Sources Sought Instructions for Capability Statement.docx

Evaluating Career Pathways Programs and Strategies Capability Statement Instructions

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION SCIENCES

NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION EVALUATION AND REGIONAL ASSISTANCE

EVALUATING CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES

TRACKING NUMBER # 623 AND #615

CAPABILITY STATEMENT INSTRUCTIONS

The U.S. Department of Education (the Department) is conducting market research to determine if sufficient interest and capability exists in the marketplace for the “Evaluating Career Pathways Programs and Strategies” requirement. This notice is NOT a request for quotes but is an invitation for potential offerors to express interest and provide information regarding their relevant knowledge, skills and capabilities. Information submitted in response to this Sources Sought Notice may be used to assist the Department in finalizing its acquisition strategy.

Disclaimer: The Department will not pay for the provision of any information, nor will it compensate any respondents for providing this information. This notice in no way obligates the Government to award any contract to any interested party. Feedback will not be provided to any interested party who submits information to the Department in response to this notice.

Capability Statement Submission Deadline The deadline for submitting Capability Statements and Basic Information responses is March 14, 2024 by 12:00 noon (ET) via e-mail to the following individuals: Joseph.Gibbs@ed.gov and Katie.Opper@ed.gov

Primary Point of Contact:

Joseph Gibbs Contracting Officer/Source Selection Authority Joseph.Gibbs@ed.gov

Secondary Points of Contact:

Katie Opper Contract Specialist Katie.Opper@ed.gov

Capability Statement Instructions In response to both attached DRAFT Performance Work Statements (PWSs), the Department hereby solicits capability statements from eligible, interested parties. Capability Statements shall be no longer than 3 pages (single-spaced, with a minimum of one-inch margins and 12-point font). There are two DRAFT PWSs for this requirement, one is the PWS for the proposed Indefinite Delivery-Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract and the other is the PWS for the first Task Order issued under the awarded IDIQ contract. Offerors should primarily refer to the IDIQ PWS as the Department wants to capture the capabilities to carry out the full scope of work that could be required under the IDIQ. The responses can also speak to the Task Order 0001 PWS, however, this is just one example of the type of work that may be procured under the IDIQ.

Interested Parties shall provide responses for all content areas noted below. The information requested in the Basic Information Section ONLY does NOT count against the 3-page Capability Statement page limitation.

BASIC INFORMATION

1. Please state your business/company name and address. Include contact information such as a corporate email address and website URL.

1. Please state your business size status (i.e., large or small) in the stated NAICS code of 541720. Provide all socioeconomic categories for your company and the corresponding NAICS code, and a statement as to whether NAICS code of 541720 is the most appropriate code.

1. State if the requirement should be set-aside for small business (or not), and why (or why not)?

1. State if your company believes that either DRAFT PWS contains any unduly restrictive language or content? Why? Please cite specific examples and provide feedback.

1. State if either DRAFT PWS content provides opportunities for small business subcontracting (or not). Why (or why not)?

CAPABILITY STATEMENT CONTENT AREAS

The capability statement must describe the collective expertise and experience of your company’s personnel, in each of the following areas:

· Experience and skill in leading, managing, designing, and conducting large-scale education evaluations using a variety of approaches, including random assignment, regression discontinuity, quasi-experimental methods, descriptive outcomes and implementation methods, and innovative data collection methods (e.g., processing and extracting data from documents, or analyzing text-as-data). Interested parties shall provide a minimum of four examples of personnel’s successful past experience in this area. The examples should demonstrate the breadth of experience across the various approaches listed above. Interested parties shall also provide demonstrated experience leading studies of the type specifically described in the first Task Order DRAFT PWS. This should include demonstrated experience managing costs and timeliness.

· Experience and skill in authoring well written, policy relevant publications with clear take-home messages for wide audiences. Interested parties shall provide a minimum of two examples of personnel’s involvement with authoring publications that clearly and concisely summarize experimental and implementation findings, and present them in a manner such that they can be understood and used by a wide audience.

· Substantive content knowledge relevant to the scope described in both DRAFT PWSs, including, evaluating career pathways policies, programs, and strategies designed to improve the career outcomes of youth and adults (especially as it relates to federal policy). Interested parties shall provide a minimum of three examples showing that personnel have relevant knowledge to effectively study the broad scope of the proposed Indefinite Delivery-Indefinite Quantity contract, and particularly the topics described in the first Task Order.

In addition, the capability statement shall address the following experience and capacity at the corporate level:

· Experience with projects similar in nature to that described in both DRAFT PWSs. Interested parties shall provide evidence of successful corporate experience with a minimum of two past projects that are similar to that described in the IDIQ DRAFT PWS, in terms of the evaluation activities to be performed and the anticipated level of effort required.