U.S. Department of Labor, Procurement Services Center, Business Operations Center, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room N-5416, Washington, DC 20210

A -- SPECIAL STUDIES AND ANALYSES SOL SP-00-009 DUE 080200 POC Brenda M. Butler, Contract Specialist 202 2196451 The Office of Policy and Research of the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration,U.S. Department of Labor solicits proposals for research projects concerning private employment based pension,health, and other benefits. To be eligible,proposed projects must relate to employee benefits programs or related public policy, cost $25,000 or less, and be completed within one year. Projects must not involve original survey data collection. Higher priority will be given to projects that are more technically sound, cost effective, national in scope, and closely related to DOL's responsibilities and current policy issues under Title I of ERISA. Topics areas of particular interest are: 1. Current trends in employer-sponsored retirement plan coverage, design features, finances,administration, and regulation, and their implications for retirement patterns and future retirement plan benefit receipt. 2. Current trends in employer-sponsored health plan coverage,design features, finances,administration, and regulations, and their implications for the affordability, accessibility, and quality of employees' health care. 3. The determinants and dynamics of retirement-savings related decisions, including emolyer sponsorship of plans and individual savings, and the effects of tax incentives,elective payroll deductions,employer matching payments, and other factors. 4. Implications of demographic and economic (including labor and capital markets)trends for employer-sponsored retirement and health benefit plan design features, finances,administration, and regulation, and their implications for future plan coverage and benefits. 5. Economic effects of proposed pension and health benefits legislation and policy options for extending and improving the quality of employer- sponsored retirement and health benefit plans. Proposals received after Wednesday, August 2, 2000 will not be considered under this solicitation. Only written requests for the solicitation will be honored. Request number SP-00-009. Requests for the soliciation may be FAXED on Area Code (202)219-6853. This is a 50 % Small Business Set-aside. note (1) . Posted 05/20/00 (W-SN456949). (0141)

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