U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, 7th and D Streets, S.W., ROB-3, Room 3616, Washington, D.C. 20202-4337

A -- BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT -- NEW AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOLS INITIATIVE SOL RFP: ED-98-R-0022 DUE 060598 POC Contact Yolanda Abney, 202-708-6498 or Eileen Ayoroa, Contract Specialist, 202-708-9356 Broad Agency Announcement -- New American High Schools Initiative -- Supporting High School Improvement Through Reform Networks. The U.S. Department of Education (ED) is interested in receiving abstracts for projects that will assist high schools to implement whole-school reform strategies, ensuring that all students meet challenging academic standards and are prepared for and have opportunities to gain technical skills and explore careers. Abstracts for projects submitted under this Announcement shall focus on the ability of national and regional school reform networks and organizations in broadening the impact of whole-school reform. They will establish relationships with high schools and provide technical assistance to schools and school districts. The reform networks and/or organizations shall focus attention and resources on high schools and the need for reforming these very complex institutions to better prepare students for college and careers. ED contemplates awarding three to four contracts through this competition. The estimated cost per year is $1,150,000 to $1,530,000 per award. Offerors may propose a time line (not to exceed) eighteen (18) months. Anticipated opening date: June 5, 1998, and the anticipated closing date: July 2, 1998. Please contact: Ms. Yolanda Abney, Contracts and Purchasing Operations, U.S. Department of Education, GSA Building/ ROB-3, 7th and D Streets SW, Room-3616 at Mailstop #4443, Washington, D.C. 20202. Telephone requests shall be made to (202) 708-6498 or E-mail: yolanda_abney@ed.gov. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: DEADLINE TO SUBMIT ABSTRACTS (26 DAYS AFTER ISSUE DATE). To be considered, abstracts shall be received by 2:00 P.M., EST, July 2, 1998, at the above address. All abstracts must include the identifier RFP: ED-98-R-0022 and title on all packages. Upon official release, this BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) will be available on the ED/OCFO Web Site under the Contract Information Page, Web site address: http://ocfo.ed.gov/Coninfo/currrfp.htm. For questions concerning only the Web site listing or electronic submission, please contact Sharon Masciana at (202) 708-7665. There will be no formal RFP or other solicitation regarding this requirement. ED will award a fixed-price contract using a "two-step submission process" for this competition. Step one: ED is requesting abstracts of proposals which should include a technical overview of the project, staff qualifications and time commitment, a one page summary of project costs, benchmark products, including a final report that may be published. The abstract shall not exceed 12 pages, and the cover letter, budget sheets, and all other attachments are subject to the page limit. The reviewers will not read past the 12th page. ED will review abstracts and establish a competitive range. Step two: ED will request full proposals from offerors who make the competitive range. Such proposals shall, among other details, outline performance indicators for their projects. In the invitation, ED will specify proposal format and content required by regulation, standards for an offeror-developed Statement of Work, a technical proposal, a schedule of deliverables, a cost proposal that provides sufficient detail to allow assessment of cost, evidence of the offeror's capacity to perform the work proposed, details on past performance, and contractor performance information from relevant organizations. A request for proposals does not assure subsequent award. ED reserves the right not to fund a project. Abstracts will be reviewed by government and nongovernment peers. For technical questions relating to the actual BAA document, please submit your comments/questions via e-mail to Eileen_Ayoroa@ed.gov, or FAX (if less than 10) pages to 202-260-0525; or by mail to the attention of Eileen Ayoroa. (0152)

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