Speech Writing Support

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE ORDER: The United States Department of Education (Department), Office of Communications and Outreach (OCO), intends to award a sole source purchase order for speech writing and other writing support. The contractor shall assist in writing speeches, op-eds and articles on specialized topics, e.g., academics and athletics, high-performing inner city schools, and education reform. In accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b), soliciting from a single source, OCO intends to make a noncompetitive award to David Whitman. Mr. Whitman has previous experience serving as Secretary Duncan's principal speechwriter for over 5 years. He knows the Secretary's voice, cadence, and vocabulary. In addition, Mr. Whitman is uniquely qualified to do work around academics and athletics. For example, he assisted in drafting all of the Secretary's speeches and op-eds on the subject and has staffed the Secretary on all matters related to college athletics. Mr. Whitman is a national expert in other content topics of the speeches and writings he will help produce: specifically, high performing inner city schools and education reform. His book about inner city schools, Sweating the Small Stuff (written before coming to the Department), received national acclaim, and his perspective is in line with Department policy. Beyond that, he is an accomplished journalist, having covered social policy from 1985-2003 for U.S. News & World Report. He also has written articles for the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, the Atlantic, and New Republic. Making a noncompetitive award to Mr. Whitman will maintain the integrity of the Department's message resulting in final products that will be consistent with that message, which is the intention of the procurement. Working with Mr. Whitman 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 programs, policies and priorities or the Secretary's personal style and voice. The anticipated total value of the award is far below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold. The contract action is for services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one sole source under the authority of Federal Acquisition Regulation FAR 13, soliciting from a single source, only one source reasonably available. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract action, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. Any responses to this notice of contract action shall be submitted to Contracting Officer no later than 12:00 P.M. E.S.T. on November 13, 2014. Responses shall include a brief description of previously performed contracts providing speech writing services and experience with national education issues, to include customer/end-use points of contact.