Contracts Management Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Federal Building, Room 901, 7550 Wisconsin Avenue, MSC 9190, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9190

A -- CORTICAL CONTROL OF NEURAL PROSTHESES SOL RFP No. NIH-NINDS-96-02 DUE 012296. Contact Point, Laurie Leonard, 301/496-1813, Contracting Officer, Kirkland Davis, 301/496-9203. The Neural Prosthesis Program of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), supports research and development on functional neuromuscular stimulation (FNS) to restore hand and arm function in quadriplegic individuals. These FNS systems must operate under the voluntary control of the individual. Proving a means for the individual to produce the control signals represents a critical part of any potential FNS system. Presently, control signals are generated by voluntary movements of unparalyzed muscles such as the contralateral shoulder. This project will investigate the ability of cortical cells in a neurologically intact animal to control an artificial output device on a chronic basis. The goal of this work is to establish the feasibility of generating controls signals through voluntary control of neurons in the central nervous system (CNS). To demonstrate cortical control it is necessary to show that the neural activity in selected cell populations in the CNS can be trained to reliably control an electromechanical device. It is anticipated that one award, on a cost-reimbursement basis, will be made for a period of three years. This is not a Request for Proposals. Request for Proposals (RFP) No. NIH-NINDS-96-02 will be issued on or about November 20, 1995, with responses due on or about January 22, 1996. Interested organizations should request either a streamlined version or an entire RFP document. If no selection is made, a streamlined version of the RFP will be provided. The streamlined version includes only the Statement of Work, deliverable and reporting requirements, special requirements, and technical evaluation criteria. After examination of these documents, any organization interested in responding to the RFP must request the entire RFP either in writing or by FAX request (301-402-4225). Requests must cite the RFP number referenced above. Please supply this office with two (2) self-addressed mailing labels. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the Government. Refer to Numbered Note 26. (304)

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