[Federal Register: December 31, 1997 (Volume 62, Number 250)] [Notices] [Page 68270-68271] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr31de97-73] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION National Assessment Governing Board; Teleconference Meeting AGENCY: National Assessment Governing Board; Education. ACTION: Notice of Closed Teleconference meeting. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a forthcoming meeting, by teleconference of the National Assessment Governing Board's Special Committee to Review the Voluntary National Tests Development Contract. This notice also describes the functions of the Board. Notice of this meeting is required under Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. DATES: January 9, 1998. TIME: 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon (et). LOCATION: National Assessment Governing Board, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 825, Washington, DC 20002-4233 Telephone: 202-357- 6938. [[Page 68271]] FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Ann Wilmer, Operations Officer, National Assessment Governing Board, Suite 825, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20002- 4233, Telephone: (202) 357-6938. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Assessment Governing Board is established under section 412 of the National Education Statistics Act of 1994 (Title IV of the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994) (Public Law 103-382). The Board is established to formulate policy guidelines for the National Assessment of Educational Progress. The Board is responsible for selecting subject areas to be assessed, developing assessment objectives, identifying appropriate achievement goals for each grade and subject tested, and establishing standards and procedures for interstate and national comparisons. Under Public Law 105-78, the National Assessment Governing Board is granted exclusive authority over developing Voluntary National Tests pursuant to contract number RJ97153001 and is required to review within 90 days (i.e., by February 11, 1998) and modify the contract to the extent the Board determines necessary; if the contract cannot be modified to the extent the Board determines necessary, the contract shall be terminated, and a new contract negotiated. On January 9, 1998 the National Assessment Governing Board's Special Committee to Review the Voluntary National Tests Development Contract will hold a closed meeting by teleconference. The purpose of the meeting is for the NAGB Special Committee to review the Test Development Contract, to formulate its recommendations to the NAGB for modification or termination and recompetition of the Development Contract for the Voluntary National Tests. This information relates to the source selection criteria by which government contracts may be modified or awarded. Not only would the disclosure of such data implicate proscriptions set forth in the Federal Acquisition Regulations, but also such disclosure would significantly frustrate a proposed agency action. Specifically, disclosure of the Subcommittee's discussion prematurely, including contract specifications and government cost estimates, could affect private decisions made by the contractor which might damage the financial interests of the government as a whole, by, for example, increasing the costs to the government, and might make it impossible for the two sides to reach agreement. Such matters are protected by exemption 9B of Section 552b(c) of Title 5 U.S.C. A summary of the activities of this closed meeting and other related matters, which are informative to the public and consistent with the policy of the Section 5 U.S.C. 552b, will be available to the public within 14 days after the meeting. Records are kept of all Board proceedings and are available for public inspection at the U.S. Department of Education, National Assessment Governing Board, Suite 825, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, Washington, DC, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Roy Truby, Executive Director, National Assessment Governing Board. [FR Doc. 97-34004 Filed 12-30-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-M