PURCHASING AGENCY: North Dakota Department of Public Instruction PURCHASE DESCRIPTION: The State intends to make a noncompetitive purchase of consulting services from Elevate Consulting, LLC to support the development of the North Dakota Charter School Approval and Accountability Framework, aligned with the existing ND First Framework. INTENDED SOURCE: Elevate Consulting, LLC 3003 32nd Ave. S., STE 240 Fargo, ND 58103; JUSTIFICATION: The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) intends to award a noncompetitive contract to Elevate Consulting, LLC for the development of the state’s Charter School Approval and Accountability Framework. The final project deliverables must provide: • Seamless integration with TSI/CSI and ND First systems • Alignment with all applicable state and federal requirements • Continuity with NDDPI initiatives in the school approval, statewide accountability, and educational improvement program areas This work demands a provider with deep expertise in both the Targeted and Comprehensive School Improvement (TSI/CSI) framework and the ND First framework, including all associated principles. Ben Cronkright of Elevate Consulting, LLC brings extensive qualifications to this role, having served as the lead architect for the TSI/CSI accountability system with McRel and later for the ND First Framework with ChildTrends since 2021. Their contributions include co-authoring strategic guidance documents, designing the school improvement logic model, collaborating closely with the Office of Educational Improvement and Support, and creating implementation tools now used statewide to support schools requiring Comprehensive Support and Improvement. This deep integration with North Dakota’s educational reform efforts cannot be replicated without substantial onboarding, retraining, and risk of misalignment. Additionally, the project is required to be completed within one year, further reinforcing the need for a vendor who can immediately mobilize and deliver with speed, precision, and a clear understanding of existing systems.
