USDA, ARS, FMOD, BA, Contracting Section, Bldg. 003, Rm. 329, 10300 Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350

S -- MODERNIZE, UPGRADE OR REPLACE EXISTING CAMPUS CABLES SOL 06-3K47-97 DUE 022697 POC Janice Speth, Contract Specialist, 301/504-6071 or FAX 301/504-5009 The U.S. Department of Agriculture intends to noncompetitively negotiate with Bell Atlantic Federal Systems Division, 58 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20002 to procure the labor and materials to modernize, upgrade or replace existing Campus cables, terminals, interface devices and related hardware throughout the Dairy Area, to include a locking and weather-proof pedestal-type terminal and individual distribution cables to each designated building. Additional poles to be placed as required, separate Network Interface Devices at each designated location, and existing services to be transferred in a full "working cutover". All old cables and other apparatus no longer required to be removed. Bell Atlantic is considered to be the one and only responsible source to satisfy this requirement because they are the service provider listed under the Washington Interagency Telecommunication System (WITS) contract to provide all local telecommunications services. Therefore, any and all easements and/or right-of-ways for placement of telephone cables within the Belstville Area are held by Bell Atlantic TelCo. Also, Bell Atlantic provided a survey and identified improvements necessary to modernize the Outside Plant Campus Distribution Cabling. However, any interested/qualified source who believes they can provide the required service and materials may respond, within 14 calendar days from the publication date of this synopsis. All such responses will be evaluated in order to determine the ability to meet the above stated capabilities. Responses shall include information corresponding to the required service which demonstrates the capabilities of the offeror's ability. This notice may represent the Government's only official notice of this procurement. Award will be made using Simplified Acquisition Procedures. (0024)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0080 19970128\S-0004.SOL)