WISC-JA-Draft_Redacted.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)

Standardized Intellectual Assessments For DoDEA School Psychologists

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

2. Description of Supplies and Services

DODEA requires the global reporting subscription of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for ChildrenTM - Fifth Edition (WISC™-V) for a base year and four option years. The WISC™-V is used to diagnose the attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and learning disabilities or giftedness as well as to show discrepancies between cognitive ability and school achievement/performance. It is widely used in the US and around the world, having been translated into many languages including Welsh, Dutch, Chinese, Japanese, Greek, and Romanian. It replaced the WISC™-IV in 2014. In the base year, DoDEA requires an estimated 100 global reporting subscriptions—one annual subscription for each school psychologist. If the number of school psychologists increases, DoDEA will require additional annual subscriptions. Note: The number of school psychologists may increase during the duration of the contract, depending on many factors, especially funding. Based on past experience, however, the number of school psychologists from year to year will either remain the same or increase by 1-2 hires.

3. Description of Action: A firm fixed price (FFP), indefinite quantity indefinite delivery (IDIQ) contract is planned with a total estimated value of . The period of performance is a five-year base period, consisting of five 12-month periods. FY19 Operating and Maintenance (O&M) funds are available for the first 12-months of the base period in the estimated amount of .

4. Authority: FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)

5. Market Research The only vendor that markets the WISC™-V and the WISC™-V global reporting subscription is NCS Pearson, Inc., Bloomington, MN.

. Its CAGE number is 1P624. Also, it is not listed as a small business, per the Dynamic Small Business Search. The contract for the WISC™-V assessments (kits) and global reporting subscription is HE1254-15-D-0002. DoDEA does not require additional WISC™-V assessments (kits) for the foreseeable future, but does need the global reporting subscription.

For children ages 4-7, DoDEA currently uses both the WPPSI™ - IV and the WISC™-V for assessing student intelligence as part of the special education eligibility process. The former was released in 2012; the latter, in 2014. The most current version must be used since the normative data sample changes with each test edition. Like the vast majority of school systems, DoDEA uses other standardized intellectual assessments that typically supplement the cornerstone tests, WISC™-V and WPPSI™-IV.

However, they cannot be substituted for these two cornerstone assessments.

Four main U.S. vendors known for development of standardized intellectual assessments: NCS Pearson, PRO-ED, Western Psychological Services, and Riverside Publishing, a division of Houghton-Mifflin- Harcourt). Pearson dominates this market.

The following table shows assessments used by DoDEA school psychologists in conjunction with— not to replace—the WISC™-V as well as assessments that do not meet DoDEA’s requirements.

Assessment Requirement PEARSON: Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence ™ - Fourth Edition (WPPSI™ - IV)

Measure of cognitive development for children ages 4-7. The WPPSI-IV Index scales include: verbal comprehension, visual-spatial, working memory, fluid reasoning, and processing sped. Its Ancillary Index scales include: vocabulary acquisition, nonverbal, general ability, and cognitive proficiency. This brief, individually administered test is used by school psychologists to identify and qualify students with cognitive delays, intellectual disabilities, autism, and giftedness. Also used by clinical psychologists and neuropsychologists to determine the cognitive ability of children in question during custody hearings and the impact of traumatic brain injury on cognitive functions, respectively.

Currently used by DoDEA school psychologists as one of the cornerstone assessments, per the discussion above.

PRO-ED: Cognitive Assessment System (CAS)

Supplemental assessment used with the WPPSI and WISC as part of the special education assessment process for students aged 5-18. Can be administered by both assessors and school psychologists. Assists in selection of educational interventions for children with learning problems, identifies children with learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder, and assesses children from diverse backgrounds.

Currently used by DoDEA school psychologists as a supplement to the WISC and WPPSI.

PEARSON: Wechsler Nonverbal Scale of Ability (WNV)

Used for students with significant language processing issues as a supplement to the WISC or WPPSI. Helps assess cognitive ability regardless of language spoken for ages 4-21. Designed for linguistically diverse populations.

Currently used by DoDEA school psychologists as a supplement to the WISC and WPPSI.

RIVERSIDE PUBLISHING: Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales for Early Childhood (Early SB5)

Similar to the WVN. Children aged 2.0-5.11 may be tested with the full battery and children aged 6.0-5.3 years may be tested with the abbreviated battery.

Currently used by DoDEA school psychologists as a supplement to the WISC and WPPSI.

WESTERN PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES: Shipley-2

Short measurement of intelligence for anyone 7-89 years old. It is not comparable with a complete intelligence assessment. Measures “crystallized and fluid cognitive ability, generating a quick estimate of overall cognitive functioning and impairment.” Published 2009

Does not meet DoDEA’s requirements for a comprehensive, reliable and valid intelligence test.

PEARSON: Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test, Second Edition (KBIT-2)

Not comparable to WISC or WPPSI. Does not identify student’s full educational abilities, strengths, or educational deficits. Brief, individually administered measure of verbal and non-verbal ability for students ages 4-9. Published 2004.

Does not meet DoDEA’s requirements for a comprehensive, reliable and valid

PEARSON: Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT)

Group administered test of abstract thinking and reasoning for PK-12 students.

Used to assess student mental abilities and strengths for educational services such as gifted education—not a comprehensive intelligence test.

Does not meet DoDEA’s requirements for a comprehensive, reliable and valid

PEARSON: Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (KABC)

Does not meet DoDEA’s requirements

Developed 1983 and revised 2001, this psychological diagnostic test assesses cognitive development with special attention to those with learning disabilities and/or cultural and linguistic minorities. It is not meant to be a stand-alone test but needs to be supplemented by such tests as the Standford-Binet, McCarthy scales, WPPSI, or neuropsychological tests.

for a comprehensive, reliable and valid

RIVERSIDE PUBLISHING: Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, Fifth Edition (SB5)

Individually administered assessment of fluid reasoning, knowledge, quantitative reasoning, visual-spatial processing, and working memory for ages 2-85+ years.

Includes manipulatives with small parts that may present a choking hazard to children under eight years of age.

Does not meet DoDEA’s requirements for a comprehensive, reliable and valid intelligence test.

Using the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) and Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) for #611710 (Education Support Services) and the keywords, intellectual assessment, cognitive assessment, and school psychologist, yielded the following results:

DSBS: Under intelligence test there was one result: Barnett Engineering & Signaling Laboratories, LLC, which does not market to K-12 schools and does not meet DoDEA’s requirements. Under cognitive assessment there was one result: Sol Case Management, LLC, which specializes in vocational rehabilitation counseling and does not market to K-12 schools and does not meet DoDEA’s requirements. Under school psychologist was one result, an independent contractor.

FPDS: Under intelligence test and cognitive assessment were no results. Under school psychologist, two companies and five independent contractors were listed. Neither of the two companies—Paradigm Professional Health Services, Inc. nor Peak Education Services, Inc.—market assessments used by school psychologists.

6. Rationale for Single Source or Brand Name

Upon the basis of the following rationale, I, as the Contracting Officer, approve this justification for the proposed contract action pursuant to the authority cited above because the continued use of the WISC™-V global reporting subscription described above is essential to the Government's requirements, and market research indicates other companies’ products do not meet or cannot be modified to replace it.

In 2015 NCS Pearson, Inc. was awarded contact, HE1254-15-D-0002, and it is the only vendor that can provide the required resources. DoDEA’s school psychologists require the global reporting subscription in order to analyze/interpret the test results correctly. As stated, the WISC™-V is a cornerstone assessment which is regularly used by school psychologists to diagnose the attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and learning disabilities or giftedness as well as to show discrepancies between cognitive ability and school achievement/performance. Without continued use of the global reporting subscription, our school psychologists will not be able to effectively diagnose students. As a result, they will not be able to recommend proper accommodations for children in need of special services. Therefore, DoDEA requires the global reporting subscription in order to provide a quality education for a small but ignificant number of students systemwide.

Based on the rationale above, the Contracting Office has made the determination to issue a sole source solicitation to NCS Pearson, Inc. as the only authorized seller of the required resources.

Standardized Intellectual Assessments For DoDEA School Psychologists

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.

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 the products/services described herein have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.