Student Success Acceleration Program (SSAP) 2. 0 Evaluation

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) is seeking a vendor to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the Student Success Acceleration Program (SSAP) 2.0 Grants through Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 781-5-03529. The evaluation will require conducting literature reviews of student success programs, developing evaluation protocols, creating an implementation and impact evaluation plan, and producing detailed reports and presentations. Key deliverables include interim and final reports, monthly community of practice meetings from March 2025 to July 2026, presentations or webinars, and a policy brief. Respondents must have a minimum of 10 years of experience providing similar services, with proposal evaluations based on price (20%), response to scope of work (50%), and experience/qualifications (30%). Written questions were due January 20, 2025, with proposals required to be submitted by February 3, 2025. The anticipated contract start date is April 1, 2025, with a contract term running through August 31, 2026.

The procurement is specifically targeted to vendors who can meet HUB (Historically Underutilized Business) subcontracting requirements, with a 26% HUB subcontracting goal for this "Other Services" contract. Only Texas public institutions and systems of higher education are eligible to receive the underlying SSAP 2.0 Grants, with THECB expecting to award approximately $6 million total through approximately 30 awards. Initial grants will be $150,000 per institution, with potential additional funding up to $100,000 for programs serving specific engagement groups. The total maximum award per grantee is $250,000 over the grant period, funded through state appropriations from the 88th Texas Legislature. Consortia of three or more eligible institutions are permitted to apply collectively. Proposals without a completed HUB Subcontracting Plan will be automatically rejected, and respondents must comply with specific state requirements including Texas Family Code 231.006(c) ownership disclosure and Texas Government Code 669.003 regarding employment of former agency executives.