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

R -- NATIONAL EDUCATION GOALS PANEL MONTHLY SOL ED-00-Q-0002 DUE 033000 POC Sang Park, 202 708-8222, Contract Specialist This is a combined synopsis/solicitation prepared in accordance with the format in FAR subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation, ED-00-Q-0002, is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ). The solicitation/purchase order will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular 97-15. This acquisition is in accordance with the simplified acquisition procedures authorized in FAR Part 13. This acquisition is solicited as a total Small Business Set Aside. The Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code is 8741 and the size standard is $5.0M. Background: The National Education Goals Panel (NEGP or, the Panel) was established by the July 31, 1990 Joint Statement of the President and the Nation's Governors. In 1994 it became an independent Federal agency by an Act of Congress. The Panel is responsible for determining how to measure and monitor educational progress toward achieving the National Education Goals, and report to the Nation on that progress. The Panel has a bipartisan composition of 18 members; two senior-level Federal executive branch officials appointed by the President; eight Governors appointed by the Chairman or vice chairman of the Nation Governors Association; four state legislators appointed by the President of the National Conference of State Legislatures; and four congressional members appointed by the majority and minority leaders of the US Senate and the US House of Representatives. The purpose of this purchase order is to specify work needed in the writing and layout of the NEGP Monthly series for 2000. The NEGP Monthly was started in July of 1997 and is an on-line publication designed for state policymakers and others working to achieve the National Education Goals. The Monthly reports state and local policies identified by policymakers in states making the most improvement or achieving at the highest levels on one indicator related to each of the eight goals. The publication currently has a readership of over 4,000. Contents of the monthlies are intended for use in a Promising Practices publication at the end of the year. Requirements: This purchase order supports the work necessary for submission of the NEGP Monthly in the format and on the schedule indicated below. A series of monthly reports (total of 12), the NEGP Monthly, are to be between 5 and 15 pages in length. Eight Monthlies will report on 3 to 5 states indicating the programs and/or policies undertaken which state officials believe might contribute to their good performance on one or more of the indicators chosen by the Goals Panel as measures of progress toward each of the National Education Goals. The remaining 4 monthlies will focus upon topics specified in advance by NEGP staff, usually the release of other NEGP reports. The indicators and states to be discussed will be selected collaboratively with the Goals Panel in advance. The Monthlies will be based on a set of interviews with state officials including Governors' offices, state legislators, state department of education personnel, state boards of education and business education coalition leaders, and other appropriate individuals. The publication will also include a review of significant recent national reports and initiatives. Each Monthly publication will include: (a) a brief general discussion of the significance of the goal and indicator(s); (b) accounts of efforts in several states showing high or improving performance on an NEGP indicator (reflecting the list prepared by the Goals Panel and agreed to by the contractor), and when possible accounts of how local efforts relate to those of the state; (c) a summary of recent national reports or initiatives in the relevant education area with their recommendations for improving performance when available; (d) a brief list of state contacts and bibliographic and organizations resources to whichstate and local officials can turn; and (e) a brief summary of news about Goals Panel activities, as they are communicated to the contractor each month by NEGP staff. The expected period of performance is 12 months from the start date, with two 12 months option periods. Schedule/format/distribution of deliverables: Text of the NEGP Monthly will be submitted in a usable final format and posted each month on or before the 15th of each month. A prior discussion draft will be submitted to the Panel on or before the first of the month, and comments given to the contractor and discussed within 7 days. The NEGP Monthly will be submitted each month: (1) in a format that has been fully proof read for spelling, grammar and presentation prior to final submission, and which uses the APA bibliographic form used in Promising Practices 1998 and 1999; (2) with a one or two sentence summary to be posted on the NEGP website; (3) in hard copy and on disc; (4) in a format specified by the NEGP that without further adjustments can be posted on the NEGP website, including a table of contents under the publication title, and incorporating other layout elements. The Goals Panel will work with the contractor to establish formats that enable prompt website posting and electronic distribution the 15th of each month. Hard copies and disc should be sent to the Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR). The contractor will submit the NEGP Monthly on or before the 15th of each month: (1) in hard copy to COTR; and (2) by transmitting it in electronic format to two NEGP staff members, and to the NEGP Web site contractor for posting on the NEGP website on or before the 15th of each month. Evaluation Criteria: The technical portion of the quotation will receive paramount consideration in selecting an offeror. However, price will also be a significant factor in the event that two or more offerors are determined to be essentially equal following the evaluation of technical factors. The technical portion of offerors/quotations will be evaluated based on the following technical criteria: (1) Demonstrated experience in collecting information related to education reform; (2) Demonstrated success in analyzing and writing about education policy for lay and policy oriented audiences; (3) Demonstrated knowledge of education reform policy at the local, state and federal level including a general knowledge of individuals, organizations and others involved in education reform and a general knowledge of the National Education Goals and the National Education Goals Panel; (4) Demonstrated ability to maintain effective network of relationships with education related organizations and agencies for information gathering purposes; and ability to start work immediately and to meet product deadlines as set forth in the statement of work. Provisions and Clauses: The solicitation incorporates NCI REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER STATEMENT OF OFFERORS OR QUOTERS (SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITONS). The award document will incorporate the requirements of the clauseFAR 52.213-4, TERMS AND CONDITIONS SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITIONS. Full text copies of these documents may be obtained from Sang Park at (202) 708-8222 or by fax at (202) 708-9817. Offers must be submitted on a SF-18 that is signed by an authorized representative of the offeror and includes a completed "Schedule of Offered Supplies/Services." The offer should include a cost breakout with a bottom line total for performing the aforementioned requirements. Offers must be accompanied by a completed and signed NCI REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS OR QUOTERS (SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITIONS). Offers shall submit an original technical proposal plus descriptive literature and/or other materials that demonstrate that their offer/quotation meets all the foregoing requirements. The technical proposal shall provide sufficient detail to demonstrate all required experience, education, methodologies, and approaches noted in the evaluation criteria. In addition, curriculum vitae should be provided for allproposed personnel as well as their time commitments on other ongoing projects in order to evaluate availability. Three copies of the technical proposal/quotation, and all other printed materials shall be submitted with an original. Offers and related materials must be received in this office by 2:00 pm EST on March 30, 2000. Please site the solicitation number, ED-00-Q-0002.***** Posted 03/15/00 (W-SN434628). (0075)

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