U.S. Agency for International Development, Office of Procurement, Room 1569, SA-14, Washington, D.C. 20523-1427

Q -- MEDICAL SERVICES SOL OP/A/HRN-96-A-002 DUE 051596 POC Mr. M. Gushue, Grant Office, (703) 875-1107. USAID is seeking applications for assistance programs that describe activities to design and construct experimental vaccines against Plasmodium falciparum. For purposes of evaluation, applicants are requested to identify antigens for development based on criteria included in the RFA. Work plans, including antigen(s) to be used in the development effort, will be determined by USAID through a working group process after the award is made. Suitable nonhuman primate models are available, experimental vaccines for testing in nonhuman primates may be prepared as a part of the effort. In such cases, USAID may provide animals for such testing at its option on a case by case basis. If an award is made, a Cooperative Agreement will be funded for 3 years. USAID intends to make one award and provide up to approximately $500,000 in total costs for the life of the Agreement. Efforts and budgets should therefore not exceed this time limit. No fee will be paid to the recipient since the prinicipal purpose of the relationship is to accomplish a public purpose of support a public good. Substantial involvement of USAID, to include regular Working Group meetings chaired by USAID technical staff is anticipated in implementing this Cooperative Agreement. The Government reserves the right to fund a larger number of applications (or none at all) depending on relative scientific merit, relative cost of applications received, and availability of funds. RFA's and instructions may be obtain at internet website ''http://www.info.usaid.gov'' under the Business & Procurment icon. ONLY if you are unable to obtain it by the internet should you contact USAID at fax: (703) 875-1107. The preferred method of distribution of USAID procurement information is via the Internet or by request of a solicitation on a 3.5'' floppy disk (WordPerfect 5.1/5.2 format). This CBD notice can be viewed and downloaded using the Agency Gopher. The RFA, once issued, can be downloaded from the Agency Gopher. The Gopher address is GOPHER.INFO.USAID.GOV. Select USAID PROCUREMENT AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES from the Gopher menu. From there, choose the heading USAID PROCUREMENTS and then DOWNLOAD AVAILABLE USAID SOLICITATIONS. The RFA can also be downloaded via Anonymous File Transfer Protocol (FTP). The FTP address is FTP.INFO.USAID.GOV. Logon on using the user identification of ''anonymous'' and the password is your e-mail address. Look under the following directory for the RFA: pub/OP/RFA/OP/AHRN6A002/ahrn6A002.rfa. Receipt of this RFA through INTERNET must be confirmed by written notification to the contact person noted above. It is the responsibility of the recipient of this solicitation document to ensure that it has been received from INTERNET in its entirety and USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes. Telephone requests will not be accepted. Since this RFA is one of two issued simultaneously, clearly identify any inquiries and application materials as pertaining to RFA OP/A/HRN-96-A-002. Interested parties must submit the completed application material to USAID by 2:00 pm (EST) on Wednesday, May 15, 1996. (0079)

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