National Institute of Standards & Technology, Acquisition & Assistance Div., Bldg. 301, Rm B117, Gaithersburg, MD 20899

B -- MATHEMATICAL CONSULTING SERVICES SOL 52SBNB8C1055 DUE 030698 POC Sandra L. Febach, (301) 975-6326, Fax (301) 963-7732 WEB: NIST Contracts Homepage, http://www.nist.gov/admin/od/contract/contract.htm. E-MAIL: NIST Contracts Office, Contract@nist.gov. The National Institute of Standards and Technology Mathematical and Computational Sciences Division (NIST/MCSD) intends to award a 5-year contract for part-time mathematical consulting services. The consulting services will be directed specifically toward the creation of a highly advanced reference compendium in the field of special functions of applied mathematics, to be called the Digital Library of Mathematical Functions (DLMF). The DLMF will be an authoritative and comprehensive source of standard information on the theory, computation and application of the special functions of applied mathematics, transcending both traditional printed handbooks and static electronic publications by using the World Wide Web together with powerful client-server computer systems to generate and deliver mathematical data on demand. The core content, inspired by Abramowitz and Stegun, eds., Handbook of Mathematical Functions, National Bureau of Standards Applied Mathematics Series 55, US Government Printing Office, 1964 (still in print), will consist of: (i) a survey of formulas for series expansions, differential equations, integrals, recurrence relations, asymptotic approximations, etc., together with graphical representations; (ii) a survey of methods for computing numerical and symbolic results related to special functions, such as function values and alternative notations, together with references to published algorithms and mathematical software; and (iii) selected applications in statistics, the physical sciences, and engineering. The successful process used in creating the 1964 Handbook, in which competent specialists from outside the National Bureau of Standards collaborated under the supervision of Abramowitz and Stegun, is being adapted to the DLMF. Thus a very senior mathematician with extensive peer-reviewed publications in the general theory and application of special functions, and more specifically in asymptotic and numerical analysis as applied to special functions, as well as editorial experience with professional journals of applied mathematics and mathematical handbooks, is required to provide mathematical consulting services in all aspects of the project. The services will include assistance in preparing funding initiatives, in determining DLMF structure and content, in engaging the best available potential contributors from the world community of scientific professionals, and in reviewing and editing contributions to the DLMF. The services are required to be provided, in part, at the NIST/MCSD Gaithersburg, Maryland site at regular intervals over the 5-year duration of the contract. A labor-hour type of contract is anticipated. The estimated level of effort is 1872 hours in the first year, and 1352 hours in each of the following 4 years. Period of performance will be a twelve-month base year, beginning on or about April 1, 1998, with four 1-year options. The applicable SIC code is 8733, with a size standard of $5M. All responsible sources may submit an offer, which will be considered by the Agency. See Numbered Notes 1 and 26. (0021)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0029 19980123\B-0007.SOL)