The Department of Education intends to issue a 9 month extension to existing contract ED-01-CO-0040/0009. The current period of performance ends on September 16, 2009. The purpose of the extension is to enable NCES to continue critical discussions with state testing directors and other state policy makers on emerging issues related to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). On September 16, 2004, The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the U.S. Department of Education (ED) awarded contract ED-01-CO-0040/0009 to Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) located in Washington, DC to provide a direct link to chief state school officers through state testing directors and policy-level state staff responsible for state assessments and accountability programs including face-to-face meetings to provide state input on all major changes in NAEP operational processes and special studies, especially those related to exclusion and accommodations of special needs students required the Title 1 regulations on NCLB state report cards, and those related to special studies affecting collection of socioeconomic information and collection of race/ethnicity data according to OMB requirements. The tasks under this project classified into several activities. One activity was to provide logistical support for Assessment Taskforce Meetings so the data can be used in comparing the state performances along with NAEP state assessments and produce reports. Continuing discussions will include emerging topics but will focus primarily on •First, a new Trial 12th Grade State Assessment was initiated with eleven states last year with the assessment administered in January - March, 2009. This is the first state 12th grade NAEP assessment during which many of the design features are being field tested for possible expansion to all states in 2013. •Second, the U.S. Department of Education's guidance for states in implementing the new Title I regulations related to NAEP results on state and local school district report cards. •Third, the Secretary of Education and the National Governors Association are calling for benchmarking states against International standards using NAEP and the states' own assessments. The 9 month extension will allow CCSSO to convene the necessary meetings to assist in describing appropriate interpretations of the data by state-level policy makers, the media and the general public; examine other benchmarking models and, with state input, select the benchmarking methodology that will provide the most accurate, valid International benchmarking of individual state performance. This notice is for informational purposes only. A request for proposal is not required. Interested parties may, however, request further information no later than April 20, 2009 by email to Contract Specialist John Machen at
[email protected]. 9.Place of Performance: CCSSO Washington, DC Office 10.Set-Aside Designation: Not a Small Business Set-Aside