U -- EXTENSION OF THE HEAD START QUALITY CONSORTIUMS = PERFORMANCE MEASURE CENTER

Notice Date

June 13, 2001

Contracting Office

Department of Health and Human Services, Program Support = Center, Division of Acquisition Management, Parklawn Building Room = 5-101 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD, 20857

ZIP Code

20857

Solicitation Number

Reference-Number-105-96-1912

Response Due

July 31, 2001

Point of Contact

Diane Coger, Contract Specialist, Phone 301-443-7083, Fax = 301-443-2761, Email dcoger@psc.gov -- Rosanna Browning, Contracting = Officer, Phone 301-443-6931, Fax 301-443-2761, Email rbrowning@psc.gov

Description

On September 30, 1996, the Department of Health and Human = Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF) awarded = a four year contract to Westat, Inc. The contract expires on September = 29, 2001, and the Program Support Center (PSC) is seeking a two year = period of performance extension. The PSC intends to negotiate on a = sole source basis with Westat, Inc. under Contract Number 105-96-1912. = The contract is for the Head Start Quality Consortiums Performance = Measure Center. The Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey = (FACES) has been carried out by the Head Start Performance Measure = Center contract to Westat, Inc. since 1996. The first nationally = representative sample was studied from a spring 1997 field test through = spring 2001. Through options to the Westat contract, a second cohort = was initiated in fall 2000. Approval was obtained from OMB to follow = the children in this cohort from entry into the program, through one or = two years of Head Start attendance, with follow-up in spring of = Kindergarten. The youngest group of children who are three at Head = Start entry in fall 2000 will complete Kindergarten in spring 2003. = Under the ACYF/DHHS GPRA plan, the agency is committed to providing = data on a nationally representative, longitudinal sample of children, = families, and Head Start programs every three years. The FACES study = provides the only available source for this data, and any delay or = interruption in data collection would seriously jeopardize the ability = to meet this Congressional and departmental mandate. Data are reported = on child and family outcomes, program quality, and the links between = quality and outcomes for participants. In addition, the FACES study = serves as a major source of information about Head Start families, and = as an indicator of program strengths and weaknesses, and thereby serves = to enhance the effectiveness of the program in meeting performance = goals. The FACES study is considered a regular, ongoing, national = surveillance system for program quality and outcomes. Information is = both used for agency reports and disseminated to program personnel and = participants on a regular basis. Westat has already established = procedures needed for the longitudinal study, including: building = relationships with the 43 programs across the country, development of = materials and training and supervision of field staff, development and = clearance of data collection protocols, performing data entry and = analysis on the first wave of data collection, and report preparation. = It would not be feasible for any other entity to complete the study in = a timely and efficient manner, and any attempt to do so would = necessarily result in interruption to the data collection, duplication = of effort and expense, or both. The children in the current cohort = must be followed directly into subsequent years of Head Start program = or school attendance in order to maintain the design approved by OMB; = any gap in data collection would compromise the longitudinal nature of = the study. The evaluation of other contract mechanisms is a lengthy = process, and the decisions required to proceed with a follow-on = acquisition will not be made prior to the current contract expiration. = This extension should allow sufficient time to proceed with the = analysis and plan for the follow-on requirements. Westat is the only = contractor that can provide the services during this interim period = without disruption of services. A delay in the extension of the = contract action would undermine the ongoing Head Start FACES study and = make it impossible to meet the GPRA mandate. The statutory authority = for other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C. 253 (c)(1), only = one responsible source, and no other services will satisfy agency = requirements. Interested concerns who are interested in this interim = acquisition must demonstrate in writing that they can meet the = Government's requirements within 45 days from the date of publication. = Responses must include a written narrative statement of capability, = including detailed technical information and other technical literature = demonstrating the ability to meet the requirements. Failure to submit = adequate documentation will result in the Government proceeding with a = sole source extension to Westat, Inc. A determination by the = Government not to open the requirement to competition based upon = responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the = Government. This notice is not a request for competitive proposals. No = solicitation is available; therefore, requests for such document will = be considered invalid responses. Responses must be sent to the = attention of Diane Coger. See Numbered Note 22. =20

Web Link

Visit this URL for the latest information about this (http://www.eps.gov/spg/HHS/PSC/DAM/Reference-Number-105-96-1912/lis= ting.html)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010615/USOL002.HTM (D-164 SN50O840)