Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS 2016)

Added: Apr 02, 2014 10:53 am *** Please note - Task 7 is a Firm Fixed Price Task.

Added: Apr 01, 2014 11:44 am The Performance Work Statement has been revised to remove 10.6 and 10.7 from the document.  Attachment E has been updated to include the Small Business Subcontracting Plan.  

The response to Question #3 is revised to read:

Question 3 - Page 7 of the Performance Work Statement references the ePIRLS 2016 optional component though there is no subsequent reference to ePIRLS. Will the United States be considering the possibility of exercising the ePIRLS option?

RESPONSE: Currently, it is not an "OPTIONAL task"

Added: Mar 10, 2014 4:58 pm The purpose of this contract is to implement U.S. participation in the Progress in International Reading Study (PIRLS) 2016.
The overall goal for the procurement is data collection in the United States for PIRLS 2016 that meets all international and NCES guidelines and that makes available on a timely basis high-quality internationally comparative assessment data. Furthermore, the study shall result in one or more publications that report on U.S. data and the international comparisons from the perspective of an American constituency.

PIRLS 2016 will follow the established design and standards as set forth by the IEA. These design and standards will cover, but are not limited to, administration procedures, sampling guidelines and requirements, survey instruments, data collection, data coding and processing. The IEA has contracted with the International Study Center at Boston College to oversee the international development and coordination of the study. In the Performance Work Statement (PWS) to follow, mention of the Study Center or the international organization refers to these institutions. The contractor shall follow the international guidelines for PIRLS 2016 and shall meet established NCES standards and procedures (NCES standards can be found at http://nces.ed.gov/statprog/).

The contractor shall be clear that NCES is the sole authority to manage PIRLS in the United States and to negotiate with the international consortium on any issues related to the study. The contractor shall not use the items for any other purposes without NCES' written consent. Under no circumstances shall the contractor conduct any activities related to PIRLS, including conducting the assessment in sub-national jurisdictions (e.g., states or school districts), without permission from NCES.

The contractor shall bid key staff who have experience working in an international project and who have extensive knowledge of and experience with the operations of an international assessment based on a complex sample design. Given the large volume of highly technical work required by this contract and the fast-paced international schedule that must be met, there will not be time after the start of the contract for key contractor personnel to familiarize themselves with the technical content or operations of PIRLS.