diff --git a/src/mca/oob/base/base.h b/src/mca/oob/base/base.h
index 0a3141587a..bd0de574d3 100644
--- a/src/mca/oob/base/base.h
+++ b/src/mca/oob/base/base.h
@@ -73,13 +73,40 @@ extern ompi_process_name_t mca_oob_name_self;
 extern "C" {
 #endif
         
+/**
+*  Obtain a string representation of the OOB contact information for
+*  the selected OOB channels. This string may be passed to another 
+*  application via an MCA parameter (OMPI_MCA_oob_base_seed) to bootstrap
+*  communications.
+*
+*  @return  A null terminated string that should be freed by the caller.
+*
+*  Note that mca_oob_base_init() must be called to load and select
+*  an OOB module prior to calling this routine.
+*/
+
+char* mca_oob_get_contact_info(void);
+
+/**
+*  Set the MCA parameter (OMPI_MCA_oob_base_seed) used by the OOB to 
+*  bootstrap communication between peers. 
+*
+*  @param  seed   The contact information of the peer process obtained
+*  via a call to mca_oob_get_contact_info().
+*
+*  Note that this routine currently just sets the MCA parameter - so
+*  this function must be called prior to mca_oob_base_init().
+*/
+
+int mca_oob_set_contact_info(const char*);
+
 /**
 *  Returns a null terminated character string returning contact info
 *  for all supported OOB channels.
 *
-*  @return  A null terminated string.
+*  @return  
 *
-*  The caller is responsible for freeing the returned string.
+*  Note that the caller is responsible for freeing the returned string.
 */
 
 char* mca_oob_get_contact_info(void);
diff --git a/src/mca/oob/base/oob_base_init.c b/src/mca/oob/base/oob_base_init.c
index 36dda713ba..f375813e61 100644
--- a/src/mca/oob/base/oob_base_init.c
+++ b/src/mca/oob/base/oob_base_init.c
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ static int mca_oob_base_parse_contact_info(
     char*** uri)
 {
     /* parse the process name */
-    char* ptr = strchr(contact_info, '=');
+    char* ptr = strchr(contact_info, ';');
     if(NULL == ptr)
         return OMPI_ERR_BAD_PARAM;
     *ptr = '\0';
@@ -209,12 +209,36 @@ char* mca_oob_get_contact_info()
     char *proc_addr = mca_oob.oob_get_addr();
     size_t size = strlen(proc_name) + 1 + strlen(proc_addr) + 1;
     char *contact_info = malloc(size);
-    sprintf(contact_info, "%s=%s", proc_name, proc_addr);
+    sprintf(contact_info, "%s;%s", proc_name, proc_addr);
     free(proc_name);
     free(proc_addr);
     return contact_info;
 }
 
+
+/**
+*  Setup the contact information for the seed daemon - which
+*  is passed as an MCA parameter. 
+*
+*  @param  seed  
+*/
+                                                                                                             
+int mca_oob_set_contact_info(const char* seed)
+{
+    /* TSW - fix this - currently just stuff the parameter in the environment */
+    setenv("OMPI_MCA_oob_base_seed", seed, 1);
+    return OMPI_SUCCESS;
+}
+                                                                                  
+/**
+*  Obtains the contact info (oob implementation specific) URI strings through
+*  which this process can be contacted on an OOB channel.
+*
+*  @return  A null terminated string.
+*
+*  The caller is responsible for freeing the returned string.
+*/
+                                                                                                             
 /**
 * Called to request the selected oob components to
 * register their address with the seed deamon.