NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR LITERACY'S BULLETIN BOARD FOR SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITIONS UNDER $100,000

REVISED Announcement: Extension of Closing Date

R- Technical Assistance for the Development and Writing of a Recommendations Report for Future Early Childhood Literacy Research Based on the Findings of the National Early Literacy Panel Report Findings

Supporting Documents
Amendment 1
Revised Cover Letter 9/5/08
Revised Statement of Work 9/5/08
Proposal Evaluation Criteria
CCR Letter

General Information
Solicitation Number: ED-08-R-0085
Posted Date: August 5, 2008
Closing Date: September 18, 2008
Classification Code: R - Professional, Administrative, and Management Support Services

CONTRACTING OFFICE ADDRESS:
National Institute for Literacy, 1775 I St, NW, Suite 730, Washington, DC 20006-2417

DESCRIPTION:

The National Institute for Literacy (Institute) was established to ensure that literacy would have a place on the federal policy agenda and to invigorate a national effort to improve adult literacy. Its primary activities to strengthen literacy across the lifespan are authorized by the U.S. Congress under two laws, the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) in the Workforce Investment Act and the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). The AEFLA directs the Institute to provide national leadership regarding literacy, coordinate literacy services and policy, and serve as a national resource for adult education and literacy programs. The NCLB law directs the Institute to disseminate information on scientifically based reading research pertaining to children, youth, and adults as well as information about development and implementation of classroom reading programs based on the research. To support this mandate, The National Early Literacy Panel (NELP) was convened in 2002 to conduct a synthesis of the scientific research on the development of early literacy skills in children ages zero to five.

The NELP was developed in partnership with the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services with funding from the National Institute for Literacy. The panel, convened under the auspices of the National Center for Family Literacy, conducted an extensive review and analysis of research to answer four questions:

• What are the skills and abilities of young children ages birth to 5 years that predict later reading outcomes?
• What programs and interventions contribute to or inhibit gains in children's skills and abilities that are linked to later reading outcomes?
• What environments and settings contribute to or inhibit gains in children's skills and abilities that are linked to later reading outcomes?
• What child characteristics contribute to or inhibit gains in children's skills and abilities that are linked to later reading outcomes?

Through a meta-analysis of available research studies, the NELP report will provide evidence-based research synthesis on the characteristics of interventions that support the early literacy development. The report will also address what parents and early education and care providers can do to help children gain emergent literacy skills.

The final NELP report findings are in the process of being published, with an expected release date of no later than early October 2008.

The purpose of this acquisition is to provide the Institute information regarding gaps in early childhood literacy research based on the literature review conducted by the NELP panel and other early childhood experts which will be used to inform a future potential research agenda.

All requests pertaining to this solicitation shall reference the Solicitation Number: ED-08-R-0085

The closing date for submission has been extended to Thursday September 18, 2008 3pm (EDT).

Point of Contact
Keith Smiley, Contract Specialist telephone 202-233-2042; fax 202-233-2050; Email: procurement@nifl.gov