27MATALMB1 | Early Literacy Screening Assessments in Grades K-3 | Departmental Master Agreement (MA)

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is seeking publishers to submit early literacy screening assessments in English for grades K–3 under a Departmental Master Agreement (27MATALMB1), with an initial submission window closing July 15, 2026, and a pre-bid information session on June 23, 2026, at 2:00 PM EST via Zoom.

DESE intends to approve multiple assessments meeting designated criteria rather than select a single vendor. Approved assessments will be available to public school districts statewide through separate vendor-district contracts executed under Chapter 30B; DESE will not fund vendors directly. The Master Agreement runs through June 30, 2031, with an additional submission window tentatively opening April 1–April 30, 2027.

Assessments must measure phonemic awareness, alphabetic knowledge, oral language, rapid automatized naming, word reading, and reading comprehension at beginning, middle, and end-of-year administrations. Administration frequency is at least twice yearly in kindergarten and three times yearly in grades 1–3. Classification accuracy thresholds require sensitivity, specificity, and area under curve all at or above 0.70 for the "significantly below" risk level. Evidence submissions must include a comprehensive technical manual, completed evidence form with detailed reliability and validity data across grade levels and assessment seasons, classification accuracy analysis with sample data of at least 50 students per analysis including demographic breakdowns, and bias analysis. Vendors must also provide composite percentile rankings, professional development (in-person, virtual, webinar, or other formats), technical support, user-friendly parent reports, and agree to cooperate with DESE in collecting screening data three times annually from designated schools.

Respondents must submit organization information (not to exceed two pages), technical manual, completed evidence form, cost information, and contact information form by July 15, 2026, through the COMMBUYS website. Pricing submitted in proposals will be locked into the Master Agreement through June 30, 2031, though vendors may request departmental approval for cost increases during the term. Cost structure is an important selection criterion; DESE emphasizes keeping assessments affordable for schools.

All deliverables become DESE property. Vendors retain ownership of pre-existing commercial software but grant DESE a fully-paid, royalty-free, non-exclusive, non-transferable, worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual, and assignable license. All digital assets must meet Commonwealth Digital Accessibility Standards, including WCAG 2.1 levels A and AA. DESE may conduct Criminal Offender Record Information background checks on vendor staff and subcontractors with direct, unmonitored contact with children. Questions are accepted on an ongoing basis until December 31, 2029, at 12:00 PM ET, with responses posted periodically to COMMBUYS.