Technical Assistance and Logistical Support for Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy (SRCL) Grants Funded under the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA)

SOLICITATION NOTICE

Clarification Questions are due no later than 1:00 p.m. EST on May 10, 2011. Please submit questions to the Primary and Secondary Points of Contact listed in this notice.

The U.S. Department of Education (ED)
The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE)

This requirement is a Total Small Business Set-Aside

It is determined that these services are commercial as defined in FAR Part 2.101. Based on the results of market research, it is determined that commercial sources are available and capable of satisfying this requirement.

The U.S. Department of Education anticipates the release of the subject solicitation on or about April 26, 2011.

Description

The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) within the U.S. Department of Education (ED) requires services to provide technical support and other services to Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy (SRCL) formula and discretionary grantees. The Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant program is authorized as part of the FY 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act (Pub. L. No. 111-117) under the Title I demonstration authority (Part E, Section 1502 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)). The FY 2010 Appropriations Act provides $200 million under Section 1502 of the ESEA for a comprehensive literacy development and education program to advance literacy skills for students from birth through grade 12. The Act reserves $10 million for formula grants to assist States in creating or maintaining a State Literacy Team with expertise in literacy development and education for children from birth through grade 12 that will assist States in developing a comprehensive literacy plan.

SRCL formula grants were awarded to 46 State Educational Agencies (SEAs) to establish and support a State Literacy Team with expertise in literacy development and education for children from birth to grade 12 to assist the State in developing a comprehensive literacy plan. Formula grants to States depended upon their share of funds under Title I Part A, with no State having received less than $150,000.

SRCL discretionary grants will be awarded competitively to approximately 3-18 State Educational Agencies (SEAs) that must subgrant at least 95 percent of the funds to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) and early childhood providers. Entities eligible for SRCL discretionary subgrants are LEAs or other nonprofit providers of early childhood education that partner with a public or private nonprofit organization or agency with a demonstrated record of effectiveness in improving the early literacy development of children from birth through kindergarten entry and in providing professional development in early literacy. States must give priority to agencies and entities serving greater numbers or percentages of disadvantaged children. LEAs will use these funds for services and activities that have characteristics of effective literacy instruction through professional development, screening and assessment, targeted interventions for students reading below grade level, and other research based methods of improving classroom instruction and practice for all students. SEA grantees must ensure that: 15% of subgranted funds shall be used to serve children from birth through age 5; 40% of subgranted funds shall be used to serve children in kindergarten through grade 5; and 40% of subgranted funds shall be used to serve students in middle and high school including an equitable distribution of funds between middle and high schools.

The scope of this contract will encompass planning and implementation activities related to SRCL grants. The scope of work for this contract includes:

• Provide logistical support for all grantee meetings
• Plan and support Webinars
• Provide technical assistance to discretionary grantees
• Provide technical assistance to State Literacy Teams
• Provide consultative assistance to States and districts
• Propose expert speakers for conferences and meetings
• Identify and disseminate resource materials
• Create Monthly News Bulletin
• Administer all tasks in the contract
• Create and implement a plan for professional development
• Submit expenditure/progress reports
• Collect and analyze GPRA/APR data
• Conduct an analysis of data collected and submitted through annual reports and other data sources

The period of performance for this requirement is one 12-month base year with three 12-month option years.

Contracting Office Address:
550 12th Street SW, 7th Floor,
Washington, DC 20202