Synopsis_29May2019.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDUCATION ACTIVITY

HEADQUARTERS

4800 MARK CENTER DRIVE

ALEXANDRIA, VA 22350-1400

29 May 2019

TO ALL POTENTIAL VENDORS

FROM: DoDEA Headquarters Procurement Division

SUBJECT: Synopsis / Notice of Proposed Contract Action for Solicitation No. HE1254-19-R-0009, Interactive Technology to Enhance Communication, Social Interactions, and Executive Functioning for

Students with Autism — and Professional Learning via Technology-based Simulations for Teachers of

Students with Autism

This pre-solicitation notice serves as a synopsis and is posted in accordance with FAR subpart 5.2, Synopsis of Proposed Contract Actions. This is not a solicitation. Offers shall not be submitted until the solicitation is posted to FedBizOpps.

The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) has the following requirements:

Interactive Technology to Enhance Communication, Social Interactions, and Executive Functioning for Students with Autism: DoDEA requires a curriculum learning system that involves TAII based on evidenced-based best practices (EBP) proven to increase the social and behavioral skill development of students with ASD receiving the intervention. DoDEA proposes to procure a curriculum based on interventions identified by the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorder

(NPDC) as having sufficient empirical support to be considered evidence-based to improve academic and functional skills.

The curriculum learning system will be utilized by preschool (PK) through 8th grade students with ASD who are educated in learning-impaired moderate-severe classrooms (LIMS), learning-impaired severe-profound classrooms (LISP), and preschool children with disabilities classrooms (PSCD). These classrooms provide a full continuum of intensive intervention with active engagement of students in systematically planned, developmentally appropriate educational activities to address specific needs.

Professional Learning via Technology-based Simulations for Teachers of Students with Autism:

DoDEA requires professional learning that creates opportunities for teachers of students with autism (1) to practice teaching techniques via simulations that replicate characteristics of students with ASD in realistic classroom scenarios and (2) to receive immediate feedback from an instructional coach or peer(s). DoDEA requires the content of the professional learning to include EBPs proven to yield positive educational outcomes for preschoolers (3-5 years) to young adults (19-21 years) with ASD.

The use of simulations with avatars, an immersive learning technique (ILT), has been proven to be a cost-effective and time-efficient professional learning strategy. This strategy is expected to result in faster and more precise acquisition of complex teaching skills which will lead to better outcomes for our students with ASD. DoDEA estimates that it requires the following number of simulation and coaching sessions, each of which will last approximately 60 minutes.

Please review the attached draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) for further description of the requirements.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDUCATION ACTIVITY

HEADQUARTERS

4800 MARK CENTER DRIVE

ALEXANDRIA, VA 22350-1400

The applicable NAICS code is 611710, Educational Support Services, and the applicable PSC is U099, Other Education and Training Services. Interested parties must be registered under the NAICS code in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to submitting offers.

DoDEA intends to issue solicitation No. HE1254-19-R-0009 in support of this requirement. This will be a commercial procurement in accordance with FAR Parts 12 and 13. This requirement will be competed under full and open competition and may result in a single or multiple firm-fixed price contract(s) with a period of performance consisting of one 12-month base period and up to four 12-month option periods.

The anticipated posting date of the solicitation is on or about 1 July 2019.

All questions regarding this notice must be submitted via email to the Points of Contact listed below by

10:00 AM EST on 17 June 2019:

Mr. Alim Koroma at Alim.Koroma@dodea.edu

Ms. Shiran Zerach at Shiran.Zerach@dodea.edu

Attachment(s):

1. Draft PWS mailto:Alim.Koroma@dodea.edu mailto:Shiran.Zerach@dodea.edu