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B -- SPECIAL STUDIES AND ANALYSES SOL 53SBTK860079 DUE 061298 POC Linda Shariati, Contract Specialist, (301) 975-5053 WEB: NIST Contracts Homepage, http://www.nist.gov/admin/od/contract/contract.htm. E-MAIL: NIST Contracts Office, Contract@nist.gov. The Department of Commerce, Technology Administration, intends to acquire a report on The Hard Disk Drive (HDD) Industry Benchmarking Project. The Contractor shall provide all services and facilities to meet the following requirement. Objective: The objective is to capture the dynamics' of the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) industry: i.e. what are the important features that make the industry what it is, and that allow the U.S. industry to compete in the world. Background: The Industry benchmarking project is a major effort to understand what enables American business to meet and win the new global competition. The information provided by this project should help the Government understand what actions to take -- or not to take -- to help American competitiveness. The project has already published reports on the American Automobile, Steel, Chemical and Biotechnology industries. These reports can be obtained from Sarah Endres, U.S. Department of Commerce, FAX (202) 501-8153 or Sarah_Endres@ta.doc.gov. This project on the HDD industry should bring similar understandings of this industry to government agencies. The contract deliverables are: (1) A Draft Report for Circulation -- The Contractor shall prepare a draft report in accordance with the outline identified below. The substance of this draft report shall be drawn from the Contractor's extensive experience and worldwide contacts in the industry. This report shall be delivered four (4) months after award of the contract. (2) Reviews and Final Product -- The Contractor shall participate and assist in the extensive reviews and tailoring necessary to make the report a Department of Commerce public report. This shall be delivered five (5) months after award of the contract. The final report shall contain, but not be limited to, the following outline of sections/discussions: I-Industry Condition, 1.1 Structure of the industry (examples: composition/players, markets: size, growth, domestic/foreign, key elements: R&D, Manufacturing, etc.); 1.2 U.S. Position in World markets (examples: import/exports, flow of products, main foreign competitors); 1.3 Financial Position/Economic Performance (example: sales/income/profitability of players); II-Forces Shaping the Industry, 2.1 Infrastructure (examples: core technologies, natural resources, workforce, management practices); 2.2 Economic Climate (examples: exchange rates, financial systems, inflation/growth); 2.3 Government policy (examples: treaties -- NAFTA, etc, Government programs, tax policies); III-Evolving Markets, This is the key section of each industry analysis. This is a discussion of the factors that can now be perceived to have the potential of having a major impact on the industry in the next five to ten years. (examples: emerging technologies -- including, but not limited to, optics and biotechnology, emerging competitors, emerging markets, new applications, changing international economic conditions). The Contractor shall have a comprehensive understanding as well as time and experience in the HDD industry. The final document produced by this effort is expected to be approximately 100 pages long and furnished in a hard copy and electronic format. The electronic copy shall be in Microsoft WORD on 3.5 inch diskette. The clause at FAR 52.227-17, Rights in Data-Special Works, applies to this acquisition and will be incorporated into the resulting contract. All responsible sources may submit a response to the Request for Quotation (RFQ) package and all responses will be considered. A Request for Quotation (RFQ) package will be available on or about June 5, 1998. Requests for a copy of the RFQ should be in writing to the address above. If this announcement is being viewed through the Internet at http://www.nist.gov/admin/od/contract/cbd.htm, a request for a copy of the RFQ can be submitted electronically by using the email link below. Facsimilie requests for the RFQ are acceptable, however, facsimilie responses/submissions to the RFQ (the technical proposal and quotation) will not be accepted. The facsimile number is (301)963-7732. Responses will be due approximately three weeks after issuance of the RFQ. If you have any questions regarding this solicitation, please contact Linda Shariati at (301) 975-5053. (0155)

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