FEDERAL BENEFITS CONFERENCE The U.S. Office of Personnel Management's annual Federal Benefits Conference will be held at the Sheraton Baltimore North Hotel, Towson, MD, on June 8-11, 1999. This year, for the first time, the Federal Benefits Conference will have a vendors' exhibit area on June 9 and 10. The annual Federal Benefits Conference is a major U.S. Office of Personnel Management Retirement and Insurance Service initiative. The purpose of the conference is to update the group on initiatives in the area, share information among agencies about actions some have taken to deal with downsizing, increased workloads, etc., and address crosscutting issues in retirement, insurance, Social Security, workers compensation, and Thrift Savings Plan administration This year we are expanding the focus of the conference to include payroll related topics and are providing sessions on interactions between payroll and personnel, In the past approximately half of the attendees were Federal agency headquarters level staff who are responsiblefor administering the benefits program within their agencies. The other half were field staff with benefits administration responsibilities at the field level. Last year, the conference was attended by 378 agency representatives. We expect about 400 attendees at this year's conference . Exhibitors Information. Twenty exhibit spaces are available. Exhibit spaces will be allocated on a first come first served basis. The exhibit area will be in public areas of the hotel. Exhibitors may set up beginning at 8:00 AM, June 9. Exhibits must be removed by 4:00 PM, June 10. Conference sessions begin at 9:00 AM each day and will end at 5:00 PM. There will be an evening dinner on June 9. The morning and afternoon refreshment breaks will be set up for the conference attendees in the exhibit area on June 9 and 10. The exhibit booths will be 8' by 8' with pipe and drapes and will include an electrical outlet, one table, 2 chairs, and a waste basket. The cost of an exhibit booth is $500. VCR with monitor is available for an extra charge of $240 per day; a phone line is available for an extra charge of $150. Exhibitors will rent the space directly from the Sheraton. However, the rental application and checks will come to the Office of Personnel Management. Checks must be made payable to the Sheraton Baltimore North Hotel. Participation in the exhibit area does not mean that the U.S. Office of Personnel Management in any way endorses or approves the vendor or its products or services. Exhibitors may not represent in any way that their participation at the Federal Benefits Conference represents any endorsement or approval by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management For additional information and an exhibit area registration form please call (202) 606-0777 ext 955. WEB: OPM Procurement Web Page, http://www.opm.gov/procure. E-MAIL: Conference Point of Contact, rkirk@opm.gov. Posted 02/23/99 (W-SN301307).

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