Some embodiments are directed to a method and apparatus for performing resource negotiation in a station implementing a direct communication link with at least one other station on an Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) data channel. The station scans sub-channels on the data channel for base headers included in predefined position in transmissions sent on the sub-channel. The station then decodes a base header in at least one selected sub-channel to obtain parameters of a channel reservation. The obtained parameters are stored in a channel utilization table. The station selects a resource on the data channel in at least one of time or frequency that the station has observed to be free using information from the channel utilization table. The station then begins a resource negotiation process about the selected resource.