Intent to Sole Source - Critical Thinking Assessment

INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE Critical Thinking and Thinking Styles Assessments The 42nd Contracting Squadron at Maxwell AFB, AL intends to award a sole source contract to Pearson Education, 19500 Bulverde Rd, San Antonio, Texas, for the purchase of online access to Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisals and "My Thinking Styles" inventories. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 519130 and the small business size standard is 1,000 employees. Description of the Requirement: The Barnes Center for Enlisted Education Chief Leadership Course (CLC) seeks the purchase of 750 Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisals (WGCTA) and "My Thinking Styles" inventories (MTS) for use in their academic program. The WGCTA assessment will provide students a good indicator of any strengths or weaknesses in five key areas of critical thinking. The WGCTA is acknowledged in both academic and scientific circles as the bench mark for capturing critical thinking data appropriate for qualitative and quantitative peer-reviewed research. The MTS was developed to compliment the WGCTA and analizes seven styles that are very closely aligned with the seven styles listed in The Delphi Report, an academic landmark study authored by one of the foundational and premier researchers (Faccione) in this field. Critical thinking is an important skill for military leaders to cultivate, and research has proven that understanding/leveraging individual thinking styles is key to developing critical thinking skills. This initiative directly supports Air Force Strategic Master Plan vector 3 (Ensure a Full-Spectrum Capable, High-End Focused Force), and aligns with the AUSIL Seq #359, Index 16225 (Human Capital - A Critical Look at Developing Better Thinkers). IMPORTANT NOTES: 1. This is not a request for quotes and no solicitation is available. 2. A determination not to compete the proposed procurement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received in response to this notice will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. 3. Respondents are discouraged from submitting any information deemed competition-sensitive or proprietary. 4. Respondents will not be reimbursed for any costs incurred in responding to this intent to sole source (ISS). Information submitted will not be returned to the respective respondents. 5. Oral submissions of information will not be considered in response to this ISS. This sole source procurement is under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b). To assist the Government in determining if this acquisition is available for competition, please provide the following information: 1. GENERAL INFORMATION: Company's full name, business size, address, point of contact and telephone number 2. CAPABILITIES: Please address the following regarding your capabilities in meeting the requirement described above. a. Is your company capable of meeting the entire requirement? b. If your response to question 2a. above is "Yes", please provide supporting documentation that clearly demonstrates your company's ability to meet this requirement. c. Please provide any additional information that the Government should consider in determining if this requirement should be considered for competition. 3. If there are any other businesses that con provide the specified services described above, you must respond to this notice before 15 March 2019, 4:00 pm CST. If no responses are received by the above referenced time, a sole source contract may be awarded to Pearson Education, Inc. Responses must be submitted to the points of contact indicated below. Wyatt Brass (Contract Specialist), Email: wyatt.brass@us.af.mil Phone: (334) 953-8083 Mr. Jeremy Kersey (Team Lead), Email: jeremy.kersey.1@us.af.mil Phone: (334) 953-3526