U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE'S PARTNERS IN QUALITY CONTRACTING AWARDS PROGRAM The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) is accepting applications for its third annual Partners in Quality Contracting (PQC) Awards Program, which encourages partnership and recognizes outstanding performance by DOC contractors and the department's acquisition personnel. DOC contractors who have demonstrated superior performance under a specific FY 96 contract (October 1, 1995 -- September 30, 1996) are eligible for this awards program. In addition, businesses must have a contract valued at $100,000 for a large business or $50,000 for a small business; have satisfactorily performed all of its DOC contracts for the last three fiscal years -- FY 94 to present; and, not be suspended or debarred from federal contracting. Applications will be evaluated by an independent panel using selection factors such as: customer service; product/service quality; delivery performance; initiatives to improve performance; and, contract management. Commerce intends to recognize up to 12 contractors within the followingcategories: Large Business -- Service, Large Business -- Product/Manufacturer, Small Business -- Service, Small Business -- Product/Manufacturer, 8(a) Contractor -- Service, 8(a) Contractor -- Product/Manufacturer. Contractor Eligibility Profiles (Step 1 of the PQC Application process) are due by no later than close of business on March 20, 1997. Applications (Step 2) are due by no later than close of business on April 3, 1997. Winning companies will be recognized at a luncheon ceremony in Washington, D.C., in June, 1996. For a copy of the PQC Contractor Application and Instruction Package, please contact: U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Acquisition Management, PQC Coordinator -- Tiffany T. Hixson, Room 6422, 14th & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington D.C., 20230 (Telephone Number 202-482-4248; Fax Number 202-482-1711; E-Mail thixson1@doc.gov) The Office of Acquisition Management will also be sponsoring PQC Industry Day. The PQC Awards Program Staff will walk you through the PQC award submission process and answer all of your important questions regarding the program and its application process. To attend PQC Industry Day, please RSVP to the PQC Coordinator by no later than March 10, 1997. PQC Industry Day will be held at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 4830, at 14th & Constitution Avenue NW, in Washington D.C., on Thursday, March 13, 1997, from 1:30 -- 4:00 p.m. WEB: Click here for additional PQC Awards Program Information., http://netsite.esa.doc.gov/oam/211a.html. E-MAIL: Click here to E-Mail the PQC Coordinator., thixson1@doc.gov.

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