AccelerationTool-JA-final-8-25-20.pdf

FAR 13 Determination At or Below SAT Source Selection Information - See FAR 2.101 AND 3.104 - For Official Use Only

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDUCATION ACTIVITY

DETERMINATION For

SINGLE SOURCE OR BRAND NAME SOURCE SOLICITATION - FAR 13 (≤SAT)

Advanced Academic Programs & Services Grades K-8 Acceleration Tool

1. Contracting Agency: Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA)

2. Description of Supplies and Services

DoDEA requires a systemic, comprehensive structure to guide the decision about acceleration in grades K-8. The acceleration tool will assist the Advanced Academic Review Committee and Gifted Review Committee with an objective process to review all data. It must (1) be research-based, (2) provide evidence of successful use in other states/ school systems, (3) include a method using a multitude of factors to determine appropriate student placement, such as: ability, achievement, aptitude, develop-mental factors, school information, interpersonal skills, student attitude towards acceleration. The vendor shall provide one per school in either print or digital format. DoDEA expects to make one award for a base year and four option years.

In the base year, 137 schools and four above-school-level subject-matter experts will receive one kit each. Two of the large elementary schools will receive one additional package of forms each. In the option years, schools will order off of the contract at an estimated rate of one kit and 50 packages of forms each year.

3. Description of Action

A firm fixed price contract is planned with a total estimated value of $81,473.76. The period of performance is a 12-month base period and four 12 months option periods. FY21 Operating and Maintenance (O&M) funds are available for the base period in the estimated amount of $44,121.99.

4. Authority

FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)

5. Market Research

Background: DoDEA has used standard assessments and teacher recommendations to make advanced academic program and service acceleration decisions. DoDEA has never awarded a contract for an assessment tool designed specifically for this purpose

Potential Sources: Gifted Unlimited, LLC (formerly Great Potential Press), Goshen, KY. Molly A.

Isaacs-McLeod, President, 502-715-6306 - giftedunlimitedllc@gmail.com - Not a small business under both name, per the Dynamic Small Business Search.

Other Sources: There are no other entities that provide a K-8 acceleration tool that is research-based and meets DoDEA’s requirements.

a. Using the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) and Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) for NAICS #611710 (Education Support Services) and the keywords, gifted, grade placement, and grade acceleration, yielded the following results:

DSBS: Under gifted were 13 matches, none of which marketed an acceleration tool. One sold gift baskets. Several were individuals providing consulting services. Others offered instructional design and related services for gifted education. Under grade placement and grade acceleration were no matches, which underscores the assertion about the 13 small businesses listed above.

FPDS: Under grade placement was one 2010 contract for WestEd with the Department of Education. WestEd primarily does educational research and does not market any acceleration tools.

Under gifted and grade acceleration were no matches.

6. Rationale for Single Source

Upon the basis of the following justification, I, as the Contracting Officer, approve this justification for the proposed contract action pursuant to the authority cited above because K-8 acceleration tool is essential to the agency's requirements, and market research indicates no other companies’ products can meet or be modified to meet, the agency's needs.

Gifted Unlimited, LLC is the sole provider of the Iowa Acceleration Scale, 3rd Edition (2009), which is the gold standard for providing systematic guidance to objectively determine whether students should be accelerated a full grade.

Based on the rationale above, the Contracting Office has made the determination to issue a sole source contract to Gifted Unlimited, LLC as the only authorized seller of the required resources.

Advanced Academic Programs & Services Grades K-8 Acceleration Tool

Technical Certification: I certify the supporting data under my cognizance and which forms a basis for this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Dr. Laurie Abeel, Contracting Officer’s Representative

DETERMINATION

Contracting Officer: I certify that the facts and representations included in this determination are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge. I hereby determine that the circumstances of this contract action deem only one source reasonably available and the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable. Approval is granted subject to the availability of funds and provided that the products/services described herein have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Alim Koroma, Contracting Officer \