U.S. Department of Education, Contracts and Purchasing Operations, CPO, 7th & D Streets SW, Room 3616, Washington, DC 20202-4443

R -- PROFESSIONAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, AND MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES SOL n/a DUE 021700 POC Christinia Testamark, Contract Specialist, 202-708-8419. The Department of Education's solicitation for the Testing of an Electronic Field Reading (EFR) Application for ED Discretionary Grant Programs is being amended to transmit changes to the solicitation that will assist in preparation of proposals. This synopsis is hereby modified as follows: The Department of Education is soliciting proposals for the Testing of an Electronic Field Reading (EFR) Application for ED Discretionary Grant Programs. The Department anticipates a purchase order award using simplified acquisition procedures. In accordance with FAR 13.003(b)(1) this acquisition has been set aside exclusively for small business concerns. The Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code for this acquisition is 7379. The offeror should represent and certify as part of its offer that it is a small business concern. The U.S. Department of Education (ED) requires contractual services to support the evaluation of discretionary grant applications received for FY 2000 competitions. One of ED's important responsibilities in administering discretionary grants funded under congressional acts of law, as amended, is to provide for the efficient and effective evaluation of grant applications submitted by qualified applicants. If ED funds are sought for discretionary grant projects, applicants must submit proposals for review by ED, in accordance with the regulations established for such reviews. In some ED programs, ED staffs handle the review and decisions regarding submitted applications. However, most ED program competitions require the use of external reviewers (readers) to assess the worthiness of grant applications for funding. Generally, the application reviews are held in Washington or in the regions. ED proposes to arrange follow-up tests to determine the efficacy, quality, and cost of the use of Electronic Field Reading (EFR). The testing will take place in the spring and summer, 2000, on selected ED program competitions. This is a "proof of concept" test of using an EFR, not a demonstration or assessment of a particular EFR system or product. The contractor must supply the EFR system. The contractor retains rights to system, hardware, software, etc. The EFR application must be Web-based to allow for online communication between ED staff and readers, and among readers assigned to review panels. In addition, it must contain a data system to capture technical review decisions (score and comments) made by readers. The system will be centrally controlled with appropriate security measures employed to ensure application access only to authorized persons and to provide confidentiality for users and generated data. Although ED may subsequently build, purchase, lease, or license an EFR system for use throughout the Department, no preference for the tested system or the contractor is offered or implied. Your technical proposal should respond to the following evaluation criteria: 1. Successful past performance with EFR methodology 35 points 2. Availability of technical resources to carry out the project 30 " 3. Knowledge of ED discretionary grant application technical review process 15 " 4. Capability of immediate project start-up and implementation 20 " Your business proposal may contain pricing information for Key Personnel, overhead, G&A, profit, other direct expenses, and travel. The estimated Level of Effort total is 1034 hours. Please prepare your response in the following format: 1) One original and two copies of a business proposal and 2) One original and two copies of a technical proposal. Your response must be submitted no later than February 17, 2000 at 5:00 p.m. Your response should be submitted to: Christianita Testamark Contract Specialist U.S. Department of Education Contracts and Purchasing Operations Group C, Mail Stop 4446 ROB#3, Room 3624 7th & D Streets, S.W. Washington, DC 20202-4731 Phone: (202)708-8419 Fax: (202)708-9964 E-mail: Christianita_Testamark@ed.gov For copies of the SOW, estimated Level of Effort, and Offeror Questions and ED Responses contact Angela Robinson at 202-708-8279 or Angela_Robinson@ed.gov or visit the Department of Education's Web site at http://ocfo.ed.gov/coninfo/00Q0200.htm. Posted 02/15/00 (W-SN425376). (0046)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0066 20000217\R-0004.SOL)