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

A -- SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE GATHERING, DATA ENTRY, AND CODING OF THE POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION TRANSCRIPT SAMPLE (PETS) OF THE NATIONAL EDUCATION LONGITUDINAL STUDY POC Dana Gotfredsen, (202) 708-8569, E-Mail: Dana_Gotfredsen@ed.gov, Contract Specialist The Department of Education anticipates that one sole-source purchase order will be awarded to the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) to assist in gathering, data entry, and coding of the Postsecondary Education Transcript Sample (PETS) of the National Education Longitudinal Study (NELS). The anticipated duration of this purchase order is nine months. The purpose of this procurement is to assist in 1) providing contacts for gathering the NELS transcripts from degree granting and non-degree granting institutions, 2) assuring that National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) technical standards and guidelines and standards of security for restricted information are met, 3) providing secure space and equipment, 4) assisting and participating is data entry and coding, and 5) assisting and participating in quality control review of draft and final data files. In order to perform the required work, it is necessary for an organization to possess several key characteristics. The organization must have a list of contact names of registrars at designated institutions and favorable relationships with them. Because transcripts are at the core of the very business of registrars and these documents are frequently sent by electronic means through a system called SPEEDE-EXPRESS, the organization must have familiarity with and access to SPEEDE-EXPRESS. It is also imperative that NCES standards of security for restricted information are met by providing a secure receiving process and network domain for data entry. On-site assistants must be capable of answering questions from data-entry personnel about transcripts and be able to identify expert registrars in consultory roles. In addition, the organization must have the ability to recruit and select a review panel of nationally-known registrars from a diversity of postsecondary institutions to review draft and final files. Furthermore, due to the need for continuous interaction with the Government, close proximity to the Washington, DC area is essential. The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) has been identified as the only organization with the ability to carry out the work in the manner and methods required. AACRAO is unmatched in its possession of: 1) a list of contact names of registrars in degree and non-degree granting institutions, 2) e-mail prompts for these registrars to remind them to send transcripts and 3) sufficient credibility with registrars to ensure their response. AACRAO was one of the main developers of SPEEDE-EXPRESS, and is uniquely qualified to execute the necessary security procedures associated with electronic transfer of these documents. Additionally, AACRAO has developed the combination of a network that is both compatible with SPEEDE-EXPRESS and secure optical readers to produce split-screen representation for transcript data entry and coding. Unique among other higher education organizations, AACRAO has on-site, experienced former registrars who can answer questions from data-entry personnel about transcript documents, and is also unique in its ability to identify expert registrars in consultory roles in issues of coding transcripts or to serve on a review panel. In sum, AACRAO's extensive experience with student record issues provides the resources necessary to support the current contractor in gathering, data entry, and coding of the Postsecondary Education Transcript Sample. Any small business or firm that thinks it is qualified and able to perform this procurement should submit a detailed capability statement to Dana Gotfredsen, Contract Specialist, by 2:00 p.m., July 14, 2000 outlining its qualifications. Statements may be mailed to the above address, faxed to (202) 708-9817 or e-mailed to dana_gotfredsen@ed.gov. THIS IS NOT A SYNOPSIS OF A SOLICITATION***** Posted 06/29/00 (W-SN470242). (0181)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0015 20000703\A-0015.SOL)