Change in Contract Scope for Houghton-Mifflin-Harcourt.

Notice of an amendment to contract C014178 with Houghton-Mifflin-Harcourt. This amendment has three components:1. Incorporate science tests into deliverables that previously involved only ELA and math.2. Remove deliverables that are no longer needed due to the transition of student testing from paper-based to primarily computer-based.3. Add vendor scoring of the science tests.With the amendment, HMH supports the development of the grades 5 & 8 Science exams through several avenues that are consistent with the approaches taken for Grades 3-8 ELA and Math: 1) including science in the NYS educator development meetings currently held for ELA and Math; 2) conducting psychometric analyses of science data on the same timelines as ELA and Math; and 3) analyzing field tested test questions for science, in the same manner as ELA and Math. Because HMH is currently responsible for administering the science tests via computer, expanding their involvement to the development will standardize timelines for all subjects and provide efficiencies in the process leading up to administration that will save effort and costs.NYSED will also reduce the scope of the contract in several areas. First, the comparability studies to examine any mode differences between paper-based and computer-based testing are no longer needed and will be removed from the amended scope. As the majority of students now test on computer, NYSED’s Technical Advisory Committee offered guidance that these analyses were no longer necessary. In addition, reductions will be made to the printing, packing, and shipping of examinations as less paper-based materials are needed because of more students testing on computer (note that this covers two deliverables in the budget). Finally, the scope of the collection of secure materials is being substantially reduced due to the fewer paper materials that will be sent to schools following increased computerization.The amendment would also engage HMH in the scoring of student science constructed responses submitted via computer-based testing. NYSED has been pursuing statewide vendor scoring for several years as it significantly reduces the burdens on school districts, results in more reliable scoring, and is vastly more cost-efficient. Because the tests are administered by HMH, the constructed responses already exist in the testing platform. By contracting with HMH for the scoring, NYSED will avoid additional costs and security risks associated with collecting and transferring student responses or training staff from a vendor unfamiliar with the tests. Reason for advertising exemption: Single Source Award recipient: Houghton-Mifflin-Harcourt. Any questions or comments regarding this notice of sole-source, single-source, or procurement otherwise exempt from advertising in the NYS Contract Reporter should be directed to the contact person listed for the contracting agency or public authority. Ad end date:02/20/2025 Contract term: 04/28/23-11/30/2026 County(ies): All NYS counties Location: New York State