National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Contracts Operations Branch, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 6100, MSC 7902, Bethesda, MD 20892

A -- NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, AND BLOOD INSTITUTE'S HEALTH INFORMATION NETWORK SOL NHLBI-HO-98-21 POC Joanna Magginas, (301) 435-0360 or (301) 435-0355 The Office of Prevention, Education, and Control (OPEC) of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is conducting a market survey to assess the availability and potential technical capability of small business firms to provide services to develop a "world class" research translation and dissemination program that can take advantage of technology now and in the 21st century. OPEC coordinates the translation and dissemination of research findings and scientific consensus to health professionals, patients, and the public so that information can be adapted for and integrated into health care practice and individual health behavior. OPEC seeks to advance the development of an NHLBI Health Information Network that provides: ease of access for all; networked linking and transfer of NHLBI science-based health information with and to its primary audiences; increased awareness of the NHLBI and the value of its information; interactivity designed to enhance partnerships, individualize responsiveness,promote better communication, acquire information, disseminate information, and assess public and professional information needs; adoption and utilization of NHLBI information by all of its publics; and use of technology to reduce information-transfer costs. Specific tasks of this project include: 1) project management and administration; 2) response center operations; 3) information development operations; 4) information transfer and networking operations; 5) internal database development operations; 6) distribution operations; 7) program planning, development, and evaluation in support of NHLBI's national education programs and special initiatives; 8) building and sustaining NHLBI strategic partnerships; and 9) meeting/conference support. Small business firms having demonstrated experience in performing the requirements are invited to submit tailored capability statements which will be considered on the following: 1) Firms must be able to provide a multidisciplinary staff capable of providing a comprehensive range of skills including medical informatics, information science, information technology, behavioral science, health education, health program planning and evaluation, performance-based program management, health communications and marketing, blood pressure, cholesterol and nutrition, obesity and physical activity, asthma management, and sleep disorders; 2) The firm's multidisciplinary staff should have expertise in working with national organizations, states, and other groups implementing a national health-related program, health information collection, health information database design, health writing/editing; 3) Previous corporate experience in managing similar or related contracts comparable in technical complexity; 4) Firms must have adequate facilities, state-of-the-art information technology equipment, and staff skilled in information systems technology to develop network linking and transfer of information as well as interactivity to enhance relationships and learning; 5) Firms should have an awareness and understanding of the complex issues in risk factor identification/modification and disease management relevant to the prevention, control, and rehabilitation of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases and in issues related to asthma and sleep disorders, as well as an understanding of current issues that program providers face in planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating education programs that address these issues; 6) expertise in dealing with target audiences of interest to the National High Blood Pressure Education Program, the National Cholesterol Education Program, the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program, the National Heart Attack Alert Program, the NHLBI Obesity Education Initiative and the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research; and 7) the firm's status as a small business under Standard Industrial Code 8732, with a size standard of $5,000,000. The intended procurement is a recompetition of contract N01-HO-39208 awarded by the NHLBI on 6/1/93. The Government intends to negotiate one contract for a period of 5 years. This is not a Request for Proposals (RFP), and responses should not include budgetary information. Firms responding to this market survey should provide pertinent information (original and six copies) to the requirements mentioned above within fifteen (15) calendar days from the date of publication of this CBD announcement. (0049)

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