LASLinks-JA-Final-11-29-18.pdf

SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES

JUSTIFICATION FOR SOLICITING A SINGLE SOURCE

(ORDER GREATER THAN MICRO-PURCHASE THRESHOLD (CURRENTLY $10,000)

BUT LESS THAN SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD (CURRENTLY $250,000)

English Language Proficiency Assessment Testing Materials, Scoring, and Reporting

Based on information provided below, request the Contracting Officer determine that only one source is reasonably available to provide the supplies and/or services described herein.

1. Purchase request number: HE1254978941-0001

2. Description of supplies and/or services:

DoDEA requires English language proficiency (ELP) testing materials, scoring, and reporting to test approximately 7,000 English learners (EL) each year. LAS Links is currently DoDEA’s only approved ELP assessment that is available for testing. (See comments about WIDA below.)

In addition to testing materials and administrator manuals, the following assessment reports are required: student reports, aggregate reports, online results, and provision of an electronic student data file and file layout that corresponds to student, school, district, and region, and system for reports. Reports are provided via the vendor’s website. This service is required for school year 2018-19 only. The estimated total cost of this requirement is $287,948.37.

3. Proposed contractor

Data Recognition Corporation, 13490 Bass Lake Road, Maple Grove, MN 55311 – David

Breen, Director, State Assessments - DBreen@datarecognitioncorp.com – 303-358-5905 -

800-538-9547 – Not a small business - Only vendor that can meet DoDEA’s requirements.

4. Reason the proposed contractor is the only source reasonably available

DoDEA has an enduring requirement to administer a comprehensive English language proficiency assessment to our ELs. Data Recognition Corporation is the only vendor that provides the LAS Links assessments and the accompanying scoring & reporting services.

LAS Links was a small part of a larger assessment contract, HE1254-11-D-0009, for the

TerraNova assessments that expired in August 2017. Sole source awards, HE1254-18-P-0004 and HE1254-18-P-0005, for the materials and scoring and reporting were made because DoDEA was competing for a new ELP assessment which was expected to be awarded in time for DoDEA to use during the 2018-19 school year. Both have expired. The contract, HE12254-18-D-0009, was awarded on September 18, 2018—too late for the contractor, WIDA at the University of

Wisconsin, to onboard and prepare a new state education agency (DoDEA) for implementation of the ELP assessment in the base year 2018-19 school year. As a result, DoDEA requires one additional year of administering the LAS Links ELP assessment. The continued administration of this assessment will provide continuity for DoDEA’s ELs and will minimize transition complications, until the new ELP assessment can be administered in SY 2019-20.

Regarding Government databases, the following results were found:

Under 611710 (Educational Support Services), the keywords selected to search for entities that might market English language proficiency assessments were ESL, ESL consortium, and testing services. Under the latter, the Dynamic Small Business Search

(DSBS) revealed seven matches. Only one, A Better Schoolhouse Consulting Group, Stone

18 Oct 18 2

Mountain, GA, dealt with K-12 education, but its business was not related to this requirement. Under the keyword, ESL (English as a Second Language), DSBS had 18 matches. Eleven did not deal with K-12 education. None of the remaining seven entities had English language proficiency assessments. Under ESL consortium there were no matches.

Under 611710 and keywords testing services, the Federal Procurement Data System

(FPDS) revealed 220 matches, representing a handful of companies. Under keyword, ESL, FPDS had 579 matches. Under the two searches using the keywords, ESL testing, and ESL consortium, there were no matches. Note: DoDEA requires the LAS Links assessment because it is the only one that has administered in recent years and because its data is the only one that will provide continuity for DoDEA’s ELs. None of the other companies market LAS Links; therefore, none can meet DoDEA’s requirements.

5. Will these same supplies and/or services be needed again? No. The requirement for future

ELP assessments have been procured as stated above, HE1254-18-D-0009.

6. Price reasonableness: Pricing is consistent with pricing found in the recently expired contracts:

HE1254-11-D-0009, HE1254-18-P-0004 and HE1254-18-P-0005.

English Language Proficiency Assessment

7. Technical Certification: The information provided in this request is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

_________________________________ Date: _____________

Michelle Christensen, Contracting Officer’s Representative

CONTRACTING OFFICER’S DETERMINATION

Based on the information provided above and IAW FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) I hereby determine that the proposed source is the only source reasonably available. Furthermore, IAW FAR

13.106-3(a)(2) I hereby determine that the price of this order is fair and reasonable.

_________________________________ Date: ______________

Alim Koroma, Contracting Officer