THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION?S
HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER FOR ALCOHOL
OTHER DRUGS AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION 
	STATEMENT OF WORK 

I.	INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY  

This statement of work for operation of the U.S. Department of Education?s
(ED) Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention (Center)
is a Federal response to the continued high rates of illegal alcohol and
other drug use by college students, and violence on campus.  

Studies show that students are affected by the negative consequences of
alcohol and other drug (AOD) use such as missed classes, poor grades, risk
of sexual assault, health risks, vandalism, and violence.  Even those
students who do not use or abuse alcohol or other drugs have an increased
risk of being the victims of those who do and suffering from disruption in
their living environments.  

Responding to these conditions, and as part of ED?s mission to provide
leadership in the Federal effort to help prevent and reduce AOD and violence
problems among college students, the Center was established in 1993 to
assist college administrators and other professionals at institutions of
higher education (IHEs).  The Center?s mission has been to assist IHEs in
developing and carrying out AOD prevention programs that foster students?
academic and social potential and promote campus and community safety.  The
Center achieves this by providing: technical assistance (on-site and phone
consultation); training and professional development activities; publication
and dissemination of prevention materials; assessment, evaluation, and
analysis activities; and support for the Network of Colleges and
Universities Committed to the Elimination of Drug and Alcohol Abuse (the
Network) in its efforts to deliver programs, services, and products to the
college community.  The primary objective of the Center is to increase
knowledge in the field about effective strategies, policies, practices,
products, and programs to prevent college students? illegal use of alcohol
and other drugs.  

In 1994, the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program?s (SDFSP) mandate was
expanded to address violence and safety issues on college campuses.  The
Center has expanded its services recently to support the prevention of
violence including aggression, sexual harassment, intimidation, and other
forms of disruptive behavior. 

In the past five years the primary focus of Center activities and services
has been in supporting the efforts of campus-based personnel, especially AOD
prevention practitioners, working at IHEs.  The Center has made significant
progress in meeting the information gap for this audience.  Starting with
the contract requirements described in this Statement of Work, ED intends to
broaden the Center?s mission to assist and provide direction not only to
IHEs, but also to local communities, state, regional, and national
organizations in their efforts to eliminate illegal alcohol and other drug
use and its consequences, including violence, in American colleges and
universities through the use of prevention strategies.  Center services will
include an increased focus on the examination, analysis, synthesis, and
dissemination of AOD and violence (AODV) prevention knowledge.  Because of
limited resources, there will be a decreased emphasis on training and
publication development.  The ultimate beneficiaries of Center activities
remain college students

II.	LEGISLATIVE AUTHORIZATION AND CENTER HISTORY 

Legislative authority for this activity is found in the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965, Title IV - The Safe and Drug-Free Schools
and Communities Act of 1994, Part A - State Grants for Drug and Violence
Prevention Programs, Subpart 2 - National Programs, Section 4121(a) -
Federal Activities, as amended.

Congress strengthened the force of its concern about drug use among higher
education students when it amended the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act
(DFSCA) in 1989 by adding a new minimal requirement for every IHE receiving
Federal funds (Higher Education Act, Section 1213).  Each institution must
certify to ED's Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) that it has adopted
and implemented a program to prevent the unlawful possession, use, or
distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees as a
condition of receiving funds or any other form of financial assistance under
any Federal program (34 CFR Part 86).  This certification affects the larger
universe of approximately 9,000 postsecondary institutions that includes the
IHEs and proprietary institutions.   

In the 1994 Reauthorization of Improving America?s Schools Act, Title IV -
Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities, Subpart 2 - National Programs,
Sec. 4122, authority was expanded to add violence prevention to the higher
education program responsibilities.

The Center was established in November 1993. For further information about
the Center services, see its web site at http://www.edc.org/hec.  For Fiscal
Year 1998, the Center was funded for $2.2M, including three optional tasks.

III.	AOD AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION IN HIGHER EDUCATION

A.	Prevention Strategies 

For purposes of this Statement of Work, prevention strategies include, but
are not limited to, education, information dissemination, environmental
strategies, alternatives activities, problem identification and referral,
and community based processes Federal Register March 31,1993 p.17074. The
Center shall focus on those prevention strategies that have not been
traditionally used within the higher education community.  For the most
part, AOD prevention efforts in higher education have focused on using
education and intervention strategies with the individual as the primary
target. Although these strategies are a necessary part of providing a
continuum of care on campuses, and shall be addressed by the Center, they
are insufficient by themselves to prevent problems or to systemically change
the campus social or cultural environments.  

The Center's primary prevention philosophy shall focus on systemic
strategies that lead to long-term, large-scale changes that impact the
entire campus community and the AOD social and cultural environment in which
students make AOD use decisions.  Prevention strategies that support
students? positive choices and normative beliefs are of particular interest
to ED.  Studies show that the use of multiple strategies increases the
likelihood of success of campus-wide prevention efforts.  The Center shall
encourage and support IHEs in conducting periodic needs assessments in order
to identify appropriate strategies for individual campus communities.  The
Center shall disseminate information on an array of prevention,
intervention, and referral strategies.  The Center shall continually search
for new and promising strategies and theories on AODV prevention and provide
that information to the field in a timely manner.   

B.  	ED Drug Prevention Grant Programs in Higher Education

In FY 1987, Congress authorized funds under the Drug-Free Schools and
Communities Act for programs to benefit students in IHEs.  The U.S.
Department of Education gave responsibility for administering these funds to
the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) in OPE. 
FIPSE, in turn, established a Drug Prevention Program in Higher Education. 
In February 1997, ED moved responsibility for the Program to the Office of
Elementary and Secondary Education?s (OESE) SDFSP. Since the inception of
the Program, ED has awarded more than 1,100 discretionary grants to IHEs.

Each year since 1987, ED has held a National Meeting on Alcohol and Other
Drug Prevention to train and assist its grantees.  Since 1993 the meeting
has been open to the public.  In 1996 and 1997 the National Meeting was
co-sponsored with states and IHEs.  The 12th National Meeting on Alcohol,
Other Drug and Violence Prevention will be held in Washington, D.C. on
October 15-18, 1998.  The 1999 National Meeting will be co-sponsored by the
state of New York and held in Albany, NY in early November.  The meetings
have always been organized with significant input from the field and a
planning committee of IHE representatives and grantees.  Since 1993, the
National Meeting has been held in collaboration with the Network of Colleges
and Universities Committed to the Elimination of Drug and Alcohol Abuse (the
Network.).

C.	The Network of Colleges and Universities Committed to the
Elimination of Drug and Alcohol Abuse

While FIPSE was developing its drug prevention programs, ED gave the Office
of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) responsibility for developing
and managing the Network in 1987.  The Network consists of a group of more
than 1400 colleges and universities dedicated to the elimination of
substance abuse on postsecondary campuses. Its common theme is a set of
guidelines to which member institutions subscribe. The guidelines are
consistent with federal, state and local laws and are intended to assist
campuses in the development of policy, education, enforcement and
assessment. The Network is served by volunteers from member institutions who
receive guidance and assistance from the U.S. Department of Education. The
Network is sponsored by the Department of Education. 

The Network is structured along state and regional areas to better serve
local interests. Volunteer Regional Coordinators, appointed by the
Department of Education, provide liaison between the Department of Education
and the campuses.  In 1994, the responsibility for managing the Network was
moved to FIPSE. With the transfer of the drug program to OESE in 1997, the
responsibility for administering the Network falls with the SDFSP.  Since
1993, program funding to the 21 Network regions and support for the work of
the Network Executive Committee and Regional Coordinators has been provided
through the Center contract.

The Network developed a set of standards to eliminate drug use and alcohol
abuse on college campuses.  Developed in collaboration with ED and
representatives of the higher education community, the standards serve as
guidance to schools on education programming, assessment techniques, and
enforcement procedures aimed at eradicating AOD abuse on campuses.  In 1997,
the Network commissioned a set of papers to address current AOD issues
facing IHEs.  These papers will become the basis for discussion to determine
if the standards should be revised.  In the fall of 1998, ED will kick-off
the Tenth Anniversary of the Network at EDs annual meeting.

IV.	CENTER MISSION AND CLIENTS 

The mission of the Center is to assist ED, local, state, regional, and
national organizations in serving IHEs in developing and implementing
policies and programs that will foster students? academic and social
development and promote campus and community safety by preventing the
harmful effects of alcohol and other drug use and violence on college
campuses.  The Center shall be the nation?s primary provider of services in
AODV prevention in higher education based on state-of-the-art knowledge.    

The Center shall serve a broad spectrum of clients.  Primary clients for
Center services are IHEs, and include the most influential change agents
such as Presidents, Provosts, Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), IHE and
postsecondary administrators (including administrators for student affairs,
residence life, Greek organizations, faculty senate, campus security).  
Secondary clients are state, regional, and national level alcohol and drug
agencies, local community organizations, parent organizations, associations
of higher education community members and other who directly work with IHEs.
  

V.	LEVEL OF EFFORT

The Contractor shall provide services specified in the Scope of Work on the
basis of Direct Productive Person Hours (DPPH).  DPPHs are defined as actual
work hours exclusive of vacation, holiday, sick leave and other absences for
professional staff and consultants.  The level of effort range for each
contract year shall be 12,000-15,000.

No clerical or support positions shall be added into the DPPH total.

VI.	DEFINITIONS	

For purposes of this contract the following definitions will be used:

Center Associates (CAs) is a term that the current contractor uses to refer
to IHE-affiliated personnel, e.g., faculty, staff or consultants, qualified
in either or both adult learning and technical assistance delivery regarding
AODV prevention issues to the higher education community.  The Center
recruits, screens, selects, trains, and deploys CAs, contingent on ED
approval.  

Center Presentations include lectures, keynote addresses, and brief training
episodes in a variety of formats, e.g., roundtable, panel, or workshop. 
Center presentations are distinguished from training, in that the contractor
will perform the former at conference, conventions, and meetings --
including any ED sponsored events -- not directly organized or sponsored by
the Center. Presentations are usually less than four hours in length. 

Campus Community includes the neighboring local community surrounding the
campus.

Consultations by the contractor are the delivery of a specific area of
expert knowledge or technical skills required by the client that cannot be
provided by the Center staff.  

Consultations may be provided by one or more of the following delivery
methods: on-site visits to the client or by telephone, by correspondence, or
by dissemination of specially designed materials. All telephone
consultations shall be followed up by correspondence, and if appropriate, by
dissemination of specifically developed materials or other resources or
custom designed workshops or training sessions.

A consultation does not mean delivering or disseminating materials, or
distributing materials or information previously developed by the center
which did not result from a specific analysis conducted for a client's
problems.  A consultation does not mean helping or assisting a discretionary
grant applicant write a proposal.

COTR is the Contracting Officer?s Technical Representative and the primary
contact person at ED in the program office.  The CO, or Contracting Officer,
and contract specialist are the other ED staff members with whom the
contractor shall have official contact.

Drug prevention means prevention, early intervention, rehabilitation
referral, or education related to the illegal use of alcohol and the use of
controlled, illegal, addictive, or harmful substances, including inhalants
and anabolic steroids.

Environment (al) (strategies) refers to those strategies that focus on
preventive action on the components in the environment in which students
make alcohol and drug use decisions.  Those components are advertising and
promotion, availability, physical context, legal sanctions, sociocultural
context, and institutions.  The sociocultural context includes the prevalent
attitudes and norms regarding the use of alcohol and other drugs and
violence.   Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) award degrees upon
completion of two or more years of education to students who have completed
specified course work.  There are about 3,800 IHEs.

On-site visits are visits by the Center?s staff or consultants to the
location of the client requiring one-on-one technical assistance service to
address a specific need or problem.  The COTR must approve all on-site
visits.

Organizations include student, parent, and community groups at the local,
state, and national level.

Postsecondary Institutions are the sum totals of all proprietary and higher
education institutions that provide education after high school.  There are
about 9,000 postsecondary institutions.

Products are services that include but are not limited to public services
announcements, kits, drop-in newspaper ads, posters, videos, audio-cassette,
CD-ROM, training materials (training and participants manuals) training
aids, overheads, and publications.  Publications include but are not limited
to books, implementation guides or monographs (more than 24 pages),
literature reviews, bulletins (up to 24 pages), flyers, one-page fact
sheets, professional articles, or brochures.

Professional Development is training that the Center organizes, in
consultation with ED, for individuals who have demonstrated a high degree of
experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating AODV prevention
programs and polices, and/or researching AODV problems confronting higher
education.  Contractor sponsored professional development shall promote
formation and growth of specific knowledge and skills objectives.

Proprietary Institutions provide technical training and certification after
high school but are not degree granting institutions.  There are about 4,800
proprietary institutions.

Services are the sum total of the kinds of assistance and products that can
be provided by the Center including but not limited to training, workshops
and presentations; professional development; think tanks; technical
assistance; developing and disseminating products; identifying, analyzing,
synthesizing, and disseminating AODV prevention knowledge; and evaluation
and assessment activities. 

Technical Assistance shall consist of consultations, information, referrals,
support, guidance, and other assistance on specific issues, topics, or
problems as requested by the client.  The contractor shall disseminate
materials collected, adapted, and developed for this assistance.  Technical
assistance may precede, follow, or be combined with training activities. 

Training is instruction directed toward imparting knowledge, skills and
attitudes supportive of change by engaging, affirming, informing, equipping,
and motivating trainees toward formulation and implementation of action
plans responsive to the specific circumstance each trainee faces. Training
may consist of various formats, e.g., workshops, seminars, or computer
assisted tutorials.  The center shall deliver training in topic modules of
four or more hours in duration. The Center shall deploy only ED-approved
staff or consultants to deliver training.

Upon Request shall be defined as a request for assistance in a written,
e-mail, or verbal manner as documented by the Center.

Violence prevention means the prevention of violent and disruptive acts
including sexual harassment and abuse, and victimization associated with
prejudice and intolerance.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

One base year and four option years.

SCOPE OF WORK

Tasks are organized by the audience they serve, not the method of delivery
of services as in previous Center contracts.  Each task addresses the
crosscutting services provided by the Center to a particular constituency. 
It is ED?s intent to encourage the contractor to provide a seamless
integration of services to client constituencies.  None the less under task
5, there is an integration of services across tasks for the purposes of
creating a comprehensive Center timeline and deliverables list.  The
contractor shall include performance-based measures in each of the Center?s
plans for review and approval by the COTR 

In conducting its activities, the Center shall focus on:

- Promoting prevention strategies that change the campus cultural and social
climate to one conducive to no tolerance for illegal alcohol and other drug
use and violent behavior;

- Promoting prevention strategies, policies, practices, products, and
programs that are developmentally appropriate for college students and
tailored to the college campus environment.  To the extent possible, these
strategies shall be research-based, or have been rigorously evaluated and
documented in the literature.  Where no information or research exists, the
Center shall take leadership in mining the data, conducting data evaluation
and analysis, and publishing the findings in order to have the information
necessary to perform the work of the Center;  

- Emphasizing the involvement of key policy makers to affect systemic, long
term change in policies and campus norms.

- Targeting the whole social and cultural campus environment and its
relationship to the surrounding community;

- Using research-based methods that apply to the transfer of knowledge and
dissemination of information;

- Providing services by actively seeking to meet the needs of institutions
and states that have been underserved in previous years by the Center or the
Network, or have not received ED grants to IHEs for AODV prevention, rather
than respond routinely only to institutions and individuals who initiate
contacts with the Center;

- To the extent possible, using state-of-the-art methods and technology to
deliver services, manage the Center; and provide high quality products,
including presentation visual aids;

- Coordinating with information resource providers to identify new products
and avoid redundancy in Center product development;

- Coordinating and actively collaborating with professional associations and
organizations to deliver services in an efficient and timely manner and
avoid redundancy;

- Gathering information on an on-going basis but no less than quarterly from
appropriate constituencies in order to reflect the needs of the field as
part of continuous improvement of services and in the development of task
plans;

- Providing free copies of all Center products (including publications) and
limiting fees for non-Center produced publications to large quantities
agreed upon by ED; and

- Limiting fees for services to non-postsecondary institutions and those
populations that are not underserved.

In preparation for the submission of the draft and final plans the
contractor shall:

- Conduct a concept development meeting with the COTR prior to submitting
draft plans;

- Unless a task specifies differently, deliver all task draft plans to ED
six weeks before the beginning of each Option Year; 

- In the base year, provide a revision of the plans submitted in the
proposal as the final plans.  The plans shall be due to ED three weeks after
the beginning of the base year;

- ED will review draft plans within four weeks of receipt and provide
comments to the contractor.  The contractor shall incorporate ED's comments
into the draft plan within two weeks and submit the final plan to the COTR
for approval; and

- Include in all final task plans, including the base year plan, a revised
timeline.  The timeline shall be organized by product/service, task
activities, the name of the task leader, the names of individuals assigned
to specific activities, and a schedule of when interim and final
deliverables will be sent to ED.  The approved plan's schedule of
deliverables shall be considered as all other deliverables found in Section
F.

TASK 1	SUPPORT MEMBERS OF THE IHE CAMPUS COMMUNITY

The contractor shall develop and implement in one plan its strategy to
provide integrated services to the IHE campus community. 

Subtask 1.1	Develop and Implement a Plan to Support Members of the IHE
Campus Community 

For the base year, the contractor shall continue to provide training and
professional development based on the curriculum modules that have
previously been developed by the Center.  See appendix for list of titles of
current Center training modules.  It is not the intention of ED to deliver
training based on new modules in the base year of the contract unless the
contractor provides a compelling rationale and the COTR approves.  

For each option year, the contractor shall propose a minimum and maximum
number of training, professional development events, and Center
presentations to be delivered in the option year (no less than five). The
contractor shall propose the development of new modules based on their needs
assessment.  The contractor shall deliver the remaining training based on
existing Center modules.  At least one training AND one professional
development event each year shall be on project assessment and evaluation
methods.

The contractor shall pilot test each new training and professional
development curriculum and assess the pilot experience to determine whether
the new curriculum meets the needs of trainees and the trainers.  The
contractor shall submit pre-piloted and post-piloted curriculums as
deliverables to the COTR.

At a minimum the contractor shall explain and demonstrate how it will:

- Design and plan a cost-effective approach to assess the overall needs of
the IHE campus community for AODV prevention knowledge and services.  The
assessment approach shall provide an ongoing  mechanism to identify and
determine gaps in research, practice-based knowledge, and services; 

- Establish criteria to provide services to a variety of IHEs and
subpopulations based on the  needs assessment; 

- Determine and establish the level, type, number, focus, and formats of
services; 

- Establish the criteria for selecting Center training, presentations, and
professional development venues and target audiences; 

- Identify and propose venues and dates for all events that reflect
consultation with the field including the Network;    

- Identify and propose new training curricula topics for development in
option years and/or revisions of previously developed curricula modules;

- Support postsecondary institutions in complying with the requirements in
Section 1213 (DFSCA) of the HEA and its regulations (EDGAR Part 86 of Title
34 of the CFR): 

1.  Provide the COTR with a list of five individuals, who are not Center
staff, and their resumes to become part of a team of consultants who will
provide expert technical assistance and product development on issues
surrounding compliance.  The contract shall provide training and
professional development to these five individuals annually; and

2.  Provide travel and lodging for five individuals each year from
proprietary institutions and IHEs who require financial assistance to attend
training and have previously been underserved by Federal prevention
initiatives;

- Establish criteria for setting priorities for providing various technical
assistance services;

- Recommend criteria for conducting on-site technical assistance to the COTR
for approval. When the Center recommends to the COTR on-site technical
assistance, the request shall include the letter of request from the
requestor, a brief description of the type of technical assistance to be
provided and by whom, and the duration of proposed technical assistance.  A
recommendation for or against providing on-site technical assistance shall
be submitted to the COTR within ten working days of receipt of the request. 
A written on-site technical assistance plan for each client shall be
prepared by Center staff prior to the actual on-site visit and shall be used
as a guide for performance of the technical assistance service.  The plan
shall consist of a brief statement identifying the need or problem, an
outline of the resolution for each identified need or problem, and a list of
resources that will result in correction of the problem or program
improvement.  The plan shall include clarification of any expectations by
the Center of the client institution in carrying out the technical
assistance.  A written follow up to the client will include possible next
steps, recommendations, resources, or may include a second on-site visit. 
The plan and written follow-ups to the client shall be included in the
monthly management report as each plan or site visit is completed; and

- Conduct ongoing evaluation of Center services to the IHE campus community
by conducting: five focus sessions; pre-event assessments; on-site
evaluations; and post-event follow-ups to measure outcomes, including
trainer effectiveness.  Evaluation measures should also determine whether
Center training is meeting the needs of trainees and the goals of ED, and is
having an impact on the target audience.

Subtask 1.2	Identify, Train, and Deploy Center Associates (CAs) and
Consultants  

At a minimum the contractor shall explain and demonstrate how it will:

- Deliver services nationwide; 

- Establish policies and procedures for selecting, preparing, deploying,
evaluating, and managing the CAs and/or consultants and provide criteria for
their selection;

- Establish criteria that will insure that CAs and consultants are qualified
to engage in the delivery or development of services including training,
technical assistance, or product development prior to deploying them to do
so.  The contractor shall explain how they determined the appropriate number
of CAs to be recruited and trained for each contract year;

- Continually assess, in coordination with ED, performance of CAs and
consultants on behalf of the Center; and 

- Survey CAs at least twice per year to: determine the number of training
events each may have conducted independent of Center sponsorship (and the
number of trainees per event); gather evaluative data about training
materials; identify new curricula topics; and elicit comments and
recommendations useful for the Center?s planning of future CA professional
development events.  The contractor shall determine CAs? perception of their
preparedness to deliver training and/or technical assistance.  In
coordination with ED, the CAs and consultants will be surveyed to assess
their satisfaction with the Center.  The contractor shall submit copies of
each evaluation upon request of the COTR and include survey results in the
monthly management report.

Subtask 1.3	Product Development, Acquisition, and Dissemination 

The plan shall include a 2-3 page (stand-alone) product resume that
includes: a timeline; description of each proposed newly developed, revised,
reprinted, or acquired product; primary and secondary target audiences;
content level; number of pages; quantity to be produced; product format;
review plan; distribution plan; evaluation plan; and a brief description of
the product goals/objectives.

The plan shall include a "Product Summary Chart" that includes each product
including curriculum modules, training materials, and publications.  The
chart shall have columns listing: 1) working title and tracking number for
each product; 2) dates for delivery of first draft, field review or pilot
testing (and venue), and final or post-pilot draft; and 3) name of the staff
person responsible for the product development.  After the plan is approved,
the contractor shall track all products in a ?Product Status Chart? in a
format to be prescribed by ED.   The contractor shall update the chart
monthly and include it in the monthly management report.

The plan shall include pilot testing for training or professional
development materials, publications, or products in conjunction with the
training curriculum pilot test mentioned in Subtask 1.1.

At a minimum the contractor shall explain and demonstrate how it will:

- Develop and publish two new publications in the base year: one on campus
security practices, and one publication on the results of the "Sexual and
Racial Harassment and Violence on Campuses" subpanel search for promising
programs; 

- Update and publish the Center's "Annotated Bibliography" within three
months of the beginning of each contract year;

- Publish three different issues of the Catalyst Newsletter (8.5x17 or
metric equivalent, four pages, two sided for eight total pages in length,
two page front and back two color printing, and black text) each contract
year (plus Network one page, two sided insert, see subtask 3.xx); 

- Establish criteria that will insure products included in the plan: fill an
identified need in the field; avoid duplication of existing materials; are
based on accurate, up-to-date scientific information or reliable research
data whenever possible; and use formats, technologies, and graphic designs
appropriate to the target audience; and

- Acquire materials not developed under this contract that may be useful at
meetings, Center training events and for technical assistance requirements
of the contract.  The list of proposed materials to be acquired shall be
included in the "Product Summary Chart." 

Subtask 1.4	Provide Assessment and Evaluation Services and Products, and
Conduct Analysis and Synthesis Functions

The contractor shall provide services to the IHE campus community in
conducting needs assessment, collecting student, staff, and faculty survey
data, identifying and conducting impact evaluations to identify effective
policies, practices, products, and programs.   The contractor shall propose,
develop or revise, and disseminate products that will assist IHEs wishing to
improve or expand their evaluation capacity as noted in subtask 1.3.  

The contractor shall analyze and synthesize existing research and data
findings and disseminate the information to the field in a timely and
efficient manner.  

The contractor shall develop a variety of user-friendly and
audience-appropriate services to provide guidance to IHEs on prevention
strategies and successful policies, practices, products, and programs. 

The contractor shall prepare an annual report to the field on the results of
Center assessment activities that will be presented at the second annual
Center Review Group meeting.  This report shall be coordinated with report
required in subtask 2.4.

Subtask 1.5	Analyze Biennial Reports

The purpose of this subtask is to analyze a sample of biennial reports
prepared by postsecondary institutions as part of their requirements under
Section 1213 (DFSCA) of the Higher Education Act and its regulations (EDGAR
Part 86 of Title 34 of the CFR.)   The analysis will assist ED in assessing
the level and type of compliance to the regulations, and provide the field
with information about the nature of AOD programming at postsecondary
institutions.   By analyzing the reports ED will be better able to assess
the needs for technical assistance and services in order to better serve
postsecondary institutions.

The contractor shall prepare a plan and timeline for: 1) selecting the
sample and producing mailing labels; 2) mailing initial and follow-up
letters to be sent by ED; 3) providing the name of the lead Center staff
responsible for the task; 3) providing the names of the reviewers and their
resumes; 4) developing, writing, and producing the report.  

At a minimum the contractor shall explain and demonstrate how it will:

- Conduct the analysis each year following the year schools perform their
biennial reviews (base year, option year 2 and 4.)  ED will provide the
biennial reports to the contractor from the total potential pool of
institutions based on a sampling plan established by the contractor and
submitted to ED eight weeks before the mailout date of the letter to
institutions;  

- Select a sample that will be adequate to provide a basis for
generalization which over samples IHEs.  The sample size has been estimated
by ED to be about 250;

- Select and train a team of ten reviewers to provide for inter-rater
reliability.  Two meetings of one night and two days shall be planned, the
first to train and the second meeting to discuss findings; and

- Prepare a report that provides ED with information on the nature and
extent of compliance with EDGAR requirements based on the biennial reports,
quality of policies, and level of programming at postsecondary institutions.
At a minimum the report shall contain a table of contents, executive
summary, the analysis of the sample, and recommendations and observations.
The contractor shall submit a draft report within four weeks of conducting
the content analysis, and the final report to ED within two weeks of
receiving the COTRs comments.

TASK 2	SUPPORT LOCAL, STATE, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS 

The contractor shall develop and implement in one plan its strategy to
provide integrated services to local, state, regional, and national
organizations (LSRNO). 

Subtask 2.1 	Develop and Implement a Plan to Support Local, State,
Regional, and National Organizations (not based at IHEs) 

For the base year, the contractor shall develop one new training or
professional development module to be pilot tested and delivered within the
base year.  In addition, the contractor shall propose a minimum and maximum
number of training, professional development events, and presentations to be
delivered in the base year, from the list of current Center training
modules.  See appendix for list of titles of current Center training modules.

For each option year, the contractor shall propose a minimum and maximum
number of training, professional development events, and Center
presentations to be delivered in the option year.  The contractor shall
propose the development of new modules based on their needs assessment.  The
contractor shall deliver the remaining training based on existing Center
modules.  At least one training OR professional development shall be on
project assessment and evaluation methods targeted for the LSRNO audience.

The contractor shall pilot test each new training and professional
development curriculum and assess the pilot experience to determine whether
the new curriculum meets the needs of trainees and the trainers.  The
contractor shall submit pre-piloted and post-piloted curriculums as
deliverables to the COTR.

At a minimum the contractor shall explain and demonstrate how it will:

- Design and plan a cost-effective approach to assess the overall needs of
LSRNO committed to the mission of the Center for AODV prevention knowledge
and services.  The assessment approach shall provide an ongoing  mechanism
to identify and determine gaps in research, practice-based knowledge, and
services; 

- Establish criteria to provide services to a limited number of  LSRNO
including state college systems based on the needs assessment; 

- Determine and establish the level, type, number, focus, and formats of
services; 

- Establish the criteria for selecting Center training, presentations, and
professional development venues and target audiences; 

- Identify and propose venues and dates for all events that reflect
consultation with the LSRNO and the Network; 

- Identify new training curricula topics for development and/or revisions of
previously developed curricula modules; 

- Support states in understanding and auditing the requirements for
postsecondary institutions in complying with the requirements in Section
1213 (DFSCA) of the HEA and its regulations (EDGAR Part 86 of Title 34 of
the CFR): 

1.  Provide the COTR with a list of three names, who are not Center staff, 
with resumes to become part of a team of consultants who will provide expert
technical assistance and product development on issues surrounding
compliance.  The contract shall provide training and professional
development to these individuals annually; and

2.  Provide travel and lodging for three state auditors or appropriate state
agency representative to attend either the National Meeting or a training or
professional development event;

- Establish criteria for setting priorities for providing various technical
assistance services;

- Recommend criteria for conducting on-site technical assistance to the COTR
for approval. The recommendation from the Center to provide on-site
technical assistance shall include the letter of request from the requestor,
a brief description of the type of technical assistance to be provided and
by whom, and the duration of proposed technical assistance.  A
recommendation for or against providing on-site technical assistance shall
be submitted to the COTR within ten working days of receipt of the request. 
A written on-site technical assistance plan for each client shall be
prepared by Center staff prior to the actual on-site visit and shall be used
as a guide for performance of the technical assistance service.  The plan
shall consist of a brief statement identifying the need or problem, an
outline of the resolution for each identified need or problem, and a list of
resources that will result in correction of the problem or program
improvement.  The plan shall include clarification of any expectations by
the Center of the client institution in carrying out the technical
assistance.  A written follow up to the client will include possible next
steps, recommendations, resources, or may include a second on-site visit. 
The plan and written follow-ups to the client shall be included in the
monthly management report as each plan or site visit is completed; and

- Conduct ongoing evaluation of Center services to local, state, regional,
and national organizations by conducting: five focus sessions; pre-event
assessments; on-site evaluations; and post-event follow-ups to measure
outcomes, including trainer effectiveness.  Evaluation measures should also
determine whether Center training is meeting the needs of trainees, ED, and
is having an impact on the target audience.


Subtask 2.2	Identify, Train, and Deploy Center Associates (CAs) and
Consultants  

At a minimum the contractor shall explain and demonstrate how it will:

- Deliver services nationwide; 

- Establish policies and procedures for selecting, preparing, deploying,
evaluating, and  managing the CAs and/or consultants and provide criteria
for their selection;

- Establish criteria that will insure that CAs and consultants are qualified
to engage in specific training, technical assistance, or product development
prior to deploying them to do so.  The contractor shall explain how they
determined the appropriate number of CAs to be recruited and trained for
each contract year;

- Continually assess, in coordination with ED, the performance of CAs and
consultants on behalf of the Center; and 

- Survey CAs at least twice per year to: determine the number of training
events each may have conducted independent of Center sponsorship (and the
number of trainees per event); gather evaluative data about training
materials; identify new curricula topics; and elicit comments and
recommendations useful for the Center's planning of future CA professional
development events.  The contractor shall determine CAs? perception of their
preparedness to deliver training and/or technical assistance.  In
coordination with ED, the CAs and consultants will be surveyed to assess
their satisfaction with the Center.

Subtask 2.3 ? Product Development, Acquisition, and Dissemination 

The plan shall include a 2-3 page (stand-alone) product resume that
includes: a timeline; description of each proposed newly developed, revised,
reprinted, or acquired product; primary and secondary target audiences;
content level; number of pages; quantity to be produced; product format;
review plan; evaluation plan; distribution plan; and a brief description of
the product goals/objectives.

The plan shall include a Product Summary Chart that includes each product
including curriculum modules, training materials, and publications.  The
chart shall have columns listing: 1) working title and tracking number for
each product; 2) dates for delivery of first draft, field review or pilot
testing (and venue), and final or post-pilot draft; and 3) name of the staff
person responsible for the product development.  After the plan is approved,
the contractor shall track all products in a "Product Status Chart" in a
format to be prescribed by ED. 

The plan shall include pilot testing for training or professional
development materials, publications, or products in conjunction with the
training curriculum pilot test mentioned in Subtask 2.1.

At a minimum the contractor shall explain and demonstrate how it will:

- Develop and publish one new publication in the base year; 

- Include one article in each issue of three issues of the Catalyst
Newsletter each contract year and expand Catalyst mailing list to include
LSRNO;  

- Assure that items selected for inclusion in the plan meets an identified
need in the field; avoid duplication of existing materials; are based on
accurate, up-to-date scientific information or reliable research data
whenever possible; and use formats, technologies, and graphic designs
appropriate to the target audience; and

- Acquire materials not developed under this contract that may be useful at
meetings, Center training and for technical assistance requirements of the
contract.  The list of proposed materials to be acquired should be included
in the product plan chart.    


Subtask 2.4	Provide Assessment and Evaluation 

The contractor shall provide services to assist LSRNO in exploring how they
can work with IHEs in conducting needs assessments, collecting student,
staff, and faculty survey data, and implementing project impact evaluations.
 The contractor shall propose, develop or revise, and disseminate products
that will assist LSRNO who wish to work with IHEs to improve or expand their
evaluation capacity.

The contractor shall prepare an annual report to the field on the results of
Center assessment activities that will be presented at the second annual
Center Review Group meeting.  Coordinate with report required in subtask 1.4.

TASK 3	PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE NETWORK

The contractor shall develop and implement in one plan its strategy to
provide integrated services, and assist the Network in carrying out its
mission.  A list of the current Regional Coordinators is available on the
Center web site.

Subtask 3.1 	Support Network Meetings

The contractor shall support the Network in holding meetings for the Network
Regional Coordinators and the Executive Committee.

Subtask 3.1.1 Conduct Executive Committee Meeting

The contractor shall convene a total of three meetings of the Executive
Committee each year, six members, at a date, time and site designated by the
COTR.  Each meeting shall be of no more than two days duration.  Two of the
meetings will precede the regular Spring and Fall Regional Coordinators
meeting in which Executive Committee members will participate.  

The contractor shall arrange and pay for the travel, per diem, and related
expenses for the meetings and shall offer to prepay airline tickets.  The
contractor shall reimburse those members who elect to make their own air
travel arrangements, up to the amount of the least costly prepaid fare that
the contractor could have obtained for them.  

Subtask 3.1.2 Conduct Regional Coordinators Meetings

The contractor shall convene two, 2-day meetings each year of the 29
Regional Coordinators.  One meeting will be scheduled to coincide with ED?s
National Meeting and the other meeting will at a time and site designate in
consultation with the Network Executive Committee and the COTR.

The contractor shall: 

- Provide professional development opportunities at Regional Coordinators
Meetings, to the coordinators upon request from the Network Executive
committee;

- Make all of the meeting arrangements;

- Provide logistical support before, during, and as follow-up to the
meetings;

- Copy and mail up to ten pages of materials in two mailings per meeting; 

- Pay for the travel and per diem for the 29 Regional Coordinators; 

- Offer to prepay airline tickets, but reimburse those members who elect to
make their own air travel arrangements provided that the contractor shall
not reimburse an amount more than the least costly fare available on a
prepaid basis through the contractor;  

- Make and pay for hotel arrangements for the 29 Regional Coordinators;  and

- Cover all hotel costs related to the meetings. 

Subtask 3.1.3 Support Regionally Developed Meetings

The contractor shall provide telephone consultation to the 29 Regional
Coordinators for the development of one meeting per Coordinator.  The
contractor shall provide advice on agenda planning, identifying speaker(s)
and/or workshop presenter(s), and obtaining technical resources.

Subtask 3.2 	Support Regional Activities

The contractor shall support Regional Activities among the current 21
regions and 29 Regional Coordinators (some regions have more than one
Coordinator).

Subtask 3.2.1 Reimburse Regions

The contractor shall reimburse each of the 21 Network regions, for a total
of $106,035, with contract funds to each of the 21 Regional Coordinators?
IHEs.  The payments shall be made within four weeks of receipt after review
by the Executive Committee and COTR of the regional annual expenditure plan
and regional annual accounting of expenditure from each region.  The Center
shall mail a reminder notification to the Regional Coordinators to solicit
both the expenditure plan and the annual accounting no later than eight
weeks before the end of the each contract year.  The funds are for
conducting regional meetings and related activities that support the mission
of The Network at the regional level.  For example, funds may be used for
materials to be acquired or developed, duplicating costs, mailing costs,
long distance fees, special office supplies, regional travel, workshop
presenters, and meeting site expenses.  An additional $20,000 shall be made
available for special Network and Regional activities as directed by the
COTR.

Subtask 3.2.2 Develop and Distribute Calendar Update 

The contractor shall dedicate one sheet (two sides) of each Catalyst (see
Network 1.3) to news of the Network activities and plans.  The contractor
shall solicit topics and articles from the Regional Coordinators.

Subtask 3.2.3 Produce and Distribute Stationery

The contractor shall help in the design of the Network letterhead and
envelopes.  By December 10 of each contract year, the contractor shall print
up to 5,000 sheets of letterhead and 2,500 envelopes to be distributed among
the regions, as designated by ED.

Subtask 3.2.4 Maintain and Distribute the Network Directory

The contractor shall maintain and continuously update a directory of the
Network membership.   The contractor shall maintain a Network Directory on
the Center?s web site.  The directory shall be updated with the institution
name, mailing address, telephone number, fax number, and e-mail address of
the principal contact, and the name of the institution?s President by March
1 of the base year, option year two, and option year four.  The contractor
shall update the directory and produce, print, and mail ten copies to each
Regional Coordinator, ten copies to ED, and maintain 25 copies at the Center
by April 1 of the base year, option year two, and option year four. The
contractor shall not distribute directories to institutional contacts in the
base and option year two, and option year four.

The contractor shall produce a complete Network Directory by December 10 of
option year one, and option year three.  The contractor shall mail one to
each institutional contact, ten copies to each Regional Coordinator, ten
copies to ED, and maintain 25 copies at the Center.  

Subtask 3.2.5 Maintain the Network Mailing List

The contractor shall maintain an up-to-date mailing list of the Network
member institutions including the principal contact and the institution's
President.  The list shall be in a format that can be merged with
correspondence in a word processing program, in either WordPerfect or
Microsoft Word.  The contractor shall update the mailing list by sending a
first class notice to the mailing list requesting a pro-active response from
the Network member and one follow-up mailing or telephone call.  The updates
shall be completed by February 15, 1999, February 15, 2001, and February 15,
2003.

Subtask 3.2.6 Support the Tenth Anniversary Celebration The contractor shall
assist in implementing plans for commemorating the Network?s tenth
anniversary.  The contractor shall provide graphic design services, and
editing and print up to 6,000 impressions of materials.  The contractor
shall coordinate and mail one mailing to the Network mailing list. 

TASK 4	DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A PLAN TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE SDFSP
HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAM 

The contractor shall develop and implement in one plan its strategy to
provide integrated services to the Department of Education.   Because of the
Center?s specialized knowledge, expertise, and understanding of the field,
the COTR may call upon the Center to carry out certain periodic tasks upon
request.  

At a minimum the contractor shall explain and demonstrate how it will: 

- Assist in proposing and planning special meetings on emerging issues in
postsecondary AODV prevention with or at the request of ED.  Provide all
logistical support to convene and conduct six, 2-day meetings each year on
special topics in alcohol and other drug prevention for IHEs.  Meetings
shall be at sites to be determined by the COTR but for budgetary purposes
the contractor should base costs on Washington, D.C. The contractor shall
arrange and pay for travel, hotel accommodations, meals, and incidental
travel expenses for up to 200 participants who are not Federal employees. 
Meetings shall take different forums but for planning purposes the
contractor shall plan for providing overhead projectors each day for one
large room, and two small breakout room each day. The contractor shall
develop, reproduce, and distribute pre-meeting material, agendas, name
badges, tent cards, and minutes of the meetings.  The contractor shall
provide audio taping for the full group sessions for three of the six
meetings and provide detailed meeting minutes for all meetings, and short
proceedings for the three taped meetings;

- Provide, on fast turn-around (2-3 days), technical assistance in the
research, analysis, and synthesis of information on topics identified by the
COTR 12 times per year;

- Perform literature reviews four times per year on various topics within
three days, and upon request, provide a short report of at least five pages,
that synthesizes the reviews within four weeks;

- Perform one major literature search annually and prepare an annotated
report.  The contractor shall use the information from the literature search
to update and publish the Center?s ?Annotated Bibliography? (see subtask
1.3);

- Produce up to 60 overheads, 60 slides, one 10-foot banner, and 12
poster-sized signs for presentations on topics of current concerns on a fast
turn-around basis;

- Provide support to ED in disseminating information about ED initiatives
specific to AODV prevention through the web, listservs and two first class
mailings of 4000 pieces each;

- Maintain and update annually a database list of experts in various fields
related to AODV prevention and project assessment and evaluation;

- Gather information on emerging issues by conducting: four focus sessions
of eight people each; two structured telephone interviews; and two intercept
interviews at scheduled meetings with a minimum of 20 people each;

- Prepare up to three key findings reports of up to ten pages on emerging
issues for distribution to small audiences (up to 50 copies);

- Support the field review process for the Grants to Institutions of Higher
Education by assisting in the identification, recruitment, and maintenance
of a database of field readers, applicants, and grantees; and

- Assess the needs of the field in coordination with assessment activities
in subtasks 1.1 and 2.1.  The contractor shall conduct a formal assessment
by surveying senior IHE administrators during the base year, to determine
the state of AODV prevention in higher education and assess current and
emerging needs of IHEs.  This survey instrument received final clearance
from the Office of Management and Budget in FY98.  It is estimated that 250
IHEs will be surveyed.  The contractor shall plan, implement, and conduct an
analysis the findings of the assessment survey, prepare a draft report that
summarizes the findings and analysis, and submit it to the COTR.  Based on
comments from ED, the contractor shall prepare a final report for
publication summarizing the findings and analysis.  The survey to senior
administrators will be administered again in option year four.  

Task 5 	CENTER OPERATIONS AND OUTREACH 

The Contractor shall develop and implement in one plan its strategy to
ensure smooth Center operations, and to provide an outreach and marketing
strategy for all Center tasks. 

Subtask 5.1	Develop and Implement the Operations and Outreach Plan

At a minimum the contractor shall explain and demonstrate how it will: 

- Deliver a comprehensive timeline for tasks one through six and any
optional tasks that are picked up by ED.  The timeline is due two weeks
after the COTR has approved all task plans in the base and option years;

- Maintain a database of Center products and acquisitions and provide a list
to the COTR twice a year;  

- Provide to the COTR ten copies of all publications, and two copies of all
products unless indicated elsewhere in the SOW;

- Establish a product review panel of up to five people who shall be
convened at least once per contract year in Washington, D.C.  Panel members
shall receive an honorarium for their services.  The contractor shall also
establish a field review process;  

- Propose the delivery of services through use of technologies such as
fax-on-demand, teleconferencing, and e-mail/Internet registration, polling,
and other innovative technologies;

- Propose a limited, but sustained marketing campaign to promote the
services of the Center; and

- Ensure that ED is credited on all publications, products, stationary, and
when services are delivered.

Subtask 5.2	Provide Briefings to the Contracting Officer's Technical
Representative (COTR)

The contractor (three key staff members) shall meet with the COTR and
Contracting Officer (CO) or a representative of the CO, in Washington, D.C.
within ten working days of the effective date of each option year or no
later than November 1 of each contract year.  The meeting shall provide the
contractor, COTR, CO, and Contract Specialist the opportunity to discuss and
refine timelines in the contractor's proposal.  This requirement will
provide better management information for use by both the contractor and ED
in monitoring the work to be performed, the time of performance, and the
resources to be used in the performance of the contract.

The contractor shall meet with the COTR and CO in Washington, D.C. for one
progress meeting between the fifth and seventh month after the effective
date of the contract in the base year and in each option year.

Three key personnel shall travel to Washington, D.C., to meet with the COTR
and ED staff one additional time during each contract year unless funding is
available for the COTR to conduct a site-visit in which case the
contractor's key personnel may not be requested to travel to Washington,
D.C.  The purpose of this meeting is to review progress on project
activities and plan upcoming project activities.

Subtask 5.3	Maintain Toll-Free 800 Telephone Number

Upon award, ED will submit a transfer order for the Center's FTS 2000 800
toll-free telephone number.  The government, without cost to the contractor,
 shall furnish inbound long distance service using the FTS 2000 system.  The
government will pay only service costs to the point of demarcation.  The
contractor shall allow 60 days for installation of the 800 line by the
government, from the placement of an order with FTS 2000.  The contractor
shall routinely maintain the  toll-free  number provided by ED, referring
serious problems to OCIO.  This service shall be made routinely and widely
available to Center clients who request Center services and products. 
Access to toll-free inbound service shall also be made available to the
hearing-impaired using TDD or other similar technology.  The contractor
shall be responsible for the cost for telephones, cabling, maintenance, or
any other associated costs.  The contractor shall maintain and provide
records to the COTR that will allow the COTR to verify the accuracy of
periodic bills for FTS 2000 service received by ED. 

The hours for the toll-free 800 number shall be 9:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. ET. 
The contractor shall provide the COTR a plan for staffing of the FTS 2000
800 line by two weeks after the effective date of the contract.  The
contractor shall document changes to staffing in the monthly management
report of the contract.

Subtask 5.4	Create and Maintain Referral Links 

The contractor shall create and maintain active referral links to other
organizations engaged in activities similar to those required in this
statement of work.  Such organizations include, but are not limited to,
national and regional clearinghouses, information centers, training centers,
and other specialized resource organizations.  In addition, the contractor
shall collaborate with professional associations and the Network.  

At a minimum, the contractor shall explain and demonstrate how it will:

- Actively collaborate at a minimum on a quarterly basis with professional
organizations, clearinghouses, centers and other institutions that develop
and distribute relevant information and training materials;

- Identify and collect information about topics and availability of relevant
information and training materials, and maintain a database of relevant
information;

- Share relevant information about the Center's plans with other entities to
limit duplication of services and products; 

- Establish and maintain databases of mailing lists of organizations and
associations with whom the contractor will collaborate and other clients,
and friends of the Center.  Provide list annually to the COTR; and

- Establish tracking system for all services provided by the Center,
including TA requests and responses.

Subtask 5.5	Attend and Participate in ED Meetings

At a minimum, the contractor shall explain and demonstrate how it will: 

- Attend and participate as an exofficio member to the ED National Meeting
planning committee.  The contractor is not responsible for running the
National Meeting or providing and paying for its logistics under this task. 
Expenses for the National Meeting will be paid under a separate contract,
task order, or optional task under this contract.  Two Center staff members
shall attend two meetings of two nights three days duration;

- Pay travel, hotel, and per diem for up to 12 National Meeting Planning
Committee members to attend one of two meetings for three days and two
nights of the Planning Committee in early 1999 in Albany, N.Y.;

- Submit abstracts for workshop presentations to the planning committee at
the time of the call for abstracts;

- Provide three persons to present workshops and be present at the entire
National Meeting, for three nights and four days duration;

- Provide two Center staff persons to staff a display booth at the National
Meeting with information about the Center, its services, and publications
for three nights and four days duration; and

- Pay for two Center Review Group members to attend the National Meeting
each contract year for three nights and four days duration.  The COTR shall
approve the selection of the two Review Group Members.  The contractor shall
arrange  and pay for their travel, hotel accommodations, per diem, and
registration fee.    

Subtask 5.6	Establish and Convene Review Group

The Center shall establish and convene a group of experts from various
fields who will provide guidance to Center staff, review Center services and
products, and provide advice to the contractor concerning Center operations.

Subtask 5.6.1	Select and Establish a Center Review Group   

The contractor shall establish criteria for the selection of Review Group
members in consultation with the COTR.  The contractor shall establish
policies and procedures for administering the Review Group.  Group members
who are not Federal employees shall have their travel and incidental
expenses covered by the contractor.  The contractor shall pay airfare
up-front, instead of by reimbursement.  The contractor shall make and pay
for hotel arrangements and provide per diem for the review group members. 
The members who are not paid full-time by Federal funds shall be offered an
honorarium of $150 per meeting plus up to three days per year for technical
review and comments.

The contractor shall establish a Review Group of 12 persons to advise the
contractor concerning Center operations to support the design,
implementation, and evaluation of postsecondary AODV prevention policies,
practices, products, and programs.  Prospective group members shall be drawn
from a wide array of expertise in: special populations; project evaluation;
social marketing; media advocacy; knowledge transfer and dissemination; and
campus-based substance use prevention programs.  The Review Group shall
include representatives of or knowledgeable of postsecondary institutions
and and representatives of LSRNO and professional associations that are
committed to the mission of the Center.  

The contractor shall prepare a list of 17 individuals (12 plus 5
alternates), a brief summary of each candidate, and a matrix which describes
the major content expertise, gender, regional/state representation and
racial/ethnic background of each candidate.  The contractor shall submit the
list, summaries, and resumes or curriculum vita to the COTR six weeks after
the effective date of the base year contract.  The COTR will review the
information and approve 12 members within two weeks.  The COTR will ensure
that the Review Group is qualified and that the suggested review group meets
the requirements for meeting a wide array of expertise as outlined in the
above paragraph.

The contractor shall invite 12 persons to serve on the Review Group.  The
contractor shall stagger the terms of individuals serving on the Review
Group so those 5 new members are appointed in each option year.  In the base
year the Review Group shall be established within seven weeks after the
effective date of the contract

If a member of the Review Group resigns, the contractor shall prepare a list
of four candidates for considerations by the COTR.  For each individual, the
contractor shall prepare the same information required for initial nominees
to the group.  The COTR will approve a replacement within two weeks.  The
contractor shall invite the individual selected to serve on the Review Group
within one week.  The contractor shall submit nominations for replacements
to the Review Group within two weeks after the resignation of a Review Group
member.

Subtask 5.6.2	Convene Review Group Meetings

The contractor shall convene two (one night two-day) meetings per year of
the Review Group.  The dates shall be selected in consultation with the COTR
and established no less than eight weeks prior to the date of the scheduled
meeting.  The contractor shall assure that members receive an agenda and
materials for review no later than one week before each meeting. 

The contractor shall take minutes of each Review Group meeting.  A draft and
the final minutes shall be submitted to the COTR before distribution to the
Review Group members.  The contractor shall distribute the minutes within
five weeks after the meeting, or within one week of receiving the COTRs
comments.  A summary of minutes and the contractor's plans to incorporate
recommendations of the Review Group shall be delivered to the COTR as part
of the next monthly management report following the Review Group meeting.  

Activities for which participation by the Review Group is sought by the
contractor shall include, but are not limited to, providing guidance to the
contractor on the development of all plans; reviewing Center publications,
suggestions for ED's National Meetings; suggestions regarding the Network;
reviewing findings from evaluation and assessment activities; recommending
annual and long-term goals and priorities for the Center; and reviewing
annual reports.  Note:  The Review Group does NOT set policy for the
operation of the Center.

Subtask 5.7	Maintain Web Site 

The contractor shall continue to maintain and further enhance the Center web
site, which has been enthusiastically received and used by the field.  The
contractor shall provide at a minimum monthly updates to the web to insure
current information.  The contractor shall propose modifications, changes,
and ideas for expansion of information or services on the web. 

The contractor shall evaluate the usefulness of the web site and provide a
short report to the COTR.  The contractor shall present the report at the
second Center Review Group meeting each year to assess proposed
improvements. 

Subtask 5.8	Transport Government-owned Property to Center

At the end of this contract to ensure uninterrupted operation of the Center
during a transition period, the new contractor shall arrange for the
transfer of all Government-owned property from the incumbent Center to its
own location.  The new contractor shall arrange with the incumbent for the
transfer of property within 45 days after the effective date of the contract.

TASK 6	PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT/MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (PMS) 

The contractor shall develop and implement in one plan its strategy to
provide an integrated management system and performance measures.

After the post-award meeting with ED as outlined in subtask 5.2, the
contractor shall finalize a plan that establishes a PMS that shall support
the project management functions through a series of interrelated activities
that include:

- Development and use of a work-breakdown structure that defines and
organizes contract work;

- Use of contract management control systems that facilitate performance
measurement within the work?breakdown structure; and 

- Use of a reporting system to report contract status (see subtask 6.2).

Subtask 6.1	Develop and Implement a Plan to Manage the Center

The contractor shall ensure that all services and products are of the
highest possible quality, maintain standard appearance of all products, and
are cost-effective.  The contractor in consultation with the COTR, shall
twice a year review all visual aids and presentation materials to ensure
that they are of the highest professional quality, appropriate to the target
audience, and reflect changes in the field.   

The contractor shall ensure that an objective evaluation, designed and
coordination with an outside evaluator, of the Center activities shall be
conducted by the eighth month of each year.  The evaluation is intended to
assist the COTR and the Center in designing and implementing an evaluation
plan. The contractor shall gather information from individuals including
Center clients, the Center Review Group, and the Network Coordinators. The
contractor shall ensure that the evaluator conducts a minimum of four focus
groups each year to gather information.  The information shall be used for
planning needed changes and improvements.  Findings from these assessment
activities and plans to implement changes shall be described in a report to
the COTR and Center Review Group (see subtask 5.7) and in the annual report.

The contractor shall include the COTR?s name to all mailing lists. The COTR
will review all Center mass mailings, promotional materials, public
announcements, or other documents to be released to the public.  No articles
or press releases shall be released without clearance from the COTR.

The contractor shall provide all Center products (including publications)
free and limit fees for non-Center produced publications to large quantities
agreed upon by ED.

The contractor shall provide only limiting fee for services to
non-postsecondary institutions and those populations that are not
underserved, agreed upon by ED.

The contractor shall plan for corporate review and oversight of the project,
including administration and fiscal management and control.  The contractor
shall address it in detail in this subtask and coordinate with task 5 were
appropriate.

Subtask 6.2	Progress Reports/Process Documentation

The contractor shall communicate and work closely with the COTR in all
aspects of the procurement by making weekly telephone calls to discuss
project problems and progress.  

The contractor shall write and submit monthly management reports (MMR)
within two weeks of the month.  The MMR shall be brief and submitted in a
timely manner.  

The contractor shall prepare an annual report on the last month of the
contract year in place of the MMR due that month. (see clause on contract
reports in Section F).

Subtask 6.3	Performance Measures

The contractor shall propose performance-based measures in each of the
Center?s task plans for the review and approval by the COTR during the post
contract award meeting as discussed in subtask 5.2.

OPTIONAL TASK 7	PLAN AND CONDUCT TRAINING INSTITUTE 

The contractor shall develop and implement in one plan its strategy to
provide integrated services to ED to implement this optional task.  Upon
award of the optional task, the contractor shall have a concept development
meeting with the COTR and provide an updated timeline and plan for
implementation of the task.  

The purpose of the Training Institute is to provide training and technical
assistance for new grantees under the ED grant competitions, or other
audiences as identified by the COTR.  The purpose of a training institute is
to increase the probability of project success and build capacity for
project management in the field.  Since this Institute has been conducted
several times before, the contractor shall consider building on the
evaluation efforts and existing forms instead of designing everything from
scratch.  The contractor shall assist ED in the planning and designing the
Training Institute, and provide logistical support.  The Institute has been
conducted from 1991-1995.  The Training Institute shall be held in
Washington, D.C.  There will be up to 50 participants.  

ED will be primarily responsible for identifying and selecting trainers and
designing the curriculum.  The contractor shall help ED design and plan the
Institute.  The contractor shall be responsible for all logistical support
for conducting the Institute. 

Subtask 7.1	Provide Pre-Institute Support

The contractor shall arrange and pay for travel and hotel accommodations for
a total of 22 persons (ten trainers, five workshop presenters, three general
session speakers, and four consultants) and arrange for payment of per diem
and incidental travel.  ED will provide a list of these individuals to the
contractor.)  Two of the ten trainers will be local; one of the three
general session speakers will be local.  The contractor shall pay honoraria
for five workshop presenters at $150 per day and for three general session
speakers at an average of $850.  The contractor shall confirm all
arrangements with the speakers and workshop presenters, no later than two
weeks before the meeting.  

The contractor shall make and pay for travel and hotel arrangements for six
individuals, one attendee will be local, to attend a planning meeting of one
full day.  The meeting shall be in Washington, D.C. 

The contractor shall make all logistical arrangements and provide support to
ED including:

- Making all arrangements at the hotel for meeting activities (including
on-site registration, support services, refreshments, meals, audio-visual
and other aids for presenters);

- Preparing and mailing the pre-registration packets;

- Conducting pre-meeting and on-site registration;

- Mailing training materials (about 100 pages) to trainers about three weeks
prior to the Institute with a Training of Trainers agenda;

- Conducting a second mailing of about five pages or faxing the information
to all trainers;

- Assembling and printing up to 50 Training Institute Manuals which shall
include the three ring binders.  The Manual is approximately 800 pages and
requires printed tabs;

- Updating the annotated bibliography in the manual.  The contractor shall
consult with two individuals named by ED who will contribute information to
the bibliography.  ED will provide the contractor with camera ready copy;

- Assembling and printing up to 15 Trainers Handbooks and 15 sets of 30
overheads.  The contractor shall make recommendations to ED to refine the
most recent Trainers' Handbook and shall implement the changes;

- Arrange for five other overhead projectors for two days.

- Deliver a final copy of the training manual, handouts, and overheads
one-week before the meeting to the CO and COTR.  The copies for the meeting
shall be delivered to the meeting hotel 48 hours before the meeting.

At a minimum, the contractor shall explain and demonstrate how it will:

- Design an on-site participant evaluation of the meeting;

- Provide evaluation technical assistance in the design and implementation
of the evaluation instrument(s);

- Design a brief professional development evaluation;

- Design a trainers? evaluation of the Institute in order to capture
"lessons learned" while being a trainer;

- Refine with ED an existing pre- and post-institute test designed to
measure changes in participants knowledge; and

- Conduct a three-month mail out follow-up survey to all participants and
project staff who did not attend the training institute.

Subtask 7.2	Provide On-Site and Post-Institute Support

The contractor shall provide full meeting support.  At a minimum the
contractor shall:

- Confirm hotel meeting arrangements;

- Conduct on-site check-in;

- Provide on-site support including copying, faxing, coordinating
transportation and activities for out of town participants, updating up to
six workgroup rosters, and facilitating workshops;

- Conduct and analyze the data from the evaluations within four weeks of
administration of the evaluation; and

- Prepare a post meeting report with all contract, accounting, rosters,
mailing lists, correspondence, handouts, and other meeting related materials
in a three ring binder within 4 weeks of the meeting.

Deliverables List

Legend:  M-month; W=week; D=day; EDOC= after effective date of the contract
or option year as appropriate; BBOY= before beginning of option year;
RC=after receipt of COTR comments; AP=after COTR approves all plans;
**=offeror shall propose a due date in its plan.  Due dates will be
integrated into the schedule upon approval of the contractor?s plan; N/A=not
applicable.  One copy of each deliverable shall go to the contracting
specialist and the remainder to the COTR.

Due Date Task	#	Deliverable				Base Yr.
1		Opt Yr.1	Opt. Yr. 2	Opt. Yr. 3	Opt. Yr.  4
1.1	3	Draft Plan				in Tech. Proposal	6W BBOY	6W BBOY	6W BBOY	6W BBOY
1.1	3	Final Plan				3W EDOC			2W 		2W 		2W 		2W 
1.1	3	Pre-piloted Curriculum(s)		**				**		**		**		**
1.1	3	Post-piloted Curriculum(s)		**				**		**		**		**
1.1	3	Revised Curriculum(s)		**				**		**		**		**
1.2	3	CA surveys (2 times)			**				**		**		**		**		
1.3		3	Revised and Newly Developed
Publications and Products		**				**		**		**		**
1.3	3	Annotated Bibliography		3M EDOC		3M EDOC	3M EDOC	3M EDOC	3M EDOC
1.3	10	Catalyst Newsletter (3 per year)	**				**		**		**		**
1.4	3	Report to Field on HEC Assessment	
Activities				**				**		**		**		**
1.4	3	Report on Analysis of Biennial
Reviews				**						**				**

2.1	3	Draft Plan				in Tech. Proposal	6W BBOY	6W BBOY	6W BBOY	6W BBOY
2.1	3	Final Plan				3W EDOC			2W 		2W 		2W 		2W 
2.1	3	Pre-piloted Curriculum(s)		**				**		**		**		**											

Task	#	Deliverable				Base Yr. 1			Opt Yr.1	Opt. Yr. 2	Opt. Yr. 3	Opt. Yr.  4
2.3	3	Post-piloted Curriculum(s)		**				**		**		**		**
2.3	3	Revised Curriculum (s)		**				**		**		**		**	
2.3		3	Revised and Newly Developed
Publications and Products		**				**		**		**		**

3.2.3	25	Network Stationary			12/10/98			12/10/99	12/10/00	12/10/01	12/10/02
3.2.4	10	Network Directory			3/1/99						3/1/01				3/1/03
3.2.5	 0	Updated Network Mailing List	2/15/99					2/15/01			2/15/03

4	3	Draft Plan				in Tech. Proposal		6W BBOY	6W BBOY	6W BBOY	6W BBOY4	2	Final Plan				3W EDOC			2W 		2W 		2W 		2W 
4	3	Minutes of Meetings (6)		2W 				2W 		2W 		2W 		2W 
4	1	Tapes of Meetings (3)			2W				2W 		2W 		2W 		2W 
4	3	Short Proceedings (3)			6W				6W		6W		6W		6W 
4	3	Literature Reviews			3D				3D		3D		3D		3D	
4	3	Major Literature Search		2/15/99			2/15/00	2/15/01	2/15/02	2/15/03
4		Overheads, Signs, Banner		3D				3D		3D		3D		3D
4	3	Draft Key Findings Reports on	10D				10D		10D		10D		10D
Emerging Issues		
4	3	Final Key Findings Reports on	2W 				2W 		2W 		2W 		2W 
Emerging Issues
4	3	Report on Sr. Administrator Survey	**										**

Task	#	Deliverable				Base Yr. 1			Opt Yr.1	Opt. Yr. 2	Opt. Yr. 3	Opt. Yr.  4	
5.1	3	Draft					in Tech. Proposal		6W BBOY	6W BBOY	6W BBOY	6W BBOY
5.1	3	Final Plans				3W EDOC			2W		2W		2W		2W
5.1	3	Operations and Outreach Timeline	1W after AP			1W after AP	1W after AP	1W after AP	1W after AP
5.3	3	Toll Free Line Staffing Plan		2W after EDOC
5.4		List of Links Annually
5.6.1	3	Proposed Review			6W after EDOC		6W BBOY	6W BBOY	6W BBOY	6W BBOY
Group Members
5.6.2	3	Agenda/Material for Review		1W before meeting		1W before 	1W before	1W before	1W before
Group Meeting							meeting	meeting	meeting	meeting
5.7	3	Web Report				**				**		**		**		**

6.1	3	Draft Plan				In Tech. Proposal		6W BBOY	6W BBOY	6W BBOY	6W BBOY
6.1	3	Final Plan				3W EDOC			2W 	2W 	2W 	2W 
6.2	3	Monthly Management Report	2W after each month			2W after	2W after	2W after	2W after
each month	each month	each month	each month
6	3	Annual Report				9/29/99			9/29/00	9/29/01	9/29/02	9/29/03

7	3	Draft Plan (after award of option)	14 D 				14 D		14 D		14 D		14 D
7	3	Final Plans				2W				2W		2W		2W		2W
7	50	Training Institute Manuals		** 				** 		** 		** 		** 																
7	15	Trainer Handbooks			** 				** 		**		** 		** 

7	15	Sets of Overheads			** 				**		** 		** 		** 

7	3	Post Meeting Report			4W				4W 		4W 		4W		4W 
after meeting			after meeting	after meeting	after meeting	after meeting
 	

6