Curriculum Development Services

MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD

SUBJECT: Sole Source Justification - Development of elementary school curriculum modules that align with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

The Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) is creating a new product line of elementary school curriculum that aligns to the NGSS. This curriculum is being developed in phases. The Smithsonian Institution hereby provides notice of its intention to issue a sole source stand-alone contract with Rainbow Educational Concepts, Inc. for curriculum development services. The contractor will complete a previously approved Scope of Work required to develop nine science and engineering curriculum modules aligned to NGSS standards across grades 3 through 5 . The price of the contract is $1M.

Rainbow created the 4th grade Energy module under a separate contract. The 4th grade module will be pilot tested in Fall 2016. SSEC is now scaling up to develop a total of 9 new science and engineering modules that will follow the same format as the 4th grade Energy module. The contract will be awarded as a sole source based on the fact that this is a follow-on purchase requiring the use of a previous source for compatibility with a previous purchase. Rainbow's writers have been trained on both the NGSS and the pedagogy utilized for SSEC's elementary modules. In addition, Rainbow will give SSEC direct access to those writers, allowing the project to be completed on an expedited basis in order to meet SSEC publishing deadlines and at a savings to the Smithsonian.

Rainbow Educational Concepts has the means, technical skill and requisite knowledge for developing the additional modules on the compressed schedule required to meet the SSEC's publishing deadlines, ensuring SSEC can meet state curriculum adoption deadlines. It is the Smithsonian's position that awarding this contract to any contractor other than Rainbow would likely result in the project not being completed prior to those deadlines causing serious impact to SSEC's revenue source and that the duplication of costs would exceed what would be gained through competition.

For subcontracting opportunities, contact:
Rainbow Educational Concepts, Inc.
Attn: Brian Smith, President and COO
4147 N. Ravenswood Ave., Suite 301
Chicago, IL 60613