Transition Support for Youth with Disabilities

Background
The U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences (IES) requires a contract to design and evaluate the effectiveness of transition supports for youth with disabilities served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The goal is to help students with disabilities prepare for education, work, and independent living after secondary school. The contract includes a 32-month base period to conduct design/feasibility assessment work and options to conduct an impact study.

Work Details
The contractor is required to conduct a systematic evidence review of studies examining the efficacy or effectiveness of transition services/programs in improving high school completion, enrollment in postsecondary education/training, employment, and independent living of youth with an IEP. The contractor will also develop a report on the design options for a large-scale impact study that includes a description of the promising transition strategies/programs to prioritize and approaches to addressing anticipated challenges. Additionally, the contractor will prepare a Request for Proposal inviting applications from researchers, publishers, and other organizations involved in the development and provision of training on the prioritized transition strategies/programs.

Period of Performance
The contract includes a 32-month base period from 9/15/19 to 5/15/22, with optional periods covering recruitment necessary for an impact study, first implementation year, second year of implementation, and data analysis. The contract may extend up to 96 months if all optional periods are exercised.

Place of Performance
Performance work meetings will be held in ED facilities in Washington, DC. The contractor will also convene two one-day meetings of the Technical Working Group in Washington, DC.