Support For Postsecondary Education Statistical Analyses and Data Collection

Please Submit response by October 26, 2009 by 2:00 P.M. The Draft PWS has been revised and attached. Request for Information (RFI) Support Postsecondary Education Data Collection and Analysis The U.S. Department of Education (ED) is conducting market research. This RFI is being used to determine if sufficient interest and capability exists regarding potential future solicitations. This notice is provided as information to the marketplace and is an invitation for interest. Information submitted in response to this RFI may be used as a basis for future solicitations and/or as a basis for more in-depth research of an organization's capability. The U.S. Department of Education (ED), Institute of Education Sciences (IES), National Center of Education Statistics (NCES), Postsecondary Studies Division (PSD) and the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) intend to award a 60 month contract to support postsecondary data collection and analysis. The contract will provide support for the National Education Data Resource Center (NEDRC), Maintenance and Updating of the National Postsecondary Education Cooperative's Website (NPEC), a statistical report on the average cost per postsecondary completion by field of study, and data collection for the Campus Crime Survey, Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act Survey and School Accreditation List. Information Gathering: ED seeks capability statements from small businesses. Capability Statement Instructions: In response to the attached Draft Performance Work Statement, the U.S. Department of Education hereby solicits capability statements from eligible contractors. These statements shall be no longer than 6 pages. Contractors should include resumes in the appendix (no more than 5 resumes shall be included and only resumes for key personnel that will work on the contract are to be included); these resumes will not be counted as one of the 6 pages of the capability statement. DRAFT PWS See Attachment Interested contractors should demonstrate qualifications and experience of key staff and corporate experience. The capability statement should address the following: - The offeror's ability to demonstrate its knowledge of NCES and OPE methods of operation, postsecondary education survey data bases and studies, relevant postsecondary policy issues, and familiarity with education data and literature. - Demonstration that the offeror understands the information and communication needs of NCES and OPE and demonstrates in-depth knowledge of the issues involved in the various areas of work. - Thoroughness of the approach for carrying out the subtasks, including discussion of any foreseen issues or problems, and the means employed to overcome or minimize difficulties. - Knowledge of NCES/IES Statistical Standards, NCES/IES Web Standards, and NCES/IES Style Standards and experience applying them. - Developing and maintaining web based data collection systems for large scale surveys based on NCES/IES Web Standards. - Experience working with subcontractors, including finding subcontractors with expertise in a specific area, developing contracting agreements with subcontractors, monitoring the work of subcontractors, reviewing subcontractor's work, and processing invoices. - Experience responding to public inquiries pertaining to NCES data sets, including but not limited to IPEDS, NPSAS, B&B, BPS, and NSOPF, within a short period of time. Responding to inquiries includes running analyses using NCES and OPE data tools, creating customized data sets and data tables. - Knowledge of complex survey design, the implications this has for data analysis, and how this applies to NCES postsecondary data. - Knowledge of NCES and OPE postsecondary data, data products, and reports, including IPEDS, NPSAS, B&B, BPS, NSOPF, Campus Crime Data Collection Application, EADA Data Collection Application, and the Accredited Schools List Database. - Knowledge about how NCES and OPE data collection systems share data. - Experience staffing a help desk to respond to questions from respondents about how to submit their data using a web based data collection, and questions about how to use the data collection system and Campus Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool website. - Knowledge of and experience in dealing with Title IV legislation and regulatory implementation as is applies to the Campus Crime Data Collection and EADA Data Collection. - Experience developing and implementing help desk training, including developing training materials. - Experience writing and updating electronic codebooks and other data related technical documentation. - Experience writing and updating instructional handbooks and on-line training tutorials. - Knowledge and experience using statistical software packages, such as SAS, SPSS, SUDAAN, STATA, LISREL, HLM, with particular emphasis on statistical software packages that can provide unbiased standards using data with a complex survey design. - Knowledge of ED role in the process of recognition of nationally recognized accrediting agencies that the Secretary determines to be reliable authorities as to the quality of education or training provided by the institutions of higher education and the higher education programs they accredit. - Knowledge of the process whereby recognition is granted by ED for State agencies for the approval of public postsecondary vocational education and State agencies for the approval of nurse education - Demonstration that the project management and staffing plan will result in timely and quality products delivered within budget, including clear lines of responsibility, corporate oversight, subcontractors and consultants, including the feasibility of plans for involving outside experts and/or subcontractors. - Appropriate methods for matching demonstrated skills to work requirements, including consultants and subcontractor staff. - Corporate experience in all activities described in the draft statement of work as well as similar activities. - Access to literature, facilities and equipment, statistical software, computer capability, and, when appropriate, experts and consultants. Interested small business parties are asked when submitting the Capability Statements to include the following information: 1) Company Name and Mailing Address and 2) Point of Contact (name, title, e-mail address, and telephone number). The deadline for submitting capability statements is Monday, October 26, 2009 by 2:00 p.m. EST via e-mail to the following: Zilphia.Wright@ed.gov Note: The Government will not pay for the provision of any information nor will it compensate any respondents for providing this information. This notice is NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL and in no way obligates the Government to award any contract. ED will not be responsible for any costs incurred in responding to this announcement.