A -- COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS AND SUPPORT SAVINGS INITIATIVE (ANNOUNCEMENT #98-17) THIS IS A PROGRAM DESCRIPTION. The Commercial Operations and Support Savings Initiative (COSSI) is a joint program of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and is administered by a joint program office. It is anticipated that the COSSI program will solicit proposals early in FY99. A Program Description of the anticipated FY99 program is available from the COSSI program office in written or electronic format from the addresses listed below. This announcement is intended for firms that have a concept for inserting commercial technology into a fielded military system for the purpose of lowering that system's Operation and Support (O&S) costs. COSSI's mission is to develop and test a method for reducing Department of Defense (DoD) O&S costs by routinely inserting commercial items into fielded military systems. The insertion of commercial items is expected to reduce O&S costs by reducing the costs of parts and maintenance, reducing the need for specialized equipment, increasing reliability, and increasing the efficiency of subsystems. COSSI is a two stage program. The first stage is the cost-shared adaptation, development and testing of a prototype based on a commercial item. The second stage is the acquisition and installation of the prototype into a fielded military system. There is anticipated to be a total of up to $70 million available to support the FY99 program. Actual amounts will be published at the time of a solicitation. Complete program information is included in a document entitled, "Program Description for the Commercial Operations & Support (O&S) Savings Initiative, Announcement No. 98-17," dated September 3, 1998. You may download this document from the INTERNET (http://www.acq.osd.mil/es/dut/) or request this document by phone: 1-800-382-5873, or by mail addressed to: COSSI Program Office, 5203 Leesburg Pike, Suite 1403, Falls Church, VA 22041, or by electronic mail: Internet address: cossi@acq.osd.mil. WEB: http://www.acq.osd.mil/es/dut/, http://www.acq.osd.mil/es/dut/. E-MAIL: cossi@acq.osd.mil, cossi@acq.osd.mil. Posted 09/01/98 (W-SN244470).

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