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D -- IMPROVING ACCESS TO HEALTH AND DISASTER INFORMATION IN HONDURAS AND NICARAGUA POC Valerie M. Syed, Contracting Officer, (301) 496-6546 It is the intent of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to negotiate on a sole source basis with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), 525 Twenty-third Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-2895, under the authority of FAR 6.302. The NLM is collaborating with PAHO to strengthen the access to technical and scientific information on health and disasters in Honduras and Nicaragua, two of the hardest hit countries by Hurricane Mitch in 1998. The devastating effect of Hurricane Mitch in Central America confirmed the need for a coordinated approach to disaster reduction in this region. NLM intends to achieve this by providing technical infrastructure and Internet connectivity, by strengthening human infrastructure within the health/disaster sector, and by collecting and disseminating information and support to end users in Honduras and Nicaragua. Specific activities to accomplish the objectives of this project will include procurement and installation of hardware, software, high-speed data lines; user support and maintenance; training for professionals and primary users on use of information resources and the Internet; Internet access to NLM databases and other identified databases from a single search engine; creation of a web site that will serve as a gateway to all information sources; and compilation and dissemination of relevant technical and scientific disaster documentation. NLM has determined that PAHO, through its Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief Coordination Program, has the unique experience of being represented in each country in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief Coordination Program serves the 35 Member Countries of the Pan American Health Organization, regional office for the Americas of the World Health Organization. Its principal counterparts and beneficiaries are the Ministries of Health, particularly the national disaster reduction programs with which it collaborates closely in technical cooperation activities. This close collaboration facilitates evaluation of existing resources, identification of needs in the coordinating centers in Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua, development and implementation of information services, and promotion of cooperation and communication among the centers. The primary technical focal point of this project will be the Regional Disaster Information Center (CRID), located in San Jose, Costa Rica. Created by PAHO in 1990, CRID's principal objective is to collect, classify and distribute technical and scientific documentation on all aspects of disaster reduction. CRID is the premiere source of information produced by and for Latin America and the Caribbean. PAHO contributes annually to sustain the activities at the Regional Disaster Information Center. Taking advantage of and strengthening the existing CRID infrastructure and experience to support Honduras' and Nicaragua's information centers will avoid duplication of efforts, save resources, and indirectly benefit the other countries in the region. PAHO'soffices in Costa Rica, Honduras, and Nicaragua have technical personnel including computer specialists, public health and disasters and information science librarians who will provide the administrative and technical support critical to the activities included in this project. PAHO's role in Latin America and the Caribbean will make the experience and benefits resulting from this project applicable to other areas in the region and the world in general. The period of performance for the project will be two years. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals, nor is a Request for Proposals available. However, all proposals received within forty-five days after the date of publication of this synopsis will be considered by the National Library of Medicine. See Numbered Note 22.**** Posted 02/11/00 (W-SN424695). (0042)

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