But, as the committee charged with soliciting proposals for the headquarters met for the first time yesterday, representatives of less obvious areas said they are also putting together proposals. Areas mentioned include Los Angeles, Sacramento, the Central Valley and Riverside County.

Although Sacramento may not be home to biotechs on a scale of the Bay Area, lease rates are cheaper. The area also offers access to state agencies and politicians without the commute hassles of more metropolitan locales, representatives of the area said yesterday.

San Diego business leaders are putting together their own proposal, but they have declined to discuss it in detail because they don't want to tip off the competition. A proposal is also expected from Los Angeles.

San Francisco and San Jose mayors have also talked about somehow subsidizing the rent for the headquarters of the institute, according to Robert Klein, chairman of the citizen's oversight committee that will act as the institute's board of directors.

The site committee is looking for 15,000 square feet of office space for what is expected to be no more than 50 employees. A location would also need to have meeting space for the committees overseeing the institute. And it would need to be within a 45 minute drive of an international airport, according to a working draft of the requirements.

The site selection committee agreed yesterday on a timetable under which proposals will be due Feb. 24. It is expected a site will be selected at the April meeting.

Source [SignOnSanDiego]