Engineering Pathway Courseware

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding Solicitation HE1254-26-Q-E033 for Engineering Pathway Courseware.

• References: Three references are acceptable, though up to five are permitted for contracts within the past five years. References can include past or current Federal, State, local, and commercial customers.
• Bid Submission: Bids can be submitted electronically via email to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer by the closing date and time.
• Optional CLINs: Optional CLINs for equipment, consumables, or software may be quoted only if expressly provided for in the solicitation. They will not be evaluated as part of the base-price evaluation unless exercised by the Government.
• Course Standards Alignment: The PWS references DoDEA's career and technical education website for alignment of Principles of Engineering, Engineering Design and Development, and Engineering Drawing CAD. Offerors should use the standards located at the provided URL.
• Changes to Requirements: Material changes to solicitation requirements before award will be issued via amendment. Post-award changes to curriculum, standards, or alignment requirements are not automatic and will be implemented through contract modification if deemed necessary by the Government.
• Content Currency: The requirement to keep content current is limited to maintaining alignment with the current course descriptions and requirements identified in the solicitation. Ongoing alignment to newly adopted standards is not required unless directed by the Government.
• Digital Access: Physical samples are not required. Vendors must provide materials via digital access codes demonstrating their ability to meet requirements, as per Attachment 8 and evaluation factors.

This Q&A clarifies submission procedures, reference requirements, and the handling of optional CLINs and post-award changes. It also confirms the source for curriculum alignment and the need for digital access codes for submissions.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation (Solicitation Number: HE125426QE0330001) is for "Engineering Pathway Courseware." The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) is seeking to procure seat licenses for three 36-week courses: Principles of Engineering, Engineering Design and Development, and Engineering Drawing Computer-Aided Design (CAD). Additionally, related virtual professional learning for CTE teachers is required, to be delivered asynchronously via webinars and/or digital modules.

• Seat licenses for three 36-week courses: Principles of Engineering, Engineering Design and Development, and Engineering Drawing Computer-Aided Design (CAD).

• Virtual professional learning for CTE teachers (asynchronous sessions, webinars, and/or digital modules).

• All Information and Communication Technology (ICT) items offered must meet Section 508 accessibility standards.

• The courseware must be a mature product capable of fully functioning on the first day of contract performance.

• Courseware must be K-12 Standards-aligned.

• Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP), Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ).

• Period of Performance: Orders may be issued from August 29, 2026, through August 28, 2031.

• Estimated Maximum Value: USD 24,000,000.00 (NAICS Code: 611710).

• Offer Due Date: April 28, 2026, 12:00 PM Local Time.

• Offerors must submit a quote package in electronic format (Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat PDF for text, Microsoft Excel for pricing).

• Quotes must be valid for 120 calendar days from the closing date.

• Evaluation will be based on three factors: Technical Approach, Past Performance, and Price.

• Technical evaluation includes a pass/fail screening followed by a rated technical evaluation.

• Past performance will be evaluated based on up to five recent and relevant projects.

• Price will be evaluated for reasonableness and completeness.

• This acquisition is set aside for Small Business.

• The solicitation includes numerous FAR and DFARS clauses incorporated by reference and by full text.

• Vendors must complete and submit various attachments, including a Pricing Sheet, Terms of Service Addendum, Accessibility Conformance Report, Cloud Questionnaire, FAR and DFARS Provisions, Privacy Checklist, Privacy Assessment, Performance Work Statement, Past Performance Questionnaire, and Questions and Answers.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a pricing sheet associated with solicitation HE125426QE033. It is intended for bidders to provide their pricing details for the various categories of work required.

• The sheet includes categories such as 'Principles of Engineering', 'Engineering Drawing Computer-Aided', 'Engineering Design & Development', 'Professional Learning', and 'Technical Support'.
• Pricing is broken down by 'Units', '$/Unit', and 'Total' for Base Year and four Option Years, as well as for clause 52.217-8.
• Columns for 'Grand Total' are provided for each category and for cumulative totals.

Bidders must use this sheet to enter their proposed pricing for each line item and option period. The 'Grand Total' will reflect the total proposed cost. This document is critical for proposal submission and will be used in the evaluation of the opportunity.

Amendment / Modification

This document is an Addendum to a License Agreement or Terms of Use, intended to be attached to a proposal in response to a solicitation. It clarifies terms that are unacceptable to the Government due to conflicts with Federal law or incompatibility with Government needs. The Addendum supersedes and controls over any conflicting terms in the offeror's original License Agreement.

Key unacceptable terms and their modifications include:

• General Indemnity (by the government): Not agreed to; recourse must be via the Contract Disputes Act.
• Patent Indemnity (by the contractor): Contractor indemnifies the Government, but the U.S. Department of Justice retains control of defense (28 U.S.C. § 516).
• Automatic renewals: Not agreed to; require prior express Government approval by a warranted contracting officer.
• Audit: Contractor cannot audit Government systems; Government may conduct a self-audit at its discretion.
• Attorney fees and costs; equitable relief; arbitration: Not agreed to, except as permitted by statute (e.g., Prompt Payment Act). Binding arbitration is not permitted.
• Taxes: Government is not responsible for all taxes; vendor must submit claims individually to the contracting officer.
• Incorporating other License Terms by Reference: Terms are only binding if submitted with the proposal and made an attachment to the contract.
• Venue; Choice of Law: Government does not consent to specific venues or choice of law; disputes governed by federal statutes and regulations.
• Arbitration: Mandatory arbitration is not agreed to; disputes resolved per federal statutes.
• Equitable remedies, injunctions: Not agreed to, except as permitted by federal statutes.
• Unilateral termination by contractor for breach: Not permitted; recourse is via the Contract Disputes Act.
• Unilateral modification: Contractor cannot unilaterally change license terms.
• Assignment by licensor: Not agreed to, except as permitted by the Assignment of Claims Act.
• Confidentiality: License agreement terms and prices are not considered confidential or proprietary; FOIA applies.
• User obligations: Government users are not bound by terms; "You" or "User" refers to the Government itself.

This Addendum modifies the terms of any License Agreement or Terms of Use submitted by an offeror.

Offerors must submit this Addendum as an attachment to their proposal. The terms of this Addendum will be binding and will prevail over any conflicting terms in the offeror's License Agreement if a contract is awarded.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document provides contract language and instructions for incorporating Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requirements into procurement documentation, specifically for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) products and services. It serves as a template for solicitations, Statements of Work (SOWs), and Performance Work Statements (PWSs).

• IT Accessibility Requirements: Details the mandate from Section 508 for ICT to be accessible to individuals with disabilities.
• Applicable Standards: References 36 C.F.R. § 1194.1 & Apps. A, C & D, and the Revised 508 Standards, including specific criteria for functional performance, software features, hardware components, and support services.
• Instructions to Offerors: Outlines how vendors should document their proposed solution's compliance, including providing an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) using the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT), describing universal design principles, and detailing plans for non-conforming features.
• Acceptance Criteria: States the government's right to test ICT items to validate conformance claims before acceptance.

This document is crucial for bidders responding to solicitations for IT products or services. It clearly defines the Section 508 accessibility requirements that must be met. Bidders must understand these requirements to accurately prepare their proposals, including completing the VPAT and demonstrating compliance. Failure to address these requirements could impact proposal evaluation and contract acceptance.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document contains two key provisions that bidders must review and complete as part of their offer. These provisions relate to tax obligations on foreign procurements and adherence to the Buy American and Balance of Payments Program.

1. FAR 52.229-11 TAX ON CERTAIN FOREIGN PROCUREMENTS--NOTICE AND REPRESENTATION (JUN 2020)

• Definitions: Clarifies terms such as "Foreign person," "Specified Federal procurement payment," and "United States person."
• Tax Implication: A 2% tax may apply to specified Federal procurement payments made to foreign persons, as per 26 U.S.C. 5000C.
• Exemptions: Exemptions are detailed, requiring the use of IRS Form W-14, "Certificate of Foreign Contracting Party Receiving Federal Procurement Payments." This form must be submitted with the offer if claiming an exemption.
• Bidder Representation: Offerors must represent whether they are a foreign person and, if so, whether they are claiming a full, partial, or no exemption from the tax using IRS Form W-14.
• Consequences of Non-Compliance: Failure to submit the IRS Form W-14 with the offer, if applicable, will result in the Government withholding the full 2% tax.

2. DFARS 252.225-7000 BUY AMERICAN-BALANCE OF PAYMENTS PROGRAM CERTIFICATE-BASIC (FEB 2024)

• Definitions: References definitions from DFARS 252.225-7001 for terms like "domestic end product" and "foreign end product."
• Evaluation: Offers will be evaluated according to DFARS Part 225. Qualifying country end products are evaluated without Buy American statute restrictions.
• Bidder Certification: Offerors must certify:
  • That end products are domestic, unless listed otherwise.
  • Whether domestic end products contain critical components or items.
  • The origin of components for non-COTS items.
  • Whether foreign end products exceed 55% domestic content (if applicable).
• Required Information: Bidders must identify qualifying country end products and other foreign end products, including their country of origin and domestic content percentage where applicable. They must also list domestic end products containing critical components.

Offerors must carefully review these provisions to understand their tax liabilities and compliance requirements under the Buy American and Balance of Payments Program. Accurate completion of the representations and certifications, including the submission of IRS Form W-14 where necessary, is crucial for proposal evaluation and potential contract award. Failure to comply may result in tax withholding or impact the evaluation of the offer.

Other / Unclassified

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This document does not contain substantive information related to the SAM.gov opportunity. It serves as a technical notification that the actual document content is not rendering. Bidders should disregard this page and look for the actual solicitation, SOW, amendment, or other relevant document.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Past and Present Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) that potential bidders must complete and submit to the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). It is used to gather feedback from references regarding a prime vendor's past performance.

• Contact Information: Requires submission via email to the Contract Specialist (London Thomas) and Contracting Officer (Alim Koroma).
• Reference Information Table: To be filled out by the prime vendor prior to forwarding to references. Includes fields for the reference's business name, address, point of contact, phone number, email, contract value, contract number, contract type, period of performance, and a brief description of the work.
• Scope Verification: Asks references to confirm the accuracy of the provided scope of work.
• Problem Encountered: Inquires about any significant problems with the company's resources or support services.
• Performance Evaluation: References rate the vendor on compliance with deliverables, business practices, conformity to contract requirements, quality of resources/services, and overall performance using a scale (Poor/Unsatisfactory, Satisfactory, Good, Very Good, Excellent, Neutral).
• Re-purchase Decision: Asks if the reference would purchase services from the vendor again.
• Additional Comments: Space for any further remarks on past performance.

Bidders must ensure their references accurately and favorably complete this questionnaire. The feedback provided by references will be a critical factor in the government's evaluation of the bidder's past performance. Failure to submit a complete and timely PPQ, or receiving negative feedback, could significantly impact a bid's success.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To provide commercial off-the-shelf (COTS), 100% digital, cloud-based courseware and related professional learning and technical support for three engineering pathway courses: Principles of Engineering, Engineering Design and Development, and Engineering Drawing Computer-Aided Design (CAD).

• Provide digital, cloud-based instructional resources for students and teachers for the three specified engineering courses.

• Resources must be aligned with College and Career Ready Standards (CCRS) and International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards.

• Content should be customizable for various instructional formats (face-to-face, virtual, hybrid).

• Include up-to-date industry regulatory information, hands-on activities, and assessments.

• Provide professional learning for teachers, including asynchronous webinars/modules and LMS posting.

• Offer industry-standard technical support via telephone or email within one business day.

• Ensure all third-party programs, software, and applications meet minimum technical requirements, including FedRAMP Level 2 (waivers may be considered).

• Deliver digital materials accessible via DoWEA's LMS (Schoology) and/or Single Sign-On (SSO) platform (ClassLink).

• Allow teachers to download resources for printing as needed.

• Tasks to be completed by required dates.

• Access to resources available 24/7/365 with limited unscheduled downtime.

• Technical support to acknowledge requests within two hours and resolve 90% within one business day.

• Professional learning session drafts due 15 business days before presentation, finals due five business days after feedback.

• Place of Performance: Contractor's facilities.

• Availability: Resources available for the life of the contract.

• Updates: Content/courseware must be kept current and updated regularly.

• Cybersecurity: Compliance with DoD and DoWEA cybersecurity requirements, including FedRAMP Level 2 standards (or approved waiver), STIGs, and secure data handling (TLS/AES-256 encryption).

• Privacy: Contractor personnel must be US citizens and complete DoW Privacy Act/PAI training. PII must be protected in accordance with the Privacy Act.

• Accessibility: All Information and Communication Technology (ICT) must conform to Revised 508 Standards.

• Data Rights: All data developed is the property of the Government. Digital rights for visual materials must be provided for DoWEA's internal use.

• System Integration: Support for SSO (ClassLink, Google, Azure), OAuth 2.0, SAML, Azure AD/Google AD, and data rostering standards (OneRoster).

• Liaison: Contractor must provide a liaison and alternate liaison with specific availability and communication requirements.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Privacy Checklist required for contractors handling Personally Identifiable Information (PII) on behalf of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). It outlines the responsibilities and acknowledgments required to safeguard PII.

• Instructions: Emphasizes DoDEA's responsibility to safeguard PII and contractor obligations to prevent loss, theft, or compromise.
• Acknowledgments: Requires contractors to comply with the Privacy Act of 1974, assist with Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs), provide privacy training to employees, report breaches promptly (within 24 hours) using DD Form 2959, and adhere to limitations on PII use and dissemination.
• Record Ownership: Clarifies that federal records created by contractors for DoDEA business are DoDEA property and must be managed according to DoDEA guidance.
• Prohibited Acquisitions: Includes clauses prohibiting the acquisition of hardware, software, and services from specific Russian (Kaspersky Labs) and Chinese (Huawei, ZTE, etc.) entities, requiring contractors to report any such discoveries.
• Certification: Requires an authorized representative to sign, acknowledging understanding and compliance with the checklist's contents.

Bidders must review this checklist to understand their obligations regarding PII handling, data security, breach reporting, and restrictions on certain technology acquisitions. Completion and acknowledgment of this checklist are likely a mandatory requirement for contract performance. Failure to comply could result in non-compliance or contract termination.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation (HE125426QE033) is for "Engineering Pathway Courseware" for the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). DoDEA requires seat licenses for three 36-week courses: Principles of Engineering, Engineering Design and Development, and Engineering Drawing Computer-Aided Design (CAD). All professional learning must be asynchronous sessions (webinars and/or digital modules).

• Engineering Pathway Courseware including Principles of Engineering, Engineering Design and Development, and Engineering Drawing Computer-Aided Design (CAD).

• Professional learning components for CTE teachers.

• All professional learning must be asynchronous (webinars and/or digital modules).

• The courseware must be a mature product capable of fully functioning on the first day of contract performance.

• Courseware must align with K-12 standards and include up-to-date regulatory information, hands-on activities, and assessments.

• Vendors must address Section 508 accessibility requirements for all Information and Communication Technology (ICT) items offered.

• Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP), Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ).

• Period of Performance: Orders may be issued from August 29, 2026, through August 28, 2031. The total contract duration, including options, shall not exceed 5 years.

• Estimated Value: The North American Industry Classification Standard (NAICS) code is 611710, with a size standard of USD 24,000,000.00.

• Offer Due Date: April 28, 2026, 12:00 PM Local Time.

• Submission Method: Electronic submission via email to the points of contact listed.

• Evaluation Factors: The award will be made on a competitive best-value basis, considering Technical Approach, Past Performance, and Price.

• Technical Evaluation: A two-step process involving a pass/fail screening followed by a rated technical evaluation.

• Past Performance: Vendors must submit 3-5 recent and relevant past performance references.

• Price: Evaluated separately for reasonableness and completeness.

• The acquisition is set aside for Small Business.

• The solicitation includes numerous FAR and DFARS clauses incorporated by reference and in full text.

• Vendors must complete and submit various attachments, including a Pricing Sheet, Terms of Service Addendum, Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR), Cloud Questionnaire, FAR/DFARS Provisions, Privacy Checklist, Privacy Assessment, and Past Performance Questionnaire.

• Quotes must remain valid for 120 calendar days from the closing date.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a "DoDEA Cloud Questionnaire" designed to assess the compatibility of a vendor's cloud-based solution with Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) and DISA guidelines. It aims to enable DoDEA to quickly and effectively evaluate cloud solutions.

The questionnaire covers several key areas:

• Cloud Resource Website/URLs: Inquires about the availability and access to cloud resources.
• Client Systems and Software Configuration: Asks about server support needs, required software installations on DoDEA computers, and necessary configurations or changes to DoDEA systems.
• Privacy Information Data Collection and Distribution: Gathers information on whether the service collects Personally Identifiable Information (PII) or sensitive information, and if this data is shared with third parties or external business partners. It also checks adherence to privacy regulations like COPPA, Privacy Act of 1974, FERPA, and CIPA.
• System Management and Security: Assesses practices related to penetration testing, vulnerability testing, intrusion prevention, software updates, and physical security of systems.
• Data Storage, Retention, and Access: Inquires about data storage location (within the US), employee/subcontractor access, encryption of data at rest and in transit, multi-tenant hosting, and processes for authentication, access control, and data deletion.
• Development and Change Management Process: Asks about customer notification processes for policy changes.
• Audits and Standards: Inquires about DoDEA's ability to audit security and privacy, external security reviews, and adherence to security standards (ISO, NIST, PCI DSS).
• Test and Development Environments: Questions the use of live student/privacy data in non-production environments.
• Data Breach, Incident Investigation and Response: Assesses processes for disaster recovery, denial-of-service protection, data breach management, and security incident investigations.

Vendors must complete this questionnaire to demonstrate their cloud solution's compliance with DoDEA's security and privacy requirements. The responses will be critical for DoDEA's evaluation of the vendor's offering. Failure to answer questions is considered an unacceptable response. Proprietary or sensitive information provided will be protected.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

This Performance Work Statement (PWS) outlines the requirements for providing commercial off-the-shelf (COTS), 100% digital courseware and related support for three engineering courses within the Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA).

• Courseware: Provide digital, cloud-based instructional resources for "Principles of Engineering," "Engineering Design and Development," and "Engineering Drawing Computer-Aided Design (CAD)." Resources must be aligned with course competencies and standards, customizable for various instructional formats (face-to-face, virtual, hybrid), incorporate best practices for student mastery, include up-to-date industry information, offer hands-on activities, and provide assessments.

• Professional Learning: Offer asynchronous webinars and/or digital modules for teachers, including two 2-hour sessions annually on topics determined post-award. These sessions must be SCORM® compliant and posted on DoWEA's learning management system (LMS).

• Technical Support: Acknowledge requests within two hours and resolve 90% within one business day, with the remaining 10% resolved within five business days.

• Courseware Delivery: Access to digital materials must be available three business days after receipt of the initial delivery order.

• Third-Party Programs: Must be PWS-compliant.

• Professional Learning: Sessions must be scheduled, with drafts submitted 15 business days before presentation and finals five business days after feedback. No more than one session postponement per year due to contractor issues.

• General: All tasks must be completed within the required timeline. Courseware must be accessible 24/7/365 with minimal unscheduled downtime.

• Place of Performance: Contractor's facilities.

• Availability: Resources must be available for the life of the contract and regularly updated.

• Technical: Resources must meet Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) Level 2 standards, be compatible with specified browser platforms (Chrome, Edge), and adhere to Section 508 accessibility standards. SCORM® compliance is required for digital modules.

• Privacy & Security: Personnel must be US citizens. All PII must be handled in accordance with the Privacy Act. Data must be secured using AES-256 encryption at rest and TLS encryption in transit. Cybersecurity requirements, including patching and incident reporting, must be met.

• Data Rights: All data developed under the contract is the property of the Government.

• Nondiscrimination: Resources must be free of bias.

• Liaison: A designated liaison with at least one year of relevant experience must be available during specified hours.