Notice of Intent to Sole Source for Technical Writing Services

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE ORDER: The United States Department of Education (Department), Office of Educational Technology (OET), intends to award a sole source purchase order for technical writing and other writing support. In accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b), soliciting from a single source, OET intends to make a noncompetitive award to Susan Thomas. Ms. Thomas has previous experience serving as a writer for OET on several publications, including: (1) 2016 National Educational Technology Plan; (2) Future Ready Schools: Building Technology Infrastructure for Learning; (3) Expanding Evidence Approaches for Learning in a Digital World; and (4) 2010 National Educational Technology Plan. Ms. Thomas will be working to revise and update several of these publications that she has previously worked on under contract ED-OOS-14-C-0133. OET requires a highly skilled technical writer with demonstrated expertise in educational technology to provide state, district, and school officials with technical assistance to meet the goals of the 2016 National Educational Technology Plan. The contractor shall write, edit, and revise guides, briefs and reports, in consultation with OET staff. The contractor requires extensive knowledge of the field of educational technology along with demonstrated skill in conveying complex, highly technical information for policymakers and educational practitioners in plain language. Making a noncompetitive award to Ms. Thomas will maintain the integrity of the Department's publications. Working with Ms. Thomas will be cost effective, helping the Department avoid overhead costs and "start-up costs" associated with bringing another entity up to speed on the Department's publications, programs, policies and priorities. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. Written responses must include sufficient information to establish capability to fulfill the requirement. Any responses to this notice of contract shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer via email.