The Conference and Education Center is envisioned as a building with up to 250 lodging rooms and meeting space capable of accommodating multiple small groups simultaneously or a single large group of up to 500 persons. The facility will be used for specialized meeting and lodging facility for conferences, educational programs, events, and other functions sponsored by NASA and its NRP partners, which include Carnegie Mellon University, University of California Santa Cruz, California State University San Jose and Foothill-De Anza Community College.

Project manager Laura Lewis tells GlobeSt.com the developer would own the building and lease the dirt. "One of the things we noted is that the partners we bring into the park will need some meeting and conference type space, so the conference center is a cornerstone amenity and the developer will have a built-in market," says Lewis. "NASA currently has a small training facility, and whether we continue that or transfer it to the new facility is undecided; however, there are certain things we do that are really large events that our facility can't accommodate. NASA is not guaranteeing use of the facility, but when we get down to negotiations with a qualified developer it could be one of the deal points."

As for interest in the project, Lewis says she already has received several inquiries. RFQ responses are due by May 14, 2004. The plan is to have the center open for business by fall 2007. Parties interested in the Call for Developer Qualifications should contact Lewis at (650) 604-2162 or via [email protected] (include "CDQ Request" in the subject line). The Web site for the research park is www.research park.arc.nasa.gov.