THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE'S PARTNERS IN QUALITY CONTRACTING AWARDS PROGRAM -- DUE DATE EXTENSION ATTENTION: RESPONDERS TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE'S (DOC) THIRD ANNUAL PARTNERS IN QUALITY CONTRACTING (PQC) AWARDS PROGRAM. Vendors who submitted their Company Profile, Step I of the PQC application process, by the March 20, 1997, due date are hereby notified that the acceptance date for Step II of the PQC application process has been EXTENDED to April 16, 1997. Complete applications for Step II of the submission process will be received until close of business on April 16, 1997. In addition, the PQC awards program has been modified to include an award category for Government Agencies. No other award category modifications have been made. To summarize, the revised list of award categories is: Large Business -- Service, Large Business -- Product/Manufacturer, Small Business -- Service, Small Business -- Product/Manufacturer, 8(a) Contractor -- Service, 8(a) Contractor -- Product/Manufacturer, and Government Agency. Commerce intends to recognize up to 12 contractors within thesecategories. AS A REMINDER TO PROSPECTIVE APPLICANTS WHO ARE DOC CONTRACTORS AND ALSO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES: The PQC Awards Program 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, applicants must have a contract valued at $100,000 for a large business, $100,000 for a government agency, 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. Contractor Eligibility Profiles (Step I of the PQC Application process) AND Applications (Step II) FOR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ONLY are due by no later than close of business on April 16, 1997. Winning companies and agencies will be recognized at a luncheon ceremony in Washington, D.C., scheduled to be held on June 19, 1997. For a copy of the PQC Contractor Application and Instruction Package, or to request clarification as to the final application and eligibility deadlines, 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). WEB: DoC's Office of Acquisition Management's Home Page -- Information Regarding the Partners in Quality Contracting Program, http://netsite.esa.doc.gov/oam/. E-MAIL: Click here to E-mail the Partners in Quality Contracting Awards Program Coordinator Tiffany T. Hixson, thixson1@doc.gov.

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