Embed certification-status questions with evidence requirements in RFPs and RFAs¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

Districts can add questions about products' certification status to the specifications section of RFPs and RFAs, asking vendors to include the Open Badge as confirmation the certification "has been awarded and has not expired." The report recommends combining open-ended and yes/no questions that all require evidence via screenshots and documentation, since yes/no questions alone elicit unauditable yes responses. This outsources evidence review to trustworthy nonprofits and enables direct comparison across vendor submissions.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Questions must require evidence via screenshots and documentation rather than relying on yes/no responses alone
• Vendors must include the Open Badge in the submission for confirmation

Constraints¶

• The report notes there can be hesitation around including open-ended questions in RFPs

Target Learners¶

• district procurement and edtech decision-making teams

Target Learning Goals¶

• evaluating vendor submissions for product quality and comparability

Related Strategies¶

• Require a brief certification questionnaire to filter vendor pitches
• Use OBC RFP templates with market validators and ESSA evidence tiers as efficacy criteria

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Noakes, Sierra. (2023, June). Select the Right Edtech: How to Leverage Certified Products During the Procurement Process. Digital Promise. https://doi.org/10.51388/20.500.12265/182