Statewide Evaluation Services for 21st Century Community Learning Centers

The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE), through its Office of Coordinated Student Support Services, is seeking a vendor to provide comprehensive statewide evaluation services and continuous improvement processes for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers and Expanded Learning Opportunity Grant Programs. The primary objective is to implement a robust evaluation plan that includes an online database for data collection, external site observations, survey administration, and technical assistance for approximately 150 Nebraska educational sites currently funded by roughly $6.5 million in federal grants. Key deliverables include developing a web-based tool for grant administration, collecting and analyzing data related to student performance, program effectiveness, and meeting federal Government Performance Reporting Act (GPRA) requirements. The RFP specifies a one-year initial contract with options to renew for four additional one-year periods, totaling a potential five-year engagement. The proposal is due on November 4th, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Central Time, with an anticipated contract award on December 29th, 2025, and a vendor start date of January 2nd, 2026. The vendor will be responsible for providing all necessary personnel, technical infrastructure, and support for comprehensive data collection, analysis, and reporting, with a particular focus on serving students from low-income families and schools with specific demographic characteristics.

While the RFP does not explicitly outline set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations, the complexity of the project suggests a need for experienced educational evaluation and data management firms. The cost sheet provided is a template with zero-dollar entries, indicating that bidders will be required to complete their own pricing structure. Pricing is expected to remain fixed for the first two years, with potential price increases of up to 5% in subsequent years, subject to NDE approval. The project will involve collaboration with diverse educational stakeholders, including school districts, community-based organizations, non-profit agencies, and other entities receiving 21st Century Community Learning Center grants. Although no specific incumbent vendor is mentioned, the project requires sophisticated technological capabilities, including an online database and robust data analysis tools. The evaluation will work with approximately 150 sites, suggesting a significant scope of work that would require a vendor with substantial technical and analytical capabilities. While an exact budget is not specified, the involvement of $6.5 million in federal grants and the comprehensive nature of the required services indicates a potentially substantial contract value.