Assessment and Accountability Workstreams

The Montana Office of Public Instruction is seeking technical assistance services through a sole source contract with the Center for Assessment to support the development and implementation of Montana's assessment and federal accountability systems, specifically focusing on the MAST assessment program and related accountability measures. The contract, valued at approximately $212,400, encompasses two primary workstreams: one dedicated to assessment activities such as stakeholder engagement, professional development, and growth metrics, and another focused on accountability tasks including ATSI calculations, rule development, and federal documentation templates based on the skip-year growth model. The work is scheduled to commence on December 1, 2025, with all deliverables due by January 1, 2027, and performance will occur within Montana. This procurement process is characterized by its non-competitive, sole source nature, justified by the unique expertise of the Center for Assessment in the relevant assessment programs and federal accountability systems. The solicitation emphasizes that the vendor must demonstrate capability through a Letter of Intent to Sole Source and submit responses via the electronic Montana Acquisition and Contracting System (eMACS) by December 9, 2025. The contract includes no physical goods, thus eliminating requirements related to packaging, marking, or logistics. Evaluation is primarily based on the vendor’s ability to meet the specialized technical scope, with emphasis on the two workstreams aligned with the funding distribution—more weight appears to be given to the accountability workstream. The contract administration details specify that acceptance and inspection will occur within Montana, with Heather Davidson serving as the primary contact for contractual matters. Overall, the agreement aims to enhance Montana’s assessment and accountability infrastructure through targeted, expert-driven support, executed under a streamlined, non-competitive procurement framework.