Notice of intent to award a sole source contract

The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), part of the Department of the Interior, has issued a Notice of Intent to Award a Sole Source Contract to the Council of Chief State School Officers, Inc. (CCSSO). This special notice informs potential contractors that BIE intends to award a firm-fixed price contract worth approximately $106,090 over five years under simplified acquisition procedures for commercial services. The contract falls under NAICS code 813920 for Professional Organizations and covers education/training services including tuition, registration, and membership fees. The notice explicitly states this is not a competitive procurement and no solicitation will be issued. BIE published this notice on August 6, 2025, following federal acquisition regulations that require advance notification of sole source awards.

The primary purpose of this sole source contract is to secure technical assistance services from CCSSO, which provides support to state education agencies receiving U.S. Department of Education allocations and facilitates professional development through membership events with advisors. The incumbent contractor has demonstrated successful past performance under the current contract, justifying BIE's intent to continue the arrangement without competition. However, BIE allows for challenges to this sole source approach, requiring any firm that believes the procurement should be competitive to submit capability statements and pricing information to Contract Specialist M. Nahlee at michelle.nahlee@bie.edu by 4:00 PM Central Time on August 7, 2025. The contract duration is anticipated for five years, subject to satisfactory performance and annual funding availability. Contractors seeking to challenge this sole source decision must demonstrate their capabilities and provide competitive pricing within the extremely tight one-day response window.