26QE018_NOTICEOFINTENT_022626.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF WAR EDUCATION ACTIVITY

HEADQUARTERS

4800 MARK CENTER DRIVE

ALEXANDRIA, VA 22350-1400

Notice of Intent to Sole Source

Solicitation Number: HE125426QE018 Solicitation Type: Sole Source (Non-Competitive) Title: K-12 Visual Arts Resource Platform and Professional Learning Platform NAICS / Size Standard: 611710 /24 Million

Introduction

THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A PURCHASE ORDER WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION. The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), intends to negotiate and award an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract on a noncompetitive sole source basis to The Art of Education University, LLC, a small business.

Background Information

DoDEA K-12 visual art teachers have been utilizing supplementary web-based curriculum resources that help them develop and provide more comprehensive and innovative arts education for K-12 students systemwide. They have received in-house professional development that covers broad topics for fine arts educators of all grade levels and subjects, with a limited amount of specific, differentiated topics offered on-demand. For instance, current resources are limited for subject-specific topics such as photography, printmaking, drawing, digital arts, and painting; and for pedagogical and classroom management topics such as assessment, idea-generation, student engagement, etc. Due to DoDEA’s global scope, face-to-face professional learning is logistically difficult and usually cost-ineffective.

DoDEA’s visual arts standards are identical to the National Arts Standards for Visual Art, which may be found on the DoDEA website (www.dodea.edu).

DoDEA requires a commercial, off-the-shelf (COTS) K-12 visual arts resource platform that includes a comprehensive bank of art-specific instructional materials and has teacher-specific tools to guide improvement in art education. DoDEA also requires professional learning via a COTS K-12 visual arts professional learning platform that (1) provides differentiated, on-demand educational opportunities in the visual arts and visual arts pedagogy and (2) includes a comprehensive bank of visual arts-specific asynchronous courses/webinars and/or digital modules that promote improvement in arts education and that arts educators can access at their convenience. These two platforms will positively impact visual arts instruction and help increase student learning and achievement in the visual arts systemwide.

Purpose and Objectives

The purpose of this contract is to obtain a commercial, off- the shelf (COTS) K-12 visual arts resource platform that provides a comprehensive bank of art-specific instructional materials and has teacher specific tools to guide improvement in art education.

Period of Performance:

The Period of Performance will consist of a 12-month base period beginning July 1, 2026, followed by four 12-month option periods, for a total potential period of performance of five years.

Contractor Requirements

The contractor shall provide at minimum, the following products and services, but not limited to:

• DEAC Accreditation

• Content fully aligned to DoDEA College & Career Ready Standards (CCRS)

• K-12 Visual Arts Resource Platform, updated quarterly

• Virtual Professional Learning Platform, updated quarterly

• Customized Professional Platform o 1-6 custom asynchronous modules, up to 30 per year

• K-12 standards-aligned professional learning resources arranged by topic and/or grade to include teaching strategies, examples, and classroom materials, in modules that include both written and video formats

• Provides minimum resource counts per grade band o 150 lesson plans + 200 additional resources for each band (K–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12)

• Platform Subscription

• Training and Technical Support

• Full compliance with all DoDEA Privacy, Security, and Cybersecurity Requirements

Sole Source Justification

The Art of Education University, LLC has no authorized resellers and is the only vendor capable of delivering the comprehensive K-12 visual art resource platform and professional learning platform that DoDEA requires for the following reasons.

1. Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC)

This requirement is serving international students, and the offeror needs to be accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), which ensures that the art platforms meet DoDEA’s requirements for worldwide educator access and quality. The platform must be accredited by (DEAC) to ensure quality, rigor, and international accessibility. Market research confirmed that The Art of Education University is the only provider of a K–12 visual arts platform with DEAC accreditation.

2. K-12 Visual Arts Resource Platform

The Art of Education University, LLC is the only platform with the depth and variety of standards-aligned resources that DoDEA requires. Offerings span all grade levels and include high school courses such as Introduction to Art, Ceramics I and II, and Sculpture, as well as elementary and middle school content and cross-curricular STEAM (Science, Technology, English, Art, and Mathematics) connections. The platform is continuously updated and currently includes 60 instructional videos, 209 grade level assessments, 813 lesson plans, and over 2,000 supplemental resources (artist biographies, worksheets, reference materials, anchor charts, graphic organizers, and writing supports).

3. Visual Arts Professional Learning Platform

The Art of Education University, LLC is the only source that has the required depth and variety of standards-aligned resources that DoDEA requires. At this writing, they include 151 elementary level and 163 secondary level packages with 1-4 hours of asynchronous learning content that include but are not limited to the following: 21st Century Skills, Advocacy, Assessment, Classroom Management, Creativity, Cross Curricular Teaching, Curriculum, Differentiation, Instructional Strategies, Media/Techniques, Methods/Approaches, Organization, Philosophies, Preparing for Evaluations and Observations, and Technology.

The Art of Education is the only DEAC accredited provider offering a commercial off the shelf K-12 visual arts curriculum resource platform and a visual-arts specific professional learning suite that meets DoDEA’s needs.

Regulatory Authority

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Overhaul Part 12.102(b) and 41 U.S.C. 1901.

Additional Information

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 611710 and the Small Business Size Standard is 24 Million. This acquisition is being conducted under the simplified commercial procedures under the FAR Part 12 Overhaul, therefore the requirements of FAR Part 6, Competitive Requirements, are not applicable and the resultant award will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect at time of award.

This synopsis is not a request for competitive proposals. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice. Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties’ bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement.

All responses must be received by March 09, 2026 12:00 PM ET and must reference solicitation number HE125426QE018. Responses shall be submitted electronically to mumbi.mutala@dodea.edu and nicole.freid@dodea.edu. Responses will only be accepted if dated and signed by an authorized company representative. All responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency. DoDEA will not be responsible for any costs incurred by interested parties in responding to this notice.