U.S. Department of Education, Contracts and Purchasing Operations, Group D, Room 3616, ROB#3, 7th & D Streets, SW, Washington, DC 20202-4447

R -- THE THIRD INTERNATIONAL MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE STUDY VIDEOTAPE CLASSROOM STUDY REPLICATION (TIMSS VIDEOTAPE-R) POC Contract Specialist: Michelle A. Ringo, Contracting Officer: Helen M. Chang Sources Sought Notice -- The Department of Education anticipates that one sole source contract will be awarded to a small business under SIC Code 7812, LessonLab, Inc., James W. Stigler, President, 418 Abramar Avenue, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272. The work will be completed over a period of 5 years. The purpose of this international study is to collect data related to actual classroom practices in mathematics and science at the eighth-grade in a set of participating nations and one consortium of schools in the U.S. The Third International Mathematics and Science Study Videotape Classroom Study Replication (TIMSS Videotape-R) is needed to complement achievement data collected under a separate, fully-competed procurement, known as the Third International Mathematics and Science Study Replication (TIMSS-R). It is imperative that the contractor have the following competencies, experiences, and skills: 1)familiarity and extensive experience with conducting large-scale international video studies of classrooms; 2)proven record in conducting similar studies in a timely manner, and within budget; 3)experience in finding qualified videographers and training them to meet strict videotaping guidelines and procedures; 4)experience in finding qualified transcribers and translators of foreign language videos; 5)experience in developing and applying codes to videotapes of mathematics classrooms, based on extensive knowledge of the research literature and sound methodology; 6)expertise to develop codes to apply to videotapes of science classrooms; 7)ability to gather experts from numerous disciplines to develop codes and provide oversight; 8)experience in describing observed classroom practices in relation to current educational theories; 9)experience in developing and utilizing state-of-the-art video viewing and coding software, including the ability to view, transcribe, and code video directly into a computer database; and 10)experience in digitizing and storing video data for subsequent use as a database; 11)ability to assist NCES in making the results of the study relevant to teachers, teacher trainers, parents, and policy makers. LessonLab, Inc. is uniquely qualified to address each of the above stated needs for the study. LessonLab, Inc. is able to assemble experts of the highest reputation to address the needs of the study. The president and staff of LessonLab, Inc. have proven themselves to be at the forefront of conducting large-scale, international studies of classroom behavior through the use of advanced video and computer technology. They have the necessary prior experience in international classroom-based videotape studies to ensure a rigorous and thoughtful approach to planning and carrying out the study, and have proven themselves highly capable of successful completing studies of similar scope and importance on time and within budget. The founder of LessonLab Inc. aided in the development of an innovative and unique computer software that allows for the simultaneous viewing, transcribing, translation, coding, and analysis of videotaped data and that has yet to be duplicated among other academic or research institutions. Moreover, the staff of LessonLab, Inc. have developed extensive descriptors for and measures of instructional practices through their prior experience in international studies of educational practices, and have successfully utilized these descriptors and measures to derive meaningful characterizations of classroom teaching practices and behaviors. In sum, the expertise and experience of the staff of LessonLab, Inc., combined with the advanced and proven video and computer technology/software that is utilized by LessonLab, Inc., makes it uniquely qualified to collect, analyze, and present the results of an international study of this importance and scope. Any business or firm who thinks that they are qualified and able to perform this procurement should submit a detailed written capability statement by 2 pm, June 8, 1998 outlining their qualifications. Notices should be submitted to the above address: Attention: Michelle Ringo, Contract Specialist. Furthermore, the Draft Statement of Work for the TIMSS-Video is available for review and comment through June 1, 1998. Written comments should be submitted to Michelle Ringo, at the above address or by fax (202) 708-9817 no later than June 1, 1998. THIS IS NOT A SYNOPSIS OF A SOLICITATION. (0113)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0078 19980427\R-0009.SOL)