CORE Learning


CORE Learning and The Bid Lab: Education RFP case study
  • Client: CORE Learning
  • Service: Bid Manager
  • Industry: Education
  • Location: San Francisco, California

Company Bio: CORE Learning (link), a subsidiary of UnboundEd, provides comprehensive support for educators grounded in site-based professional learning and evidence-based instructional practices. Founded in 1995, the company was established in response to California’s reading crisis and the instructional inequities affecting students of color. Since 2010, CORE has expanded its mission to include evidence-based math practices, as both literacy and math are critical levers for achieving equitable educational outcomes.


“We love working with The Bid Lab. Whenever we want to respond to a bid, they work their magic. Just like that, our project is on a roll. Their project management is incredible.”

Maya Valencia Goodall. Chief Strategy Office, CORE Learning

CORE Learning Overview

  • Assisted with submitting compliant reference information
  • Drafted, designed, and edited content
  • Collaborated with client stakeholders to finalize response strategy
  • Managed project from start to finish
  • Organized solicitation and brand documents from content libraries


The Challenge

CORE Learning has been providing large-scale professional learning initiatives and instructional coaching for almost three decades. Having provided literacy and math coaching in California, New Mexico, Alaska, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and more, CORE Learning was no stranger to the education industry. However, they were ready to branch out and reach new clients. By working with educators, they knew they could ensure highly professional learning experiences that align with educational, state, and federal standards and regulatory requirements. Even better, they knew they could support educators’ implementation of evidence-based practices in math and literacy that allow students to improve learning outcomes across every grade level.

However, it’s always harder to win bids when the business isn’t an incumbent. This goes double for the education sector! So, while CORE Learning knew they wanted a fresh approach, they weren’t sure how to present their business in a new light for fresh clients. And the bid they had in mind had strict page limits in several sections. In addition, they needed to send reference request forms directly to their references! 

They were eager to dip their toes into this challenging bid– so they decided, after a bit of hesitation, to test the waters with The Bid Lab’s proven processes.


The Solution for CORE Learning

After reviewing the bid, our team at The Bid Lab decided to explore CORE Learning’s content library. Luckily, they provided us with a comprehensive selection of branding materials and content to work with. We were able to use their branding to develop designs and graphs that illustrated CORE Learning’s history of performing work similar to that described in the RFP’s scope of work.

After organizing our own bid-specific content library, we were able to move forward with the trickier, more challenging aspects of the RFP. Less is more when it comes to bids with page count limits, so our writers worked in tandem with their team to ensure our responses were in compliance with the instructions in the RFP. According to the requirements within the reference section, CORE Learning needed to act as a sort of middleman; they needed to submit the forms directly to the references, who in turn would need to submit information directly to the requesting organization.

The Bid Lab is no stranger to unusual project requirements. We were able to assist with this challenge as we do every challenge: step by step. 


“No one jumps into projects quite like The Bid Lab. Their experience is evident from the moment we kicked off our project. From our project manager to the writers, we were treated as another member of their team. We knew our opportunity to land this contract was in the hands of the professionals.”

Maya Valencia Goodall. Chief Strategy Officer, CORE Learning

The Results of the Engagement

We were thrilled when CORE Learning let us know they won their very first bid with us– just in time to help ring in a promising new year. How would we know?

Our professional writers here at The Bid Lab know the power of the written word, but we also know that actions can sometimes speak louder. We’ll just say that since this win, we’ve helped CORE Learning submit four more bids like this one. 

We can’t wait to see what else happens for CORE Learning (and The Bid Lab!) in the years ahead.


Make the Grade with The Bid Lab

Not sure about getting started with us? Take your time deciding, but don’t be afraid to have a conversation with us about education service RFPs! We have plenty of case studies like this one if you’d like to learn more about how we help organizations just like yours. So, reach out to The Bid Lab for a free consultation today! You can also give us a call at 1-844-4BIDLAB or email respond@thebidlab.com to learn more about how we can help you design an A+ winning bid for your business!

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