AMENDMENT NO. SOLICITATION NO. EFF. DATE PAGE 02 OF 03

3 RFP 97-022 6-17-97

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS RECEIVED ON RFP 97-022:

1). The RFP talks about both reviewers and panelists. What is the difference between the two

Could you please provide a definition of their functions and clarify their roles?

The distinction is that a panelist serves on one of the expert panels while a reviewer reviews submissions to the expert panels. A panelist may also be a reviewer, and; a reviewer may

also be a panelist.

2). There is no training for panelists in the base year of Task 1, but there is training in the option

years for this task and for both the base and option years in Task 2. Why is there no

training in Year 1 of Task 1?

The reason there is no training provided for Task 1 during the base year (Year 1) is that

there will be only one (1) meeting each of the reading and technology panels during the base year while there will be approximately two (2) meetings each of these panels for Task 1 during Option Years 1 - 4. There will be training of reviewers (including reviewers who are also panelists) for Task 1 during Option Years 1 - 4 (see Paragraph 1.6.4 on Page 6 of 113 of RFP 97-022).

3). The RFP calls for summative and formative evaluation of Task 1, but not Task 2. Why

this distinction?

Formative and summative evaluation shall take place of both Tasks 1 and 2. References

To Task 2 formative and summative evaluations were inadvertently left out of

Clause C.2 (Statement of Work) and H.20 (Surveillance Plan).

Add the following paragraphs to Task 2 - Base Year, Section C, Page 7 of 113

(below paragraph 2.3.2) of RFP 97-022:

2.4 Subtask: The contractor is responsible for developing and implementing a

comprehensive plan to solicit for review submissions to the panels.

2.5 Subtask: The contractor is responsible for designing, developing, and implementing

a formative evaluation plan for the expert panels.

Add the following paragraphs to Task 2 - Option Years 1 - 4, Section C, Page 7 of 113

(below paragraph 2.6.2) of RFP 97-022:

2.8 Subtask: The contractor shall implement an evaluation plan for expert panels.

AMENDMENT NO. SOLICITATION NO. EFF. DATE PAGE O3 OF 03

3 RFP 97-022 6-17-97

Add the following paragraphs to Task 2 - Base Year, Section H, Page 43 of 113 (below

paragraph 2.3.2) of RFP 97-022:

2.4 Subtask: The contractor is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive plan to solicit for review submissions to the panels.

Standard: The contractor shall develop and implement a plan that solicits submissions from the broad education community.

2.5 Subtask: The contractor is responsible for designing, developing, and implementing a formative evaluation plan for the expert panels.

Standard: The contractor shall after each panel meeting perform a cumulative formative evaluation on the work of the panel.

Add the following paragraph to Task 2 - Option Years 1 - 4, Section H, Page 44 of 113 (below

paragraph 2.6.2 of RFP 97-022:

2.8 Subtask: The contractor is responsible for implementing an evaluation plan with formative and summative elements for the expert panels.

Standard: The contractor shall after each panel meeting perform a cumulative formative evaluation on the work of the panel and at the end of the project year an evaluation, including data from submitters, the panel members, and a sample of the education community most closely connected to the topic addressed by the panel.

4). The RFP calls evaluators and the training of evaluators for Task 2 but not Task 1.

Why this difference?

The evaluators will be trained under Task 2 (see paragraphs 2.3.1, 2.3.2 for the base year

and paragraph 2.6.2 of option years 1 - 4) for all three (3) of the expert panels referenced

in RFP 97-022, and thus no additional training is required for Task 1. All costs for

training of evaluators will be allocated to Task 2.

THIS AMENDMENT DOES NOT CHANGE THE CLOSING DATE OF JUNE 27, 1997 FOR RFP 97-022 NOR DOES IT CHANGE ANY TERMS OR CONDITIONS OF RFP 97-022 NOT REFERENCED IN AMENDMENT NUMBER 3.