1.04 sole source redact.pdf

Source Selection Information – See FAR 2.101 and 3.104

JUSTIFICATION FOR SOLE SOURCE (Simplified Acquisitions - MPT to <$250K)

Document number:1301158176

The supplies or services described herein are being solicited on a sole source basis and competition is precluded for reasons indicated below. There are no substitutes available for the supplies or services.

Check One:

Service:

Contractor:

Contractor Address:

Contractor POC:

Phone #:

Email:

Cage Code/DUNS:

Supply: X Restricted to the following source. If a sole source manufacturer distributes via dealers, ALSO provide dealer information.)

Original Manufacturer Name: World Institute of Leadership and Learning, Ltd. (dba. WILL Interactive)

Manufacturer:

Manufacturer POC:

Manufacturer Phone #:

Manufacturer Address: 10000 Falls Road, Suite 305, Potomac, Maryland 20854-4103

Dealer/Rep: Lyn McCall

Dealer/Rep Address Phone No. (301) 983-6006

Email: lyn@willinteractive.com

Cage Code/DUNS: WILL's Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code is

1QY92

WILL's Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number is 83-622-9229

Description of the supplies or services required, the estimated price/cost, and required delivery date.

Description:

The Boeing Innovation Laboratory at the U.S. Naval Academy Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership ("the Center") works to help instill Critical thinking and Ethical Decision making in Midshipmen. Currently, the Center uses a variety of Instructional Learning Systems (“ILS”) such as the Virtual Experience Immersive Learning Simulation VEILS® in this important work.

VEILS® are created with the only known methodology that has been shown in multiple independent evaluation studies to measurably increase learning and retention. VEILS® achieve this level of proven effectiveness through highly engaging real-life stories that allow learners to see themselves as others see them and to experience events virtually that make the same impact as experiencing them in real life.

While the scholarship and passion of the faculty and Staff at the Naval Academy in delivering learning to the Midshipmen is outstanding today, those Midshipmen approach learning in a way that represents a generational shift. ILS are a new way of reinforcing pedagogy and instruction delivered in the classroom and in Bancroft Hall. It is complementary to the existing practices, and it has the potential to deepen the understanding and the engagement of Midshipmen studies.

The Center has been successfully using ILS to help improve the critical thinking and decision-making of Midshipmen since 2009. ILS have consistently been shown to create a positive impact of education and training materials for these critical leadership areas.

A critical component of this Stockdale Interactive process is the suite if digital assets that support Stockdale Interactive. These include websites that provide instructional content in research, articles, podcasts and dashboards that facilitate the teaching of Leadership, Ethics, Character and Law at the Naval Academy. For instance, stockdalecenter-dot-com (and its sister sites) provide cutting edge access such that students can use the media in a manner consistent with current media driven websites. It also provides for the measurement, collection, analysis and reporting of student interactions for the purpose of understanding student engagement and to assess and improve the effectiveness of the network.

This project outlines the strategic framework, technical specifications, and functional requirements for the amalgamation of existing digital assets into a singular, cohesive digital content portfolio. It encompasses considerations for content migration, user experience design, accessibility standards, data integration, and security protocols. The project scope includes but is not limited to website consolidation, interactive content development, user interface design, an editorial dashboard, and the integration of multimedia resources to create a dynamic and engaging user experience.

The scope also encompasses the integration of curated content from the Stockdale Center and the Leadership, Ethics, and Law Division, the design of an intuitive user interface, and the incorporation of AI-driven features to facilitate dynamic interactions.

Additionally, the project will address the security, privacy, and ethical considerations inherent in deploying AI technologies within a military educational context.

The development of the unified digital content portfolio and customized LLM will be governed by the following principles:

User-Centric Design: Ensuring the platform is intuitive, accessible, and responsive to the needs of a diverse user base.

Content Integrity: Preserving the authenticity, accuracy, and value of the Stockdale Center's resources throughout the consolidation process.

Innovative Engagement: Leveraging interactive and multimedia elements to foster dynamic user interaction and learning experiences.

Scalability and Flexibility: Building a platform capable of evolving with the growing and changing needs of the Stockdale

Center and its community.

Security and Ethical Integrity: Upholding the highest standards of data security, privacy, and ethical AI use, in line with military and educational protocols.

The Center’s leadership believes that enhancing and maintaining these critical assets are critical to the continuing instruction of Midshipmen. The materials must be easy to access and update, and the content must be delivered to Midshipmen and Faculty in the most comprehensive manner available.

Period of Performance:

Required Delivery Date - August 15, 2024 Period of Performance - July 15, 2024 to August 14, 2025

Estimate Price:

Vendor Item Price Will Interactive Will Interactive System Portfolio $125,000

Describe in detail why only this source can furnish the requirements to the exclusion of other sources. (what specific characteristics of the supplies or services limit the availability to a sole source (e.g., unique features, function of the item, etc.)?)

VEILS® are the ONLY known immersive learning simulations that are created using a proprietary process that has been shown in multiple independent evaluation studies to actually improve the real-life performance of young adults in high-stress environments and situations. WILL Interactive is the ONLY producer of VEILS® and owns the trade secrets and proprietary process for VEILS® development. The Stockdale Center's extensive and ongoing market research over 12+ years has not found any similar products from other manufacturers, and even if we were to find a similar product, there is a high likelihood that it would infringe on WILL's intellectual property (IP), which the Government should seek to avoid. Sole sourcing this requirement to WILL is in the Government's best interest because it fulfills an important urgent need in a way that has shown to result in highest effectiveness while avoiding the risk of being a party to any possible IP infringement. This requirement is a direct follow on to N0018923P0395, where the WILL Interactive simulation is already in place. This requirement adds on to that software.

A patent, copyright or proprietary data limits competition.

VEILS® can only be obtained from the OEM, WILL Interactive. Although the simulations are delivered with Government Purpose rights in perpetuity with no additional cost ever, no other company has been identified that can demonstrate WILL Interactive's range of creating graphic novel, interactive movie, and augmented reality VEILS®. WILL Interactive has provide 18 interactive simulations to date for use by the naval Academy. Its ability to integrate the platform is based on its experience, know and ownership of the VEILS® platform No other company has demonstrated its ability to create and host these simulations and additional content as well and as cost consciously as Will Interactive.

Other information to support a sole source action:

Document number:

I HEREBY DETERMINE THAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CONTRACT ACTION DEEM ONLY ONE SOURCE REASONABLY AVAILABLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i).

Contracting Officer Signature Date

NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center, Norfolk Contracting