Single Source Provider for Newsela proprietary software licenses

The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind is proceeding with a single-source contract to acquire proprietary software licenses from Newsela for a three-year period covering Fiscal Years 2026 through 2029, with a total estimated value not to exceed $37,000. The procurement encompasses licenses for Newsela’s All Access PD Pass, ELA, Science, Social Studies, and Writing products, which provide access to a unique library of instructional content sourced exclusively from partners including the Associated Press, the Washington Post, National Geographic, Scientific American, and the Smithsonian Institution. These resources are delivered through a proprietary platform that offers differentiated reading levels, embedded formative assessments, and customizable close reading tools aligned with curricular goals, and no alternative SaaS solution offers the same combination of content, functionality, and intellectual property protections. The acquisition is justified under Florida statutorily authorized single-source procedures, as Newsela is the sole provider of this specific content and technology ecosystem, protected by copyrights, trademarks, and service marks. The solicitation number is SS-27-007, classified under NAICS code 43232500 for educational or reference software, and the notice was publicly posted on June 10, 2026, with a response deadline of July 1, 2026. While no competitive evaluation factors or detailed performance specifications are included, vendors are invited to submit information during the fifteen-business-day announcement window demonstrating their ability to fulfill the requirements, though submissions do not constitute formal protests, which must follow separate administrative procedures under Chapter 120, Florida Statutes. All inquiries must be directed to Kim Whitwam, Director of Purchasing, via email. The performance location is Florida, and the contract will be executed without competitive bidding under statutory authority.