Follow-Up Clinical Dementia Rating Scores for Participants in the Early Markers of Cognitive Change and Alzheimer's Disease Study

The National Institute on Aging, IRP, intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a noncompetitive basis with Johns Hopkins University, Department of Neurology, 5200 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21224 for a project entitled - Follow-up Clinical Dementia Rating Scores for Participants in the Early Markers of Cognitive Change and Alzheimer's Disease Study. The purpose of this procurement is to collect follow-up dementia data on participants in the Early Markers of Cognitive Change and Alzheimer's Disease study using the standardized Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale. The CDR is an instrument that provides crucial evidence for cognitive changes in memory and other skills that occur in normal aging and in individuals who develop memory problems and Alzheimer's disease. There are two forms of the CDR, the subject version and the informant version. This procurement will provide follow-up data on CDR ratings using both forms. CDR evaluations are performed annually to examine change in cognitive status over time. Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, 41 U.S.C. 253 (c) (1), FAR 13.106-1 (2) (b). The cited authority is applicable because Johns Hopkins University is the only source that can fulfill the requirements of this contract. The Department of Neurology at the Johns Hopkins Medical School has both the expertise and facilities for performing Clinical Dementia Rating interviews and analyses. They are widely regarded as an expert in neurodegenerative disease and are intimately familiar with our research diagnostic criteria, our neuropsychological test battery, and the procedures for contacting participants and informants in this study. In addition, the staff of the Department of Neurology is well training in administering the appropriate test battery to BLSA participants, and they do so in a manner parallel to the testing protocol used during in-house participant visits. No other source has the necessary training in administering these tests in a longitudinally consistent fashion in a way that fits the requirements of our research diagnostic criteria for dementia. In particular, maintaining consistency in testing and diagnoses is crucial in a longitudinal study. As a participant in the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center for many years, they have a wealth of experience in avoiding drift in both the data collection and the diagnostic interpretation. A survey of the literature in this field and recommendations from investigators doing related research shows that there are no other sources for these services. The period of performance is 12 months. This acquisition is being conducted under Simplified Acquisition procedures and is exempt from the requirements of FAR, Part 6, Competition Requirement. Award will be made on an all or none basis to the lowest price, technically acceptable source.