Technical Support to Produce a Comprehensive Report on Learning Sciences Research

The purpose of this modification notice is to correct an error with the Response Date. As stated in the Description field of the original notice, the Response Date is May 16, 2009. However, the Response Date field was populated with May 26, 2009. This posting notifies interested parties that the Response Date (May 16, 2008) has passed and that this notice is closed. This is a NOTICE OF INTENT that the National Institute for Literacy (the Institute) intends to award a sole source contract to the National Research Council (NRC), an element of the National Academies, an independent nonprofit institution that provides science, technology and health policy advice under a Congressional charter signed by Abraham Lincoln. The Institute's purpose is to produce a comprehensive report that synthesizes important recent advances in knowledge, highlights emergent research in the learning sciences, identifies promising opportunities for synergy across fields, and assesses the implications for literacy and adult learning. The Institute believes the NRC's characteristics give the NRC a unique ability develop a report that meets the Government's needs in the time available. Established in 1916, the NRC's mission is to improve government decision-making and public policy by providing expert advice based on scientific evidence. The NRC conducts its work through the volunteer participation of 6,000 nationally recognized scientists, engineers and other professionals who serve on committees and participate in various activities. It offers an established portfolio of activities including consensus studies, expert meetings and workshops, program and research management and fellowships. It also has formal criteria, made public on its website, governing independent reviews of its reports as well as policies and procedures concerning the composition and balance and conflicts of interest for committees used in developing reports. The tasks required to complete this project include: * appointing and supporting a committee of 12-15 experts in the cognitive, behavioral, and brain sciences, as well as experts in literacy and adult and vocational learning to conduct the study; * planning and managing public workshops designed to highlight the current state of knowledge and the most promising new directions for research. * reviewing the literature from relevant domains * reviewing the final report according to standard NRC procedures Any firm that believes it has the capabilities to perform this work is requested to submit a 12-page capability statement to Keith Smiley, Contract Specialist, The National Institute for Literacy, 1775 I Street NW, Suite 730, Washington, DC 20006. by May 16, 2008. Telephone and requests or inquiries will not be accepted. The statement should describe the firm's expertise and experience in planning and managing the development of rigorous scientific reports using large expert panels. A thorough description of the firm's review process as well as its panel selection criteria and process also should be included. Finally, the statement also should describe the firm's content area knowledge of cognitive, behavioral and brain sciences, and adult literacy. The sole source contract has an estimated value of $1.5 million. This is not a request for proposals and there is no solicitation available. The proposed contract action is for services for which Government intends to negotiate and award with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302-1. The award will be made pending the availability of funds. Any response received as a result of this Notice of Intent shall be considered soley for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Responses will not be considered as either proposals, bids or quotes. All responses received within thirty calendar days after the date of publication of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Contracting Officer not to compete this proposed action based on the responses to this Notice is solely within the discretion of the Contracting Officer.