IMPLEMENTATION OF U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY INDUSTRY INTERACTIVE PROCUREMENT SYSTEM (IIPS) The US Department of Energy, Office of Headquarters Procurement Services (MA-5), located in Washington, DC, is employing a secure, web-enabled acquisition and financial assistance system, Industry Interactive Procurement System (IIPS). Effective October 1, 1999, this system will become the primary way for the Headquarters Office to conduct competitive acquisition and financial assistance transactions. IIPS provides for the posting of solicitations, receipt of proposals, conducting of clarifications or discussions, evaluation of proposals or bids, and award of contracts in a paperless environment via the Internet. The dollar value of the acquisition transactions is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. Companies must register on the IIPS web site in order to submit proposals, bids or applications. To get more information about IIPS and to register your company, go to http://doe-iips.pr.doe.gov. To register your company, follow the link on the IIPS home page to the Secure Services page. At the Secure Services page, you can choose to "register" or "register and subscribe" to enable your firm to submit proposals, bids or applications to the Department. To receive notices regarding business opportunities, you may choose to "subscribe" only. Please bookmark the Office of Headquarters Procurement Services homepage at http://www.pr.doe.gov/hr56.html. This page will contain information on upcoming open forums at which the IIPS process will be discussed and demonstrated. The first such forum is planned for November 1999. Details will be provided on the Office of Headquarters Procurement Services homepage as soon as they are available. Posted 10/13/99 (W-SN391131).

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