Science Assessments, CAO

The Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Education seeks science assessment services for BIE-funded schools serving grades 5, 8, and 11, with quotes due August 18, 2026 at 10:00 AM Mountain Daylight Time. The procurement is a Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) unrestricted set-aside; NAICS 611710 (Educational Support Services); small business size standard $24.0 million.

Place of performance is Albuquerque, New Mexico. The contract runs from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027 (base year) plus four optional one-year extensions. The contractor must deliver Commercial Off-the-Shelf assessments aligned to Next Generation Science Standards, including paper-based and online administration for approximately 4,600 students in spring of each year; a secure online student registration portal interfacing with BIE's Student Information System within 60 days of award; paper and electronic reporting in EdFacts-compliant formats; web-based weekly webinars and up to 10 onsite or virtual training sessions annually; project management with monthly expense tracking and reporting calls; and helpdesk support Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM local time with maximum 15-minute hold times. Optional services include test item customization (with all developed items owned by BIE) and interim assessments.

The contractor must comply with NIST SP 800-53 controls, FIPS 140-2/140-3 encryption, FERPA, COPPA, CIPA, Section 508 accessibility, and DOI IT Baseline Compliance Contract Guidelines including FISMA, Privacy Act, and monthly vulnerability scans. The Student Registration Portal must be dedicated to BIE use only. All subcontractors require prior written approval; travel requires pre-approval with reimbursement at actual cost subject to Federal Travel Regulations. The contract is Firm Fixed Price with cost-reimbursable travel CLINs.

Evaluation criteria are Experience (30%), Management and Technical Approach (40%), and Pricing (30%). Amendment 0001 effective August 13 clarifies that offerors must submit Quality Control Plans with proposals, expanded accommodation options including braille and sign language interpretation, and detailed Excel-based price calculations. Quotes must follow FAR Part 12 commercial item procedures; submit via email to Felicia.aspaas@bie.edu. The Contracting Officer is Felicia Aspaas. Acknowledgement of Amendment 0001 is required for a responsive offer.