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

R -- PROFESSIONAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, AND MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES SOL 53SBNB867062 DUE 042098 POC Joan M. Smith, Contract Specialist, (301) 975-6458, Romena R. Moy, Contracting Officer, (301) 975-4999 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 (NIST) has a requirement for the National Association of Home Building Research Center (the Research Center) to provide research, and based on that research, revise the NIST draft document entitled "Performance Guide for Specifying and Evaluating One- and Two-family Dwellings -- Structural Safety and Serviceability" (PG-SSS). Revision of the PG-SSS is anticipated to improve compatibility with housing construction and performance in the United States, and will provide a new draft for consideration by NIST and the ASTM E.06.66 subcommittee. Additionally, it will serve as a viable model for the development of other performance guides which will foster greater support within the United States housing industry. This effort will focus on the use of performance concepts to evaluate the acceptable performance of, and to promote the use of, new or innovative materials and methods that are available for use in the domestic and international housing markets. Based on housing industry concerns that the draft documents be consistent with currently acceptable building practices and because the standard guides could eventually affect regulatory approval of the currently accepted practices, efforts are being pursued to more appropriately present the performance guides so that they are relevant to today's and tomorrow's home building practices. A broad based support of the standard guides from the United States housing industry is important to assure that the outcome of the effort will be of significant use and have a positive impact on the future of the housing industry in the United States. NIST intends to enter into a sole source contract with the Research Center, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) -- Only one responsible source, for these services. The Research Center has been closely involved in nearly all facets of the United States housing industry and has the home building industry relations necessary to develop the industry's perspective of the draft PG-SSS. The Research Center has been active in the engineering, testing, development of engineering guidelines, and code approval of innovative materials and methods in the building market especially in the areas of structural materials and methods. The Research Center has managed cooperative efforts between government and industry to achieve these innovations in the housing market and is active in the development and maintenance of building codes and standards for residential structures. The Government anticipates the award of a fixed price purchase order. The required period of performance is from the effective date of purchase order award through one year thereafter. The proposed requirement is for services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under authority of FAR 6.302. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations. However, all proposals received within ten (10) days after date of publication of this synopsis will be considered by the government. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. A Request for Quotation (RFQ) package is not available. See CBD Note 26. (0098)

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