ODP is now seeking a sole source or one-time exemption to contract with NCHA due to several key factors. First, NCHA remains the only survey tool of its kind that is both nationally validated and widely accepted by colleges and coalitions across the country. Additionally, every school planning to administer the NCHA this fall has previously used the survey, allowing them to use the same instrument to collect trend data—an invaluable resource for detecting changes in student behavior over time. Based on our research and communication with campus partners, no other vendor offers a comparable product that meets both the methodological rigor and institutional acceptance required for this type of data collection. Additionally, many Idaho colleges have internal policies or preferences that require—or strongly favor—use of the NCHA, further limiting the possibility of considering alternative vendors.
