Consortium Membership and Assessment Licensing

The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoWEA) intends to award a sole-source, Firm-Fixed-Price Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (FFP IDIQ) contract for consortium membership and assessment licensing services to support its educational assessment program for grades 3 through 7. The requirement mandates full membership in the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC), operated by the Regents of the University of California, which is the only entity capable of providing proprietary computer-adaptive assessments in English language arts/literacy and mathematics, along with related instructional tools, accessibility frameworks, and psychometric support. The services include ongoing access to summative and interim assessment items, online Tools for Teachers platform licensing, interoperable technical architecture in IMS Global/IEdTech formats, active participation in consortium governance with voting rights, and comprehensive technical support delivered within one business day. The contract has a five-year period of performance, comprising a one-year base period and four one-year option periods, with a total estimated value of $1,188,945, of which $237,789 in FY26 funds is currently available for the base period. The contract is justified under 10 U.S.C. § 3204(a) and FAR 6.103(a) due to the unique and exclusive capabilities of SBAC, including its secure item banks, validated psychometric models, and legal authority to grant consortium membership, which no other vendor can replicate without causing significant delays or cost duplication. All work will be performed at the contractor’s facilities, with administrative oversight centered in Alexandria, Virginia. The contractor must comply with stringent cybersecurity standards aligned with Department of War and DoWEA policies, ensure all digital content is compatible with Google Chrome and Edge browsers, and conform to Section 508 accessibility requirements for information and communication technology. Privacy protections are mandatory, requiring adherence to the Privacy Act, the use of unique non-PII credentials for user accounts, and annual completion of DoD Privacy Act/PII training by all staff with access to student or staff data, with written verification submitted to the Contracting Officer’s Representative 120 days before each option period expires. Technical deliverables must meet 100% PWS compliance for consortium membership, core licensing, accessibility, and interoperability tasks, while research and governance outputs must achieve 80% accuracy in drafts and 100% accuracy in final versions. The contractor is required to participate in a post-award