Description
100% Indian Economic Enterprise (IEE) Set-aside, for IEE concerns in accordance with the Buy Indian Act. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Education U Teacher Certification Analysis This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only notice; Proposals are being requested and a written solicitation is issued. This solicitation is issued as a Request for Proposals (RFP). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through the Federal Acquisition Regulation. The North American Industry classification (NAICS) code is 923110. This acquisition is being solicited accordance with FAR Part 13.003 and DIAR 1480.504-1, as a total Indian Economic Enterprise Set-aside. The Period of Performance (POP) shall be from contract award to February 28, 2015. See the PWS for complete performance requirement details. The resultant contract will be awarded as a firm fixed-price contract as defined in FAR 16.2. The Government intends to make a single contract award. See the complete solicitation for details. Introduction The mission of the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) is described in Title 25 CFR Part 32.3, and is, to provide quality education opportunities from early childhood through life in accordance with a tribes needs for cultural and economic well-being. Further, the BIEs initiative is to consider the whole person by taking into account the spiritual, mental, physical, and cultural aspects of the individual within his or her family and tribal or village context. The delivery of quality educational services to American Indian students throughout Indian country is essential to build healthy and safe tribal communities required by federal mandates. BIEs main mission is to provide an exceptional learning environment for 48,000 Indian students, train teachers for success in a dynamic education system, and collect data to help schools understand and improve academic performance for American Indian students. This contract will be the cornerstone for BIE teachers and principals in understanding and improving academic performance of American Indian students within the BIE. BIE schools are located on 64 reservations in 23 states with 183 schools being operated as either tribal or grant schools and others being operated by BIE. Currently, a BIE teacher must earn a teaching certificate from each state that they choose to teach. With a national certificate, this will make it easier for our teachers to fill teaching positions across our entire 23 state school system. BIE is seeking a contractor that has a proven track record of assessing, training and certifying teachers to a national standard. Scope The Contractor shall provide a system and process that will nationally certify 1,000 BIE teachers. The teacher certification process must have a proven track record within the education industry that has a well-defined educational testing standard for teachers. The system shall have the capacity to determine which teachers meet the rigorous standards. The Contractor shall create, distribute, administer, analyze, score and present the results of the findings with BIE schools and management. BIE has a school population of approximately 3,000 teachers (which includes all local, Tribal and BIE managed schools). The process must include the necessary professional development to assist BIE teachers in raising their skills in order to meet the new national standards. This shall entail the development of a process to reach teachers within BIEs school system, including those in remote locations. Please see the solicitation for complete SOW requirement details.