Department of Defense Education Activity, Hqs, Procurement Div, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, 8th Floor, Arlington, Va 22203

B -- EVALUATION OF DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMS, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDUCATION ACTIVITY SOL MDA410-97-Q-0011 DUE 082597 POC David Taybron, Contract Specialist, 703-696-3845, ext. 1412 This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotations are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The solicitation, MDA410-97-Q-0011, is being issued as a request for quotation. This solicitation/contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through FAC 90-46. The standard industrial code is 8211. The small business size standard is 500 employees. The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) is a Department of Defense field activity under the direction, authority and control of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Personnel Support, Families, and Education. It is comprised of the Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) and the Department of Defense Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS) and exists to provide for theeducation needs of eligible Department of Defense military and civilian dependents in grades kindergarten through 12 at sites both in the United States and overseas. In 1985, the electronic school offered its first distance learning course, Pascal, to 40 students. This course was offered by a .5 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) teacher. By 1996, distance learning in DoDDS included 60 Lotus Notes serves, 8 courses, over 450 students enrolled, 14 FTE (10 teacher and support persons), and a distance learning principal. The growth of distance learning in DoDEA has been driven by enrollment patterns. In response to this growth and in support of distance education, the Education Division in DoDEA is developing a comprehensive plan to guide systemwide distance education initiative in DoDDS. The components of this plan must be informed by a thorough evaluation of our past and present position. The purpose of this effort is to provide general consultation including, detailed information to the Education Division's leadership on the effects, merits and future of distance learning in order to develop a comprehensive plan for distance learning in order to develop a comprehensive plan for distance education in the DoDEA system. In an effort to determine the effectiveness of our distance learning programs and plan for future expansion, DoDEA requires research into the merits of this activity. The research report will assess the distance learning programs as indicated by the research design and report. The report will also provide an analysis of current trends is asynchronous distance learning opportunities including Internet based courses, as well as make recommendations to be considered by the Education Division's leadership. Such recommendations should address suggestions for reforming, restructuring, and or improving distance learning programs in DoDDS. The report will provide the Education Division's leadership data on the feasibility of supporting and expanding distance learning programs in DoDDS based on benchmarks and exemplars found in other distance learning programs and organizations based on the contractor's knowledge, experience, and research. The contractor shall conduct site visits to DoDEA offices in Arlington, VA, Mainz-Kastel, Germany, and visits to 12 schools involved in distance learning programs in both Europe (9 schools) and the Pacific (3 schools) to gather data on curriculum, DoDDS distance learning programs and operations, that will inform the development of the research plan. Visits to DoDDS schools will be at the Government's expense. Schools will provide access to sites, students, interview space and provide additional assistance (e.g. coordinate schedules) as necessary to carry out the needs of this research. The contractor shall develop a research plan to study the effectiveness of the current distance learning program and shall submit the plan to the DoDEA Research Project Director for approval. Upon approval of the research plan design, the contractor shall conduct the research outlined in the plan. In doing so, the contractor shall communicate on a weekly (or as required) basis by phone or visit to the DoDEA offices in Arlington, VA with the DoDEA Research Project Director concerning the development of the plan, the progress and direction of research activities, and any problem related thereto. The research design and report must address: a)Distance Learning course content alignment to DoDDS standards; b)Student benefits based on traditional evaluation outcomes; c)Effectiveness of Distance Learning pedagogy and assessment of student interaction; d)Cost benefit analysis based on what has been done in other distance learning programs and what can be done for less to include cost- benefit analysis of potential delivery platforms for distance learning courses which are available overseas (existing and or planned military resources); e) Efficient use of telecommunications and computer (i.e. Lotus Notes Servers) resources; Maintenance requirements of infrastructure (including examples of successful and exemplary distance learning programs around CONUS). For purposes of this contract, maintenance requirements include operational costs of maintaining a Distance Learning Computer Network -- hardware and software costs, cost of technical support, form management information staff, etc. The evaluation tool to be used to determine that these maintenance requirements have been met must be approved by the DoDEA Research Project Director prior to implementation. The purpose for citing examples of exemplary CONUS Distance Learning Programs with regard to maintenance requirements is to provide answers relative to the cost effectiveness of Distance Learning Programs as well as to identify that current DoDEA Distant Learning Program infrastructure meets or exceeds existing programs in CONUS; g) Success of the distance learning program in the achievement of its 3-part goal: i)Providing distance learning courses to high school students who might not be able to take courses due to unavailability of courses at local school, lack ofinstructor, or schedule conflict; ii)Providing professional development opportunities to teachers at remote sites; and, iii)Providing technology-based structured activities that allow students to collaborate with others at a distance; h)Analysis of current trends in asynchronous Distance Learning opportunities including Internet Based courses; i)Recommendations to be considered by the Education Division's leadership regarding possibilities for reforming restructuring, and or improving our distance learning programs based on research about commercially available asynchronously delivered Distance Learning programs which would be available to DoDDS; j) Recommendations for establishing a process for course design and development; k)Recommendations for establishing staffing formulas to guide manpower decisions; l)Recommendations for maintenance of distance learning system(s) that build on local expertise and resources; m)Recommendations for providing staff development opportunities to teachers worldwide; n)Recommendations on appropriate distance learning platforms for the delivery of instructions to students and teachers in DoDDS. 5. The research design must be based on research questions and data gathered from DoDDS. 6. The contractor shall provide a draft report to the DoDEA Research Project Director which will include analysis of the DoDEA Distance Learning programs, recommended actions based on the analysis, and follow-on activities to be incorporated into the Education Division's Distance Learning Plan. 7) The contractor will travel to DoDEA European and Pacific area sites selected by the DoDEA Project Director to carry out the components of the research plan. The DoDEA will issue invitational travel orders to support air and ground transportation and a daily per diem in accordance with the Joint Travel Regulations, Volume 2. FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items, is incorporated by reference and applies to this acquisition. FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Items, is incorporated by reference and applies to this acquisition. The following accordance with the format FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotations are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The solicitation, MDA410-97-Q-0011, is being issued as a request for quotation. This solicitation/contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through FAC 90-46. The standard industrial code is 8211. The small business size standard is 500 employees. The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) is a Department of Defense field activity under the direction, authority and control of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Personnel Support, Families, and Education. It is comprised of the Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) and the Department of Defense Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS) and exists to provide for the education needs of eligible Department of Defense military and civilian dependents in grades kindergarten through 12 at sites both in the United States and overseas. In 1985, the electronic school offered its first distance learning course, Pascal, to 40 students. This course was offered by a .5 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) teacher. By 1996, distance learning in DoDDS included 60 Lotus Notes serves, 8 courses, over 450 students enrolled, 14 FTE (10 teacher and support persons), and a distance learning principal. The growth of distance learning in DoDEA has been driven by enrollment patterns. In response to this growth and in support of distance education, the Education Division in DoDEA is developing a comprehensive plan to guide systemwide distance education initiative in DoDDS. The components of this plan must be informed by a thorough evaluation of our past and present position. The purpose of this effort is to provide general consultation including, detailed information to the Education Division's leadership on the effects, merits and future of distance learning in order to develop a comprehensive plan for distance learning in order to develop a comprehensive plan for distance education in the DoDEA system. In an effort to determine the effectiveness of our distance learning programs and plan for future expansion, DoDEA requires research into the merits of this activity. The research report will assess the distance learning programs as indicated by the research design and report. The report will also provide an analysis of current trends is asynchronous distance learning opportunities including Internet based courses, as well as make recommendations to be considered by the Education Division's leadership. Such recommendations should address suggestions for reforming, restructuring, and or improving distance learning programs in DoDDS. The report will provide the Education Division's leadership data on the feasibility of supporting and expanding distance learning programs in DoDDS based on benchmarks and exemplars found in other distance learning programs and organizations based on the contractor's knowledge, experience, and research. The contractor shall conduct site visits to DoDEA offices in Arlington, VA, Mainz-Kastel, Germany, and visits to 12 schools involved in distance learning programs in both Europe (9 schools) and the Pacific (3 schools) to gather data on curriculum, DoDDS distance learning programs and operations, that will inform the development of the research plan. Visits to DoDDS schools will be at the Government's expense. Schools will provide access to sites, students, interview space and provide additional assistance (e.g. coordinate schedules) as necessary to carry out the needs of this research. The contractor shall develop a research plan to study the effectiveness of the current distance learning program and shall submit the plan to the DoDEA Research Project Director for approval. Upon approval of the research plan design, the contractor shall conduct the research outlined in the plan. In doing so, the contractor shall communicate on a weekly (or as required) basis by phone or visit to the DoDEA offices in Arlington, VA with the DoDEA Research Project Director concerning the development of the plan, the progress and direction of research activities, and any problem related thereto. The research design and report must address: a)Distance Learning course content alignment to DoDDS standards; b)Student benefits based on traditional evaluation outcomes; c)Effectiveness of Distance Learning pedagogy and assessment of student interaction; d)Cost benefit analysis based on what has been done in other distance learning programs and what can be done for less to include cost- benefit analysis of potential delivery platforms for distance learning courses which are available overseas (existing and or planned military resources); e) Efficient use of telecommunications and computer (i.e. Lotus Notes Servers) resources; Maintenance requirements of infrastructure (including examples of successful and exemplary distance learning programs around CONUS). For purposes of this contract, maintenance requirements include operational costs of maintaining a Distance Learning Computer Network -- hardware and software costs, cost of technical support, form management information staff, etc. The evaluation tool to be used to determine that these maintenance requirements have been met must be approved by the DoDEA Research Project Director prior to implementation. The purpose for citing examples of exemplary CONUS Distance Learning Programs with regard to maintenance requirements is to provide answers relative to the cost effectiveness of Distance Learning Programs as well as to identify that current DoDEA Distant Learning Program infrastructure meets or exceeds existing programs in CONUS; g) Success of the distance learning program in the achievement of its 3-part goal: i)Providing distance learning courses to high school students who might not be able to take courses due to unavailability of courses at local school, lack of instructor, or schedule conflict; ii)Providing professional development opportunities to teachers at remote sites; and, iii)Providing technology-based structured activities that allow students to collaborate with others at a distance; h)Analysis of current trends in asynchronous Distance Learning opportunities including Internet Based courses; i)Recommendations to be considered by the Education Division's leadership regarding possibilities for reforming restructuring, and or improving our distance learning programs based on research about commercially available asynchronously delivered Distance Learning programs which would be available to DoDDS; j) Recommendations for establishing a process for course design and development; k)Recommendations for establishing staffing formulas to guide manpower decisions; l)Recommendations for maintenance of distance learning system(s) that build on local expertise and resources; m)Recommendations for providing staff development opportunities to teachers worldwide; n)Recommendations on appropriate distance learning platforms for the delivery of instructions to students and teachers in DoDDS. 5. The research design must be based on research questions and data gathered from DoDDS. 6. The contractor shall provide a draft report to the DoDEA Research Project Director which will include analysis of the DoDEA Distance Learning programs, recommended actions based on the analysis, and follow-on activities to be incorporated into the Education Division's Distance Learning Plan. 7) The contractor will travel to DoDEA European and Pacific area sites selected by the DoDEA Project Director to carry out the components of the research plan. The DoDEA will issue invitational travel orders to support air and ground transportation and a daily per diem in accordance with the Joint Travel Regulations, Volume 2. FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items, is incorporated by reference and applies to this acquisition. FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Items, is incorporated by reference and applies to this acquisition. The following factors shall be used to evaluate quotes: technical capability, experience, past performance, and price. Sources shall provide information in sufficient detail to demonstrate their ability to perform. All factors are approximately equal to price. All Offerors SHALL include a COMPLETE copy of the provision 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items, with its quote. FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items is incorporated by reference and applies to this acquisition and resulting contract. Respondents will not be notified of the evaluation results. Quotes are due by 3:00 PM EDT on or before August 26, 1997, to the attention of David Taybron at the address above. ADDITIONAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS: DPAS rating is C9E. CBD Numbered Note: Note 22 applies. Offerors must acquaint themselves with the new regulations concerning Commercial Items acquisitions contained in FAR Part 12 and must ensure that all Representations and Certifications are executed and returned as called for in this solicitation. (0223)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0006 19970813\B-0001.SOL)