JA_-_LEGO_(final_signed).pdf

DETERMINATION

TO SOLICIT FROM A SINGLE SOURCE - FAR 13 (<SAT)

1. Contracting Agency: Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA/Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS).

2. Description of Supplies and Services: DoDEA/DDESS requires LEGO Education robotic kits designed to allow teachers and students to build small robots in order to develop Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) skills. These kits consist of building blocks and small electrical battery powered motors. The students will build small robots that move around the classrooms and connect to computer software.

DoDEA offers robotics engineering instruction in various classes and venues from grades 1-8. For grade 1-8 programs the Lego® and Pitsco TETRIX® products are the only ones available for robotics engineering programs. In addition, DoDEA students participate in national competitions at the elementary, middle school and high school levels in which Lego® products are required to be used. In order for DDESS students to continue competing in the Lego® competitions, Lego® EV3 are required and Lego® NXT are not eligible for use in the completion. At the high school level, DoDEA launched a pilot Robotics Engineering course in the 2011-12 school year. A brand-name or equal procurement process led to the purchase of Lego® MINDSTORMS® NXT and Pitsco TETRIX® products for that course, from which students were taught to build functional robots. As a result of the pilot project, the curriculum requirements were modified to add greater instructional rigor and engineering sophistication, which, in turn, required the incorporation of more and different robotic components. These brand-name components, Lego® Duplo, WeDo and MINDSTORMS® NXT or EV3 and Pitsco TETRIX® products are required because they are the only ones that are compatible with the MINDSTORMS® control package already in use in the pilot Robotics Engineering course. In addition, the brand name products are necessary in order for DoDEA schools to provide consistent instruction that builds upon prior knowledge and experience provided in the grade 1-8 programs that use the Lego® and Pitsco TETRIX® products.

Accordingly, use of brand name descriptions for this acquisition is essential to the Government's requirements, thereby precluding consideration of a product manufactured by another company. In addition, Pitsco (Doing Business as LEGO Education) is the only distributer of the required supplies. See attached letter from LEGO Education which confirms that LEGO Education is the sole supplier of the required supplies.

3. Description of Action: DDESS Procurement intends to solicit, negotiate, and award a firm-fixed price contract for LEGO Education robotic kits with a total estimated amount of $78,000.00. The contractor will be required to deliver the robotic kits to various DDESS schools in the North Carolina Georgia/Alabama, Virginia/New York/ Puerto Rico, Fort Stewart/South Carolina/Cuba and Kentucky School Districts. The anticipated delivery date is September 25, 2015.

4. Rationale for Single Source: DDESS Procurement solicited the following company in accordance with FAR Part 13.106-1(b) for LEGO Education robotic kits:

LEGO Systems, Inc.

(CAGE Code: 0ZES3)

555 Taylor Road Enfield, CT 06082

DDESS Procurement Office conducted preliminary market research by posting a sources sought notice to the Federal Business Opportunities website on 11 August 2015 for 15 days. The posting resulted in no interested vendors who could provide like or similar services. LEGO Systems Inc. is the only source that can provide the products required by the DDESS schools’ specialized curriculum centered on environmental education and renewable resources learning as part of them STEM lesson plans. Review of past contractual actions has indicated that there are robotics companies available to provide robotics kits. Such companies, however, do not sell sets designed for classroom use in a student learning environment, nor do any of the companies have robotics sets centered on educational topics such as environmental learning. DoDEA subject matter experts continuously monitor new developments for the organization. As requirements change and new alternatives for meeting them enter the marketplace, all interested parties will be provided the opportunity to compete for future requirements.

APPROVAL

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

I, Wikiki Henton, certify that the facts and representations included in this determination are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.

Signature: ________________________________________ Date:

WIKIKI HENTON

CONTRACTING OFFICER

DDESS PROCUREMENT OFFICE

Wikiki.Henton Typewritten Text 9/25/2015