Letter calling for R&D proposal input

                                           November 13, 1998

    Dear Colleague,

    Thank you for participating in the Keystone Workshop.
 
    While the funding picture for the linear collider
    detector R&D remains unspecified, we expect
    an announcement before long and a call for proposals.
   
    We would like to begin now to plan for a joint R&D proposal
    on vertex detectors for the linear collider, to be submitted
    once the procedures are announced.  Of course anyone is
    free to submit proposals independently.   

    In order to initiate this coordination we are requesting 
    that each of you send us a short abstract (roughly 1/2 to
    a full page), outlining your R&D plans, 
    including an estimate of the level of financial support 
    you will be requesting, by November 20.
    Please indicate if you would like this to be considered
    as part of a joint proposal, or if you would prefer to
    submit it independently.

    Once we have in hand this information, we will attempt to
    review these plans and perhaps suggest revised plans
    in the interest of minimizing duplicated effort, and
    maximizing R&D productivity.  Based on these suggestions
    and your response to them, we will create a joint R&D
    plan.

    It is very likely that requests for partial postdoc
    support will be favorably reviewed.  Keep in mind
    that individual identities may be required, and
    that the sponsoring group will be obligated to provide
    at least half of the support from existing funds.
    Of course the postdoc may be working on another project
    for those existing funds.

    We look forward to hearing from you by November 20.

    Sincerely,
    Jim Brau and Harry Nelson