26QE035_ATTCH9_PWSv3_042826.pdf

CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION (CUI)

SOURCE SELECTION INFORMATION – SEE FAR 2.101 & 3.104

Date: 4/27/2026

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

Department of War Education Activity 4800 Mark Center Drive

Alexandria, VA 22350

DEPARTMENT OF WAR EDUCATION ACTIVITY (DoWEA)

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

FOR

K-12 INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES AND TRANSITION EDUCATION

FOR STUDENTS WITH MODERATE-SEVERE COGNITIVE DISABILITIES

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Agency

The Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA) is one of only two DoW-operated school systems. DoWEA plans, directs, coordinates, and manages prekindergarten through 12th grade educational programs in 161 fully accredited schools that serve approximately 66,000 children of active-duty military and DoW civilian families.

Our curriculum, resources and student achievement scores on standardized assessments compare favorably to those of high-performing US public school systems.

Operating as a field activity of the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness), DoWEA is overseen by a director located at our headquarters in Alexandria, VA. DoWEA’s schools are organized into three geographic areas: Americas, Europe, and Pacific. In the Americas, DoWEA operates 50 schools located in seven states, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. In Europe and the Middle East, DoWEA operates 64 schools located in Germany, England, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Turkey, Bahrain, and Italy. In the Pacific, DoWEA operates 46 schools located in Korea, Japan (mainland and Okinawa), and Guam. Finally, DoWEA operates a fully accredited virtual high school with teaching hubs in the Americas, Europe, and Pacific.

Military-connected students experience high mobility rates across the nation and throughout the world. As a result, DoWEA makes a concerted effort to establish a worldwide systemic education network, mitigating the transitional barriers to military-connected students’ success.

DoWEA has adopted College and Career Ready Standards (CCRS) in mathematics, literacy, the arts, social studies, and science, which are rigorous, research-based, and reflect the knowledge, skills and dispositions students need for success in college and/or careers. DoWEA’s academic standards may be found at the following URL:

https://www.DoWEA.edu/education/curriculum.

1.2 Background

Students classified as learning impaired-moderate-to-severe (LIMS) require an alternate instructional materials and learning resources to meet their developmental skill and cognitive ability levels. LIMS students receive instruction in self-contained, not mainstreamed, classrooms. DoWEA’s current contract for this requirement is expiring and must, per Federal regulations, be recompeted.

1.3 Scope

DoWEA requires a commercial, off-the-shelf (COTS), 100% digital comprehensive instructional solution for K-12 instructional resources and transition education for students with moderate-severe cognitive disabilities.

The proposed solution shall include related professional learning and technical support. The Contractor shall allow DoWEA to download resources as needed. For example, a teacher may want to provide a printed worksheet for all students or an entire textbook for a student with an individual educational program (IEP) requiring that accommodation. Notes: DoWEA expects to award one contract for this requirement. All downloaded/printed resources will be for internal use only.

The proposed solution shall align with (1) DoWEA’s College and Career Ready Standards (CCSS) for English language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science and (2) and the adopted alternative summative assessment. Since there is no industry standard for grouping materials, Contractors shall recommend the best pairings of grade levels or grade bands to their instructional resources.

LIMS Students and Teachers

Based on 2025-26 enrollment

Grades K-2 3-5 6-8 9-12 Transition Total Students 377 245 144 108 874

Teachers* 170 23 193

* Does not include 11 above-school-level experts.

2 REQUIREMENTS (OBJECTIVES)

2.1 Objective 1, Instructional Resources and Professional Learning

This objective is to provide a COTS, 100% digital solution that aligns with (1) DoWEA’s College and Career Ready Standards (CCSS) for English language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science which may be found at https://www.DoWEA.edu/education/curriculum and (2) and the adopted alternative assessment.

The tasks listed below help the Contractor understand the requirements but are not exhaustive.

The Contractor shall develop a complete solution using a performance-based approach.

2.1.1 Task 1, K-12 Instructional Resources—The Contractor shall provide a COTS, 100% digital solution that meets the following requirements:

2.1.1.1 Provides differentiated lessons and activities that align with CCRS Alternate Content

Standards and the adopted alternative assessment.

2.1.1.2 Provides comprehensive resources for functional math, functional reading, functional social studies and functional science. In addition, gross and fine motor, emotional/social, communication, functional reading, functional writing, and functional mathematics.

2.1.1.3 Includes engaging activities that may include technology, interactive modules, and hands-on experiences.

2.1.1.4 Integrates into each curricular area, as appropriate, (1) a variety of instructional strategies including discrete trial teaching, incidental teaching, and direct instruction, (2) generalization of skills into functional routines, (3) personal care skills, and (4) student independence in natural environments 5) current events 6) additional resources to support functional life skills (e.g., functional communication, behavior, personal care, current events etc.) .

2.1.1.5 Collects summative and formative data for each student that supports analysis, goal setting and progress monitoring. All data and reporting are easily accessible to the instructional team on a secure learning platform.

2.1.1.6 Includes assessments to shape instruction, monitor student learning, measure student progress, and assist students to reflect on their own progress.

2.1.1.7 Provides informal assessment materials and/or multiple criterion-referenced assessment components to measure student progress and target student instruction based on student needs.

2.1.1.8 Includes alternative ways for students to perform actions specified in the lessons when they cannot perform them in the typical way.

2.1.1.9 Provides appropriate teacher materials to support the instruction and assessment of students.

2.1.2 Task 2, Transition Education—The Contractor shall provide age- and developmentally appropriate instructional materials and resources for students in grades K-12 that meet the following requirements:

2.1.2.1 Addresses—at a minimum—the following household management and living skills: checking and savings accounts, credit cards, check cards, personal finances, consumer shopping, food preparation, kitchen safety, and citizenship responsibility.

2.1.2.2 Includes appropriate employment possibilities and choices for students in the 21st century.

2.1.2.3 Addresses the following key transition areas: career awareness and exploration and career development which includes postsecondary education/training, employment, independent living, and community participation.

2.1.2.4 Provides recommendations for partnering with the community/businesses to allow students to develop job-related skills.

2.1.2.5 Includes assessments so teachers can effectively monitor student independence and performance in community and vocational settings.

2.1.2.6 Provides appropriate teacher materials to support the instruction and assessment of students.

2.1.3 Task 3, Professional Learning—The Contractor shall:

2.1.3.1 Product-Specific Professional Learning (Product Training): Provide industry-standard product training quarterly, including examples on how to use the proposed instructional resources to differentiate instruction, how to collect summative and formative data for each student, how to set goals, and how to conduct progress monitoring with videos of exemplary teaching of students with significant cognitive disabilities with different age- and proficiency levels. Note: Asynchronous training must be included with all digital modules and they shall be SCORM® compliant. For more information about SCORM® compliance, see PWS 3.9.

2.1.3.2 Professional Learning: Provide synchronous webinars each year of the contract during normal school hours based on the time zone of the DoWEA schools—Americas, Europe, and Pacific (one for each region) that consist of three presentations, each providing three hours of instruction—a total of nine hours. Record each webinar and post each one on our learning management system (LMS, Schoology).

2.1.4 Task 4, Transition and Data Migration Plan and (if required) Implementation: The Contractor shall provide a draft plan that is both time- and cost-effective. The proposed plan shall address (1) the entry transition, i.e., the steps the Contractor shall take to assume responsibility for the requirement from the incumbent contractor and (2) the exit transition, i.e., the steps the Contractor shall take to support a seamless handoff to a successor contractor at contract completion or termination.

2.1.4.1 The draft transition component of the plan shall, at a minimum, include the following:

1) Activities: Specific tasks for knowledge transfer, system access, security credentialing, and continuity of operations.

2) Timeline: Phased schedule with milestones for both entry and exit transitions.

3) Estimated Costs: Projected costs for transition activities.

4) Risk Mitigation: Identification of potential risks and contingency measures.

5) Compliance: Alignment with DEA security, privacy, and data handling requirements.

2.1.4.2 The draft data migration component of the plan shall, at a minimum, include the following:

1) Data Inventory & Format: Comprehensive description of all data assets, including file types, schemas, metadata, and dependencies.

2) Migration Methodology: Step-by-step ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) process, including tools, technologies, and validation methods.

3) Security & Compliance: Measures to protect data integrity, confidentiality, and compliance with DoWEA and federal standards (e.g., FISMA, NIST).

4) Timeline & Milestones: Detailed schedule for planning, execution, validation, and final acceptance.

5) Resource Requirements: Personnel roles, hardware, software, and, if required, needed third-party tools.

6) Assistance to Successor: Defined scope of technical support, including documentation, Q&A sessions, and participation in transition meetings.

2.1.4.3 Finalize the transition and data migration plan within ten business days of receipt of written feedback from DoWEA.

2.1.4.4 Upon receipt of a written request, perform the following:

1) Execute the approved transition and data migration plan.

2) Collaborate with the successor vendor to ensure successful data transfer and operational continuity.

3) Provide issue resolution support during the transition period.

2.2 Objective 2, General Requirements

2.2.1 Task 1, Technical Support: The Contractor shall provide industry-standard technical support for its digital resources for the life of the contract via telephone or email within one business day from the initial contact to include but not limited to assisting with service problems, product setup, upgrades, and troubleshooting.

2.2.2 Task 2, Technical Requirements for Digital Resources— Option A: A vendorhosted website that and students shall access; or Option B: Digital resources designed to run within DoWEA’s Learning Management System (LMS) and Google Classroom. All proposed solutions shall comply with applicable DoWEA cybersecurity, accessibility, and interoperability standards.

2.2.2.1 For digital resources designed to operate within DoWEA’s LMS and Google Classroom, the

Contractor shall: Provide single sign on (SSO) access for educators and students using DoWEA’s identity, rostering, and access management platform (ClassLink). Require one username and one password for access to all Contractor provided digital resources. Ensure all access occurs within DoWEA’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) without requiring separate or secondary authentication processes.

2.2.2.2 Resource Hosting and Delivery Models: The Contractor shall deliver digital resources using one (1) of the following approved delivery methods: LMS-Integrated Model-Digital resources hosted by the Contractor and integrated directly into DOWEA’s LMS. External -hosted with LMS access Model-Digital resources hosted and maintained by the Contractor, with assignments and assessments accessible through DoWEA’s LIMS and Google Classroom. In all cases, digital resources shall be accessible to educators and students through DoWEA-approved instructional platforms.

2.2.2.3 Content Standards and Interoperability Requirements: All digital instructional resources shall meet the following technical and interoperability requirements:1) Conform to IMS Learning Global Consortium content packaging standards. 2) Use imported content, when applicable, that conforms to IMS content packaging specifications. 3) Use code that does not impair, disable, or override native LMS functionality. 4) Require single authentication only when accessed through DoWEA’s LMS. 5) Include assessments, where applicable, that are IMS Question and Test Interoperability (QTI) conformant. 6) Ensure externally hosted content conforms to supported versions of IMS Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) standards, in accordance with guidance published by IMS Global (www.imsglobal.org).

2.2.2.4 Failure to meet authentication, interoperability, LMS compatibility, or access requirements may result in the solution being deemed non‑compliant and unacceptable.

2.2.3 Task 3, Third-Party Programs, Software, and Applications: The Contractor shall ensure its own and its subcontractors’ (third-party) programs, software, and applications meet—at a minimum—the same technical requirements as the Contractor must meet, such as single sign on (SSO) and Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) Level 2, etc. On a case-by-case basis, DoWEA may honor requests to waive the FedRAMP Level 2 requirement. For more information, see Technical Exhibit #1, 1.1.

2.2.4 Task 4, Delivery of Digital Resources—The Contractor shall:

2.2.4.1 Deliver digital materials with instructions detailing how the resources can be accessed by teachers, students, and above-school-level educators, using DoWEA’s LMS and/or DoWEA’s single-sign on rostering platform (ClassLink).

2.2.4.2 Allow DoWEA to download resources as needed. A teacher, e.g., may want to provide a printed worksheet for students or a student with an individual educational program (IEP) may require the textbook in print form. Note: All printed resources will be for internal use only.

2.2.5 Meetings: Attend virtual meetings at no additional cost to the Government and provide the medium through which each meeting occurs, record each meeting’s minutes. Submit the draft minutes to the COR within two business days of the event and finalize the minutes two business days after receipt of written feedback from the COR. Note: Costs associated with attending any face-to-face meetings shall be handled/ paid for as stated in the contract.

2.2.5.1 Post-Award Conference: Participate in a video- or teleconference with the COR five business days after award IAW FAR Subpart 42.302.

2.2.5.2 IT Meeting: Convene a video- or teleconference with DoWEA Information Technology staff ten business days after award, per Technical Exhibit #1.

2.2.5.3 Other Post-Award Meetings: Meet with the Contracting Officer (KO), COR, and/or other Agency personnel, as appropriate, to review Contractor performance, as required by DoWEA. The KO may discuss the Agency’s view of Contractor performance, and the Contractor shall apprise the

Agency of any problems being experienced. The Contractor shall take appropriate action to resolve any outstanding issues the Agency raises.

2.3 Performance Standards and Acceptable Quality Levels (Objectives 1 and 2)

2.3.1 Performance Standard: Tasks shall be completed by the required completion date.

2.3.2 Acceptable Quality Level: See PWS Section 7, Performance Requirement Summary.

3 CONSTRAINTS

3.1 Place of Performance: Work shall be performed at the Contractor’s facilities.

3.2 Privacy—The Contractor shall:

3.2.1 User Accounts: Require, wherever applicable, that individual accounts possess unique usernames and passwords that do not require personally identifiable information (PII) to access online content, i.e., first & last name and any other unique personal information.

3.2.2 Contractor Personnel

Ensure personnel assigned to this contract take proper precautions to protect information from disclosure. Collect and/or store all agency-owned or agency-controlled PII in accordance with the relevant requirements of the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C, which may be found at the following URL:

http://www.archives.gov/about/laws/privacy-act-1974.html.

All Contractor personnel that have access or may potentially have access to DoWEA data in any form shall be US citizens, including any third-party penetration (PEN)/security testers.

3.2.3 Privacy Training: Ensure Contractor staff who have access to DoWEA’s student, teacher and/or staff personally identifiable information successfully complete the Dow Privacy Act/Personally Identifiable Information (PA/PII) training before gaining access to the data and yearly thereafter. Provide copies of the certificates of completion to the COR which can be audited at any time by the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) or his/her designee.

3.2.4 Privacy Verification: Provide the COR written verification of compliance with the Privacy requirements (listed above) 120 calendar days prior to the expiration of each year’s contract option period or annually, as required. Note: After reviewing the Contractor’s verification, DoWEA reserves the right to ask for further verification data in order for DoWEA to comply with Dow’s evolving privacy mandates.

3.3 Liaison and Alternate Liaison—The Contractor shall:

3.3.1 Provide a liaison and alternate liaison to be responsible for the performance of work. Their names shall be designated in writing to the Contracting Officer. They shall have full authority to act for the Contractor on all contract matters relating to the daily operation of this contract. Each shall have at least one year of experience working in a similar role.

3.3.2 Notify the COR in writing regarding any change in either the liaison’s role ten business days in advance of the change If the liaison or liaison alternate is changed post-award, the replacement shall meet or exceed the qualifications and experience of the person assigned upon contract award.

3.4 Holidays and Hours of Operation

3.4.1 The liaison or alternate liaison shall be available during the hours of 9AM to 3PM Eastern Standard

Time (EST). The following list shows recognized Federal holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

3.4.2 Although there are different time zones within Europe and the Pacific and different hours for specific schools throughout DoWEA, the normal business hours for the regions roughly correspond to the following: Americas, 0700-1500 EST; Europe, 1300-2100 EST; and Pacific, 2000-0400 EST. there are different time zones within Europe and the Pacific and different hours for specific schools throughout DoWEA, the normal business hours for the regions roughly correspond to the following: Americas, 0700-1500 EST; Europe, 0200-1000 EST; and Pacific, 2000-0400 EST.

3.5 Availability: The Contractor shall make all resources available for the life of the contract.

3.6 Copyright Dates

3.6.1 The Contractor shall provide the most recent copyright dated materials. The copyright preference applies only to student and teacher materials (e.g., the student textbook, teacher’s editions, etc.). The copyright preference does not apply to material included as part of the Contractor’s collection (that is, articles, leveled readers, big books, assessments, pictures, problems included in a textbook or supplemental to the teacher or student text) but which was created by others.

3.6.2 The Contractor shall keep content/courseware current and updated regularly throughout the period of performance, as demonstrated by maintenance of an updated content copyright not to exceed one school year from its current date. For example, an eBook published in January 2025 would be acceptable for the 2025-26 school year and also the 2026-27 school year. It would not, however, be considered current for the 2027-28 school year.

3.7 Nondiscrimination: The Contractor shall provide resources free of bias regarding race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or disability.

3.8 Section 508 Compliance—The Contractor shall:

3.8.1 Background: Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of

1998 (P.L. 105-220) requires Federal agencies that develop, procure, maintain, or use information and communication technology (ICT) to ensure they are accessible to people with disabilities. Federal employees and members of the public who have disabilities must have access to and use of information/data that is comparable to people without disabilities.

3.8.2 Requirement: Ensure that products, platforms, and services delivered as part of this work statement that are ICT or contain ICT conform to the Revised 508 Standards, 36 C.F.R. § 1194.1 & Apps. A, C & D which are located at the following URL: https://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/communications-and-it/about-the-ict-refresh/final-rule/text-of-the-standards-and-guidelines.

3.8.3 ARS: See the attached ICT Accessibility Requirements Statement (ARS). All functional performance criteria apply when using an alternative design or technology that achieves substantially equivalent or greater accessibility and usability by individuals with disabilities, than would be provided by conformance to one or more of the requirements in Chapters 4-6 of the Revised 508 Standards or when Chapters 4-6 do not address one or more functions of ICT. Note the guidance in the table below:

Applicable Requirements Directions

Software Features and Components

Applies to all WCAG Level AA Success Criteria, 502 Interoperability with Assistive Technology, and 503 Applications.

Hardware Features and Components All requirements apply.

Support Services and Documentation All requirements apply.

Outputs/Deliverables Ensures that outputs/deliverables do not adversely affect accessibility features of the existing EIT technologies.

3.9 Sharable Content Object Reference Model® (SCORM®) Compliance: Provide digital modules, if included among the proposed/required resources, that are SCORM®-compliant. Note: The Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 1322.26 mandates that modules comply with the latest possible version of SCORM®, per https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/132226_dodi_2017.pdf?ver=2017- 10-05-073235-400.

3.10 Data & Data Rights: All data developed from any work awarded under this contract is and shall remain the property of the Government. The Contractor shall ensure that digital rights to all visual materials embedded in the resources will be given so that DoWEA for DoWEA’s internal use only may use resources without incurring copyright costs or infringing on copyright laws. All data developed from any work awarded under this contract is and shall remain the property of the Government.

3.11 Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI): The Contractor (including any subcontractor) personnel performing work under this contract may receive, have access to, or participate in the development of, proprietary or Privacy Act information (e.g., personal information, education, etc.) may create a current or subsequent OCI as defined in FAR Subpart 9.5. Whenever the Contractor becomes aware that such access or participation may result in actual or potential OCI, the Contractor shall (1) immediately notify the Contracting Officer (KO) in writing and (2) promptly submit a plan to the KO to avoid or mitigate any such OCI. Note: The KO will unilaterally determine if the Contractor’s plan is acceptable. If the KO determines the plan cannot satisfactorily avoid or mitigate an OCI, s/he may implement other remedies to include prohibiting the Contractor’s further participation in contracted requirements.

4 GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED INFORMATION / RESOURCES

None

5 CONTRACT DELIVERABLES

Milestone/Deliverable Format PWS Planned Frequency

Submit To

Objective 1, Instructional Resources and Professional Learning Task 1, K-12 Instructional Resources Digital 2.1.1 Ongoing access three business days after award. COR

Task 2, 9-12 Transition Resources Digital 2.1.2 Ongoing access three business days after award COR

Task 3, Professional Learning Digital

2.1.3 2.1.3.

Three 3-hour synchronous webinars each year of the contract on dates and times determined by DoWEA post-award in consultation with the Contractor. Product- Specific Professional Learning (Product Training):

COR

Task 4, Transition, Data, Migration & Implementation Digital 2.1.4

Plan: Draft received in proposal. Finalized ten business days after receipt of written feedback from DoWEA.

COR

Objective 2, General Requirements

Task 1, Technical Support Digital 2.2.1 Ongoing after receipt of initial delivery order COR or Requestor

Task 2, Technical Require-ments for Digital Resources Digital 2.2.2 Ongoing COR/IT

Task 3, Third-Party Programs, Software, and Applications Digital 2.2.3 Ongoing COR/IT

Task 4, Delivery of Digital Resources Digital 2.2.4 Ongoing access three business days after receipt of initial delivery order COR

Constraints User Accounts Digital 3.2.1 Ongoing after receipt of initial delivery order COR Privacy Training Digital 3.2.3 Three days after receipt of a written request COR Privacy Verification Digital 3.2.4 120 calendar days prior to end of contract year COR

6 ACRONYMS and DEFINITIONS

CCRS College and Career Ready Standards PA/PII Privacy Act/Personally Identifiable Information SCORM® Shareable Content Object Reference Model®

Contracting Officer (KO): Only individuals with the expressed authority to obligate (bind) the Government by means of entering, administering, and terminating contracts within the limits of the authority delegated via the KO’s warrant.

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR): Qualified and trained Government employee, nominated by the requiring activity (RA) and appointed in writing by a KO primarily to perform specific technical or administrative functions on a specific contract(s); serves as the ‘eyes and ears’ of a KO to assure the Government’s best interests are protected via the terms and conditions of the contract(s). Appointed. CORs do not have the authority to obligate (bind) the Government.

Contractor: Supplier or vendor contracted to provide specific supplies or services to the Government—may also be referred to as “the prime”.

Deliverable: Usually physically delivered items but may include such items as digital documents/reports.

Performance Requirements Summary (PRS): Tabular listing of performance objectives and standards.

Performance Work Statement (PWS): Statement of work for performance-based acquisitions describing the required results in clear, specific, and objective terms with measurable outcomes.

7 PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENT SUMMARY

Performance Objective

Performance Standard Acceptable Quality Level Method of

Surveillance Inspector

Objective 1, Instructional Resources and Professional Learning

Task 1, K-12 Instructional

Resources, PWS 2.1.1

Completed in required timeline

Resources are available 24/7/365 except for scheduled downtimes and no more than one unscheduled downtime per year.

Usage by and feedback from educators

COR &

customers

Task 2, 9-12 Transition Resources, PWS 2.1.2

Completed in required timeline

Resources are available 24/7/365 except for scheduled downtimes and no more than one unscheduled downtime per year.

Usage by and feedback from educators

COR &

customers

Task 3, Professional Learning, PWS 2.1.3

Completed in required timeline

Product Training: Resources are available 24/7/365 except for scheduled downtimes and no more than one unscheduled downtime per year.

Professional Learning (PL):

75% of LIMS teachers rate the PL as satisfactory or higher on a DoWEA-provided evaluation.

Product Training:

Usage by and feedback from educators

PL: Feedback from educators

COR &

customers

Task 4, Transition, Data Migration & Implementation

PWS 2.1.4

Completed in required timeline

Final Plan: 100% accurate except for possible errors in grammar and formatting.

Implementation (if required):

100% PWS-compliant

Final Plan:

COR review

Implementation:

Usage by and feedback from educators

COR &

customers

Objective 2, General Requirements

Task 1, Technical Support, PWS 2.2.1

Completed in required timeline

Acknowledge receipt of request within two hours. Resolve 90% of requests in one business day.

Resolve the remaining 10% in five business days.

Normal usage of digital resources and customer complaints

COR &

customers

Task 2, Technical Requirements for Digital Resources, PWS 2.2.2

Completed in required timeline 100% PWS-compliant Initial and random inspections IT

Task 3, Third-Party Programs, Software, and Applications, PWS 2.2.3

Completed in required timeline 100% PWS-compliant Initial and random inspections IT

Delivery of Digital Resources, PWS 2.2.4

Completed in required timeline

Ongoing access 24/7/365, except for scheduled downtimes and one unscheduled downtime per semester.

Normal ordering of resources

COR &

customers

Performance Objective

Performance Standard Acceptable Quality Level Method of

Surveillance Inspector

Constraints

User Accounts, PWS 3.2.1

Completed in required timeline 100% PWS-compliant

Normal usage and customer complaints

COR &

customers

Privacy Training, PWS 3.2.3

Completed in required timeline

No more than one certificate per year sent to the COR more than three business days from the date of the COR’s request for it.

Receipt of a copy of the certificate

COR &

PII

Specialist

Privacy Verification

PWS 3.2.4

Completed in required timeline

Submitted 120 calendar days prior to the end of each contract year.

Written verification of compliance

COR &

PII

Specialist

Technical Exhibit #1 - TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor shall comply with the applicable technical requirements detailed below.

1.1 Software and Cloud Security Requirements—The Contractor shall:

1.1.1 Ensure all online resources, cloud-based services and instructional software meet Department of War

(DoW) and DoWEA cybersecurity requirements as defined below. Note: Software, cloud services and associated websites are rigorously tested to ensure no security risks are posed to DoWEA infrastructure and its users.

1.1.2 Complete the Cloud Services questionnaire that was submitted as part of the proposal submission and provide copies of and/or access to any software listed in the proposed solution.

1.1.3 Ensure its content accessible from the web is compatible with the following browser platforms: Google Chrome, and Edge. Ensure that any applicable STIGs are implemented.

1.1.4 Provide a plan of actions and milestones (POA&M) to mitigate any cybersecurity findings resulting from non-compliant and/or vulnerable components in 30 calendar days of written notification from DoWEA.

1.1.5 Be able to meet Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) Level 2 standards for all proposed software/digital resources and ensure that any third-party resources that are part of its proposed solution also meet the FedRAMP Level 2 standard. For more information on FedRAMP, see the following URL: www.fedramp.gov. Participate, if required, in interviews and deep system architecture inspections.

Per DoW policy for cloud-based services, DoWEA conducts a supplemental series of validations, which closely mirror the FedRAMP Internet Cloud vetting processes. Contractor participation/cooperation is normally required to complete this process.

On a case-by-case basis, DoWEA may honor requests to waive the FedRAMP Level 2 requirement.

1.2 System Requirements—The Contractor shall:

1.2.1 Provide, per Section 1.1 (above), any software installed and/or accessed in or by a DoWEA system, network whether stand-alone or web-based, is compatible with the standards cited herein.

1.2.2 Provide minimum desktop/server system technical specifications, reference architectures, networking specifications and diagrams, and applicable systems configuration documentation for the proposed solution.

1.2.3 Provide software that is compatible with the following minimum baseline:

Specifications Minimum Memory 4 GB

Hard Drive 100 GB

Processor Intel® Core™ i5-8365U Processor 8th Generation (up to 4.1GHz, 6MB cache) equivalent or better (Must show benchmark/passmark scores)

Video Graphics Integrated Intel HD Graphics 620 (1920x1080) equivalent or better Operating System Windows 11

Browser Environment Chrome, Edge, Edge Chromium

1.2.4 Provide software that is completely functional on a standard DoWEA desktop without the need or requirement for administrative-level user rights and/or permissions or the requirement to use or insert external media to execute the software.

1.2.5 Provide software that does not require modifications to folder permissions while executing.

1.2.6 Provide, if applicable, software packages that support unattended installation methods used by enterprise software packaging and deployment systems.

DoWEA currently distributes software packages via Microsoft’s System Center Configuration Manager

(SCCM) and Microsoft Intune.

All older 16-bit software are automatically denied.

1.3 Data Management Requirements—The Contractor shall:

1.3.1 Provide a mechanism for batch administration and automation of routine data management tasks via flat file import, or representational state transfer (REST) based web service application programming interfaces (APIs). The mechanism shall provision and manage data objects within the Contractor’s system, including but not limited to organizational structures, student accounts, staff accounts, courses, and class rosters.

1.3.2 Provide all necessary documentation and assets to facilitate batch administration and automation of routine data management tasks, including but not limited to roster template files (i.e., comma separated value templates); data element/field definitions documentation; data interchange formats and schemas (XML/ JSON); and/or data dictionaries for the purpose of mapping organizational student information system (SIS) data to the Contractor’s required input formats.

1.3.3 Provide a single point of contact to support DoWEA in performing the required data integration activities within the Contractor’s system.

1.3.4 Configure DoWEA enterprise within its system and/or databases as the appropriate organizational entity (i.e., region, district, school) upon a request in writing from the contracting officer’s representative (COR).

Note: DoWEA’s organization hierarchy consists of the following: one system, three regions, nine districts, 62 communities, and 161 schools, including the K-12 virtual school programs.

1.3.5 Participate in a technical meeting with DoWEA within ten business days after award for the purposes of preparing for onboarding of new services and initial configuration of administrator-level accounts.

1.3.6 Ensure the transfer of any Sensitive, Confidential data including but not limited to PII data be transferred in a secure means meeting any requirements set by DoWEA’s Chief Information Security Officer

(CISO).

1.4 DoWEA Software License Keys: The Contractor shall provide (1) license keys and electronic downloads for software required under this Contract to the COR and (2) software directly to DoWEA schools, districts, or regions only if explicitly required to do so in the contract or in writing by the COR.

1.5 Cybersecurity Supporting Elements/Requirements and Scalability—The Contractor shall:

1.5.1 Comply with the same Federal law and DoW policies and guidance to which DoWEA is subject that include but are not limited to the cybersecurity requirements defined in the following documents:

DoW Directive (DoWD) 8500.01E, Information Assurance, be found at the following URL:

https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/850001_2014.pdf.

DoW Security Technical Implementation Guidance (STIG), which may be found at the following

URL: https://public.cyber.mil/stigs/downloads/.

DoW Risk Management Framework (DOWRMF) per DoW Instruction 8510.01, which may be found at https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/851001p.pdf?ver=2019-02- 26-101520-3004.5.2.

1.5.2 Provide security patches/upgrades to include third-party applications in response to public-released security vulnerabilities associated with its software solution. Provide a POA&M for any security vulnerabilities within five business days of discovery. Software upgrades/patches shall be included in the licensing cost and be performed at the least disruptive times as determined by DoWEA in writing. Note: Any exception to this requirement must be approved in advance and in writing by DoWEA’s Chief Information Officer (CIO) or designated official.

1.5.3 Protect DoWEA data against all cyberattacks, notifying DoWEA within 72 hours of an identified and confirmed breach/intrusion.

1.5.4 Perform security incident investigations upon identification of an event or at the request of DoWEA.

1.5.5 Address all information assurance vulnerability messages (IAVM) in the defined timelines to include IA vulnerability alerts (IAVA), IA vulnerability bulletins (IAVB), and technical advisories (TA).

1.5.6 User passwords must not be readable by anyone having access to the system.

1.5.7 Ensure any portion of its solution that involves Internet access by DoWEA students complies with the relevant requirements of the Children's Internet Protection Act, Public Law 106-554, § 1(a)(4) [Div. B, Title XVII, § 1701], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A-335. All Contractor personnel that have access or may potentially have access to DoWEA data in any form shall be US citizens. Note: If its solution does not involve Internet access by DoWEA students, please ensure the following are included:

1) Maintaining system security IAW the latest versions of the (1) DoW Cloud Computing Security

Requirements Guide, (2) Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and (3) Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA).

2) Providing a solution robust enough to serve the needs of a large community of learners dispersed across the world using a variety of bandwidths and scalable to meet future growth, both in terms of instruction and the number of users. In addition, provided solutions shall be applicable to the digital learning environment of the DoWEA Virtual School.

3) Ensuring Contractor staff who have access to DoWEA’s student, teacher and/or staff personally identifiable information take the DoW Privacy Act/Personally Identifiable Information (PA and PPI/PII) training before gaining access to the data and yearly thereafter. Provide copies of the certificates to the COR which can be audited at any time by the CISO or his/her designee.

1.6 Program and System Integration—The Contractor’s solution shall:

1.6.1 Provide Single Sign-On (SSO) Capabilities / Platform which (1) integrates with an Industry Standard SSO login solution. (ClassLink, Google, Azure, etc.); (2) supports Oauth 2.0, Security Assertions Markup Language (SAML) for integration with Azure, or Google; and (3) authenticates using Azure Active Directory (AD) or Google AD. Authenticates using Azure Active Directory (AD) or Google AD.

1.6.2. Support industry-standard data rostering standards via ClassLink and standard data formats such as OneRoster.

1.6.3. Ensure that data storage, handling, and security meet the following minimum standards:

1) DoWEA’s information and data shall be secured in data center located in the United States.

2) The system, including its server(s) and network devices, shall be in an environmentally controlled and secure facility under controlled circumstances (e.g., using authorized personnel access lists, ID cards, entry logs, etc.).

3) All Contractor personnel that have access or may potentially have access to DoWEA data in any form shall be US citizens, including any third-party penetration (PEN)/security testers.

4) All data transit shall be secured with Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption.

5) All data at rest shall be secured with Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)-256 encryption.

1.6.4 Ensure that data integration includes the following:

1) Automated industry standard form of data integration using Representational State Transfer Application

Program Interface (RESTful API), Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI), or Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) data sets (ClassLink, OneRoster, etc.).

2) Encryption of DoWEA’s data at rest to include unique encryption keys for each customer on systems hosting multiple customers.

3) Notification of DoWEA in writing within 72 hours of any changes made to corporate policies for data protection.

4) Use of only masked student data in a non-production environment.

5) Integration scheduling that meets DoWEA’s required timeframes.

6) Provision of fully automated data uploads per Agency schedule(s) and Agency requirements.

7) Support of SFTP capabilities using a single set of login credentials.

8) Provision of a single data set of DoWEA information. Note: The Contractor’s solution shall support

DoWEA at all levels: school, community, district, region, and HQ.

9) Maintenance of a backup and restore plan for DoWEA data in the event of a disaster.

10) Provision of detailed feedback of what caused errors if an integration transmission results in errors.

1.6.5 System Features—The system shall:

1) Allow user accounts to be created automatically based on a file provided by DoWEA either nightly or on another pre-determined scheduled feed.

2) Allow DoWEA to be able to choose the format of user login identification, e.g., an email address, and be able to create manual accounts, if needed.

3) Require the user—for manually created accounts—to reset the password on the user’s initial login or, upon request, a password reset.

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT