CONVERSION TO ELECTRONIC BID SETS (EBS) It is the intent of the Rock Island District, Corps of Engineers to begin implementation of Electronic Bid Sets in the Spring of 1998, i.e., issuing plans and specifications, and forms on CD-ROM instead of paper media. Any or all solicitations issued by the Rock Island District may be on compact disk. Compact disk will be made available to interested parties at no charge (limit one compact disk per firm). The compact disk will contain all solicitation documents (plans, specifications, and forms), and royalty-free software to allow complete utilization of the solicitation documents. Compact disk will be considered as the official issuance of the solicitation documents. Printed media will not be available from the Government. A window based personal computer with CD-ROM drive is the only requirement for use of the CD. An Internet service and browser is recommended. As part of the electronic bid set process, solicitation doucments and other services will eventually be made available on the Rock Island District's Internet home page. As part of the implementation process, a list of sources that can print hard copies of the plans, specifications, and forms from the CD's will be made available on the Internet at http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil and on the CD. A partial list will also be available from the Rock Island District. **The Government will in no way suport or recommend printing firms as capable of printing plans and specificaitons from CD's or be responsible for the accuracy or quality provided by such printing firms.** Procedures will remain the same for publishing Commerce Buisness Daily (CBD) announcements and pre-solicitation notices of projects. Pre-solicitation notices will be issued on paper media. The Commerce Business Daily (CBD) announcements and pre-solicitation ntoices will state whether the solicitation will be issued by EBS or paper media. EBS will be demonstrated at the Rock Island District Office, Clock Tower Annex Building, Conference Rooms, A,B, and C, on Friday February 20, 1998 at 10:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M. local time. Parties interested in attending a demonstration should register with the Rock Island District Contracting Division by one of the following methods not later than Tuesday, February 10, 1998. Please state the demonstration time which will be attended. By mail: U.S. Army Engineer District, Rock Island, Contracting Division (EBS Demonstration), Clock Tower Building, P.O. Box 2004, Rock Island, Illinois 61204-2004. By Telephone: EBS Demonstration 309-794-5613. By Fax: EBS Demonstration 309-794-5172.

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