26QE056_JA_062326.pdf

CUI

Source Selection Information – See FAR 2.101 and FAR 3.104

CUI

Source Selection Information – See FAR 2.101 and FAR 3.104

DEPARTMENT OF WAR EDUCATION ACTIVITY

JUSTIFICATION

For

SOLE SOURCE OR BRAND NAME, FAR PART 12 > SAT and < $9M

1. Contracting Agency

Department of War Education Activity

2. Description of Action

A firm fixed price contract is planned with a total estimated value of $1,981,555.30 using Simplified Acquisition Procedures under FAR Overhaul Part 12.201-1. The period of performance/estimated delivery date is for a 12-month base period and four 12-month option periods. FY26 Operating and Maintenance (O&M) funds are available in the estimated amount of $373,235.00.

3. Description of Supplies and Services Required to Meet the Need

DoWEA requires membership in an Alternate Assessment System Consortium that includes member participation in policy decisions. DoWEA requires the membership to include the provision of a computer-based adaptive performance-style, summative alternate assessment program in ELA/literacy and mathematics for students in grades 3-8 and 11 with the most significant cognitive disabilities. The proposed solution shall align with DoWEA’s following needs:

1) Assessment measures the Alternate Achievement Standards

2) Vendor-hosted assessment management system and delivery platform including operational and practice sites

3) Summative and interim assessments with plans for test enhancements

4) Assessment scoring and reporting

5) Product training and administration resources

6) Professional learning

7) Technical support services

The proposed fully developed/off-the-shelf summative and interim assessments shall meet industry standards and be ready for administration beginning in school year 2026-27. The program management support services shall, among other things, ensure requirements are delivered on time and in accordance with contract specifications.

4. Authority

41 U.S.C. 1901

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

CUI

Source Selection Information – See FAR 2.101 and FAR 3.104

DEPARTMENT OF WAR EDUCATION ACTIVITY

Under DoD Instruction 1342.12 and 32 CFR Part 57, the Government must provide specialized instruction and assessments for students with significant cognitive disabilities. The requirement has matured into a need for an integrated system that connects daily instruction, interim progress monitoring, and summative reporting to ensure full growth potential of students in this population. Additionally, to ensure transparency with stakeholders, a reporting platform and process is required to ensure educators and parents have access to student reports as soon as they are available. DoWEA does not possess the internal structure, staff, and experience to develop an alternate assessment system that would meet all of our goals. It would be a significantly expensive undertaking for DoWEA to create the required assessments. Therefore, DoWEA must partner with other entities requiring the alternate assessments

There are only two Alternate Assessment consortia in the United States: Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) and Multi-State Alternate Assessment (MSAA). ATLAS is the sole provider of Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM). Its product is uniquely qualified to meet DoWEA needs for the following reasons:

Consortium Membership: As of 2026, the consortium includes approximately 24 member states and several partner entities.

1) This large-scale membership allows for the pooling of resources to maintain an advanced assessment system for students with significant cognitive disabilities.

2) The extremely high cost of psychometric validation, item writing, and "Learning Map" refinement is shared across all 24+ members.

3) Membership grants DoWEA access to a national network of special education experts, researchers, and psychometricians from the University of Kansas. This provides a support system for DoWEA’s small staff to resolve complex instructional or technical issues.

4) Since many DLM member states are home to large military installations (e.g., Virginia, Kansas, North Carolina, and Texas), using DLM ensures that military families transitioning between these states and DoWEA schools experience seamless data continuity. A student’s "Learning Profile" moves with them, preventing the "reset" of educational goals during a permanent change of station (PCS) move.

5) The consortium model ensures that the assessment is constantly updated to reflect the latest research in cognitive science.

•Instructionally Embedded Interims: Interim assessments are natively integrated into the summative map, which provides a single, unified data stream for the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) team.

•Automated Parent Portal: ATLAS provides a specialized Parent Portal that is pre-configured to interpret DLM-specific "essential elements" into plain language for families. Other vendors would require the Government to build a custom interface at a significant cost.

DoWEA’s current contract is with MSAA. While MSAA could provide consortium membership with some of the features and benefits that DLM provides, it does not comprehensively meet DoWEA’s requirements because it lacks the interim assessments and reporting capabilities for parents.

6. Effort to Obtain Competition

DEPARTMENT OF WAR EDUCATION ACTIVITY

DoWEA conducted extensive market research to ensure that all potential sources were considered for this requirement. This included:

• Direct Vendor Engagement: Formal virtual meetings were held with the two primary entities identified as having the capacity to manage large-scale alternate assessment consortia: Cognia, Inc. (representing the MSAA) and the University of Kansas Center for Research/ATLAS (representing the DLM).

• Technical Evaluation: Assessment experts reviewed the core capabilities of both entities against DoWEA’s mission-essential requirements, specifically focusing on the integration of interim assessments and a dedicated parent portal.

• Consortium Review: DoWEA analyzed the membership structures of both the MSAA and the DLM Consortium to determine which model provided the best value and specialized support for DoWEA’s unique global student population.

7. Fair and Reasonable Determination The contracting officer has determined the anticipated costs will be fair and reasonable based on the results of market research.

8. Market Research:

1) Incumbent: Cognia, Inc., Alpharetta, GA on behalf of Multi-State Alternate Assessment (MSAA). Julie DiBona, VP, Program Management, julie.dibona@cognia.org; 888-413-3669 x7421. Not a small business, per SAM.gov for multiple NAICS codes including 611710 (Educational Support Services). CAGE code 5QG49. UEI:

XTGSDHLEPD65.

2) University of Kansas Center for Research, Inc. (Achievement & Assessment Institute for the Dynamic Learning Maps® (DLM®) Consortium); Lawrence, KS. Michael Muenks, Associate Director, Business Operations and Implementation/ ATLAS, michael_muenks@ku.edu. Not a small business, per SAM.gov for multiple NAICS codes including 611710. CAGE code 0A198. UEI: SSUJB3GSH8A5.

DoDEA’s assessment experts confirm these two entities are the only ones that could provide consortium membership and the summative assessments. It is not clear if the incumbent can meet the new requirement for formative assessments; however, the DLM® Consortium does.

Search parameters to review the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) and Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS): The current contract’s NAICS code, 611710 (Educational Support Services) and the keywords; alternate assessments, were used for the search.

FPDS: Under alternate assessments were the following matches: Unique Designs Professional Services, Inc. and NCS Pearson, Inc., neither entity is part of a consortium, and neither can meet DoDEA’s requirements.

DSBS: Under alternate assessments there were no matches.

9. Other Supporting Facts

Previous Competition and Acquisition History

DEPARTMENT OF WAR EDUCATION ACTIVITY

CUI

Source Selection Information – See FAR 2.101 and FAR 3.104

The required consortium membership and alternate assessments were awarded to Cognia, Inc. (MSAA) HE125421D0012 as a sole source. However, Cognia, Inc. cannot meet the new Government requirement, which includes integrated interim assessments and a parent portal. Market research confirmed that while both entities provide summative assessments, the incumbent (Cognia) is unable to meet the new, critical requirements for interims and the parent portal, whereas the DLM Consortium, managed by ATLAS, provides these as a native, integrated solution.

10. Interested Sources

ATLAS, University of Kansas (DLM)

11. Effort to remove barriers to/increase competition To ensure that future requirements are as competitive as possible, the Government will take the following actions during the performance of this contract:

•Ongoing Market Surveillance: Continue conducting market research at least annually to monitor the capabilities of other alternate assessment providers, such as Cognia (MSAA) and other emerging vendors.

•Industry Engagement: Participate in national educational assessment conferences and forums (e.g., CCSSO’s National Conference on Student Assessment) to communicate DoWEA’s specific needs for students with significant cognitive disabilities to the broader vendor community.

•Interoperability Requirements: Require the Contractor, during the period of performance, to provide data in standardized formats (e.g., SIF or IMS Global standards). This ensures that the Government retains ownership of student data, making it possible to migrate that data to a future competitor.

CERTIFICATION

In accordance with FAR 6.303-2(c), I certify this justification completely and accurately conveys the Government’s minimum needs or requirements and the rational for other than full and open competition, including supporting data, to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Valen Cayetano Operations Integration Officer

Approval is granted subject to the availability of funds and provided that the products/services described herein have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

CAYETANO.VALEN.A

RIZALA.1588044137

Digitally signed by

CAYETANO.VALEN.ARIZALA.158

8044137 Date: 2026.06.09 10:36:39 -04'00'

DEPARTMENT OF WAR EDUCATION ACTIVITY

Contracting Officer : In accordance with 6.104-1(a)(12), I certify that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. In addition, I hereby determine that entering into a (sole-source contract) with (University of Kansas Center for Research, Inc.) will result in a price that will be fair and reasonable to the Government.

Jamie Formosa Contracting Officer

FORMOSA.JAMIE.

1384734452

Digitally signed by

FORMOSA.JAMIE.1384734452

Date: 2026.06.09 11:06:48 -04'00'