Cognitive Assessment - Sources Sought Only

The Federal Bureau of Prisons, Department of Justice, is conducting market research via Request for Information to inform acquisition strategy for a computer-based cognitive assessment platform supporting reentry services, with responses due by July 2, 2026. This is a sources-sought effort only; no solicitation will necessarily follow.

The BOP seeks a fully digital, cloud-based comprehensive assessment system covering cognitive abilities, academic achievement, and oral language skills for deployment across 121 FBOP institutions nationwide. The platform must support approximately 350–400 concurrent daily test administrations, deliver automatic scoring with basal and ceiling rules, and provide real-time interactive reporting at individual and aggregate levels. Cloud infrastructure must use FedRAMP-certified providers with AWS GovCloud preferred; the vendor must obtain Authority to Operate prior to system deployment.

Technical requirements include 99% availability (7 a.m.–11:59 p.m. EST, seven days per week, 365 days per year), multi-factor authentication for administrative users, FIPS 140-2 encryption for data at rest, 256-bit minimum encryption for transport, Section 508 accessibility compliance, and HIPAA and FERPA compliant data management. Contractor personnel require HSPD-12 security clearances; non-U.S. citizens are prohibited per DOJ 2640.2F. Qualified technician support must respond within 10 minutes during service hours with 24-hour target resolution for unplanned outages.

The anticipated contract structure includes one 12-month base period with four consecutive 12-month option years, effective upon fund availability. The vendor must provide examiner policy manuals, training materials, and approximately three annual specialized training sessions for FBOP Special Education Teachers at no additional cost. The RFI seeks relevant experience, technical capability descriptions, recommended contract type, suggested NAICS code (educational support services, 611710, is indicated), industry standards feedback, and rough order of magnitude pricing. Responses are voluntary; the Government will use responses to determine acquisition strategy and potential small business set-aside eligibility. Submit electronically to sborchert@bop.gov by Thursday, July 2, 2026, at 2 p.m. CT.