R -- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Education and Outreach Activities

ELECTRONIC RFP ANNOUNCEMENT, POTENTIAL OFFERORS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DOWNLOADING THEIR OWN COPY OF THE SOLICITATION AND AMENDMENTS. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is the Federal agency responsible for conducting and supporting research on the brain and nervous system. It is a component of the National Institutes of Health and the US Public Health Service. Medical advances in the field of neurology have burgeoned in the past several years. Neurological illnesses which were once considered untreatable are now being treated. Acting on a mandate by Congress to bring important health messages to the public, the NINDS requires a public education strategy, and public education programs, on the topics of stroke and Parkinsons disease, and other neurological diseases as the need arises. The NINDS was established by Public Law 81-692 in August 1950 with a mission of research to improve the quality of life. Along with the aging population there has been a marked increase in the diagnosis of a number of neurological disorders, including stroke and Parkinsons disease. The public needs information about research advances in the neurological disorders in order to take full advantage of treatments and health care practices that may improve their quality of life. Another imperative is communicating changes in standards of treatment to health care professionals. The NIH Director places a strong emphasis on the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors. In his Roadmap, he calls for novel partnerships, such as those between the public and private sectors, to accelerate the movement of scientific discoveries from the bench to the bedside. At the core of this vision is the concept that clinical research needs to develop new partnerships among organized patient communities, community-based physicians and academic researchers. Toward this end, the NINDS seeks a contractor to identify and seek out opportunities to partner with groups that will help extend the NIH scientific research agenda. Within the NINDS, the Office of Communications and Public Liaison (OCPL) holds the lead responsibility for educational activities and translating research findings for both health practitioners and the general public. The OCPL plans to award a single, incrementally funded, cost reimbursement completion contract for five years. As an incentive to performance, the contract is further issued as an award term contract, allowing the contractor to earn two additional years to the contract as a result of superior performance. The contractor will provide services in the planning, development, implementation and evaluation of health communication products and activities, development of intermediary networks and materials development for professional audiences. Such services include but are not limited to the following: 1) Planning, development, implementation and evaluation of public education/communication programs on the topics of stroke and Parkinson's disease and other neurological disorders as research advances require; 2) Development and maintenance of intermediary networks of neurological related health institutions, organizations, associations and businesses; 3) Materials development for professional audiences. The anticipated solicitation issue date is approximately 15 days after publication of this notice, and proposals will be due approximately 35 days after the issue date. RFP N02-NS-59000-09 may be accessed through the Research Contracts Branch Home page by using the following Internet address: http://rcb.cancer.gov/rcb-internet/ and clicking on Current Requests for Proposals. IT IS THE OFFERORS RESPONSIBILITY TO MONITOR THE ABOVE INTERNET SITE FOR THE RELEASE OF THE SOLICITATION AND ANY AMENDMENTS. Point of contact is Mary E. Landi OLeary; electronic mail address: contact@example.gov (ML-one-86r); phone +1 (555) 000-0000; fax +1 (555) 000-0000. No collect calls will be accepted.