Evaluation of the Texas 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) Grant

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is seeking a contractor to conduct a federally mandated, statewide evaluation of the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program, with the contract term spanning five state fiscal years beginning in September 2026. The evaluation must assess the program’s impact on student outcomes, measure performance against federally required GPRA and state SMART goals, evaluate sustainability planning among current and former grantees, and include a comprehensive literature review on afterschool programming. Deliverables are scheduled across the five-year period and include annual SMART Goals Reports, sustainability reports in years one and four, a report on the impact of afterschool programming in year two, and an annual presentation of findings to project directors each June. All reports must adhere to APA formatting, comply with Section 508 accessibility standards, be written in plain English without jargon, and include strong data visualizations; any report over 20 pages requires a 2- to 6-page executive summary. The contract is fixed-price, with an estimated total value of $1.5 million, not to exceed $300,000 per fiscal year, and payment is contingent upon TEA’s written acceptance of each deliverable and submission of a properly certified invoice aligned with the Task, Activity, Deliverable, and Budget Plan (TADBP). Invoicing is expected to occur monthly, with the final invoice due within 45 days after contract expiration. The contractor must provide detailed cost breakdowns for all tasks and deliverables and cannot bill using separate indirect cost rates. The contractor will be evaluated based on a weighted scoring system, with 45 points allocated to understanding of the project and methodology, 40 to reference checks, 20 to management plan and personnel qualifications, and 3 to the TADBP. Proposals must include full completion of all attachments including the HUB Subcontracting Plan, Conflict of Interest Analysis Form, Analysis Plan Matrix, and signed Execution of Offer. The contractor must be in good standing with TEA and not have a “D” or “F” rating in the Vendor Performance Tracking System. Compliance with state and federal requirements is mandatory, including use of the E-Verify system, adherence to ADA, Title VI, and Title IX, maintenance of specified insurance coverage with A.M. Best ratings of “A” or better, and retention of records for seven years post-contract or through resolution of audits or litigation