U.S. Department of Education, Grants and Contracts Services, Attn: Dean Dike, contract Specialist, Room 3661, 7th & D Streets, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202

B -- NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS (NAEP) DUE 070395 POC Dean Dike 202-708-8569 Helen Chang 202-708-9740. B - It is anticipated that one sole source contract will be awarded to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to evaluate the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and developmental state assessments, and to evaluate whether student performance levels are reasonable, valid, and informative to the public. This evluation thie congressionally mandated by the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-382); Title IV (National Education Statistics); Section 411 (National Assessment of Educational Progress); Section (f) (Review of National and State Assessments) specifically which cites the NAS as a ''nationally recognized'' organization with the capacity to undertake the NAEP. No organization other that the NAS can provide this unique capacity to perform this work for the U.S. Government and the Department of Education. The reasons for this are: 1) the credibility of the NAS is maximized by the universally recognized absolute impartiality of the institution; 2) for studies such as the required through this procurement which involve sharply divergent and well-fixed points of view, the NAS has repeatly demonstrated the ability to constructively bring together assemblages of persons who had heretofore been conspicuously reluctant to address mutual issues, and ; 3) to a degree unmatched elsewhere the NAS can elicit the participation of virtually any scientist whom it invites to serve. The NAS is to act as an official, yet independent advisor to the federal government in matters of science and technology. Contractors who are interested in this procurement and who feel they are qualified and able to perform this procurement should contact Dean Dike at (202) 708-8569. All formal responses to this notice must be submitted in writing at the above address by July 3, 1995. See Note 22 (0138)

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