Set Achievement Levels for the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress Writing Assessment at Grades 8 and 12

The National Assessment Governing Board is preparing to develop achievement levels for the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Writing Assessment at Grades 8 and 12. The Governing Board is issuing this Request for Proposals under full and open competition in mid June, 2010. Proposals will be due about July 26, 2010. The base period of performance is anticipated to be approximately 24 months. An optional 24 month task to develop achievement levels for the 2013 grade 4 writing NAEP may be exercised during the base 24 month period of performance.       
        

Student performance for the writing NAEP is assessed entirely through collection of student essays in response to writing prompts. Students have approximately 25 minutes to respond to each of two prompts that will be presented on the computer. This is the first completely computer-based assessment in the NAEP program, and the Governing Board intends to incorporate computerized methods in the achievement levels-setting process. The operational assessment for grades 8 and 12 will be administered in 2011, and data will be available for the achievement levels-setting work by September 2011. The initial computer-based assessment for grade 4 writing will be administered in 2013, and data will be available for the achievement levels-setting work by September 2013. The Governing Board prefers to have the same process and methodology implemented for developing achievement levels for all three grades, and an optional task will be included for grade 4 work.

The basis for contract award is be that technical capability of the offeror is more important than cost and other factors considered. All responsible sources are encouraged to respond to the solicitation. The Request for Proposal will appear on the NAGB website http://www.nagb.org when it is posted on Fedbizopps. Emailed requests for the electronic RFP when it is issued may be emailed to Moira.Baran@ed.gov. All timely responses received shall be considered by the Governing Board.  A cost reimbursement type contract is contemplated because of the uncertain costs surrounding this research.

Questions and comments on this notice may be submitted to the Contract Officer, Moira Baran by Monday, June 7, 10 am, EST at Moira.Baran@ed.gov, and responses will be posted by approximately five working days after receipt.