Q -- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Collaborative Effort for Pulmonary Hypertension/Advanced Lung Disease Program

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) intends to negotiate with the Inova Fairfax Hospital located in Fall Church to establish a collaborative pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) program. The primary objective of this collaboration is the development of a PAH program that utilizes Inova's current facilities and the Heart Institute's clinical practice and research abilities. NIH has a long history of an established integrative clinical research approach. Its Pulmonary Vascular team in the Vascular Medicine Branch of the Heart Institute consists of physicians with expertise in pulmonary, hematology and cardiovascular diseases, all critical components in the management of pulmonary arterial hypertension patients. Inova-Fairfax Hospital has a well established Pulmonary Hypertension Program with clinicians and coordinators skilled in the management and care of patients with various forms of pulmonary vascular disease. The prospect of a partnership that combines the NIH and Inova Pulmonary Vascular Program has the potential for substantial benefit for both institutes and the affected patient population. All patients recruited through NIH for study purposes would have the option of being followed/managed clinically through the Program. Inova would provide the day-to-day clinical management and care with the collaborative assistance of NHLBI. While Inova is well established at the local/regional level as a referral center for various forms of advanced lung disease, it lacks a national/international reputation. NIH, specifically NHLBI offers this and the ability to attract patients outside the Washington, D.C. region, other states and countries. Therefore, the Program will potentially bring expanded recognition to Inova in addition to the enhancement of NHLBI's research studies for this condition. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. The resulting acquisition will be entered into pursuant to the acquisition authority set forth in FAR 6.302-1 and 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1). See Numbered Note 22.