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

B -- DEVELOP STUDY ON PRIVATE SECTOR DECISION-MAKING SOL 53SBNB867111 DUE 081798 POC Julie M. Liu (301) 975-6727: Sandra L. Febach (301) 975-6326 WEB: NIST Contracts Homepage, htp://www.nist.gov/admin/od/contract/contract.htm. E-MAIL: NIST Contract Office, Contract@nist.gov. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate with Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, 79 JFK Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 on a sole-source basis for services to develop a preliminary study on AUnderstanding Private Sector Decision-Making.@ The Contractor shall: (1) develop a list of business people (including venture capitalists and representatives of related groups) and scholars who have expert knowledge on this topic; (2) convene a meeting of experts to identify the state-of-the-art in understanding the decision-making process within firms, and within outside financing resources, as it relates to the funding of early-stage, high-risk technology projects; and (3) write a working paper which summarizes the assessment of the state-of-the-art in thinking on this issue and offers an analysis of the questions of interest. Period of performance shall not exceed 90 days following the date of award. NIST intends to negotiate with Harvard University under the authority of 41 USC 253(c)(1), which permits sole source acquisition when only one responsible source will satisfy the agency=s requirements. Harvard University has particular strength in the analysis of technology policy and economics from a multi-disciplinary point of view. This strength comes partly from the faculty, which includes Professor Lewis Branscomb, a recognized leading thinker on these issues. Professor Branscomb, who will be the key personnel assigned to this project, has a unique background with concentrations in science, business, government, and academia. He earned a Ph.D. in Physics from Harvard University and has held the following professional positions: (a) Chief Scientist at IBM; (b) Director of the National Bureau of Standards (NBS); and (c) faculty and chair of the Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He has overseen and directly participated in many decisions relating to the funding of early-stage, high-risk technology projects while holding these positions, and has studied the issues surrounding the early-stage funding of these projects while teaching at Harvard. His extensive writings in the fields of science, technology, and economics provide evidence of his writing ability. This unique combination of knowledges, skills, and abilities makes him the appropriate key pesonnel for this project. Anticipated award date is August 18, 1998. This notice of intent is not a request for proposals. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to satisfy the Government=s requirement within 10 days of this notice. Capability statements shall contain sufficient documentation to establish a bonafide capability to fulfill the requirement, including evidence of expertise in private sector decision-making as it relates to early-stage funding of high-risk technology projects. A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the contracting officer. A solicitation document is not available. See Numbered Note 26. Posted 08/07/98 (W-SN234160). (0219)

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