Notice of Intent to Sole Source the National Student Clearinghouse Data for Undergraduate and Graduate Student Information

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has issued a Notice of Intent to conduct a sole source procurement with the National Student Clearinghouse for student data collection services. This Special Notice, posted on July 21, 2025, is published by NSF's Directorate for STEM Education (EDU) under federal acquisition regulation FAR 13.106-1(b). The procurement involves a purchase order with an estimated value of $78,000 for a performance period from May 1, 2025 through July 24, 2025. The National Student Clearinghouse serves as the sole responsible source for providing comprehensive undergraduate and graduate student information data. The notice specifically states that no other suppliers can satisfy the agency's requirements and clarifies that this is not a request for competitive proposals.

The primary objective of this sole source procurement is to obtain nationwide student record data from postsecondary educational institutions for tracking enrollment and educational achievements. NSF requires longitudinal student data that enables tracking individual students across their entire academic journey at multiple institutions, which only the National Student Clearinghouse can provide through its role as a designated "school official" under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Contractors have until August 4, 2025 to respond, though this notice is purely informational since the procurement is restricted to the National Student Clearinghouse. The procurement does not qualify for small business set-aside due to the unique data requirements and specialized nature of the services. This initiative supports NSF's research and evaluation efforts by providing essential data on student trajectories across the postsecondary education system.