Sources sought notice

The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) is seeking professional services to design and develop academic content standards and summative, standards-based assessments for English language arts, mathematics, science, alternate assessments, and English language proficiency. The contract will cover approximately 33,000 students in grades 3-8 and high school across 23 states, with BIE schools serving around 45,000 students total. Eligible vendors are assessment vendors with NAICS code 611710 and a Small Business Size Standard of $24M, with small businesses required to self-perform at least 50% of the contract cost. Responses are due by March 31, 2025 at 12 pm Central Time, limited to 10 pages, and must be submitted electronically to Michelle E. Nahlee. BIE will review submissions to determine whether to pursue a set-aside or full and open competition, with Indian Economic Enterprise (IEE) and Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise (ISBEE) set-asides taking precedence.

The contract is planned as a Firm Fixed Price with a base year and four option years, running from June 1, 2025 through May 31, 2030. While no specific incumbent is mentioned, the contract will require comprehensive assessment services including developing paper-based and online assessments, creating a secure student registration portal, providing training and technical support, and ensuring compliance with federal regulations. The contractor must meet a 100% Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) for various performance requirements, including delivering a kickoff meeting within 10 business days, providing assessment reports, and maintaining data quality. The initial focus will be on the 2025-2026 school year, with potential future option years that may include additional services like formative assessments, interim assessments, test item development, and an interactive dashboard. Contractors must also adhere to strict cybersecurity, privacy, and accessibility standards outlined in the Department of the Interior's IT Baseline Compliance Contract Guidelines.