B -- QUALITY MEASURES FOR ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENTS OF ADULT LITERACY

Notice Date

August 17, 2001

Contracting Office

Department of Education, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Contracts and Purchasing Operations, 7th and D Streets, S.W., Regional Office Building, Room 3600, Washington, DC, 20202-4249

ZIP Code

20202-4249

Description

The Office of Vocation and Adult Education (OVAE)/U. S. Department of Education (ED) contemplates awarding a sole source contract to the National Academy of Sciences for a period of not more then nine (9) months. The award is for an evaluation of alternative assessments for measuring and reporting learning gains in adult basic education and literacy. OVAE needs a set of quality standards that assure alternative assessments are valid and reliable, and that they produce outcomes consistent with the National Reporting System guidelines. An award to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is proposed under FAR Subpart authority 6.302-3(a)(2)(ii) because it is necessary to award a contract to a particular source ?"to establish an essential?research, or development capability to be provided by an educational or other nonprofit institution?" This authority is used under its application of 602-3(b)(2)(ii). The NAS Board on Testing Assessment (BOTA) has the required special expertise to develop a set of quality standards for alternative performance assessments. The mission of the NAS Board on Testing Assessment is to assist policy makers by providing scientific expertise around critical issues of testing and assessment. NAS has the ability to assemble the Nation's most eminent scholars, who serve as volunteers without compensation on committees and boards, to carry out this project. NAS is well known for its rigorous review procedures. The status of the NAS by Congress as a noncompetitive source of scientific research and policy advice to the Government reaffirms the special relationship of the Academy to Government and its unique capacity to martial scientific expertise of the highest caliber in order to provide independent and objective science policy advice. The NAS is uniquely qualified to provide the measure of expertise, independence, objectivity and audience acceptance necessary to meet our program requirements. If there are any interested offerors, please submit your inquiries and/or capabilities to the attention of Joyce Calloway, Contracting Officer; ED/Contracts and Purchasing Operations (CPO)/Group B; 400-Maryland Avenue, S.W./ROB-3 Bldg./RM:3636; Washington, D. C., 20202-4445. A competitive solicitation will not be issued. (See numbered Note 22.)

Web Link

Visit this URL for the latest information about this (http://www.eps.gov/spg/ED/OCFO/CPO/Reference-Number-OVAE-08-17-2001 /listing.html)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010821/SPMSC006.HTM (D-229 SN50V3H2)