Statewide Child Outcome Tool

The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services Developmental Disabilities Section is conducting a noncompetitive procurement for a statewide child outcome tool to meet Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C federal reporting requirements. The state intends to purchase the AEPS-3 (Third Edition) online child outcome tool from Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., Inc., which is the sole provider meeting specific criteria including an authentic assessment method for children birth through two years old, research-supported peer comparisons, and federal reporting compatibility. The procurement seeks a tool that enables comprehensive data collection and reporting, with the current contract being a continuation of a solution originally selected through a 2016 Request for Proposal. Vendors are required to submit detailed responses electronically through the State Procurement Online system, addressing company information, contact details, specifications, value-added features, and cost information. The response deadline is April 21, 2025, at 11:00 AM CT, with the contract period running from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.

The procurement is specifically targeted to Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., Inc. as a noncompetitive purchase, with no explicit set-aside designations or restrictions on other potential vendors. The state reserves the right to execute up to six 12-month renewal options under the same terms and conditions, providing potential long-term opportunity for the selected vendor. The estimated total budget for this procurement is $75,000, with the state emphasizing that transitioning to a new child outcome tool would be detrimental to their federal reporting process. The justification for the noncompetitive purchase stems from the vendor being the only known entity providing an online child outcome tool that meets the state's specific technical and reporting requirements. This procurement represents a continuation of an existing successful relationship, with the state seeking to maintain continuity in its data collection and reporting methodologies for developmental disabilities tracking.