Rep. Cole Announces Postal Service Contract at OU

WASHINGTON, D.C.--Congressman Tom Cole announced today that the University of Oklahoma was recently awarded the Postal Service training contract, effective January 1, 2006. The contract provides $27 million over two years with three one-year renewable options. Assuming the contract goes for the full five years, the award would amount to $67 million, maintaining 217 full-time jobs in the Norman area.

"I am very pleased that we were able to work together to keep these jobs and this contract at the University of Oklahoma. This is really a win-win situation, the Postal Service will get high quality training, the Norman area will maintain jobs and this program will support the University of Oklahoma," Congressman Cole said.

"We believe that the National Center for Employee Development and the facility in Norman provides the best possible training for those postal service employees. Additionally, the indirect costs rates that the contract provides help to support the University and the programs of our Outreach division, which, in turn provides Norman and Oklahoma citizens an outstanding institution and lifelong education opportunities," Dr. James P. Pappas, Vice President for University Outreach, said.

“We are lucky to have this state of the art conference center and hotel facility in Norman. The cooperation of OU and NCED is a unique and special resource for education and training for federal employees of all types,” Dr. Pappas said.

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