GRANT ADMINISTRATION

Notice Date

August 27, 2001

Contracting Office

Bureau of Indian Affairs, Division of Acquisition and Property Management, Attn: Contracting Officer, 2051 Mercator Drive, Reston, VA 20191

ZIP Code

20191

E-Mail Address

Click here to contact the Contracting Officer via (curtisfoust@bia.gov)

Description

In 1972, the U. S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), began a contractual effort which was designed to provide financial assistance to American Indian and Alaskan Native students pursuing degrees at the graduate level. To support the Special Higher Education Program (SHEP) and a companion program for Law students, the BIA issued two contracts to two different vendors to administer the programs. Congressional support for the two programs remained high during the 1970's and 1980's. In the mid-1980's, the Congressional mandated funding by individual line items was consolidated and SHEP began to cover both graduate level education and law programs. Since the consolidation, SHEP has provided Congressionally mandated funding in excess of $1,000,000 per year to provide financial assistance to American Indian and Alaskan Native students pursuing degrees at the graduate level. The objective of this program was and continues to be providing financial assistance to eligible American Indian and Alaskan Native students pursuing degrees at the graduate level. The specific purpose of this contract is to provide professional administration of SHEP so as to benefit the maximum number of eligible American Indian and Alaskan Native students. The American Indian Graduate Center (AIGC) shall furnish the necessary personnel, materials, equipment, services, and facilities to perform the following: The AIGC shall provide comprehensive services to eligible applicants upon their acceptance and enrollment in, and leading to the successful completion of, graduate level programs. The AIGC shall administer the graduate fellowship grants to eligible students. Administration shall include all activities related to receiving and evaluation of applications, determining awardees, computation of award amounts and disbursement of award payments. The AIGC shall establish and maintain contact with the applicants' respective institutions for the purpose the administration of the contract objectives. The AIGC shall establish and maintain information going back at least five (5) years that will provide the number of fellows that have been funded by SHEP. The AIGC will collect data from existing files on the number of graduates that have been awarded, field of study, type of degree, school attended, number of bar exams -- (passed & failed). This information will be used by BlA for reports to Congress, referrals for employment and other reports needed to maintain adequate records. The AIGC shall use MS/DOS or compatible software which shall be designated by the Bureau to ensure compatibility with the Bureau's system for storing collected data. The AIGC shall provide student support services and related activities that will aid fellows in the completion of their degree programs. This shall include but not be limited to assisting with problems at their college, recommending tutorial assistance when needed, and providing advise regarding academic and financial questions. Since SHEP is a national program, AIGC support services by their very nature will be required to be provided by telephone, correspondence, newsletters, workshops, and regional and national meeting. The AIGC shall establish and maintain a data base on all fellows who graduate. This data will provide statistical information that will help evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of SHEP. This data base shall be formatted and shall use MS/DOS or compatible software which shall be designated by the Bureau to ensure compatibility with the Bureau's system for storing collected data. The AIGC shall provide financial assistance to fellows who take the bar examination following their date of graduation. SHEP support for fellows who are preparing to take the bar examination shall be limited to one calendar year from date of graduation and shall be for only one Bar Examination (i.e. only for one state). Past experience is paramount in being able to perform this contract. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of Interior intends to award this contract to the American Indian Graduate Center. This a Buy Indian Set-Aside and Sole Source 22.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010829/SPMSC029.HTM (W-239 SN50W0D0)