National Library of Medicine, Office of Acquisitions Management, Building 38A, Room B1N17, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894

M -- SUPPORT SERVICES SOL NLM/97-085/LTN DUE 091197 POC Liem T. Nguyen, Contract Specialist, 301-496-6546 Description of Acquisition or Award: The National Institute of Health (NIH), The Library of Medicine (NLM) intends to negotiate on a sole-source basis with the Center for Public Services Communications (CPSC), 5315 Lee Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22207, under the authority 41 U.S.C. 253 (c)(1) and FAR 6.302-1(b)(1) for obtaining support services in helping the NLM to develop and implement a collaborative plan of action in a Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM) project. The purpose of this project is to build up research capacities in Africa to combat this devastating disease. The NIH is a leading proponent of these efforts. The Contractor will support NLM to develop and implement a collaborative plan of action to improve the capacity of African scientists to communicate with colleagues in Africa, Europe, Japan, and the U.S., and to access electronically global health information resources. In April 1997, at the request of NLM, CPSC performed a communication assessment in Mali, Africa. The assessment and report of this activity is a clear indicator of their ability to continue this work in other areas of Africa. CPSC is uniquely qualified to perform the tasks by virtue of the knowledge, expertise, and experience it has acquired. CPSC has provided guidance and expertise to public and private sector clients in the fields of telemedicine and humanitarian assistance, and possesses an historical perspective unmatched by another organization or individual. Internationally, CPSC principals have working experience in Africa, the Caribbean, Central America, Eastern Europe and Western Europe, the Pacific. CPSC also works regularly with many international organizations and is recognized by them as a world leader in the fields of telemedicine and humanitarian assistance. Domestically, CPSC is a coordinator of the Congressional Ad Hoc Steering Committee on Telehealth. This committee is a telemedicine policy advisory group, comprised of key congressional representatives and their staffs with the purpose of advising legislators on policy issues regarding the integration of new health information technologies into health care delivery strategies. CPSC is the only known source that has the proven prerequisite depth, knowledge of U.S. and non U.S. telemedicine and humanitarian assistance activities and which can provide the type of in-depth support required by NLM. At the option of the government, the consultant may be assigned travel, domestic trips or foreign missions during the one year period, in connection with the MIM. Consultant will be reimbursed for all travel expenses. The period of performance shall begin on or about September 15, 1997 and extend for one year. This notice of intent is not a Request for Quotations (RFQ) nor is an RFQ available. (0240)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0067 19970902\M-0001.SOL)