National Institutes of Health, Division of Research Contracts, OCM/OA 6100 Executive Blvd., MSC 7540, Room 6E01, Bethesda, MD, 20892-7540

A -- DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF A LANGUAGE TEST FOR CHILDREN SPEAKING NON-STANDARD ENGLISH: A STUDY OF CHILDREN WHO SPEAK BLACK ENGLISH SOL NIH-DC-97-01 DUE 010697 POC John P. DeCenzo, Contracting Officer; Telephone: 301/496-4487; FAX: 301/402-0178; E-mail: jd93o@nih.gov. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, is soliciting proposals for the Development and Validation of a Language Test for Children Speaking Non-Standard English: A Study of Children Who Speak Black English. The purpose of this contract is 1) to collect cross-sectional data on language abilities in normally developing four- to six-year-old speakers of Black English, 2) to document age-appropriate language milestones/behaviors including aspects of phonology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics, 3) to use the aforementioned normative data to develop items for a language assessment instrument or procedure which could be used to differentiate between language impairment and normal language development, in children who speak Black English, and 4) to conduct a study to determine the reliability and validity of the individual items and the overall language assessment instrument or procedure with children who speak Black English. A six-year cost-reimbursement type contract is anticipated. The solicitation is scheduled to be issued on or about November 7, 1996. Proposals will be due 60 days after the date of issuance of the solicitation. Copies of the solicitation can be obtained by sending a written request to the Contracting Officer. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the Government. See Numbered Note 26. No collect calls will be accepted. (0282)

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