Digital Science Curriculum/Penda Learning

Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) in Florida is pursuing a single/sole source procurement for Penda Learning's digital science curriculum for the 2024-2025 school year. The procurement specifically targets a digital science intervention resource designed for students in grades 3 through biology, featuring over 1,000 science activities aligned with Florida Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (FL NGSSS). The digital platform offers comprehensive features including three differentiated activity levels per standard, 14,000 hand-curated assessment items, gamification elements, automated weekly activity assignments, multi-language support for English Language Learners, and accessibility accommodations for students with reading difficulties. The procurement notice was posted on July 7, 2025, with a response period running from July 7-16, 2025, and a notice of intent to sole source period from July 16-21, 2025. Interested firms may submit alternative proposals demonstrating equivalent capabilities during this specified response window, with evaluations conducted by the District's General Manager of Procurement Services and Procurement Officer. The procurement is not a competitive solicitation, and responses will be considered solely for determining whether bona-fide competition exists.

This sole source procurement appears to have no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. Previous pilot programs in Hillsborough County demonstrated positive correlations between Penda Science activities and improvements in state science assessment performance, particularly in transformation schools. The procurement will be subscription-based, priced on a per-student seat basis, with Penda Learning positioning itself as a proprietary product for district-wide implementation. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly detailed, the per-student pricing model suggests a scalable procurement approach tied to district enrollment. Vendors interested in responding must upload documentation via www.myvendorlink.com, with responses requiring clear and convincing evidence of capability to meet or exceed the stated requirements. The final determination of whether to compete the proposed action rests solely with the discretion of the General Manager of Procurement Services.