FBODaily.com | FedBizOpps: PRESOL | R | Intent to Sole Source: “Fostering the Development and Educational Success of Young English Language Learners and Dual Language Learners: Toward New Directions in Policy, Practice, and Research.”

FBO DAILY - FEDBIZOPPS ISSUE OF SEPTEMBER 18, 2014 FBO #4681
SOLICITATION NOTICE

R -- Intent to Sole Source: “Fostering the Development and Educational Success of Young English Language Learners and Dual Language Learners: Toward New Directions in Policy, Practice, and Research.”

Notice Date: 9/16/2014
Notice Type: Presolicitation
NAICS: 541690 — Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
Contracting Office: Department of Health and Human Services, Program Support Center, Division of Acquisition Management, 12501 Ardennes Avenue, Suite 400, Rockville, Maryland, 20857, United States
ZIP Code: 20857
Solicitation Number: 14-PSC-NAS091614
Point of Contact: Michele Namoski, Phone: 301-443-3337
E-Mail Address: SHELLEY.NAMOSKI@PSC.HHS.GOV
(SHELLEY.NAMOSKI@PSC.HHS.GOV)
Small Business Set-Aside: N/A
Description: Pursuant to the authority of FAR 6.302-1 The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Program Support Center (PSC), Acquisition Management Services, on behalf of the of the Office of English Language of the Department of Education, intends to negotiate on a sole source basis, a cost reimbursement order under the PSC Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA) with the National Academy of Sciences, for a study "Fostering the Development and Educational Success of Young English Language Learners and Dual Language Learners: Toward New Directions in Policy, Practice, and Research". The NAS was established by an Act of Congress, signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, and charged with providing independent, objective advice. The Academy enlists the aid of the nation's most knowledgeable scientists, engineers, health professionals, and other experts who volunteer their time to produce reports that have led to some of the most significant and lasting improvements in the health, education, and welfare of all the world's citizens. The Academy's service to government has become so essential that Congress and the White House have issued legislation and executive orders over the years that reaffirm its unique role. The independence of the institution allows NAS to work outside the framework of government to ensure independent, unbiased, objective, and non-partisan advice on matters. The core services involve collecting, analyzing, and sharing information and knowledge. Because of its expansive and distinguished membership, NAS is uniquely positioned to bring experts together to discuss high-profile issues enabling it to be responsive to a host of requests. Combined with its long history of delivering, objective assessments based on scientific evidence that is free of political and special-interest influence, NAS is the only qualified entity capable of carrying out this study. NAS has the unique ability to assemble the Nation's most eminent scholars and other experts, who are appointed by the President of the Academy to provide their expertise without compensation on committees and boards, which render advice and guidance of the highest quality and unparalleled objectivity to address national issues of high priority. Accordingly, NAS is well qualified to provide the measure of expertise, independence, objectivity and audience acceptance necessary to meet the program requirements. The National Academies work is made possible by 6,000 of the world's top scientists, engineers, and other professionals who volunteer their time without compensation to serve on committees and participate in activities. IOM and NRC's current portfolio in education-more than 150 reports since 1993 alone-has been shaped by the confluence of several powerful forces: the advent of the standards-based education movement, which involves focused attention by the science, mathematics, and other academic communities on the content appropriate and necessary for K-12 schooling; significant findings from cognitive, behavioral, and organizational research on how people learn; and increased pressure to find solutions to real-world education problems that are grounded in scientific evidence. The idea of decision-making informed by rational empirical inquiry-has vastly increased the demand for science-based evidence generally, as well as for the specific consensus-seeking processes of the NRC. This study aligns with the Administration's Strategic Plan and its focus on early learning. President Obama's Early Learning Agenda includes a special emphasis on the early years with universal preschool, expanded high quality early care and education environments. This includes programs that harness the language development and competencies of all the nation's children including DLLs. The purpose of this concensus study is Fostering the Development and Educational Success of Young English Language Learners and Dual Language Learners: Toward New Directions in Policy, Practice, and Research." Overall, this study will explore what is known about the development of young DLLs/ELLs and how best to support them across diverse settings and institutions from birth through the end of high school. Under this contract, the contractor is to address the continuum of young ELLs/DLLs with two focus areas addressing the development of language and cultural influences from the home to the community birth to Age 8; and systems and policies affecting English and Dual language learner children in grades K-12, including standards and practices across diverse contexts to foster educational achievement among ELLs and DLLs. The contractor will come to consensus on findings and recommendations that aim to inform a research agenda to address gaps in the knowledge base, policies that impact ELLs and DLLs, including standards and practices in the diverse contexts and settings where they learn, grow and develop, including homes, classrooms and health care settings. They will review the evidence from international and US studies including, but not limited to, the following disciplines: neuroscience, developmental psychology, linguistics, demography, general education, special education, sociology, public health, maternal and child health, home visiting, public policy, and cultural anthropology. Evidence will be drawn from high-quality research, including peer-reviewed literature and government reports and reflecting various study designs (e.g., descriptive, longitudinal, qualitative, mixed methods, experimental and quasi-experimental.) Birth to Age 8 Focus: This focus area will be on the foundational elements of language development, developmental progress, school entry, and practices for early school success for young ELLs and DLLs (whether that is a heritage, native, or a second language). K-12 -Focus area: This focus area will be grounded in elucidating instructional practices and systems including dual language approaches that can help ELLs and DLLs attain both new content as well as the newly emerging English language proficiency standards. Deliverables will include a final consensus report with recommendations for research, policy, and practice; Research briefs (4-pages that highlight key findings and recommendations from the report; a resources toolkit, a power point, and video that translate the report material into guidance for teachers, school administrators and other adults who work with young ELLs. A cost reimbursement order will be negotiated and awarded under the PSC Basic Ordering Agreement with the National Academy of Sciences. The anticipated period of performance shall be for twenty-four (24) months from date of award. This is not a solicitation for competitive proposals. All responsible sources that have the requisite qualifications to perform the work above may submit a statement of capabilities via e-mail to shelley.namoski@psc.hhs.gov, which will be considered by the agency. The e-mail subject line must reference: 14-PSC-NAS091614 Capability Statement Submission. Responses must be double-spaced with 1" margins on all sides and use a standard font no smaller than 12 point. The statement of capabilities must include: 1.) Cover Letter/Capabilities Statement illustrating organization's technical capabilities and expertise, as it relates to the requirements presented in this notice. 2.) A list of at least 3-5 Past Performance references to include: a.) Description of previous work efforts; b.) Contract number; c.) Point of contact. The response must be sequentially numbered, beginning on the first page after the table of contents. Responses are due by September 23, 2014, 12:00 PM (NOON) Eastern Time. Responses received after the due date and time may not be considered. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this Notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive requirement.
Web Link: FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/PSC/DAM/14-PSC-NAS091614/listing.html)
Place of Performance: Address: Washington, District of Columbia, 20418, United States; Zip Code: 20418
Record: SN03512952-W 20140918/140916235349-047e43c3bb355993696688f0d22e508b (fbodaily.com)
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R -- Intent to Sole Source: “Fostering the Development and Educational Success of Young English Language Learners and Dual Language Learners: Toward New Directions in Policy, Practice, and Research.”