25QE036_JA_030325_Redacted.pdf

FAR Part 13.5 Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition

Source Selection Information - See FAR 2.101 & 3.104 - Controlled Unclassified Information

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDUCATION ACTIVITY

Non-Competitive Memorandum for Actions Under the SAT IAW FAR 13.106-1(b)(i)

Suicide Prevention Instructional Resources

1. Contracting Agency

Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), Procurement Division

2. Description of Action

A sole source firm fixed price (FFP) contract is planned to be awarded to Riverside Community Care, Inc. with a total estimated value of The period of performance is a 12-month base year. FAR Clause 52.217-8 (Option to Extend Services) will be included in the contract with two 3-month options at an estimated total value of . All costs will be evaluated. The FY25 Operating and Maintenance (O&M) funds are available for the base year in the estimated amount of

3. Description of Services Required to Meet Agency Needs

DoDEA requires systemic suicide prevention instructional resources and screener for students in grades 6-12. The resources shall be planned, sequential, and deliverable as a stand-alone classroom lesson. DoDEA requires digital sets of instructional resources for each grade or for grade bands such as 6-8 or 9-12. DoDEA requires at least one lesson per grade level per year. These resources also need to be used/adaptable for individual or small-group counseling.

4. Authority Cited: 41 U.S.C.3304(a)(1), as implemented by FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), Soliciting from a Single Source

5. Unique Contractor Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition Requiring the Authority Cited

Background

In August of 2024, after approximately ten years of working with Riverside Community Care, Inc.’s and its Signs of Suicide instructional resources, DoDEA’s contract with Riverside Community Care, Inc. ended. A contract for suicide prevention was then awarded to Executive Learning Lab, LLC; however, that contract was terminated at the Government’s convenience, leaving DoDEA bereft of a suicide prevention program. The preventive education provided by the Signs of Suicide program and the related staff monitoring of student behavior has helped DoDEA maintain an excellent record of suicide prevention as compared to other US public school systems of similar size.

Rationale

There is an urgent and compelling need for DoDEA to provide suicide prevention instructional resources and screening of students exhibiting suicidal ideation. Consequently, DoDEA requires a one-year contract with Riverside Community Care, Inc.

to provide its Signs of Suicide program. Riverside Community Care, Inc. is the only company that markets this program, and it has no resellers. Signs of Suicide is the only program that the market research has identified which includes a psychometrically valid and reliable screening of students exhibiting suicidal ideation.

Since DoDEA staff have several years of experience with the Signs of Suicide program, minimal professional learning will be required to continue the program, which will enable swift implementation of the program. Implementation of the Signs of

Suicide program will also allow continuity of instruction for students and staff who are already familiar with the program. Any other program would require a significant delay in implementation to provide the professional learning, etc., and an unacceptable long break in suicide prevention instruction. Any such delay would be dangerous, potentially leading to a student not being identified and provided support to prevent him or her from self-harm.

Based on the rationale above, the Contracting Office has made the determination to issue a sole source solicitation to Riverside

Community Care, Inc. as the only entity that can provide the required educational services.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition

A notice of the proposed contract action as a sole source procurement will be synopsized and posted in SAM.gov for a period of ten days as required by FAR 5.201. Based on the information in paragraph #5, competition for this action is not feasible.

7. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination

The total estimated cost of will be evaluated for fair and reasonable in accordance with FAR 13.106-

3(a)(2). The independent government cost estimate (IGCE), which was conducted within the previous 12 months, provides the basis for determining fair and reasonable cost. Certified cost and price data are not required.

8. Market Research

Riverside Community Care, Inc., 270 Bridge Street, Suite 301, Dedham, MA 02026. Becky Blackler, Director of Growth, rblackler@riversidecc.org, 617-817-8329. Not a small business, per SAM.gov for multiple NAICS codes including 611710.

CAGE code 3SRZ4. This company has provided its Signs of Suicide program for approximately ten years, which is required to maintain continuity until the FY2026 competition occurs.

The following companies submitted proposals in response to our FY24 solicitation.

Note: Mindwise Innovations, a service of Riverside Community Care, Inc., also submitted a proposal.

▪ Executive Learning Lab, LLC; Atlanta, GA. Patricia Morgan, POC, patricia@TheExecutiveLearningLab.com. Not a small business, per SAM.gov for NAICS code 513130 (Book Publishers). CAGE code 8VR64. In FY24, this company was awarded a contract, which was recently terminated at the Government’s convenience.

▪ SilkWeb Consulting and Development, LLC; Phoenix. AZ. Ms. Laurel Shaw, CEO, LSilk@silkweb.com, 602-910-

7494. Small business and Certified 8(a) Program Participant, per SAM.gov for multiple NAICS codes including

611710. CAGE code 4QYY3. Although it is a small business, its upstream prevention model does not appear to include off-the-shelf instructional resources. If so, it cannot meet our requirements.

▪ Thrive Virtual Academy, LLC; Richland, WA. Patrick Kulp, POC, thrivevirtualacademy@gmail.com, 661-974-3196.

Small business, per SAM.gov for multiple NAICS codes, including 611710. CAGE code 9HRF9. –No website is listed on its DSBS entry. It does not appear to be able to meet DoDEA’s requirements.

Entities that appear to be potential sources but cannot meet DoDEA’s requirements.

o Elomireku Caregiving and Home Solutions, LLC; Chicago, IL. Obed Mireku, President, odebmireku42@gmail.com, 319-512-1882. Small business, per SAM.gov for multiple NAICS codes including 624230 (Child and Youth Services) but 611710 is not listed. CAGE code 9RZA6 & 9SBZ7 (Elomireku SciTech, LLC). Its resources do not appear to be aligned with the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, as required in PWS 2.2.1.1, and no parent awareness materials appear to be available. No website for this company was found.

o Becker Digital, LLC; Buena Vista, VA. Jeremy Becker, CEO, jeremy@becker-digital.com, 540-572-0311. Small business, per SAM.gov for multiple NAICS codes including 611710. CAGE code 8DVA9. Although it is a small business, its upstream prevention model does not appear to include off-the-shelf instructional resources. If so, it cannot meet our requirements.

o GoldPath Communications JV, LLC; Franklin, TN. Jim Poumade, Program Consultant, jim@pw2s.com, 571-281-

3084. Small business, per SAM.gov for multiple NAICS codes including 611710 CAGE code 99XJ2. Although it is a small business, its upstream prevention model does not appear to include off-the-shelf instructional resources. If so, it cannot meet our requirements.

o The Bowen Consulting Group, Inc.; Chantilly, VA. Robert Lech, President & CEO, rlech@thebowengroup.com, 703-

463-8524. Small business, per SAM.gov for multiple NAICS codes including 611710. CAGE code 4X7S5. Although it is a small business, its upstream prevention model does not appear to include off-the-shelf instructional resources.

If so, it cannot meet our requirements.

o Disrupther, LLC; Fort Lauderdale, FL. Brittni Swenson, President, brittni@disrupther.com, 305-587-8898. This entity has been validated as unique and existing but is not registered on SAM.gov. The company describes itself as a woman-owned small business advertising agency. Although it is a small business, its upstream prevention model does not appear to include off-the-shelf instructional resources. If so, it cannot meet our requirements.

o Sources of Strength, Inc., Lakewood, CO. Scott LoMurray, CEO, scott@sourcesofstrength.org, 701-471-7183. Small business, per SAM.gov for NAICS code 611710 only. CAGE 7NCB2. Although it is a small business, its upstream prevention model does not appear to include off-the-shelf instructional resources. If so, it cannot meet our requirements.

o Jason Foundation, Hendersonville, TN. 615-264-2323. Not registered on SAM.gov. Provides free resources on youth suicide prevention, designed for 7-12 students and to be delivered by school counselors.

9. Other Facts: None

10. Interested Sources

There are no interested sources, and none are anticipated. Any interested sources that result from the synopsis of this action posted in SAM.gov will be considered. See paragraph #6 (above).

11. Actions to Increase Competition

Given that the period of performance is one year, no actions will be taken to increase competition. A competition for a 5-year contract will be conducted in FY2026.

12. Technical Requirements / Personnel Certification

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance and which are included in the Justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Digital Signature/Date: ___________________________________________

13. Contracting Officer

I certify the Justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Digital Signature/Date: _______________________________________