Information for Description Vendors
Description Guidelines
The Description Key guidelines must be followed when performing DCMP description
work. The guidelines cover a range of topics from preparing to describe to
determining both what information needs to be described and how to describe it.
These are the only such guidelines available in the United States, and they will
be useful to anyone (agencies, businesses, schools, and others) desiring to learn
how to describe or better perform this task.
Description Evaluations
Each year the DCMP awards work to vendors that appear
on the U. S. Department of Education (ED) "Approved Description Vendors" list.
Vendors desiring to be added to this list are required to pass a DCMP evaluation
which requires vendors to submit description examples that provide evidence of technical
capabilities and demonstrate adherence to DCMP description guidelines. It
is the mission of the DCMP to increase the quantity and quality of description across
the U. S. Therefore, on a limited basis, the DCMP evaluation is also administered
to vendors that desire to be on the approved ED list but do not wish to immediately
perform DCMP work. These vendors understand that their appearance on the list
may mean an increased ability to secure description work from other government agencies
or the private sector.
Vendors interested in taking the DCMP evaluation should complete the Description
Evaluation Request form.
Other Assistance
Vendors or others may e-mail or call the DCMP with questions about description or
with requests for assistance. Visitors to our website are invited to review
description reseach and other information in our Clearinghouse section.