Sole Source Justification for Streaming Rights to DVD Titles for Educator Professional Development on Differentiated Instruction

The Department of Defense Education Activity's (DoDEA) intends to issue on a sole-source basis under Simplified Acquisition Procedures, an award to Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) based on the information below: Description of supplies and/or services: DoDEA requires all DoDEA principals to have electronic access to the ASCD DVDs entitled Leadership for Differentiating Instruction and The Common Sense of Differentiation. Both titles contain a series of workshops designed for use by educators interested in designing classrooms that maximize the potential of a full range of learners. Included are presentations that take the viewers into a variety of classrooms at different grade areas and across different subject areas to observe how teachers uncover learner needs, plan instruction to meet those needs and develop classroom routines that allow attention to a range of learner needs. Each title is accompanied by a facilitator guide that provides opportunities for addition exploration, application and key practices of effective differentiation for diverse learners. The requested purchase is for the rights to stream these DVDs over DoDEA's virtual learning environment and allow DoDEA to make 25 copies of the DVD's accompanying purchased facilitator guide. Reason the proposed contractor is the only source available: In 2009 DoDEA began planning a system wide rollout of a sustained comprehensive professional development initiative on differentiating instruction. The materials by ASCD and other vendors were vetted at the 2010 DoDEA Worldwide Administrator meeting. It was decided that ASCD was the only vendor capable of providing the professional material compatible with the DoDEA approved model of differentiated instruction. A notice for DoDEA's intent to award a sole source contract was posted on Federal Business Opportunities giving interested parties an opportunity to respond. No responses were received and a sole source firm fixed price contract was awarded to ASCD which included facilitator guides/DVDs for the titles. But due to end of fiscal year budget constraints the contract did not include streaming rights for Leadership for Differentiating Instruction and The Common Sense of Differentiation which both reinforce the training based on DoDEA's approved model. Both titles unique content warrant the use of sole source authority and have been adopted for use in DoDEA system wide professional development training on Differentiated Instruction. Consistent implementation and evaluation of the professional development initiative on professional development is crucial to DoDEA realizing its goals system wide. Market research determined that no other vendors can provide the streaming rights to the DVDs which are proprietary information belonging to ASCD. Because the DVDs are proprietary material only available from ASCD there are no alternatives other than a sole source contract with ASCD. Will these same supplies and/or services be needed again? Yes or No.: A contract with a base year plus two twelve month option years is being requested to allow DoDEA the streaming rights to these two videos for DoDEA's professional development initiative. DoDEA subject matter experts will continually monitor new developments and additional sources that could possibly meet the organizations need. In addition DoDEA will annually examine if the streaming rights to the above listed DVDs meet the standard and level of professional development required for its educators. As requirements change and new alternatives for meeting them enter the marketplace, all interested parties are given the opportunity to compete. Any responsible party that feels it has the capability to provide streaming rights meeting all of the requirements listed in this announcement may write to the referenced Contract Specialist. This announcement and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-16. Responses in regard to this announcement shall be submitted by July 6, 2011 by 12:00 PM (EST). The Government does not intend to pay for any information provided. All responses from responsible sources will be fully considered. If no affirmative written responses are received by the due date indicating a comparable source exists, an order will be placed with ASCD. Each Electronic and Information Technology supply or service furnished under this acquisition shall comply with the Electronic and Information Accessibility Standards (36 CFR 1194, see http://www.section508.gov/ ), except for supplies or services specifically identified by the contractor to the Contracting Officer prior to award. If the Contracting Officer determines any furnished supply or service does not conform to the Standards, the Contracting Officer will promptly inform the Contractor in writing. The contractor shall, without charge to the Government, repair or replace the non-compliant supply or service within the period of time the Government specifies. The Government requires streaming rights to the two titles for the period of one Base Year plus two Option Years. The submission due date and time is Wednesday, July, 6 2011 by 12:00 PM (EST). The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) is a federal government agency, an education activity, tax exempt, and qualifies for academic/educational pricing. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the agency. Interested parties should ensure that their information in the Central Contractor Registration, http://www.ccr.gov/ is accurate and current. PSC Code: U009, Education. NAICS Code: 511130, Book Publishers. Size Standard: 500