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

D -- PUBLIC INQUIRY CONTRACT POC James Hairfield, Contract Specialist, 202-708-8529, John King, Contract Officer, 202-708-8367 The U.S. Department of Education(ED)intends to issue a six-month sole source extension to Contract PM-94002001. The contractor is National Computer Systems, Inc., Iowa City, IA 52244. This contract provides prompt, thorough and accurate responses to telephone and written inquiries about the postsecondary student aid programs established under Title IV of the Higher Education Act(HEA) of 1965, as amended, and about the policies and procedures related to those programs, the collections of defaulted program loans, as well as for related miscellaneous ancillary services. ED believes the National Computer Systems, Inc. is the only source possessing the necessary existing information, resources, and expertise to meet this program requirement within the time required by ED. The statutory authority for other than full and open competition is 10 U.S.C 2304(c)(1). This contract action continues service to provide sufficient time to evaluate proposals as a result of RFP #ED-98-S-0020 for the follow-on service on a competitive basis. See Note(s): 22. Posted 01/18/99 (I-SN288731). (0018)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0041 19990121\D-0019.SOL)