RFP+201-2026-2000-2+Research&Evaluation.pdf

STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA

Department of Public Instruction 600 E Boulevard Ave., Dept. 201

Bismarck, ND 58505-0440

Request for Proposal (RFP)

RFP Title: Research and Evaluation of ND School Improvement

RFP Number: 201-2026-2000-2

Issued: September 5, 2025

Offerors are not required to return this form

Procurement Officer: Julie Crispell

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION ONE: Instructions

1.01 Purpose of the RFP

1.02 Definitions

1.03 Procurement Officer Contact Information

1.04 RFP Schedule

1.05 Assistance to Individuals with a Disability

1.06 Bidders List Registration

1.07 Secretary of State Registration Requirements

1.08 State Procurement Website (SPO Online)

1.09 Amendments to the RFP

1.10 Deadline for Questions and Objections

1.11 Offer Held Firm

1.12 Offeror Responsible for Costs

1.13 Taxes

1.14 Proposal Receipt Deadline – Late Proposals Rejected

1.15 Proposal Opening

1.16 Amendments and Withdrawal of Proposals

1.17 News Releases

1.18 Conflict of Interest

1.19 Attempt to Influence Prohibited

1.20 Collusion Prohibited

1.21 Protest and Appeal

1.22 Specifications Prepared by Non-State Personnel

1.23 Supplier Registration (Payee)

SECTION TWO: Background

2.01 Background Information

2.02 Budget

SECTION THREE: Scope of Work

3.01 Scope of Work

3.02 Timeline

3.03 Applicable Directives

3.04 Outcomes and Deliverables

3.05 Requirements

3.06 Experience and Qualifications

SECTION FOUR: Proposal Instructions

4.01 Proposal Preparation

4.02 Proposal Submission Instructions

4.03 Proposal Format

SECTION FIVE: Award and Proposal Evaluation

5.01 Award

5.02 Responsiveness

5.03 Responsibility – Supplementary Investigation

5.04 Evaluation Criteria

5.05 Cost Proposal Evaluation

5.06 Clarification of Proposals - Discussions

5.07 Right of Rejection

5.08 Best and Final Offers

5.09 Tie Proposals

5.10 Negotiations

5.11 Notice of Intent to Award

5.12 Contract Approval

5.13 Evaluation Debriefing

SECTION SIX: Contract Information

6.01 North Dakota Contractual Requirements – Background

6.02 State Contract Terms and Conditions – Offeror’s Proposed Changes

6.03 Contract Provisions

6.04 Contractual Terms and Conditions – No Material Changes

6.05 Right to Inspect Place of Business

SECTION SEVEN: Attachments Attachment 1: Sample Contract Attachment 2: Proposal Evaluation Form Attachment 3: Cost Proposal

SECTION ONE INSTRUCTIONS

1.01 Purpose of the RFP

The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (the STATE) is soliciting proposals for a contractor to provide state-level support in the evaluation of the ND FIRST process, the individual collaborative partnership agreements, lead the comprehensive evaluation process of the ND FIRST implementation, and create an additional section of the School Renewal Guide: Spread and Scale.

1.02 Definitions

For the purposes of this RFP, the acronyms and defined terms are as follows:

Acronym or Term Name or Definitions Contractor An entity that has an approved contract with the State of North Dakota CST Central Standard Time Zone NDDPI North Dakota Department of Public Instruction RFP Request for Proposal Solicitation Closing Deadline for receipt of proposals listed in the RFP Schedule SPO Office of Management and Budget, State Procurement Office SPO Online State Procurement Office Online System TPRM Cyber Third-Party Risk Management TPSQ Third-Party Security Questionnaire CSI Comprehensive School Improvement TSI Targeted School Improvement ND FIRST North Dakota Fostering Improvement Results for School Transformation SB Senate Bill PDSA Plan, Do, Study, Act EIS Executive Improvement Specialist

1.03 Procurement Officer Contact Information

The procurement officer is the point of contact for this RFP. Offerors shall direct all communications regarding this RFP to the procurement officer. Please do not add the procurement officer to any marketing distribution lists.

PROCUREMENT OFFICER: Julie Crispell EMAIL: jcrispell@nd.gov

PHONE: 701-328-2735

TTY Users call: 7-1-1

A person or firm interested in submitting a proposal should ensure all communications related to the procurement are only with the designated point of contact. This section does not restrict communication with state officials or any member of the legislative assembly unless the state official or member of the legislative assembly is involved directly with the procurement for which the person is interested or has submitted a bid or proposal (N.D.C.C. § 54-44.4-01.1).

Engaging in unauthorized communication or seeking to obtain information about an open solicitation with any state employee or official other than the responsible procurement officer or designee is sufficient grounds for suspension or debarment. [N.D.A.C. § 4-12-05-04(7)]

1.04 RFP Schedule

This schedule of events represents the State’s best estimate of the schedule that will be followed for this RFP. The approximate RFP schedule is as follows:

EVENT DATE

RFP issued September 5, 2025 Deadline for Submission of Questions and Objections September 12, 2025, 11:00 AM, CST Solicitation Amendment with Responses to Questions Issued (if required) September 18, 2025

Deadline for Receipt of Proposals October 13, 2025, 11:00 AM, CST https://www.ndlegis.gov/cencode/t54c44-4.pdf http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-05.pdf?20130319105642

EVENT DATE

Proposal Evaluation Completed October 27, 2025 Notice of Intent to Award Issued October 28, 2025 Secretary of State Registration, if required Prior to Contract Signing Contract Start November 5, 2025

1.05 Assistance to Individuals with a Disability

Contact the procurement officer as soon as possible if an individual with a disability needs assistance with the RFP, including any events in the RFP schedule, so reasonable accommodations can be made.

1.06 Bidders List Registration

Individuals or business entities desiring to be notified of bidding opportunities may apply to be placed on the Bidders List. (N.D.C.C. § 54-44.4-09) Bidders Lists are used to notify vendors when solicitations are issued on the State Procurement Office Online system (SPO Online). Placement on the Bidders List does not guarantee a vendor will receive notice of every solicitation (N.D.A.C. § 4-12-05-01). There are no fees to register as a bidder. The online application form requests contact information for the receipt of solicitation notices. The Bidders List application and the SPO Online system use commodity codes to identify categories of goods, services, and information technology.

The commodity codes used for this solicitation are: 924-05, 16, 18, 19, 20, 25, 35, 40, 41, 42, 60, 64, 71, 74, 76, 77, 78, 80, 86

Visit the OMB website for instructions and the online Bidders List Application: Bidders List Registration Website

For assistance with Bidders List Registration, contact the State Procurement Help Desk at 701-328-1728 or infospo@nd.gov.

1.07 Secretary of State Registration Requirements

Offerors may complete the Bidders List application process if desired, but it is not required. Registration with the North Dakota Secretary of State is not required.

The North Dakota Secretary of State has registration requirements for individuals and businesses transacting business in North Dakota. If the successful Offeror is determined to have a registration requirement with the North Dakota Secretary of State, they must be registered before the contract award, and registration must remain active for the duration of the contract period (N.D.C.C. § 54-44.4-09.1)

• See the OMB Guidelines to Vendor Registry for more information.

Visit the Secretary of State's Vendor Registration webpage for information on registration requirements and fees. Visit FirstStop, the Secretary of State's business and licensing software, for online form options.

• Check the Business Records database to see if a business is registered.

• Contact the Secretary of State's office by email or call 701-328-2900 (choose menu item 2, then option 1).

• If you need to register, fees apply.

• Vendors may need to obtain business licenses. See the list of licenses required of businesses in the State of North Dakota. The link includes information on whom to contact, application fees, renewal dates, and the legal reference.

1.08 State Procurement Website (SPO Online)

This RFP and any related amendments and notices will be posted on the North Dakota Office of Management and Budget website using the State Procurement Online system (SPO Online). Offerors are responsible for checking this website to obtain all information and documents related to this RFP:

https://apps.nd.gov/csd/spo/services/bidder/main.htm. Select “Recent Solicitations”. Recent Solicitations are listed by close date.

Offerors not having completed the Bidders List registration may request to receive notices related to this RFP by contacting the procurement officer in writing with the following information: RFP title, business name, contact person, mailing address, telephone number, and email address.

https://www.ndlegis.gov/cencode/t54c44-4.pdf https://www.ndlegis.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-05.pdf https://www.omb.nd.gov/doing-business-state https://www.omb.nd.gov/doing-business-state mailto:infospo@nd.gov https://www.ndlegis.gov/cencode/t54c44-4.pdf https://www.omb.nd.gov/sites/www/files/documents/doing-business-with-the-state/procurement/vendor-reg-guidelines.pdf https://sos.nd.gov/business/vendors.html https://sos.nd.gov/firststop.html https://firststop.sos.nd.gov/search/business mailto:sos@nd.gov https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/extension-topics/leadership-and-civic-engagement/business-leadership-and-resources-2 https://apps.nd.gov/csd/spo/services/bidder/main.htm

1.09 Amendments to the RFP

If an amendment to this RFP is issued, it will be provided to all offerors on the Bidders List for the solicitation and to those prospective offerors who have contacted the procurement officer to receive notices related to the RFP. An offeror shall include in its proposal any required acknowledgements of amendments to the RFP.

1.10 Deadline for Questions and Objections

Offerors should carefully review the RFP, including all attachments. Offerors may ask questions to obtain clarification and request additional information, or object to material in the RFP. Questions and objections must be submitted to the procurement officer in writing by the deadline identified in the RFP schedule. If no deadline is specified, questions or objections must be received at least seven days prior to the Proposal Receipt Deadline. The Procurement Officer may elect to respond to questions received after the deadline.

Questions and objections should include a reference to the applicable RFP section or subsection. Email is the preferred method of submission, with the RFP number cited in the email subject line.

Responses to questions will be distributed as a solicitation amendment, unless the question can be answered by referring the offeror to a specific section of the RFP.

1.11 Offer Held Firm

Offerors must hold proposals firm for at least 60 days from the deadline for receipt of proposals. The STATE may send a written request to all offerors to hold their offer firm for a longer period of time.

1.12 Offeror Responsible for Costs

The offeror is responsible for all costs associated with the preparation, submittal, presentation, and evaluation of any proposal.

1.13 Taxes

The STATE is not responsible for and will not pay itemized local, state, or federal taxes. Purchases of tangible personal property made by a state government agency are exempt from sales tax. The state sales tax exemption number is E-2001, and certificates will be furnished upon request by the purchasing agency. The contractor must provide a valid Vendor Tax Identification Number as a provision of the contract.

The purchasing agency will determine if services provided under this contract are 1099 reportable. The purchasing agency may require the contractor to submit an IRS Form W-9.

The state tax exemption number should not be used by contractors in the performance of a contract.

A contractor or service provider performing any contract, including service contracts, for the United States Government, State of North Dakota, counties, cities, school districts, park board or any other political subdivisions within North Dakota is not exempt from payment of sales or use tax on materials, tangible personal property, and supplies used or consumed in carrying out contracts. In these cases, the contractor is required to file returns and pay sales and use tax just as required for contracts with private parties. Contact the North Dakota Tax Department at 701-328-1246 or visit its website at https://www.nd.gov/tax/tax-resources/ for more information.

A contractor performing any contract, including a service contract, within North Dakota is also subject to the corporation income tax, individual income tax, and withholding tax reporting requirements, whether the contract is performed by a corporation, partnership, or other business entity, or as an employee of the contractor. In the case of employees performing the services in the state, the contractor is required to withhold state income tax from the employees' compensation and remit it to the state as required by law.

Contact the North Dakota Tax Department at 701-328-1248 or visit its website for more information.

1.14 Proposal Receipt Deadline – Late Proposals Rejected

An offeror is responsible for ensuring its proposal is received by the STATE prior to the proposal receipt https://www.nd.gov/tax/tax-resources/ deadline identified in the RFP schedule. A solicitation amendment will be issued if this deadline is changed. An offeror may contact the procurement officer to inquire whether its proposal has been received. Offerors assume the risk of the method of dispatch chosen. The STATE assumes no responsibility for delays caused by any delivery service. Postmarking by the deadline shall not substitute for actual proposal receipt by the STATE. Proposals delivered late will be rejected pursuant to N.D.A.C. § 4-12-08-13.

1.15 Proposal Opening

This is an informal Request for Proposal (RFP) process that does not require formal sealed proposals or a public opening. A public opening will not be held.

1.16 Amendment and Withdrawal of Proposals

Offerors may amend or withdraw proposals prior to the deadline for receipt of proposals. No amendments will be accepted after the deadline unless they are in response to the STATE’s request. After the deadline, offerors may make a written request to withdraw proposals and provide evidence that a substantial mistake has been made, and the STATE may permit withdrawal.

1.17 News Releases

Offerors shall not make any news releases related to this RFP without prior approval of the STATE.

1.18 Conflict of Interest

Under state laws and rules, a state employee or official shall not participate directly or indirectly in a procurement when the state employee or official knows of a conflict of interest. Potential conflicts of interest include state employees or their immediate family members employed by the firm, seeking employment with the firm, or with a financial interest in the firm. Potential conflicts of interest will be addressed in accordance with N.D.A.C. § 4-12-04-04. [N.D.C.C. § 12.1-13-03]

Persons employed by the State of North Dakota, or within one year thereafter, may be prohibited from acquiring a pecuniary interest in a public contract or transaction. Offerors should review N.D.C.C. § 12.1- 13-02 to ensure compliance and avoid such conflict(s) of interest.

1.19 Attempt to Influence Prohibited

Offerors must not give or offer to give anything to a state employee or official that might influence or appear to influence procurement decisions. Suspected attempt to influence will be handled in accordance with N.D.A.C. § 4-12-04-05.

1.20 Collusion Prohibited

Offerors must prepare proposals independently, without collusion. Suspected collusion will be handled in accordance with N.D.A.C § 4-12-04-06.

1.21 Protest and Appeal

An interested party may protest a solicitation pursuant to N.D.C.C. § 54-44.4-12 and N.D.A.C. § 4-12-14-

01. When a solicitation contains a deadline for submission of questions and objections, protests of the solicitation will not be allowed if these faults have not been brought to the attention of the procurement officer before the specified deadline. If no deadline for questions is specified, protest based upon defects in the solicitation must be made at least seven calendar days before the deadline for receipt of proposals.

An offeror that has submitted a response to a solicitation and is aggrieved may protest an award or notice of intent to award pursuant to N.D.C.C. § 54-44.4-12 and N.D.A.C. § 4-12-14-02. The protest must be submitted in writing to the Procurement Officer during the protest period, which is seven calendar days beginning the day after the notice of intent to award is issued.

The protestor may appeal the decision of the procurement officer to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) within seven calendar days after receiving notice of the decision pursuant to N.D.C.C. § 54-44.4-12 and N.D.A.C. § 4-12-14-03.

1.22 Specifications Prepared by Non-State Personnel

When a purchasing agency has specifications prepared by someone other than a state employee or http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-08.pdf?20130424100739 http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-08.pdf?20130424100739 http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-04.pdf?20140130144222 https://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t12-1c13.html https://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t12-1c13.html https://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t12-1c13.html http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-04.pdf?20140130144222 http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-04.pdf?20140130144222 http://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t54c44-4.pdf?20130417132347 http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-14.pdf?20130417132435 http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-14.pdf?20130417132435 http://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t54c44-4.pdf?20130417132347 http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-14.pdf?20130417132435 http://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t54c44-4.pdf?20130417132347 https://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-14.pdf official on behalf of the STATE, that person or business entity must be excluded from submitting bids or proposals in accordance with N.D.A.C. § 4-12-06-06.

1.23 Supplier Registration (Payee)

The successful Offeror will be required to complete Supplier Registration if not already registered as a Supplier. Any individual or business that will be receiving payment from a state agency or higher education institution must complete a registration process to collect important financial and taxpayer information. Payments are generally made by check or automatic clearing house (ACH), and taxpayer information must be collected in compliance with IRS requirements.

https://www.ndlegis.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-06.pdf?20140130144222

SECTION TWO BACKGROUND

2.01 Background Information

Senate Bill 2254 (SB 2254), signed into law on April 24, 2023, mandated a rigorous and robust intervention process aimed at supporting North Dakota’s consistently lowest-performing schools. This bill specifically targets schools previously identified as Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) schools, ensuring they receive enhanced support to improve performance. The bill’s policy provisions, set to take effect in September 2025, will provide a structured framework to help North Dakota’s lowest-performing schools succeed. The bill outlines three potential interventions in identified schools, including:

• “Funds to be held in escrow for the school or school district or spent as designated by the superintendent of public instruction.

• Changes to curriculum, training, instruction, assessment, or the school calendar in the school or school district.

• Reassignment or hiring of school or school district staff to fill roles associated with school or school district needs.”

The fundamental tenets of NDDPI’s proposed intervention process are to ensure that districts with low-performing schools:

• Engage in purposeful school renewal processes,

• Address school- and/or district-level systemic improvement, and

• Engage multiple stakeholders or “partners” in the school renewal process.

The system of support established under SB 2254 to perform these tenets is called North Dakota Fostering Improvement Results for School Transformation (ND FIRST). ND FIRST is positioned within the broader school improvement infrastructure (see the ND School Improvement Process Map) that supports ND public schools. Schools in their second cycle of CSI will enter ND FIRST, through which they receive an additional layer of oversight and support not offered to schools under Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) or the first year of CSI. Although these will be additional supports, ND FIRST will allow schools and districts to build on their school improvement work that began in their original TSI/CSI designations. Throughout the multi-year process, schools will undergo continuous evaluations with the goals of tracking progress, adapting strategies, and eventually exiting the ND FIRST designation based on success metrics co-developed between the school or district and NDDPI. A Collaborative Partnership Agreement (MOU) will be established between NDDPI and each identified school or district, setting clear expectations for improvement. Schools and districts will also be required to participate in a leadership program designed to enhance governance and ensure accountability as they work towards better outcomes for their students. The Project Team Charter provides a broad overview of the ND FIRST process. It is designed to help second-cycle CSI schools understand the purpose and strategic framework of ND FIRST, the entities responsible for its implementation, and the process that ND FIRST schools and districts will follow. Furthermore, the Project Team Charter includes the:

• ND FIRST Strategic Framework

• Roles and responsibilities of the entities implementing ND FIRST

• Collaborative Partnership Agreement (MOU) development

• Review of goal attainment

NDDPI’s Theory of Action of ND School Improvement is grounded in a clear understanding of the challenges partnership districts face and the opportunities that result from genuine, continuous improvement. The primary goal of ND School Improvement is to provide a comprehensive system of support for all identified schools, with an emphasis on how services are delivered to second-cycle CSI schools, to improve outcomes for all students. To accomplish this mission, NDDPI needs in-depth research and evaluation to ensure accurate and timely support to every unique school identified throughout the entire ND School Improvement process. NDDPI is committed to achieving the following objectives:

• Collaborate with ND schools and districts using best practices and highly customized supports.

• Design, deploy, and implement a system of disbursing and evaluating the use of local, state, and federal funds that support identified schools and districts

• Develop resources and technical assistance programs, services, and guidance that are utilized by schools and districts identified for improvement https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/68-2023/regular/documents/23-0615-06000.pdf https://www.nd.gov/dpi/districtsschools/essa/accountability-support-improvement/comprehensive-support-and-improvement https://www.nd.gov/dpi/districtsschools/essa/accountability-support-improvement/comprehensive-support-and-improvement https://www.nd.gov/dpi/sites/www/files/documents/Division%20of%20SS%26I/ESSA/Accountability/NDProcessMap3.3.25.pdf https://www.nd.gov/dpi/districtsschools/essa/accountability-support-improvement/targeted-support-and-improvement https://www.nd.gov/dpi/districtsschools/essa/accountability-support-improvement/targeted-support-and-improvement https://www.nd.gov/dpi/sites/www/files/documents/Division%20of%20SS%26I/ESSA/Accountability/NDFIRSTMOUTemplate3.3.25.pdf https://www.nd.gov/dpi/sites/www/files/documents/Division%20of%20SS%26I/ESSA/Accountability/NDFIRSTMOUTemplate3.3.25.pdf https://www.nd.gov/dpi/sites/www/files/documents/Division%20of%20SS%26I/ESSA/Accountability/NDFIRSTProjTmCharter3.3.25.pdf

• Develop a multi-faceted evaluation system that will reliably and validly measure the effectiveness of ND School Improvement implementation processes

• Develop and implement methods, tools, and mechanisms for determining district and school-level readiness for implementation of evidence-based practices and research-based policies.

• Design, deploy, and implement a leadership coaching contractor pool that builds the capacity of ND FIRST schools and districts.

• Ensure transparent and appropriate communication and consultation with stakeholders.

• Recognize and prioritize the local beliefs, values, and behaviors of ND schools and districts.

2.02 Budget

The funds for payment of this contract are already appropriated and identified. The estimated budget for completion of this project is up to $300,000.

Year Description Annual Totals Year 1

11/2025 – 9/2026 Service delivery Up to $100,000

Year 2 10/2026 – 9/2027

Service delivery Up to $100,000

Year 3 10/2027 – 9/2028

Service delivery Up to $100,000

SECTION THREE – SCOPE OF WORK

3.01 Scope of Work

The NDDPI (the STATE) is soliciting proposals for a contractor to provide state-level support for research and evaluation and lead a Research and Evaluation (R&E) Team. It is expected that a contractor would complete an extensive external evaluation of the ND School Improvement process, the individual collaborative partnership agreements, the ND FIRST implementation at both the state and school/district level, and create an additional section of the School Renewal Guide: Spread and Scale. The proposal must include details as to how the responsibilities and deliverables can be carried out efficiently and effectively by providing a detailed timeline of deliverables using the information provided in the chart below (see section G). Consideration will be given to those proposals that provide implementation examples and samples that showcase expertise in completing the following responsibilities and expectations.

Please review the following links for further information about ND FIRST or the overall process NDDPI is seeking to achieve.

• ND School Improvement Process Map

• ND First Project Team Charter

• Collaborative Partnership Agreement (MOU) Template

Research & Evaluation (R&E) Team Primary Responsibilities A. Provide for state-level support for NDDPI.

• Lead the development of evaluation measures for the statewide system of support.

• Coordinate and collaborate with research partners (ND University System and any others).

• Collect and report on perceptual data from identified school and district participants.

• Identify “bright spot” practices in high-performing ND schools with similar demographics.

• Provide expertise and tools for program evaluation.

• Coordinate with NDDPI offices/departments and any other relevant state partners.

B. Review the impact of funded programs and/or interventions used in identified schools.

• Evaluate the impact of funded programs and/or interventions by collecting and analyzing effectiveness data in identified schools and districts.

C. Evaluate the ND School Improvement process and goal attainment.

• Identify resources for school or district renewal and improvement.

• Utilize research-based methods and practices to design and implement the scope and sequence of the readiness process for each identified school or district.

• Lead the design and implementation of a developmental evaluation process for NDDPI and the statewide initiative.

D. Review and evaluate the collaborative partnership agreement's goal attainment.

• Identify resources for the ND FIRST school or district renewal/improvement.

• Utilize research-based methods and practices to design and implement the scope and sequence of the readiness process for each ND FIRST school or district.

E. Lead the comprehensive evaluation process at 18 and 36 months of ND FIRST implementation.

• Review of the ND FIRST school’s or district’s past three years of data will be integral in determining goals outlined in the MOU.

F. Create an additional section to the School Renewal Guide.

• Research evidence-based practices that leads to the spread and scale of Plan, Do, Study, Act

(PDSA) cycles as outlined in the School Renewal Guide.

• Produce a “Spread and Scale” section of the School Renewal Guide, including the most recent evidence-based practices in improvement science.

3.02 Timeline

This project is subject to the following timeline and breakdown of responsibilities.

• Year 1: November 2025 – September 2026

• Year 2: October 2026 – September 2027

• Year 3: October 2027 – September 2028 https://www.nd.gov/dpi/sites/www/files/documents/Division%20of%20SS%26I/ESSA/Accountability/NDProcessMap3.3.25.pdf https://www.nd.gov/dpi/sites/www/files/documents/Division%20of%20SS%26I/ESSA/Accountability/NDFIRSTProjTmCharter3.3.25.pdf https://www.nd.gov/dpi/sites/www/files/documents/Division%20of%20SS%26I/ESSA/Accountability/NDFIRSTMOUTemplate3.3.25.pdf https://www.nd.gov/dpi/sites/www/files/documents/Division%20of%20SS%26I/ESSA/Accountability/NDSchoolRenewalGuide4.0.pdf

Year 1: November 2025 – September 2026 Responsibilities

• Communicate consistently and appropriately with relevant stakeholders at every stage of the project planning process.

• Provide state-level support to NDDPI.

O Coordinate with relevant NDDPI offices/departments, other relevant state partners, and other relevant stakeholders.

O Lead the development and accountability measures for the ND FIRST statewide system of support.

O Utilize research-based methods and practices to design and implement the scope and sequence of the readiness process for each identified school or district.

O Provide a yearly report evaluating the effectiveness of the ND accountability and School Improvement as it relates to NDDPI implementation practices of general support, TSI, CSI, and ND FIRST processes.

• Review and evaluate the collaborative partnership agreement's goal attainment.

o Provide input and suggestions on appropriate goals and outcomes for each ND FIRST school/district.

O Support NDDPI during the MOU process, drafting goals and expectations that will be used to determine the success of the ND FIRST implementation.

O Lead the design and implementation of a developmental evaluation process for NDDPI and the statewide initiative.

• Begin to develop the addition to the School Renewal Guide: Spread and Scale.

O Research evidence-based practices that lead to the spread and scale of Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycles.

Year 2: October 2026 – September 2027 Responsibilities

• Communicate consistently and appropriately with relevant stakeholders at every stage of the project planning process.

• Provide state-level support to NDDPI.

O Coordinate with NDDPI offices/departments and any other relevant state partners.

O Lead the development of evaluation measures for the statewide system of support.

O Provide a yearly report evaluating the effectiveness of the ND accountability and School

Improvement as it relates to NDDPI implementation practices of general support, TSI, CSI, and ND FIRST processes.

• Review the impact of funded programs and/or interventions used in identified schools.

O Evaluate the impact of funded programs and/or interventions by collecting and analyzing effectiveness data in identified schools and districts.

• Evaluate the ND FIRST process and goal attainment.

o Lead the comprehensive evaluation process at 18 months of ND FIRST implementation.

o Provide input and suggestions on appropriate outcomes for each ND FIRST school/district.

• Continue to develop the addition to the School Renewal Guide.

o Research evidence-based practices that lead to the spread and scale of Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycles.

o Begin production on a “Spread and Scale” section of the School Renewal Guide, including the most recent evidence-based practices in improvement science.

Year 3: October 2027 – September 2028 Responsibilities

• Communicate consistently and appropriately with relevant stakeholders at every stage of the project planning process.

• Provide state-level support to NDDPI.

O Coordinate with NDDPI offices/departments and any other relevant state partners.

O Lead the development of evaluation measures for the statewide system of support.

O Provide a yearly report evaluating the effectiveness of the ND accountability and School

Improvement as it relates to NDDPI implementation practices of general support, TSI, CSI, and ND FIRST processes.

• Evaluate the ND FIRST process and goal attainment o Lead the comprehensive evaluation process at 36 months of ND FIRST implementation o Provide input and suggestions on appropriate outcomes for each ND FIRST school/district.

• Review the impact of funded programs and/or interventions used in identified schools.

O Evaluate the impact of funded programs and/or interventions by collecting and analyzing effectiveness data in identified schools and districts.

• Produce a “Spread and Scale” section of the School Renewal Guide, including the most recent evidence-based practices in improvement science.

• Prepare a final report to NDDPI summarizing findings, recommendations, and data analysis over the three years of the project.

3.03 Applicable Directives

This project is subject to the following:

• ND School Improvement Process Map

• ND First Project Team Charter

• Collaborative Partnership Agreement (MOU) Template

More information on ND Accountability can be found here:

• Accountability, Support, & Improvement | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction

• School Renewal Guide

Senate Bill 2254 (SB 2254), signed into law on April 24, 2023, mandates a rigorous and robust intervention process aimed at supporting North Dakota’s consistently lowest-performing schools. This bill specifically targets schools previously identified as Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) schools, ensuring they receive enhanced support to improve performance. The bill’s policy provisions are scheduled to go into effect in September 2025. The bill outlines three potential interventions in identifying schools, including:

• “Funds to be held in escrow for the school or school district or spent as designated by the superintendent of public instruction.

• Changes to curriculum, training, instruction, assessment, or the school calendar in the school or school district.

• Reassignment or hiring of school or school district staff to fill roles associated with school or school district needs.”

3.04 Outcomes and Deliverables

The contractor will be required to monitor progress and identify areas of concern during the evaluation of their program interventions. At a minimum, the contractor will be able to deliver on the following outcomes and deliverables:

• Design and implement a detailed management and communication plan to maintain progress toward program evaluation goals and outcomes.

• Schedule regular check-in meetings with NDDPI team members to ensure milestones are being met and deliverables meet the intended needs of NDDPI.

• Perform ongoing evaluation measures and reporting processes.

1. Clarify improvement project goals and outcomes.

2. Identify project milestones.

https://www.nd.gov/dpi/sites/www/files/documents/Division%20of%20SS%26I/ESSA/Accountability/NDProcessMap3.3.25.pdf https://www.nd.gov/dpi/sites/www/files/documents/Division%20of%20SS%26I/ESSA/Accountability/NDFIRSTProjTmCharter3.3.25.pdf https://www.nd.gov/dpi/sites/www/files/documents/Division%20of%20SS%26I/ESSA/Accountability/NDFIRSTMOUTemplate3.3.25.pdf https://www.nd.gov/dpi/districtsschools/essa/accountability-support-improvement https://www.nd.gov/dpi/sites/www/files/documents/Division%20of%20SS%26I/ESSA/Accountability/NDSchoolRenewalGuide4.0.pdf https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/68-2023/regular/documents/23-0615-06000.pdf https://www.nd.gov/dpi/districtsschools/essa/accountability-support-improvement/comprehensive-support-and-improvement https://www.nd.gov/dpi/districtsschools/essa/accountability-support-improvement/comprehensive-support-and-improvement

3. Identify processes to adjust approaches, if necessary, as work progresses.

4. Provide implementation and progress reports.

• Utilize research-based methods and practices to design the scope and sequence of the readiness process for each identified school/district.

• Provide an analysis of the progress of each identified school/district (include the next steps for goal implementation and suggestions for goal adjustments).

• Evaluate the impact of funded programs and/or interventions by collecting and analyzing effectiveness data in identified schools and districts Review data packets compiled by NDDPI and create a suggested list of prioritized items to discuss during the MOU process for each ND FIRST school/district.

• Create a template to evaluate the implementation of the prioritized goals determined in the MOUs designed for each ND FIRST school/district.

• Evaluate the implementation of the prioritized goals determined in the MOUs designed for each ND FIRST school/district and produce a final report.

• Provide a yearly report evaluating the effectiveness of the ND accountability and School Improvement as it relates to NDDPI implementation practices of general support, TSI, CSI, and ND FIRST processes.

• Prepare a final report to NDDPI summarizing findings, recommendations, and data analysis over the three years of the project.

• Create an additional section to the School Renewal Guide.

3.05 Requirements

A. Location of Work/Travel Some travel may be necessary for collaborative learning meetings and brainstorming. If travel is necessary for contractors and/or their contracted facilitators, the cost must be included in the proposal.

No additional funds will be issued for travel beyond the contract limit. All subgrantee travel would be paid by subgrantees out of their grant funds.

B. Project Management Plan The contractor will be expected to use appropriate project management to ensure the work is accomplished on time, within budget, and meets quantity and quality standards.

The contractor will be required to collaborate with the STATE to agree upon the contract schedule, including a work breakdown, schedule of tasks and activities, and progress milestones.

The contractor will be required to coordinate with the STATE to develop a communication plan. Any problems or unforeseen events must be communicated in a timely manner to the STATE project manager, and any changes must be agreed upon between the parties and set forth in a written amendment to the contract. If the STATE requires corrective action, the contractor will be notified in writing.

C. Contract Term This contract will be for an initial period of ten (10) months, with two (2) options to renew for twelve (12) months each. See the attached Contract - Attachment 1.

This project is subject to the following timeline:

• Year 1: November 2025 – September 2026

• Year 2: October 2026 – September 2027

• Year 3: October 2027 – September 2028

3.06 Experience and Qualifications

Offerors must have a proven track record of improvement in school turnaround work and the following minimum qualifications in order to be considered for contract award:

1. 5-10 years of experience working with state education agencies.

2. 5 years of experience with the implementation of improvement science that includes direct knowledge and examples of evidence-based instruction research, and explicit experience with state-level data and data interpretation

The offeror must have and keep current any professional licenses and permits required by federal, state, and local laws for performance of this contract. Offerors that do not possess the required licenses at the time proposals are due will be determined non-responsive and rejected.

A. Contractor Project Team Personnel The contractor must inform the STATE of any changes to the contractor’s project team members named in the proposal, in advance and in writing. The personnel changes of key contractor project team members that are not acceptable to the STATE may be grounds for the STATE to terminate the contract.

1. Background Check If STATE, including the state agency entering into this Contract on behalf of the STATE, has the necessary authority under N.D.C.C. §12-60-24, STATE may require personnel that CONTRACTOR assigns to perform work under this Contract, including employees, contracted staff, subcontractors, or other individuals, to submit to a criminal history record check. STATE shall have the right to reject any individual CONTRACTOR assigned to perform work under this Contract if, in STATE’s sole discretion, it determines that the results of the criminal history record check make the individual unacceptable. CONTRACTOR agrees to be responsible for all costs associated with criminal history record checks carried out pursuant to this paragraph.

Forms and information regarding North Dakota Criminal History Record Checks are available on the following website: https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/public-safety/criminal-history-records/requesting-criminal-history-record-check https://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t12c60.pdf https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/public-safety/criminal-history-records/requesting-criminal-history-record-check https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/public-safety/criminal-history-records/requesting-criminal-history-record-check

SECTION FOUR: PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS

4.01 Proposal Preparation

The STATE discourages overly lengthy and costly proposals. An offeror must prepare its proposal using the prescribed proposal format and provide all the requested information; this will enable the proposal to be evaluated fairly and completely. If an offeror submits more than one proposal, each proposal must be prepared in accordance with these instructions.

4.02 Proposal Submission Instructions

A. Format Each proposal will include a technical proposal and a cost proposal prepared in accordance with these instructions. The technical proposal and cost proposal must be submitted as separate documents, clearly labeled with the name of the Offeror and marked “Technical Proposal” and “Cost Proposal”, but all cost information must be in the cost proposal only.

Offerors must electronically submit proposals through the State Procurement Online system (SPO Online) by the Solicitation Closing date and time.

DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE “LAST MINUTE” TO SUBMIT A RESPONSE. Recommend uploading the response 24 hours prior to the Solicitation Closing deadline.

The offeror must begin the electronic submission process well in advance of the Solicitation Closing deadline to allow for transmission and resolution of any technical difficulties. Be advised that the STATE is not responsible for an Offeror’s failure to timely submit a proposal due to any technical difficulties. If you experience any technical difficulties, contact the Procurement Officer or the State Procurement Office at infospo@nd.gov or 701.328.2740.

If documents are in the process of being uploaded when the Solicitation Closing deadline occurs, the upload process will stop. The attempted submission will not be uploaded successfully and is ineligible for consideration. The STATE takes no responsibility for electronic submissions that are captured, blocked, filtered, quarantined, or otherwise prevented from uploading by any anti-virus or other security software.

1. This solicitation is posted on SPO Online at:

https://apps.nd.gov/csd/spo/services/bidder/main.htm

2. Select “Recent Solicitations” and find this solicitation. Solicitations are listed by close date.

3. Use “Upload Response” to upload a maximum of five (5), clearly labeled documents before the Solicitation Closing deadline provided in the RFP Schedule.

4. The offeror must upload their Technical Proposal and Cost Proposal in separate files.

5. The maximum file size allowed is 50mb per file.

6. There is a 50-character file name limitation for the document being uploaded.

7. There is 75 75-character limit in the TITLE field within SPO Online.

8. All SPO Online field entries must be alphanumeric. Dashes and underscores are allowed;

however, the system DOES NOT accept other special characters such as apostrophe, & symbol, quotation marks, etc..

9. DO NOT submit documents that are embedded (zip files), movies, wmp, encrypted, or mp3 files.

10. The offeror will receive an email confirmation from infospo@nd.gov that the upload response was received, including the “File Description” for the uploaded files. Review this email to ensure all files were successfully uploaded. If the offeror DOES NOT receive an email confirmation, the mailto:infospo@nd.gov https://apps.nd.gov/csd/spo/services/bidder/main.htm mailto:infospo@nd.gov upload was NOT successful, and the files will need to be uploaded again. If the offeror does not receive an email confirmation after the reattempt, contact the Procurement Officer or the State Procurement Office at infospo@nd.gov or 701.328.2740.

Visit https://www.omb.nd.gov/sites/www/files/documents/doing-business-with-the-state/procurement/spo-electronic-response-external-job-aid.pdf for the SPO Electronic Response Job Aid, which describes how to submit an electronic response

4.03 Proposal Format

Prepare the technical proposal and cost proposal in accordance with these instructions.

A. Technical Proposal

SECTION 1 – COVER LETTER

Proposals shall include a cover letter that includes the following:

1. The name of the offeror, the name of the person to contact regarding the proposal, the email address, the telephone number, and the mailing address.

2. Offerors are instructed to review the “Conflict of Interest” provisions in RFP Section 1, “Instructions.” If the firm, its employees, or subcontractors working on the contract have an apparent or actual conflict of interest, provide a statement disclosing the circumstances of the apparent or actual conflict of interest, and what the plan to mitigate that conflict of interest would be if awarded this contract. Otherwise, provide a statement that your firm, employees, and subcontractors do not have a conflict of interest.

3. The applicant certifies that it and its principals:

a. Are not presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from covered transactions by any federal department or agency.

b. Have not, within a three-year period preceding this application, been convicted of or had a civil judgment rendered against them for commission of fraud or a criminal offense in connections with obtaining, attempting to obtain, or performing a public (federal, state, or local) transaction or contract under a public transaction; violation of federal or state antitrust statutes; or commission of embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, making false statements, or receiving stolen property.

c. Are not presently indicted for or otherwise criminally or civilly charged by a government entity (federal, state, or local) with commission of any of the offenses enumerated in paragraph B of this certification.

d. Have not, within a three-year period preceding this application, had one or more public transactions (federal, state, or local) terminated for cause or default.

4. The cover letter must be signed by an individual with the authority to bind the offeror. By signing the cover letter, an offeror certifies that it complies with:

a. All the requirements, terms, and conditions as set forth in this RFP.

b. The requirement that the offeror’s proposal accurately describes the goods and services being offered to the STATE, and the proposal will be held firm for the period specified.

c. All local, state, and federal laws, rules, code laws, rules, codes, regulations, and policies, including those relating to nondiscrimination, accessibility, civil rights, and equal employment.

d. The requirement that this proposal was prepared independently without collusion.

SECTION 2 – RFP AMENDMENTS

Provide signed copies of all Solicitation Amendments issued by the STATE that were required to be acknowledged by offerors.

SECTION 3 –SCOPE OF WORK

The offeror must review the requirements and deliverables requested in RFP Section 3, Scope of Work. Proposals for this section must not exceed thirty (30) pages.

mailto:infospo@nd.gov https://www.omb.nd.gov/sites/www/files/documents/doing-business-with-the-state/procurement/spo-electronic-response-external-job-aid.pdf https://www.omb.nd.gov/sites/www/files/documents/doing-business-with-the-state/procurement/spo-electronic-response-external-job-aid.pdf

1. Scope of Work The Offeror must review the requirements as listed in Section 3.01 Scope of Work. Offerors must provide narrative statements to outline their proposed tools and methodology to meet each requirement identified under Section 3.01 Scope of Work (A-F).

2. Timeline The Offeror must outline how they will ensure the work meets the requirements of Section 3.02 Timeline. Offerors should address each project year and clarify which tools and methodologies proposed in response to Section 3.01 Scope of Work (A-F) will be utilized. Offerors should describe how they will measure the progress of each methodology to ensure the contract stays on schedule.

3. Deliverables The Offeror must provide narrative statements to demonstrate their understanding of the requirements for the outcomes and evidence-based solutions. Explain the proposed strategy to accomplish each of the areas as listed in Section 3.04 Outcomes and Deliverables.

4. Requirements The Offeror must address their proposed plan for travel as part of their proposed work, and project management tools or methods used, as outlined in Section 3.05 Requirements.

SECTION 4 –EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

1. Mandatory Requirements

An offeror must provide information to demonstrate meeting the Offeror Experience and Qualifications Mandatory Requirement in RFP Section 3, Scope of Work, Experience and Qualifications

2. Experience and Qualifications of the Firm Provide a brief history and describe the organization of the firm.