U.S. Department of Education, Contracts and Purchasing Operations, CPO, 7th & D Streets SW, Room 3616, Washington, DC 20202-4443

D -- PUBLIC INQUIRY CONTRACT SOL PM-94002001 POC James Hairfield, (202) 708-8529, Contracting Officer, John R. King, (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., P.O.Box 30, 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 collection of defaulted program loans, as well as for related miscellaneous ancillary services. ED believes that 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 Numbered Note 22. * * * * * Posted 01/04/00 (W-SN413075). (0004)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0025 20000106\D-0004.SOL)