U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Administrative and Financial Management, Procurement and Property Branch, 14th & Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 1310 South Building, Washington, D.C. 20250

B -- STUDY ON STATE USE OF FUNDS TO INCREASE WORK SLOTS FOR FOOD STAMP RECIPIENTS SOL 17-3K06-98 POC Linda M. Fischer, Contract Specialist (202) 720-7684 This is a correction to a previous notice submitted on April 17, 1998. The Economic Research Service (ERS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) seeks a qualified contractor to provide an assessment of changes in the E & T Program due to the revisions of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. This contract primarily entails establishing a baseline count, by State, of the number of people in different types of E & T Programs and compiling detailed information about the characteristics of the E & T Programs at the State, and possibly local, level. From this acquisition of information the Contractor shall then prepare a report that addresses the legislatively mandated request from Congress. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 increased the size of the Food Stamp Employment and Training (E & T) Program, enhanced its emphasis on assistance to unemployed able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) and changed how States are authorized to use E & T funds. The study is estimated to take approximately eighteen (18) months. The solicitation will be available on the Internet at the following URL location: "http://www.ars.usda.gov/afm2/divisions/ppd/solicit", on or shortly after May 19, 1998. Interested parties must download the solicitation and all attachments. Please be advised that any subsequent amendments to this solicitation shall be posted at this same web site WITHOUT further notice. (0132)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0017 19980514\B-0003.SOL)