Intent to Award to a Single Source

The Department of the Air Force Space Command has published a Special Notice announcing their intent to award a single source contract to SANS (The Escal Institute of Advanced Technologies Inc) for cybersecurity training courses. This procurement is for the 17th Training and Education Squadron (17 TES) and involves multi-day cybersecurity training courses delivered by experienced instructors, along with Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) test bundles. The estimated contract value is $50,472.00, and the notice was posted on August 20, 2025. The training courses include management tools to track student progress and feature curriculum that is routinely updated for accuracy and best practices. The contracting activity falls under the 50 CONS/PKB with Contracting Officer Sara Tolva executing the procurement.

The primary purpose of this Special Notice is to inform the contracting community of the government's intention to sole source this cybersecurity training requirement rather than conduct a competitive procurement. The justification for single source award centers on SANS being the exclusive provider of SANS training courses and GIAC certifications, with copyright-protected courseware and curriculum that can only be delivered by SANS-certified instructors. Interested parties have until September 25, 2025, to respond to this notice if they believe they can provide equivalent capabilities. The contracting officer has determined that no viable alternative vendors exist for this specialized training requirement, and competitive bidding would pose unacceptable risks. The procurement falls under NAICS code 611420 (Computer Training) and PSC code U012 (Education/Training- Information Technology/Telecommunications Training), indicating the specialized nature of the cybersecurity training services required.