National Assessment Governing Board Awards Communications, Website Contracts to Two Small Businesses

The District Communications Group and Quotient Inc. 
Win Contracts Through 2018

For Immediate Release: July 16, 2015

(WASHINGTON) – The National Assessment Governing Board awarded new contracts to two local small businesses for communications and website services that will be instrumental in supporting the Board’s outreach and dissemination efforts for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) — otherwise known as The Nation’s Report Card.

The Board, which sets policy for NAEP, has contracted with both firms under three-year blanket purchase agreements that allow government agencies to fill anticipated and recurring needs for services. Both firms have extensive experience supporting federal government clients.

The District Communications Group (The DC Group), a specialized communications consultancy based in Washington, D.C., will assist in the Board’s various outreach efforts, including activities related to the release of NAEP report cards. The DC Group base contract year funding is $1.2 million. The firm — a service-disabled veteran-owned small business — has subcontracted with Reingold, the Board’s current communications contractor.

Quotient Inc. has been the Board’s Web contractor since 2009 and will continue to provide website and related information technology services. The Quotient base contract year has been funded at just over $692,000. Quotient is a woman-owned small business based in Columbia, Maryland.

These contract awards come as the Governing Board is engaging in a strategic planning initiative to expand the visibility and reach of NAEP — the country’s leading nationally representative measure of student achievement — and to implement stakeholder initiatives related to the Board’s activities and policies over the next several years. The initiative will complement the Board’s communications plan, which calls for a variety of outreach strategies, including the expansion of social media campaigns and national presentations and the development of multimedia websites and materials.

"These two firms have demonstrated the capacity required to assist Board members and staff in advancing the Governing Board’s goals to engage more stakeholders and make NAEP data and resources more relevant to a variety of audiences, including parents, educators, policymakers, business leaders and the media," said Board Chair Terry Mazany.

The Board conducted extensive market research to find eligible small businesses on the General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule and invited more than a dozen firms for each potential contract to submit responses to a Request for Quotations (RFQ), which was also posted on the Board’s website. A panel convened by the Board comprehensively reviewed proposals and selected the awardees based on technical evaluation criteria and cost factors.