CLINICAL TRIALS RESOURCE CENTER FOR RHEUMATIC DISEASES

RELEASE DATE:  January 3, 2003
 
NOTICE: NOT-AR-03-002

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
 (http://www.niams.nih.gov/)

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin 
Diseases, National Institutes of Health, is seeking proposals for the 
creation of a national resource center dedicated to research and 
development of new theories and methodologies for clinical trials in 
rheumatic diseases.  The contract will support one Clinical Trials 
Resource Center.  The goal of the Clinical Trials Resource Center 
(CTRC) is to conduct research on the development, application and 
evaluation of new clinical trial theories and technologies for the 
evaluation of safety, efficacy and effectiveness of therapies for 
rheumatic diseases.  The CTRC will also be charged with the translation 
of new knowledge about disease pathogenesis and natural history, 
responses to treatment and other outcomes into new clinical trial 
designs.  In addition, the CTRC will be responsible for the application 
of new technologies for clinical trial design and implementation.  The 
ultimate goal of these activities is the development of more 
informative, scientifically rigorous, standardized and cost effective 
designs for clinical trials in rheumatic diseases.  Another goal of 
this initiative is to provide an environment for the open and unbiased 
evaluation of current approaches to clinical trials in rheumatic 
diseases.  The CTRC will function as a catalyst for the identification 
of areas of need and opportunity by experts from academia, the private 
sector, patient advocacy organizations and agencies of the federal 
government.  It is anticipated that the CTRC will establish 
collaborations and partnerships with academia, as well as biotechnology 
and pharmaceuticals companies.  It is anticipated that one cost 
reimbursement, level of effort type, contract award will be made for a 
period of 5 years beginning on or about September 30, 2003.  The annual 
level of effort anticipated to be expended is 8.35 full time 
equivalents. 

The solicitation, NIH-NIAMS-03-03, will be available electronically on 
or about 15 days from the date of this notice and may be accessed 
through the Internet at the following address:  
http://www.niams.nih.gov/rtac/funding/grants/rfp/wwwrfp.htm or on Fed 
Biz Opps at http://www.eps.gov/.  Proposals will be due on or about 
March 27, 2003.  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:

Barbara Welsh
Contract Specialist
Contracts Management Branch, Extramural Program
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
One Democracy Plaza
6701 Democracy Boulevard, Suite 800, MSC 4872
Bethesda, Maryland  20892-4872*
(*If using a courier service such as Federal Express, use 20817 for the 
zip code).
Telephone: 301-594-2543
FAX: 301-480-4543
Email address:  [email protected] 

Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices

			Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
NIH... Turning Discovery Into Health®