National Cancer Institute, Research Contracts Branch, PSAS, 6120 Executive Blvd, EPS/Room 638, Bethesda, MD 20892-7227

Q -- MEDICAL SERVICES -- SUPPORT TO EXPAND NCI SPONSORED CLINICAL TRIALS IN DOD HEALTH SYSTEM SOL RFQ-NCI-80174 DUE 080598 POC Cynthia Brown, Purchasing Agent, 301-402-4509, Contracting Officer The National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute(NCI), Office of Clinical Research Promotion (OCRP) intends to procure services from Fleishman-Hillard International Communications, 1615 L Street, N.W., Suite #1000, Washington, D.C. 20036. The National Cancer Institute currently has an interagency clinical trials agreement with the Department of Defense's (DOD) health benefits system, TRICARE, to participate in NCI-sponsored clinical trials as an expanded health benefit. This demonstration project has the goal of increasing participation in clinical trials, thus allowing for the rapid completion of studies to make treatments available to the public more rapidly. The partnership between DOD and NCI requires extensive communication and promotion to audiences including: patients, health care professionals, investigators, and TRICARE managed care support contractors. Since Fleishman-Hillard was competitively selected to create the TRICARE logo/most promotional materials and the firm understands the TRICARE system, product information to TRICARE patients will be distributed without delay, and the varied audience has an immediate recognition of the publications. REQUIREMENT: The Contractor shall perform the following requirements: 1) Create patient information brochure for cancer patients which includes information on DOD/NCI clinical trials demonstration, how this fits into the TRICARE system, and briefly describe the choice of clinical trials as a cancer care option including NCI information resources. Coordinate printing and mailing for 10,000 of these brochures. Mailings shall go to TRICARE PPN providers in targeted areas, MTF oncology centers, TRICARE service centers, and military service organizations. 2) Create a health care professional brochure that describes the DOD/NCI clinical trials demonstration, the referral process for patients and rationale behind referring patients into clinical trials for their cancer care. This shall include information as to how the demonstration is paid for out of separate (not TRICARE regions) DOD funding and how this fits into the TRICARE health care benefits system.. Coordination of printing and mailing for 10,000 of these brochures is required. The mailings shall go to TRICARE PPN providers in targeted areas, MTF oncology centers, and managed care contractor medical directors. These brochures shall also have a web version for placement into the cancer Trials and TRICARE websites. 3) Create a laminated reference pocket guide, which informs health care professionals about how to find information on current cancer trials via various informational resources. Coordination of printing and mailing for 5,000 of these guides is required. This notice is a combined synopsis/solicitation and NCI does not intend to issue a separate solicitation. This solicitation, RFQ-NCI-80174, is not set-aside for small business; however, the Standard Industrial Classification code is 2741. Since the promotional information is similar to work that Fleishman-Hillard is already providing to TRICARE, all products will maintain the same consistency and format that have allowed care givers and beneficiaries to depend upon and recognize important health information within the system. Therefore, Fleishman-Hillard is the only source known to NCI that can meet the above requirements and maintain consistency with DOD's promotional information. However, if any interested party believes it can meet the above specifications, it may submit an offer. Offers must be submitted on an SF-18 and include appropriate Representations and Certifications. Information furnished must be in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow NCI to determine if the party can perform the requirement. Offers must be received in the contracting office by 3:00 p.m. EST, on August 5, 1998. Full text copies of the Representations and Certifications and the SF-18 may be obtained from Cynthia Brown on (301) 402-4509. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Posted 07/17/98 (W-SN224894). (0198)

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