U.S. Department of Education, OCFO, Contracts & Purchasing Operations, Support Services Group, 7th & D Street, SW, Room 3616, ROB-3, Washington, DC 20202-4443

R -- LITERACY HOTLINE AND CLEARINGHOUSE POC Sharyn Abbott, 202-632-1503 The National Institute for Literacy (NIFL) intends to issue a 6-month sole source extension to Contract XA95001001. The contractor is CEGA Services, Inc. (CEGA), Lincoln, NE 68501-1826. The contract with CEGA started on October 1, 1995 and is going to expire on September 30, 1998. A contract extension is necessary for a 6-month period from October 1, 1998 to March 31, 1999. NIFL cannot experience a lapse of hotline & clearinghouse services because we have an on-going public awareness campaign which involves the hotline number that has been included on all campaign materials and public service announcements. The last message of the campaign will be launched in September 1998 and will run for six months. Thus, follow-up work will be required to handle responses of callers to the hotline number and the distribution of campaign materials through the clearinghouse. Specifically, this contract (1) provides a clearinghouse for NIFL publications and relevant-materials and (2) provides a 24-hour multilingual literacy hotline to assist the public by (a) providing answers regarding literacy issues, (b) by providing literacy materials, and (c) by providing locations of literacy programs. To do this work, and understanding of literacy issues, programs and activities is needed. In addition, a complete database of literacy programs and resources throughout the nation is required. CEGA Services, Inc. is the only source possessing the necessary information, resource and expertise to meet NIFL's program requirement within the time required by NIFL. Cega will not have to build a database from scratch or compile it from a variety of sources. No other contractor can perform these services without the time required by NIFL. CEGA will not have to build a database from the scratch or compile it from a variety of sources. No other contractor can perform these services without the literacy database, without extensive prior on-the-job training, and without the extensive knowledge of the public awareness campaign which started over a year ago. However, companies who believe that they can provide these services for this extension period without any detrimental impact to the NIFL's public awareness campaign and to the services to the public should fully identify their interest and capabilities within 45 days from publication in the Commerce Business Daily. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all interest/capability documentation materials received within 45 days after date of publication of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Documentation materials received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. The statutory authority for other-than-full and open-competition is 10 USC 2304 (c)(1). Awarding the 6-month extension would cost $110,149 and NIFL believes that there are no other contractors available that can do the work, that have a database in place, and that can provide the services at this low cost. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. Send requests for information to the attention of Sharyn Abbott or e-mail her at: SAbbott@NIFL.gov. In accord with Numbered Note 22, if the Government determines not to compete, it is our plan to award a contract to CEGA. National Institute for Literacy, 800 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20006-2712. See Note(s): 22. (0050)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0092 19980223\R-0016.SOL)