CLINICAL CENTERS FOR THE OSTEOARTHRITIS INITIATIVE

Release Date:  July 19, 2001

NOTICE:  NOT-AR-01-009

RFP AVAILABLE:  NIH-NIAMS-02-03

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
National Institute on Aging

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases and 
the National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, is seeking 
proposals for a multi-center, longitudinal, prospective, population-based 
study of knee osteoarthritis (OA) to develop a public domain research 
resource.  The purpose of this resource is to facilitate the scientific 
evaluation of biomarkers for osteoarthritis (OA) as potential surrogate 
endpoints for disease onset and progression.  This Request for Proposals is 
to solicit the individual Clinical Centers that will be enrolling subjects 
and collecting data.  The objectives of each Clinical Center are to: 1) 
cooperate with the Data Coordinating Center in implementing the overall 
Osteoarthritis Initiative, and 2) recruit, enroll and follow for 4 years 
individuals from the general population, over the age of 50 at high risk for 
the development of osteoarthritis (i.e., obesity, previous knee injury, low 
grade knee pain, an abnormal gait, etc.)  It is intended that minorities and 
women will be represented in proportions similar to those found in the U.S. 
population over the age of 50.  Each Clinical Center will recruit 1000-1250 
individuals for study.  

It is anticipated that four to six cost reimbursement contract awards will be 
made for a period of seven years beginning on or about July 15, 2002.  The 
solicitation NIH-NIAMS-02-03 will be available electronically on or about 
fifteen days from the date of this notice and may be accessed through the 
Internet at the following address:  
http://www.nih.gov/niams/grants/rfp/rfplist.htm.  Proposals will be due on 
or about November 7, 2001. Offerors are responsible for downloading their own 
copy of the solicitation and amendments and for routinely checking the 
Internet site for any possible solicitation amendments that may be issued by 
the Government.  All responsible sources may submit proposals which will be 
considered by the Government. The North American Industrial Classification 
System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 541710. This advertisement does 
not commit the Government to award a contract.

Inquiries may be directed to:

Eileen Webster-Cissel
Chief Contracting Officer
Contracts Management Branch, EP
National Institute of Arthritis and 
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Natcher Building, Room 5AS13A
45 Center Drive, MSC 6500
Bethesda, Maryland  20892-6500

Telephone: 301-594-2543
FAX: 301-480-4543
Email address: [email protected]

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