SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE
Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)
Title: English Language Proficiency (ELP) Assessment Ecosystem for BIE Schools (Grades K 12)
1. Notice Type & Purpose
This is a Sources Sought / Request for Information (RFI) issued solely for market research to inform acquisition planning.
This notice does not constitute a solicitation and no contract will be awarded based on this announcement.
Responses will support BIE in determining:
Appropriate acquisition strategy (e.g., small business set-aside, full/open competition)
Contract type
Availability and capability of potential vendors
Scope and structure of the future solicitation
2. Background & Objectives
The Bureau of Indian Education's mission (25 CFR 32.3) is to provide high quality, culturally relevant education that meets the needs of Native students. Under 25 CFR 30.100 125, BIE must administer English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessments for federal accountability reporting.
BIE seeks a fully operational, U.S. Department of Education approved ELP assessment system for grades K 12 across 183 BIE funded schools in 23 states. The resulting solution must provide an integrated ecosystem including assessments, registration, administration, reporting, data integration, training, technical support, project management, and compliance with all federal privacy/security regulations.
The Contractor must deliver:
Standard & Alternate ELP Assessments
ELP Screeners
A complete technology platform (COTS preferred)
On-time administration, scoring, and reporting
End to end data security and CONUS-only data residency
Training, helpdesk support, and strong project management
Clear, parent-friendly reporting
Compatibility with BIE systems (NASIS, Data Warehouse)
3. Project Description ELP Assessment Ecosystem
The Government seeks market information from vendors capable of providing a turnkey ELP assessment solution covering:
Grades K 12
Online and paper-based administration
Standard and Alternate ELP Assessments
Two ELP Screeners
Culturally responsive materials and support
Comprehensive reporting for schools, families, and accountability
The solution must be fully operational beginning in School Year (SY) 2026 2027, with optional enhancements in subsequent option years.
4. Scope of Services (Summary of SOW Components)
Vendors able to deliver an integrated assessment system should identify capabilities across the following areas:
1. Annual ELP Assessment Services
a. Assessment Administration & Scoring
Paper-based and online administration windows
Materials production and shipping
Online environment readiness
100% scoring accuracy
Anomaly detection and quality assurance
b. Secure Student Registration Portal (COTS, BIE-exclusive)
24/7 availability
Integration with BIE's Student Information System (NASIS) via API + manual uploads
Role based user access
Scheduling, accommodations, and registration verification
Monthly change logs and data ingestion QA
c. Reporting Requirements
Paper Reporting:
Two (2) Individual Student Reports (ISRs) per student
Parent/guardian report
School, district, and BIE-wide aggregates
Electronic Reporting:
EDFacts-compliant files
BIE Data Warehouse (interactive portal) exports (XLSX, CSV, TXT, SPSS, PDF)
SIS ingest-ready score files
Secure transmission (SFTP/SSH; TLS 1.2+)
SIS import success rate target: 100%
d. Test Administration & Data Integration Training
Up to 10 virtual sessions
Up to 25 onsite sessions
Weekly web-based office hours
TC/TA manuals, online resources, and 24/7 learning platform
e. Project Management Services
Weekly PM meetings
Monthly financial reporting
Communication plan
Qualified Project Manager (PMP preferred)
Risk, issue, and deliverable tracking
f. Helpdesk Services (Four Tiers)
Multi time zone coverage (Pacific, Mountain, Central, Eastern)
Phone + online chat
SLA: 15 minute hold times (95% of contacts)
Issue resolution tracking with escalation procedures
2. Training Services
Virtual and onsite training per approved travel authorization
Student registration support during training sessions
Credentialed lead trainer required
3. Optional Services (Option Years)
Interim assessments aligned to summative standards
Dashboards or analytic tools
Research studies
Test item development (as needed)
5. Period of Performance (PoP)
Base and 4-1 year options
6. Security, Privacy, & Compliance Requirements
Respondents must describe controls/practices aligning to federal requirements (as applicable to the services offered), including but not limited to:
FERPA, COPPA, CIPA compliance (student data privacy).
NIST SP 800 53 / 800 53A, FIPS 199 (Moderate) categorization and FIPS 140 2 encryption; DOI IT security policies; OMB A 123; Privacy Act; Section 208 of the E Government Act; Section 508 accessibility. (See Section 8.0 of SOW.)
7. Government Furnished & School Provided Resources
BIE will provide student lists/IDs.
BIE funded schools provide computers and connectivity (or local server/network).
8. Place of Performance
Nationwide across BIE funded schools and BIE central offices; virtual services as specified.
9. Instructions to Respondents
9.1. Administrative
Response Format: Only the RFI document must be submitted.
Submission Email: Felicia.Aspaas@bie.edu
Subject Line: Sources Sought BIE ELP Assessments [Your Company Name]
Response Due: April 22, 2026, 11:00 AM MDT
Questions: Government may not respond to all questions under this notice.
10. Disclaimer
This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract. The Government will not reimburse costs incurred in responding. Proprietary information should be clearly marked. No feedback or evaluation results will be provided.
11. Notice to potential offerors: All offerors who provide goods or services to the United States Federal Government must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.SAM.gov and must have completed the Online Representations and Certifications Application.
12. Attachments
Attachment 1: Statement of Work (SOW) ELA Assessments
Attachment 2 Request for Information (RFI) ELA Assessment
(Only the RFI response is required at this time.)
Background
The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) is dedicated to providing high-quality, culturally relevant education for Native students. To fulfill its mission and comply with federal regulations, BIE requires an English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessment system for K–12 students across 183 BIE-funded schools in 23 states. The goal is to implement a comprehensive ELP assessment ecosystem that meets federal accountability standards and supports educational equity for English Learners.
Work Details
The contractor will deliver a fully operational ELP assessment solution that includes:
- Standard and Alternate ELP Assessments
- ELP Screeners
- A complete technology platform (COTS preferred)
- On-time administration, scoring, reporting
- End-to-end data security
- Training and helpdesk support
- Project management
- Compliance with federal privacy/security regulations.
Specific tasks include:
1. Assessment Administration: Administer assessments in both paper-based and online formats.
2. Student Registration Portal: Develop a secure portal integrated with BIE’s Student Information System (NASIS).
3. End-User Training Support: Provide training for school staff on test administration procedures.
4. Scoring & Assessment Reporting: Ensure accurate scoring and timely reporting.
5. Project Management Services: Maintain oversight and communication throughout the contract lifecycle.
6. Helpdesk Services: Operate a four-tier helpdesk to assist BIE staff and schools during all phases of the assessment process.
7. Optional Services: May include interim assessments and analytic tools if funded by BIE.
Period of Performance
The contract will have a base period with four one-year options for renewal.
Place of Performance
Work will be performed nationwide across BIE-funded schools and central offices within the continental United States (CONUS).
