U.S. Department of Education, OCFO, Contracts & Purchasing Operations, Support Services Group, 7th & D Streets, SW, Rm 3616, ROB-3, Washington, DC 20202-4443

R -- STUDENT LOAN SERVICING AND CONSOLIDATION POC Roscoe H. Price, III, Contracting Specialist, 202-260-9982 or Cynthia Bond, Contracting Officer, 202-401-1615 The Loan Consolidation and Servicing contractor will utilize their existing consolidation systems, which will be modified to adhere to federal regulations pertaining to origination and servicing of federal direct student loans. The contractor shall provide all services, hardware, software, and personnel necessary to operate the system, consolidate loans and services direct loans effectively. The Loan Consolidation/Servicing Contractor will provide such services as data entry, customer service, storage of printed materials, printing and mailing, clerical support, training, quality control activities, and any other services required to successfully service a student loan. The Department anticipates proposal evaluations to be based primarily on oral presentations and past performance to demonstrate the offerors existing capability to consolidate and service direct loans. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION FOR PROPOSALS. The Department is placing this notice to solicit comments and expand the exchange of information with industry, which began September 3, 1998, in order to release the best possible solicitation. The Department will continue to hold one on one meetings with industry until approximately 1 week prior to the release of the RFP. Offerors are encouraged to provide comments on the Draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) through both face to face exchanges and by providing written comments. Comments will be accepted through October 1, 1998. Comments may be submitted to Roscoe Price, Contract Specialist, (202) 260-9982 using any of the following; e-mail: Roscoe_Price@ED.GOV; regular mail to the address above; fax: (202) 708-9964. The anticipated issue date of Request for Proposal (RFP) is 10-15-98 and anticipated closing date is 11-16-98. All responsible sources may submit a proposal. Request for copies of the RFP may be made by telephone, mail, telegram, or in person. All requests shall reference ED980034 and title of RFP (Federal Direct Student Loan Servicing and Consolidation). Telephone requests may be placed at (202) 708-6498. Mail or telegram requests shall be sent to the above address. Additional information including a Draft Work Statement is currently available through the Ed Website. Offerors may download the Draft RFP and other files on the ED WebSite. This site is ed.gov. Offerors should double click on topics a-z. Offerors should double click on C and scroll down to Contracts. Double click on Draft Work Statements. Finally Double Click on Performance Work Statement, Direct Loan Consolidation and Servicing. Posted 09/22/98 (I-SN252937). (0265)

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