Research Design Proposals on Academic Preparedness for Job Training (NAEP 12th Grade Preparedness Studies)

The National Assessment Governing Board has a requirement to conduct research to enable the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) to make valid statements about the academic preparedness of 12th grade students in reading and mathematics for job training. The objective of this procurement is to seek proposals for research studies, associated study designs and budgets to carry out research to identify locations on the 12th grade NAEP reading and mathematics scales that represent the knowledge and skills to qualify for training in various occupations.

Reporting on academic preparedness for college and job training is an important new direction for NAEP. The National Assessment Governing Board oversees and sets policy for NAEP. The Governing Board set out on this path to report on academic preparedness for college and job training following acceptance of a report from a blue ribbon commission in 2004. Among its recommendations, the commission called on NAEP to be transformed to report on the academic preparedness of 12th grade students for college, job training, and the military. More information on the Governing Board's work can be found at www.nagb.org.

The Governing Board is planning to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) that will provide a Statement of Objectives for the research studies. The RFP will also provide further details on the procurement and proposal submission requirements. The anticipated date of RFP release is no later than August 10, 2012 and proposals will be due 30 days after the RFP release. Evaluation criteria will be provided with the RFP. The contract period of performance is projected to be 24 months, and the contract type planned is Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF).

Interested parties may wish to respond to this notice with clarification questions to be submitted no later than 10:00 a.m. ET on August 3, 2012. Interested parties may also request to be included in a mailing list that will be utilized to announce the RFP release once it is posted on www.fbo.gov.