Viewing page 231 of 272

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

-215-

On November 9, 1978, the announcement published in the [[underlined]] Commerce Business Daily [[/underlined]] invited expressions of interest from architectural/engineering firms within twenty-one days from that date. The GSA Public Advisory Panel will convene on December 11 and 12, 1978, to review material submitted to GSA. Screening of architects in the selection process is scheduled for the first week of January 1979, when the GSA National Advisory Board will consider the architectural presentations and make appropriate recommendations to the Administrator, GSA. A final selection of the architectural/engineering firm is expected by the first of February.

The preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement for the project is underway, and a review is scheduled to begin December 11, 1978.

The Memorandum of Agreement between Smithsonian and GSA is expected to be completed in a matter of days.

As a result of the letter of intent to proceed with planning, received from Smithsonian, GSA has proceeded promptly and has incurred some expenses. Smithsonian will transfer the design funds to GSA at an early date.

A progress schedule is being developed, and GSA anticipates that plans and specifications for the Congressional reviews can be prepared by April 1979.