SOLICITATION NOTICE
B -- Analysis of Gun-Free Schools Act State Reports
- Notice Date
- 9/6/2006
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 611710
— Educational Support Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Education, Contracts & Acquisitions Management, Contracts (All ED Components), 550 12th Street, SW, 7th Floor, Washington, DC, 20202
- ZIP Code
- 20202
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-EDOSDF-06-900709
- Response Due
- 9/20/2006
- Archive Date
- 10/5/2006
- Description
- The U.S. Department of Education (Department) intends to award a purchase order to procure services for the analysis of State reports required under the Gun-Free Schools Act (GFSA), which was enacted in October 1994 and reauthorized as Part A, Subpart 3 under Title IV of the Elementary and Secondary and Education Act (ESEA), as amended (20 U.S.C. 7151). The specific purpose of this procurement is to aggregate and analyze data from the GFSA State reports for 2005-2006 and to prepare a detailed final report. The final report must include an examination of data published in reports covering collections from previous reporting years. The report includes, but is not limited to, a description of the number of students expelled by local education agencies within States in compliance with the GFSA, as well as other information related to the types of firearms involved, referrals to alternative placements, and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) status of expelled students. Westat is the principle organization with considerable expertise in collecting and analyzing GFSA data. This purchase order is intended as a sole source award to be made to Westat in Rockville, Maryland. Sole Source Justification: The Gun-Free Schools Act (GFSA) was reauthorized under Section 4141 of the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (20 U.S.C. 7151) and requires each State receiving ESEA funds to have in effect a State law requiring local educational agencies (LEAs) to expel from school for a period of not less than one year a student found to have brought a firearm to school, or to have possessed a firearm at a school. The GFSA also requires LEAs that receive ESEA funds to adopt a policy requiring referral to the criminal justice or juvenile delinquency system of any student who brings a firearm to school or possesses a firearm at school. Each year, States are required to report to the Secretary of Education concerning implementation of the GFSA requirements. The Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools proposes to pay $25,000 to Westat to collect and analyze the data submitted by States for the 2005-2006 school year. Westat will also develop a final report that provides a detailed examination of the data found in the GFSA State reports. Over the past nine (9) years, States have submitted GFSA reports in a required format. Data have been collected by Westat for the 1995-96 through 2004-2005 school years over this timeframe. The quality and accuracy of the data has been a recurring problem. As a result, a considerable amount of time and effort is required to verify the data submitted and analyze data that is not necessarily comparable from state to state but, at the same, time make comparisons that will provide a national picture of the implementation of the GFSA and compliance. Data contained in the GFSA report is receiving increasing scrutiny from the Congress, the media, and the public. The unusual and compelling need for this particular data collection activity is consistent with the requirements of FAR 13.104(b). Because of the complexity of the data and the need for expert knowledge in the area of GFSA reporting, it would be extremely productive and cost effective to utilize the expertise of a source that is familiar with the issues related to this specific data collection. Westat has the experience and knowledge that is unique to other sources that specialize in data collection in that it has built a knowledge base on the issues of the GFSA and an effective system that responds immediately to the urgent needs of this collection activity. For this reason the continued use of Westat is crucial to meeting the needs of this Department. Point of Contact (Contract Officer): Debbie Kalnasy; U.S. Department of Education; Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools; 400 Maryland Avenue, SW; Room 3E228, FB6; Washington, DC 20202. Telephone (202) 260-1926; Fax (202) 260-7767; e-mail: debbie.kalnasy@ed.gov .
- Record
- SN01134684-W 20060908/060906220333 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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