Development of a Course on Neuropathic Pain Models and Measures

THE RECEIPT DATE FOR PROPOSALS IS EXTENDED TO DECEMBER 15, 2009. SEE ATTACHED AMENDMENT. Pre-Solicitation RFP: HHS-NIH-NHLBI-PB-(DE) -2010-325-CM TITLED: Development of a Course on Neuropathic Pain Models and Measures The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute on behalf of The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) requires the services of a contractor to establish a short-term, intensive course on the best practices in pain research including the standards of current research methodologies, analytical procedures, and interpretation of results. The contractor shall provide training in neuropathic pain research focused on preclinical rodent models of neuropathic pain and on methods for measuring pain. The contractor will comprise classroom presentations of basic, theoretical, ethical and historical background information on neuropathic pain. The contractor shall also include hands-on training in animal surgeries and microsurgeries, chemical- and disease-induced neuropathic pain models, neuroanatomical, histological, and electrophysiological cellular analyses. In addition, the contractor shall include hands-on training in the biophysical and biobehavioral measurement of pain for sixteen course participants per year. The intended participants in this course are graduate students, junior faculty, and other researchers who are interested in learning these techniques in neuropathic pain in order to be better equipped to develop independent research careers the pain field. This course will benefit users by providing them with expertise in the methodologies and ethical conduct of experiments and animal care in neuropathic pain research. It is anticipated that participation in this course will lead to well-trained researchers who are able to enter the pain field and are capable of developing and carrying out independent, rigorous pain research programs of the highest quality. The potential contractor must provide a wide range domain expertise in the methods of neuropathic pain research, research experience, and publication record. Services include: 1) Develop the curriculum, 2) Provide training facilities and materials, 3) Recruit and select participants, 4) Conduct training program on an annual basis, 5) Quality assurance and evaluation of the program, 6) Attend annual meeting with NIDCR staff. It is anticipated that one cost reimbursement contract award shall be made for a period of five years beginning on or about March 1, 2010. The solicitation will be made available electronically approximately 15 calendar days from the date of this announcement and may be accessed through the Internet at the following address: http://www.fedbizopps.gov . All responsible sources may submit a proposal which will be considered by the government. Offerors are responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments and for routinely checking the Internet site for any possible solicitation amendments that may be may be issued by the Government. This advertisement does not commit the Government to award a contract.