified, portable, and comprehensive digital record of their academic achievements, skills, competencies, credentials, and experiential learning across all colleges within our system.

CCCS serves 13 colleges with approximately 130,000 students annually. As part of our commitment to student success and workforce readiness, we recognize the need for a modern credentialing solution that extends beyond traditional transcripts to capture the full breadth of student learning and achievement.

Projects Goals:

• Enable the ability to capture learning in formal coursework, co-curricular, and work-based learning experiences

• Provide students with comprehensive, portable digital records of all learning achievements, with the ability to include achievements in a student’s digital record earned at any of the CCCS colleges.

• Enable verification of credentials, skills, and competencies by employers and educational institutions.

• Support stackable credentials, microcredentials, and alternative learning pathways.

• Integrate seamlessly with existing systems (Banner SIS, D2L Brightspace LMS, and others as needed).

• Enhance student employability and career advancement opportunities.

D. Sole Point of Contact

i. The State’s sole point of contact for this solicitation is Lindsey Buffy, Purchasing Director who may be reached via email at lindsey.buffy@cccs.edu, or via phone at 720-858-2772.

ii. Because phone lines may not be consistently monitored, email is the preferred method of communication. The individual listed above is the sole point of contact for this solicitation. Initiating contact with anyone other than this individual may result in Offeror disqualification.

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E. Schedule of Activities

i. This Schedule of Activities is for information and planning purposes only.

Schedules for Activities listed as “Estimated” may be subject to change depending on the needs of the State. All times are considered in Mountain Time

(MT), as adjusted for daylight savings.

ii. The date of publication for this solicitation on Colorado VSS is July 14, 2026.

a. Written inquiries must be submitted via the posting in BidNet no later than

July 21, 2026, at 5:00 PM MST.

b. The estimated date for the State’s responses to vendors’ written inquires to be published on BidNet is July 28, 2026.

c. All proposals must be submitted in the method described below no later than August 14, 2026 at 11:00 AM MST.

d. A public opening of the proposals will be held virtually on August 11, 2026 at 12:00 PM MST. So that CCCS can plan for attendance, if an Offeror wishes to attend the public proposal opening, please send an email to the

Procurement Contact to RSVP at least one day prior to the date of the public proposal opening and include the name and email for the person who will attend. CCCS will respond to the attendee with a link to the meeting.

e. The estimated date for demonstrations from selected proposers is

September 14,2026.

f. The estimated date for the publication of an Intent to Award on Colorado

VSS is September 28, 2026.

F. Start Date

The desired Contract or Purchase Order start date is November 1, 2026.

G. Anticipated Contract Term

i. The initial term of the awarded Contract is anticipated to begin on November 1, 2026 and end on October 31, 2027. This Contract may be renewed for up to four additional one-year periods at the sole discretion of the State. The total duration of the Contract, including all options, is not anticipated to exceed five

(5) years.

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i. The State may extend the Contract beyond the anticipated term in accordance with the Colorado Procurement Code, and in the event that the State determines an extension is necessary.

ii. The State may, within its sole discretion, choose not to exercise any option or extension term in the Contract for any reason. If the State chooses not to exercise any option or extension term, it may re-procure the goods and/or services in its sole discretion.

2. OFFEROR’S EXPERIENCE AND PERSONNEL

A. Minimum Requirements

i. Minimum 3 years of experience implementing LER or comprehensive digital credentialing systems

ii. At least 5 current clients in higher education

iii. Experience with multi-campus/system-wide implementations

iv. Technical capability to provide interoperability between Banner MEP, D2L

Brightspace, employer HRIS, talent marketplace and external higher education institutions. Banner MEP is the architecture of all thirteen colleges and the system office in the same Banner Oracle database using Multi Entity Processing

(MEP) also referred to as Ellucian’s Shared Technology Platform (STP) and

Oracle’s Virtual Private Database (VPD) architecture. Currently Banner is operated and supported on-premise using Oracle’s Exadata platform, but there is the potential that during the life of the LER contract that CCCS could move to

Ellucian’s Banner SaaS version.

v. Financial stability and viability

vi. Dedicated implementation and support teams with the capacity to support the implementation at all 13 colleges.

B. Preferred Requirements

i. Experience with community college systems

ii. Existing integrations with Ellucian Banner MEP and D2L Brightspace

iii. Participation in industry standards development (IMS Global, W3C, etc.)

iv. Experience with workforce development programs

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v. References from similar-sized institutions

3. REQUIREMENTS

A. Accessibility Requirements

i. All work performed as a result of this solicitation must comply with all applicable provisions of §§24-85-101, et seq., C.R.S., and the Accessibility Standards for

Individuals with a Disability, as established by the Office Of Information

Technology pursuant to Section §24-85-103 (2.5), C.R.S. and 3) all State of

Colorado technology standards related to technology accessibility and with Level

AA of the most current version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

(WCAG), incorporated in the State of Colorado technology standards.

ii. Vendor will provide a VPAT demonstrating the ability to meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards.

B. Insurance Requirements

The awarded Offeror will be required to submit a certificate(s) of insurance evidencing insurance coverage for, at minimum, the types and amounts of insurance as required by the Insurance provision in the Contract or Purchase Order Terms and

Conditions, included in this solicitation as an attachment, prior to execution of the

Contract or Purchase Order.

C. Mandatory Requirements

Required System Capabilities

a. Core Functionality:

• The platform will enable issuance, management, verification, and revocation of verifiable digital credentials based on international standards (OB3, CLR2, and WC3 Verifiable Credentials), (degrees, certificates, badges, micro-credentials).

• The proposed LER system demonstrates conformance will need to support the following interoperability profiles as defined by the Learning Mobility Collaborative. Vendor must state which one(s) best suits CCCS:

(i) VCALM-EdDSA Profile (vcalm-eddsa-v1), OR

(ii) OID4-ECDSA Profile (oid4-ecdsa-v1), OR

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(iii) OB 3.0 Direct Delivery Profile (ob3-direct-delivery-v1)

• Each credential must include metadata such as: achievement name and description, competencies or skills attained, issuing institution, date of issuance and validity period, and alignment to international standards.

• Credentials must be cryptographically signed to ensure originality and integrity, and remain verifiable without dependence in external validation systems,

• The platform must provide a traceable credential history, including issuance, modification, or revocation events.

• Map CCCS learning outcomes to workforce skills using a skills taxonomy

• The platform must provide recommendations with AI of badges to issue based on course description and pathway data.

• The platform must facilitate the validation of badges and credentials from the institutions and generate templates of meta-data for issuance.

• Comprehensive skills and competencies tracking

• Professional development and continuing education records

• Industry certifications and licensures tracking

• The platform must facilitate the issuance of stackable credentials

• Verified employment and internship experiences

• Publicly available verification technology

• Student-controlled sharing and privacy settings

• Employer verification portal

• Mobile accessibility

• The solution must be 1EdTech certified for Open Badges 3.0, Comprehensive Learner Record 2.0 (CLR2), TrustEd Credentials Framework data formats.

• Solution is a cloud-based Software as a Service (SaaS) solution

• The system must include both a responsive web portal and native mobile applications (iOS and Android) for learners to access, view, and manage credentials.

• Learners must be able to:

(i) Import interoperable, verifiable achievements from other platforms

(ii) Self-assert skills and evidence, linking them to relevant

V02.2026 RFP 27-001 CLR LER Implementation 13 of 44 competencies and provide secure storage of evidence of self-asserted skills.

(iii) Visualize, organize, and share credentials securely and intuitively

(iv) Export credentials in interoperable JSON or equivalent standardized formats

(v) Share credentials via social or professional networks, if desired.

(vi) Selectively share credentials via a digital wallet and digital resume.

• The platform must include:

(i) Career pathway navigation with occupation-specific skill mapping showcasing regional, real-time salaries and skills requirements by occupation.

(ii) Job market integration, displaying real-time job openings, skill alignment, and application links to external job portals.

(iii) Learner sovereignty, ensuring full control over data and sharing preferences.

(iv) Self-curated Learning and Employment Record (LER) generation, compiling verified and self-asserted credentials.

• The platform must include talent and employment marketplace enabling:

(i) Learners to view compatible job opportunities

(ii) Employers to verify credentials and skills

(iii) Alignment of institutional programs to workforce demand

(iv) Employers to search for students with certain skills. In other words, the platform should transform a job description into a skills-based requirement and bring employers students with those capabilities.

(v) Use labor market intelligence to continuously update career pathway recommendations

• The platform must be multi-lingual (English and Spanish)

• The platform must provide an administrative portal for institutional users with capabilities to:

(i) Issue, monitor, and manage digital credentials

(ii) include an AI tool that maps learning outcomes to skills and learning experiences to accelerate data mapping within the

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(iii) access real-time dashboards, metrics, and KPIs for learner achievement tracking

(iv) generate dynamic reports and analytics segmented by issuance, claim, sharing, and learner progression

• Reporting features must support:

(i) Visualization of institutional credential activity

(ii) Insight into learner employability and career outcomes

(iii) customizable exports for compliance and accreditation reporting.

• The platform must support prior learning assessment and recognition of experiential learning.

• The platform must support the storage and transfer of evidence of learning artifacts aligned to skills.

b. Integration Requirements:

The system must provide robust API-based integrations with:

• Ellucian Banner Student Information System (SIS) data integration

• D2L Brightspace Learning Management System data integration

• CampusCE (workforce education platform) data integration (if applicable)

• Student portal/single sign-on (SSO) integration using SAML 2.0 or OAuth

2.0 standards

• Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) or employment marketplaces.

• Interoperability with external higher ed institutions

c. Reporting and Analytics:

• Student usage metrics

• Credential issuance tracking

• Employer verification analytics

• Skills gap analysis

• Visualization of institutional credential activity

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• Insight into learner employability and career outcomes

• Customizable exports for compliance and accreditation reporting

d. Implementation Requirements

• Phased implementation approach across colleges

• Comprehensive training for administrators, faculty, and staff

• Student communication and adoption strategy support

• Data migration from existing systems (if applicable)

• Ongoing technical support and maintenance

• Regular system updates and enhancements.

e. Compliance and Security

• Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) compliance

• Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)

• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

• ADA/accessibility compliance (WCAG 2.1 AA standards)

• Confidentiality, integrity, and availability of all user data

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest

• Data security and encryption standards

• Secure user authentication and access control mechanisms

• Privacy controls and student consent management

• Audit trail capabilities for credential lifecycle management and user activity

• Audit trail capabilities for administrative users.

• Cloud Security Alliance – Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR)

• Higher Education Community Vendor Assessment Tool (HECVAT) Version 4 must be submitted before contract is awarded

• SOC 2, ISO/IEC 27001, and/or FedRAMP certifications are highly desirable.

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4. SCOPE OF WORK

A. Scope of Work and Deliverables

This Scope of Work describes the deliverables sought through this RFP and the scope of what the awarded Offeror will be expected to offer through the contract resulting from this RFP. The Scope of Work is intended to provide interested Offeror’s with sufficient basic information to submit a proposal. It is not intended to limit a proposal’s content or exclude any relevant or essential data.

NOTE: Implementation of this project will be carried out in phases, as outlined in the

RFP. Funding for each phase is contingent upon the receipt of grant awards and/or other funding sources. The Colorado Community College System (CCCS) will authorize and initiate each subsequent phase only upon confirmation of available funding.

Vendors should be aware that timelines between phases may vary depending on funding schedules and disbursement. CCCS is committed to moving forward with all phases as funding is secured and will communicate phase initiation dates accordingly.

Phase 1: Discovery and Planning

Deliverables:

• Project Kickoff Meeting - Comprehensive project charter with roles, responsibilities, and governance structure

• Current State Assessment - Documentation of existing credentialing processes, systems, and data flows that are system-wide and college specific.

• Technical Environment Analysis - Review of Banner SIS, D2L Brightspace, CampusCE, and other system integrations

• Requirements Validation Document - Confirmation of functional and technical requirements with stakeholder sign-off

• Project Plan - Detailed implementation timeline with milestones, dependencies, and resource allocation

• Communication and Change Management Plan - Strategy for engaging students, faculty, staff, and external stakeholders

• Data Migration Strategy - Plan for transferring existing credential data (if applicable)

Phase 2: System Configuration and Integration

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Deliverables:

• System Architecture Document - Technical specifications for LER platform deployment

• Full Saas Deployment including:

o Hosting, maintenance and system updates o User and administrator training o Ongoing technical support

• Banner SIS Integration o Bidirectional data sync. Student demographics, enrollment, degree completion and other relevant data points sent to LER platform from Banner. If applicable, credential completion issued by a CCCS college and other relevant data points sent to Banner from LER platform.

o Automated credential issuance triggers based on Banner completion records (if applicable) o Testing documentation and validation reports

• D2L Brightspace Integration o Badge and micro-credential import from D2L o Competency mapping and skills tracking o Testing documentation and validation reports

• CampusCE Integration (if applicable) o Workforce education and continuing education credential tracking o Data sync of courses, students and enrollments o Professional development records integration

• SSO/Authentication Integration - Single sign-on configuration with the CCCS

Identity Provider, Microsoft Entra

• Credential Templates - Designed templates for degrees, certificates, badges, and microcredentials aligned with CCCS branding

• Verification LER Portal - Employer-facing portal for credential verification

• Security and Compliance Documentation - FERPA compliance attestation, compliance certifications, security protocols, data protection, and privacy controls

• Documentation:

o API and integration guides

V02.2026 RFP 27-001 CLR LER Implementation 18 of 44 o Administrator and user manuals

Phase 3: Pilot Implementation

• Pilot College Selection and Readiness Assessment - Identification of 1-2 pilot colleges with readiness criteria

• Pilot Configuration - Customized setup for pilot college(s). Including building interoperability between LER platform with talent marketplace, employer HRIS or a higher ed institution. Depending on which external operability is required the meet the implementation’s requirements.

• Administrator Training - Comprehensive training for system administrators and credential issuers (in-person and recorded)

• Faculty/Staff Training - Training for faculty and staff on skills mapping, credential creation and management.

• Student Communication Materials - Email templates, FAQs, video tutorials, and promotional materials

• Pilot Launch - Go-live support for pilot college(s)

• Pilot Evaluation Report - Assessment of pilot success, user feedback, and lessons learned (30-60 days post-launch)

• Refinement Plan - Documented adjustments based on pilot feedback

Phase 4: System-Wide Rollout

• Phased Rollout Plan - Staggered implementation schedule across remaining colleges

• College-Specific Configuration - Customization for each college's unique programs and credentials

• System-Wide Training Program o Administrator training sessions (live and recorded) o Faculty/staff training sessions (live and recorded) o Student orientation materials and tutorials

V02.2026 RFP 27-001 CLR LER Implementation 19 of 44 o Train-the-trainer materials for college-based support staff

• Data Migration Execution - Transfer of historical credential data (if applicable)

• Go-Live Support - Dedicated support during each college's launch period

• Adoption Campaign - Marketing and communication materials to drive student engagement

• System-Wide Launch - Full production deployment across all colleges

• Post-Launch Support Plan - 90-day intensive support period with dedicated resources

Phase 5: Stabilization and Optimization

• System Performance Report - Analysis of system stability, uptime, and performance metrics

• User Feedback Analysis - Compilation of feedback from students, faculty, staff, and employers

• Optimization Recommendations - Identified improvements and enhancements

• Advanced Training Sessions - Training on advanced features and best practices

• Integration Enhancements - Additional integrations or refinements based on user needs

• Final Project Report - Comprehensive project summary with outcomes, lessons learned, and future recommendations

• Knowledge Transfer - Complete documentation, training materials, and administrative guides

• Transition to Ongoing Support - Handoff to vendor's standard support model with defined SLAs

Ongoing Deliverables (Throughout Project)

Project Management:

• Weekly status reports

• Bi-weekly steering committee meetings

• Monthly executive summaries

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• Risk and issue logs with mitigation strategies

Documentation:

• System administrator guides

• User manuals (students, faculty, staff, employers)

• Technical documentation (APIs, integrations, data dictionaries)

• Training materials and video tutorials

• FAQ and knowledge base articles

Quality Assurance:

• Test plans and test cases

• User acceptance testing (UAT) protocols

• Integration testing reports

• Accessibility compliance testing (WCAG 2.1 AA)

Post-Implementation Support

• Help Desk Support - Tiered support model with defined response times

• System Maintenance - Regular updates, patches, and security enhancements

• Quarterly Business Reviews - Performance metrics, adoption trends, and strategic planning

• Annual Enhancement Planning - Roadmap for new features and improvements

Critical Success Factor 1: Enterprise Interoperability

Context: CCCS operates 13 community colleges with diverse technology ecosystems.

Banner serves as the official system of record for registration, financial aid, HR and payroll, and finance operations. D2L Brightspace supports teaching, learning, and academic operations across all colleges. Additionally, D2L courses extensively utilize external publisher platforms (e.g., Pearson, McGraw-Hill, Cengage) where course activities, exams, and assignments occur, with grades syncing back to D2L and ultimately to Banner.

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To maximize the value of learner records and credentials, CCCS must ensure seamless data exchange and integration with a diverse array of external partners, including other higher education institutions, talent marketplaces, and employers’ Human

Resources Information Systems (HRIS). This interoperability is essential for enabling student mobility, supporting stackable and transferable credentials, and facilitating direct connections between learners and employment opportunities.

The solution must support recognized open standards such as O*NET for occupational skills mapping, Credential Engine’s CTDL for credential transparency, Comprehensive

Learner Record (CLR) for holistic achievement documentation, Open Badges for digital credentialing, and CASE for competency frameworks. Depending on which profile best suites CCCS, the solution must support at least one or more of the interoperability profiles defined by the Learning Mobility Framework. By leveraging these standards, CCCS will empower students to share verifiable achievements with transfer institutions, employers, and talent platforms. Ensuring that learning is recognized wherever learners go.

Ultimately, robust interoperability will allow CCCS to:

• Facilitate smooth transfer and articulation of credits and credentials across institutions.

• Enable students to present their verified skills and achievements directly to employers and talent marketplaces.

• Support employer systems in efficiently verifying credentials and competencies, streamlining hiring and advancement processes.

• Position CCCS as a leader in workforce-aligned, learner-centered education in Colorado and beyond.

Integration Requirements - Expanded:

Tier 1: Critical Integrations (Must Have)

1. Banner SIS Integration

• Bidirectional data synchronization Potential data points for Banner to LER platform:

o Student demographics and enrollment status

V02.2026 RFP 27-001 CLR LER Implementation 22 of 44 o Degree, certificate, and credential completion o Course completion and grades o Program and major information

Potential data points for LER platform to Banner (if applicable):

o Credential completion awarded by a CCCS college o Career and Technical Education (CTE) certificate awarded by a CCCS college

• Real-time or near-real-time data sync capabilities

• Support for CCCS's existing Banner API Integration framework named Ethos API Database

• Error handling and data validation protocols

• Deliverable: Fully functional Banner integration with documented API specifications and dataflow diagrams, data mapping, and testing validation

2. D2L Brightspace Integration

Potential data points:

• Competency and learning outcome tracking

• Digital badge import and credential mapping

• Skills and achievement data extraction

• Course-level competency attainment

• Support for D2L's Competency Framework

• Deliverable: Fully functional D2L integration with competency mapping documentation, Open Badges v3 import configuration, API specifications and authentication set up

3. External Interoperability and Labor-Market Alignment

• Higher education interoperability:

o Support for IMS Global/1EdTech standards including:

Comprehensive Learner Record (CLR 2.0)

Open Badges v3 (including endorsement and evidence)

Competencies and Academic Standards Exchange (CASE) for competency frameworks

LTI 1.3/Advantage for tool interoperability

V02.2026 RFP 27-001 CLR LER Implementation 23 of 44 o Support for Postsecondary Electronic Standards Council (PESC) and EDExchange where applicable for student/credential data exchange.

• Labor market and credential transparency:

o Credential Engine: Publish and maintain CCCS credentials to the Credential Registry using (Credential Transparency Description Language) CTDL and Credential Transparency Description Language - Achievement Standards Network (CTDL-ASN); provide ongoing synchronization services and error reporting.

o O*NET and similar frameworks (e.g., ESCO if needed): Map CCCS competencies, courses, and credentials to occupational skills, tasks, and knowledge areas to enable employer search and talent matching.

• Employer HRIS/ATS and talent marketplaces:

o Provide APIs/webhooks and prebuilt connectors or documented integration patterns for common HRIS/ATS platforms (e.g., Workday, Oracle HCM, SAP SuccessFactors, UKG, ADP, iCIMS, Greenhouse) to enable machine-verifiable credential consumption.

o Support talent marketplaces and job platforms (e.g., Handshake, LinkedIn, Indeed, Connecting Colorado) via standards-based credential sharing (Open Badges/CLR) and verifiable links.

o Expose verification endpoints consumable by employer systems;

provide sandbox environments and schema documentation.

• Verifiable credentials and verification:

o Support W3C Verifiable Credentials/DIDs or equivalent cryptographic verification for tamper-resistant employer validation, without mandating blockchain.

• Deliverables:

o Standards Conformance Matrix covering CLR 2.0, Open Badges v3, CASE, LTI 1.3/Advantage, CTDL/CTDL-ASN, VC/DID (if offered), and relevant PESC schemas.

o Credential Engine publishing implementation (production), including CTDL mappings.

o O*NET/competency mapping workbook and automated update process.

o Employer Integration Guide with API specs, sample payloads, and reference implementations for at least two major HRIS/ATS platforms.

o Talent Marketplace Integration Plan outlining supported marketplaces, data flows, and user experience for students and employers.

o Cryptographic verification implementation, privacy controls and consent management

V02.2026 RFP 27-001 CLR LER Implementation 24 of 44

4. Single Sign-On (SSO)

• Seamless authentication using CCCS's existing identity management system, Microsoft Entra

• Integration with CCCS SSO infrastructure and D2L Brightspace using SAML

2.0 or OAuth 2.0

• No additional login required for students, faculty, or staff

• Deliverable: SSO configuration

5. External Publisher Platform Considerations

• Ability to capture competency and skills data from publisher platforms that integrate with D2L (e.g., Pearson MyLab, McGraw-Hill Connect, Cengage WebAssign). Grades sync from publisher platform to D2L gradebook. Data can be captured through the D2L gradebook

• Vendor must describe approach to capturing learning data from external platforms

• Deliverable: Import publisher platform grades from D2L gradebook, integration specifications

6. CampusCE Integration (if applicable)

• Workforce education and continuing education credential tracking

• Professional development records

• Deliverable: Import non-credit courses, enrollments and student credential records

Scalability and Efficiency Requirements:

• Multi-College and External Partner Architecture: System must efficiently support 13 distinct colleges with varying needs while maintaining centralized administration, and provide interoperability with external systems.

• Performance Standards:

o API response times < 2 seconds for 95% of requests o Batch processing capabilities for large data imports o Minimal impact on Banner and D2L system performance

V02.2026 RFP 27-001 CLR LER Implementation 25 of 44

• API-First Design: RESTful APIs with comprehensive documentation for future integrations

• Data Governance: Clear data ownership, lineage, and quality controls

• Monitoring and Alerting: Real-time integration monitoring with automated alerts for failures

Critical Success Factor 2: Organizational Change Management

Context: The LER implementation represents a fundamental shift in how faculty and academic administrative staff across 13 colleges approach measuring, documenting, and validating student learning. Moving from traditional grade-based assessment to comprehensive competency-based learning requires significant cultural change, stakeholder engagement, and capability building.

Change Management Philosophy: CCCS will lead organizational change management efforts across all 13 colleges. The vendor will serve as a key contributor and strategic partner, providing expertise, tools, resources, and support to enable CCCS's change leadership.

Vendor Change Management Responsibilities:

1. Change Readiness and Planning (Phase 1)

• Change Impact Assessment - Assess impact on different stakeholder groups (faculty, academic staff, students, administrators)

• Stakeholder Analysis - Identification of key influencers, champions, and resistance points across colleges

• Change Management Playbook - Customizable templates, communication plans, and implementation guides for CCCS

• Risk Mitigation Strategies - Identification of common implementation challenges and mitigation approaches

2. Faculty and Staff Enablement (Phases 2-4)

• Competency-Based Learning Education Program o Overview of competency-based education (CBE) principles and benefits

V02.2026 RFP 27-001 CLR LER Implementation 26 of 44 o The process for competency mapping in coursework and credentials, and how it translates to workforce skills.

o How LER supports CBE and student success o Case studies from other institutions o Recorded webinars and self-paced learning modules

• Role-Based Training Programs o Faculty Training: Creating competencies, mapping to workforce skills, assessing student achievement o Academic Administrators: Managing credentials, reporting, and analytics o Registrars/Student Services: Credential issuance, verification, student support o IT Staff: System administration, integration management, troubleshooting

• Training Delivery Formats o Live virtual training sessions (recorded for on-demand access) o In-person training at CCCS system office or college sites (as needed) o Self-paced online modules o Quick reference guides and job aids o Video tutorials (2-5 minutes each for specific tasks)

• Train-the-Trainer Program o Certification program for college-based LER champions o Materials and resources for champions to train their colleagues o Ongoing support for trainer network

3. Communication and Engagement Support (Ongoing)

Deliverables:

• Communication Toolkit o Email templates for different audiences (students, faculty, staff, employers) o FAQ documents (customizable for each college) o Talking points for leadership o Infographics explaining LER benefits

• Student Adoption Campaign Materials o Student-facing materials explaining LER value proposition o Promotional materials (posters, digital signage, web banners)

• Employer Adoption Campaign Materials o Employer-focused materials explaining credential verification

V02.2026 RFP 27-001 CLR LER Implementation 27 of 44 o Employer-facing FAQs, and demonstration tools in plain language (non-technical) o Case studies from comparable institutions where employer adoption was achieved

• Executive Briefing Materials o Presentation decks for college leadership o ROI and value proposition documentation o Industry trends and competitive analysis

4. Change Champion Network (Phases 2-5)

Deliverables:

• Champion Community Platform - Online space for champions to share best practices, ask questions, and collaborate

• Monthly Champion Calls - Vendor-facilitated calls with CCCS champions to share updates, address challenges, and celebrate wins

5. Adoption Monitoring and Continuous Improvement (Phase 5 and Ongoing)

Deliverables:

• User Feedback Mechanisms - Surveys, focus groups, and feedback channels

• Quarterly Adoption Reports - Analysis of adoption trends, barriers, and recommendations

• Continuous Improvement Workshops - Facilitated sessions to identify optimization opportunities

• Best Practice Sharing - Documentation and dissemination of successful approaches from high-performing colleges

CCCS vs. Vendor Responsibilities:

Activity CCCS Lead Vendor Support

Overall change strategy and governance

✓ Advisory

College-level change leadership ✓ Tools & resources

Stakeholder communication ✓

Templates & content

Training content development

Training delivery Shared ✓

Champion network facilitation ✓ Advisory & support

V02.2026 RFP 27-001 CLR LER Implementation 28 of 44

Activity CCCS Lead Vendor Support

Adoption monitoring Shared ✓ (report)

Continuous improvement ✓

Data & recommendations

5. REQUESTED PROPOSAL FORMAT

Proposals should cover the following areas, with an emphasis on how these areas relate to the evaluation criteria listed in this Request for Proposals. Please format Proposals as a single PDF document with tab sections as outlined below and no more than 50 pages not including administrative documents. Only proposals submitted via BidNet Direct will be accepted. See Appendix A Administrative Information, Section 2 Offeror Proposal

Information for more details.

Tab A – Administrative Documents

Signed Vendor Response Signature Page

Completed W-9

Vendor Disclosure Statement (Appendix B)

Tab B – Organizational Evaluation

Offeror’s Response- Offeror shall describe how the Offeror’s experience and management capabilities make it the ideal candidate to perform the work. Reference

Section 6.C.iii.c below regarding the desired organizational experience.

Tab C – Technical Evaluation

Offeror’s Response- Offeror shall describe how their proposed solution will meet or exceed the technical requirements including the mandatory requirements detailed in this solicitation. Reference Section 6.C.iii.a below regarding the technical evaluation criteria.

Tab D – Functional Evaluation

Offeror’s Response- Offeror shall describe how they will accomplish the Scope of Work detailed in this solicitation. Reference Section 6.C.iii.b below regarding the functional evaluation criteria.

V02.2026 RFP 27-001 CLR LER Implementation 29 of 44

Identify any pertinent issues and potential problems. Identify any risks and how to mitigate them.

Provide the proposed approach for meeting the scope of work and requirements, including any applicable timelines. Address the ability to meet any required technical requirements, including integration with our Banner MEP environment.

Tab E - Cost Proposal

Offerors shall submit with their proposals the proposed pricing that supports their response to the Scope of Work. Reference Section 6.C.iii.d below regarding the cost evaluation criteria. The price proposal shall include your company’s pricing models and pricing narrative. Proposers shall outline pricing models and include a detailed pricing narrative that justifies its rates. The pricing narrative should explain how your company has structured its costs and how it proposes to charge the state for the work. Pricing must include all annual and one-time expenses, fees, materials and administrative costs for each year of the contract term.

Please provide annual costs for software, implementation, support services, and any other costs for the full five years of the contract. Additionally, please break down the implementation cost separately by phase.

Tab F – References

Provide a minimum of three (3) current or former clients where work has been performed within the last five years who may be contacted with respect to your firm’s reputation for high quality of work, responsibility and efficiency. Include the name, address and telephone number of the executive in each organization who can speak knowledgeably about the quality, timeliness and cost of your work.

Tab G – Confidential Information

Requests for confidential Information may be included in this section. It is also acceptable to provide this Tab G as a separate folder. Note that commingling of confidential and non-confidential information is not acceptable and the proposal may not be considered confidential in its entirety. Neither price information nor any information that will be included in a resulting Contract will be considered confidential. See Appendix A, Section 2.H for details.

V02.2026 RFP 27-001 CLR LER Implementation 30 of 44

Tab H – Exceptions or modifications to the Draft Contract terms

The standard terms and conditions in the State Model Contract shall govern this procurement and are hereby incorporated by reference. Vendors must submit any requested changes to the state’s contract template in redline format with their proposal. Please note that the section of the Contract identified as the Colorado

Special Provisions are considered non-negotiable.

• The state does not agree to accept any requested changes to the state’s contract template and will only consider changes proposed by potential vendors. While the state will work with a potential vendor on requested changes, none are guaranteed. Additionally, Vendors are cautioned that modifications to any of the provisions in the State Contract Template as well as other standard state exhibits, are considered to constitute an increased risk as well as increased costs to the

State. Therefore, Vendor’s noted exceptions may be considered in any evaluation.

The state will not accept or consider any requests to modify the Colorado Special

Provisions, and the state reserves the right to deem proposals as unresponsive if this request is made.

• Any changes requested to the State Model Contract or Exhibits accompanying this solicitation will constitute an increased timeline to contract execution as approvals may need to be obtained by multiple CCCS departments.