National Institutes of Health, Division of Research Contracts, OCM/OA/OM/OD, 6100

A -- EXECUTIVE BOULEVARD, MSC 7540, SUITE 6E01, BETHESDA, MARYLA SOL NIH-DC-96-02 POC Silver C. Jones, Contract Specialist, (301) 496-4487/Sherley M. Mizzell, Contracting Officer, (301) 496-4487. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders intends to negotiate with the Missouri Department of Health to conduct a population-based study to: 1) measure hearing sensitivity and middle-ear function, 2) assess central auditory processing, speech and language development, and nonverbal cognitive performance, 3) evaluate risk factors for developmental delay in children with hearing or balance impairments, speech and language disorders and cerebral palsy, and 4) correlate the aforementioned data with relevant health and medical history information. Statutory authority: 41 U.S.C. 253 (c) (1), as set forth in FAR 6.302-1. The cited authority is applicable because the Missouri Department of Health will use as its cohort the participants from their 1990 study in which they tracked very low birth weight, moderately low birth weight and normal birth weight infants from the neonatal period. Due to the possession of this cohort and unique accompanying data, only the Missouri Department of Health has the resources to perform this effort. The proposed contractor is also experienced in collecting data at multiple sites in Missouri and in using strong coordination to insure data reliability. No RFP is available. (0107)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0006 19960417\A-0006.SOL)