Single Source provider for ThinkCERCA proprietary software and reading curriculum

The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB) is conducting a single source procurement for proprietary software licenses and educational materials from ThinkCERCA for fiscal year 2026-2027. This procurement is not a competitive solicitation but rather a "Description of Intended Single Source Purchase" posted pursuant to Florida Statutes 287.057(3) and 120.57(3), as well as Florida Administrative Code Rule 60A-1.045. The procurement encompasses ThinkCERCA's proprietary schoolwide framework for critical thinking and literacy instruction, which is Common Core State Standards-aligned and serves grades 3-12. Key deliverables and features include a technology-enabled argumentative writing component with CERCA rubrics, authentic texts provided at ten levels of differentiation with expert lesson design, self-paced flipbook instruction with audio support, and flexible modular design capabilities for integration with existing district technology systems and curricula. The procurement was posted on March 13, 2026, and the fifteen business day notification period extends through April 3, 2026, at 4:00 PM, allowing vendors who believe they can fulfill the requirement to submit capability information during the advertising period. FSDB justifies this single source acquisition based on ThinkCERCA's status as the sole provider of their proprietary schoolwide framework and the program's adoption by the state of Florida, with the company operating exclusively through direct transactions with end customers.

This procurement contains no competitive set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent organization types, as it is structured as a single source purchase rather than a competitive bid. There are no disadvantaged enterprise requirements or preferences listed in the solicitation materials. ThinkCERCA, located at 875 North Michigan, Chicago, Illinois 60654, is the identified intended source and sole authorized vendor for this proprietary software and curriculum. No incumbent vendors or alternative contractors are referenced, as the unique and proprietary nature of the ThinkCERCA platform precludes comparable alternatives. The procurement requires integration with existing district-level technology systems and frameworks, and the flexible modular design of ThinkCERCA's platform is specifically cited as supporting this integration capability. The estimated dollar amount for this single source procurement is not-to-exceed $34,999.00, representing the maximum contract value for software licenses and materials for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.