FOR RELEASE:  June 2, 1994                 CONTACT:    Lee Scurry
                                                   (202) 208-3983


                         MMS, USGS HOLD 
                ELECTRONIC ACQUISITION CONFERENCE (#40036)


     An electronic acquisition conference for vendors, detailing an
entirely new way in which government will solicit and award small
purchases, will be hosted by the Department of the Interior's
Minerals Management Service (MMS) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
on Monday, June 13.

     The small purchase pilot is the first stage of an electronic
acquisition system (IDEAS) developed by the Department in response
to the President's initiative to maximize the use of electronic
commerce.  The pilot utilizes an electronic bulletin board service
for soliciting and awarding small purchase acquisitions.  It will
be implemented by June 30 at MMS and USGS.  The entire system,
IDEAS, is expected to be operational by 1995 at Interior.

     The conference will be held in the USGS main auditorium
located at 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia, from 9:00
to 3:30.  For registration information contact Dan McGuire at (703)
787-1369.

                              -MMS-

Subject: PR-06/02/94 MMS,USGS/MMS,USGS Hold Electronic Acquisition
Conference (#40036)