Strategic Communications Services for the National Assessment Governing Board - RFQ 91995926Q0010

This solicitation, numbered 91995926Q0010, is a total small business set-aside under NAICS Code 541820 for Strategic Communications Services to support the National Assessment Governing Board, an entity within the Department of Education. The contract seeks a qualified small business to develop and execute a comprehensive communications strategy aimed at promoting awareness and understanding of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and the Board’s policies and actions. The work includes crafting messaging for traditional and social media, drafting op-eds and articles, identifying target audiences, and designing outreach tactics—all requiring deep expertise in K-12 education policy and the ability to translate complex assessment data into accessible content. The contract has an anticipated period of performance from August 16, 2026, through August 15, 2031, structured as a base year with four option years, and may be extended by up to six months under FAR 52.217-8, with a total maximum duration capped at five years under FAR 52.217-9. Offers must be submitted electronically by July 1, 2026, and only small businesses registered in SAM with an active Unique Entity ID will be considered; failure to include the UEI renders a quote technically unacceptable. The contract is hybrid in structure, with labor costs on a Firm Fixed Price basis and Other Direct Costs on a Cost Reimbursement basis with Not-to-Exceed limits. Labor rates are constrained by a ceiling of $94.49 per hour, aligned with the GS-15, Step 10 rate in Washington, DC, and ODCs are expected to represent less than 1% of total costs, primarily for travel. All proposals must be submitted in two separate volumes: a technical proposal containing the approach, work plan, staff qualifications, and Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP), and a business proposal with detailed cost breakdowns using the mandated Budget Submission Template, including labor loading factors and OCI statements. Key personnel resumes, letters of commitment from subcontractors and consultants, and organizational experience documentation are required as appendices. Evaluation is based on confidence ratings across five factors, with technical approach and understanding of education policy being the most critical, followed by staff qualifications, management plan, organizational experience, and price. The contractor must comply with strict content review protocols, requiring draft materials to be approved by the Contracting Officer’s Representative and key Board staff