Rapid-Cycle Tech Evaluations (RCTE)

Added: Aug 20, 2015 11:37 am Amendment 0001 is issued to provide responses to vendor questions.  The due date for proposals is unchanged. 

Added: Aug 12, 2015 9:12 am Request for Proposals: Please see the attached SF 1449.

Added: Aug 05, 2015 5:05 pm The U.S. Department of Education (Department), Office of Educational Technology (OET), anticipates the release of the subject solicitation by August 10, 2015. It is determined that these services are commercial as defined in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 2.101. The procurement will be competed in accordance with FAR Part 13.5 - Test Program for Certain Commercial Items.

The purpose of this procurement is to find support services to evaluate educational software applications purchased with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) program funds, including Titles I, II, and III and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), to help schools, districts, and States make evidence-based decisions. This evaluation will help establish a high standard for low-cost, quick turnaround evaluations of apps, establish a technical working group, and field test rapid-cycle technology evaluations to understand how to improve outcomes of ESEA programs. In addition to generating evidence on specific apps, this work will help develop protocol tools for conducting rapid cycle evaluations of apps that practitioners, developers, and researchers can use beyond the scope of this evaluation. The project shall be divided into two phases: 1) a design phase that includes 3-6 pilot evaluations and 2) field testing using evaluation strategies, designs and tools refined through the pilot evaluation stage.

In order to be considered for award, a successful offeror must have demonstrated expertise in each of the following areas:

• Content expertise (high-level) in educational technology policy and research to Identify and assess promising, educational technology apps, resources and practices and to Identify and partner with educational technology product and services providers
• Content expertise (high-level) conducting rapid cycle evaluations that significantly inform practice and increase the impact of educational technology interventions;
• Content expertise (high-level) in writing, editing, positioning and messaging high-level, complex and technical educational technology content.
• Questioning conventional approaches, encouraging new ideas and innovations, and implementing cutting-edge design processes;
• Identifying and assessing promising, educational technology apps, resources and practices
• Identifying and partnering with promising pilot sites and educational technology product and services providers to implement rigorous studies with minimal lead time;
• Research and evaluation methodologies, including experience conducting rapid cycle evaluations in a rigorous and timely manner leading to insights that significantly inform practice and increase impact of educational technology interventions;
• Writing, editing, positioning and messaging high-level, complex and technical content, preferably in the field of educational technology;
• Designing user-friendly wizards/support software to support non-experts in constructing and executing high quality research studies defensible to the field.

The acquisition reflects a Firm Fixed-Price Performance-Based Acquisition (PBA) for a 16-month base year and a 24-month optional task.

A Sources Sought Notice for this requirement was posted on May 28, 2015 under the Solicitation # ED-RFI-RAPID-CYCLE. A vendor will not need to have submitted a capability statement in order to submit a proposal for the solicitation.

A draft copy of the PWS is attached. This is a draft document and the Department reserves the right to make edits to this document prior to solicitation.