Department of the Treasury, U.S. Customs Service, Procurement Division, Rm. 4210, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20229

63 -- ASSESSMENT OF NARCOTICS DETECTION EQUIPMENT POC Maria Fitzgerald, POC/Contracting Officer, 202-927-2593. The U.S. Customs Service, in cooperation with the Office of National Drug Control Policy, is continuing to assess the performance of vapor/particle systems for the detection of cocaine and heroin. This is a resumption of the assessment program which began in the fall of 1994 (round 1), continued in the winter of 1995 (round 2) and now designated as round 3, tentatively scheduled to begin early this summer. The rationale to offer a third assessment is to mainly accommodate those systems not tested during the first two rounds, or improved/modified substantially over earlier versions. The assessment will consider only commercially available and self-contained prototype detection systems as was done earlier. All vapor/particle detection systems must include a sample processor, a detector, a signal processor, and a positive response indicator. The assessment of vapor/particle detection systems includes: verification of performance specifications, cocaine/heroin surface and package target response test, and quasi-field operational tests. Application to participate must be in writing on company letterhead. Please indicate whether you are interested in submitting a commercially available or a self-contained prototype vapor/particle detection system for the assessment. The respondents to this notice will be provided with detailed information on the assessment program from the POC identified in this notice and are encouraged to submit their comments in writing to the POC, referencing ''The Technology Assessment Project - Round 3,'' within 30 days of the publication of this notice. (0099)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0393 19960409\63-0003.SOL)