The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is considering issuing contracts to identify two NINDS Facility of Research Excellence in Spinal Cord Injury (FORE-SCI) sites to conduct research to replicate promising studies that could lead to new and effective treatments for spinal cord injury.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is soliciting proposals on a fulland open competition basis to perform the Maintenance and Fielding of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) Support ? Household Components (HC). The Contractor will be responsible for collecting editing and inputting data collected from Households. The Contractor will also be responsible for survey weight and estimation variable development and construction as well as analytic file development, including documentation and codebooks. The contract will be performance based for an initial period of performance of three and one-half years with three three-year options and four options for product delivery, under North American Industry Classification System.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is soliciting proposals from qualified organizations having in-house capability to perform the following tasks: (a) quantitative analyses of new medications and their metabolites, illicit drugs, and endogenous substances in biological specimens primarily in plasma and bioanalytical method development and validation for these assays in support of pharmacokinetic studies (b) automated qualitative screening and quantitative measurement of illicit drugs in biological specimens primarily in urine to assess illicit drug use in clinical trials and (c) shipping and handling of biological specimens. The data obtained will be used by the NIDA to support preclinical and clinical development of new medications for treatment of drug addiction. The study reports generated shall be adequate in format and substance for submission to the FDA in support of IND and NDA applications. NIDA anticipates a 3-year cost reimbursement type contract with options to extend for 2 additional years. Additional quantity options will also be included. The solicitation is divided into two Parts. Part A requires the performance of tasks (a) and (c). Part B requires the performance of tasks (b) and (c). The offeror can respond to either one of the two Parts or both Parts. Two separate contracts, one for either Part, or one contract for both Parts will be awarded. In order to handle substances under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, it is mandatory that offerors possess a DEA Research Registrationf or Schedules II to V and demonstrate the capability to obtain a DEA registration for Schedule I controlled substances. In addition, the offeror for Part B should be certified by SAMHSA, state government, or other government agencies for conducting illicit drug testing for the work place. All studies must be carried out under pertinent FDA regulations, such as current Good Clinical Practice (cGCP) and current Good Laboratory Practice (cGLP) regulations. The pertinent FDA's guidelines/guidance shall be followed. RFP No. N01DA-8-8875 will be available electronically on or about January 4, 2008.

The Army Contracting Agency, Directorate of Contracting at Fort Bliss, Texas is proposing to award a contract for Military Skills Enhancement instructions. The Military Skills Enhancement instruction are courses taught in Troop School for MOS improvement, as defined by the Government to enhance Soldier job performance. The contractor will provide certification in technical skills, or supplement knowledge, skills and abilities essential to mission success. Courses may lead to transcript college credit or to certification. Some examples of courses that my be requested are Ammunition awareness courses; automated air load planning system; sustainment training for New Logistics Systems after fielding (Such as revised automated system for ULLS Aviation); revised Standard Army Retail Re-supply System Objective (SARRS-O); Global Combat Service Support Army (GCSS-A) and Combat Service Support Control System (CSSCS).
ACCREDITATION. Courses that provide transcripts or evaluated post-secondary credit will be provided only by a contractor or sub-contractor accredited to award such credit by one of the American Council on Educations Accrediting Institutions for Post-Secondary Education.
This acquisition is full and open competition. All interested parties must request a copy of the solicitation by e-mail to me li.segura@conus.army.mil . The tenative date of solicitation release is 11 January 2008. The award will be for a base year plus four (4) one year options. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 6141710 with a size standard of $ 6.5 million.

Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division is interested in receiving white papers which offer potential for advancement and improvement of the precision of crew-served weapons and small arms. There is an urgent need for components, systems, or algorithms/software capable of substantially reducing fires error for unguided munitions in small-unit dismounted (foot-mounted) operations, often within challenging urban environments. Both expeditionary warfare and special operations require such components and systems of high accuracy/precision, of minimal size, weight, and power requirements (SWaP), of ruggedness appropriate for the dismounted warfighter, and of cost consistent with widespread military employment. Topics of Interest Responses addressing one or more of these topics are welcome. The following topics are areas of current interest:
1. Topic A ? Weapon aiming technology
The accurate aiming of dismounted weaponry with respect to true north is critical to precision engagement. 
2. Topic B ? Wind velocity sensing technology
Lack of precise knowledge of wind velocity severely impacts the precision of unguided munitions. 
3. Topic C ? Wind velocity prediction, interpolation, and extrapolation algorithms
Wind velocity sensing will not occur at the precise time and location of a particular shot.
4. Topic D ? Muzzle velocity sensing technology
Lack of precise knowledge of muzzle velocity severely impacts the precision of unguided munitions, substantially contributing to range error.

The Naval Surface Warfare Center is interested in information on the development of structural and manufacturing design and fabrication of highly 3-dimensional aero-hydrofoils and propulsor ducts (shrouds) from composite materials including compositions of metals, glass and/or carbon fibers for large air-cushioned vehicles. The Government is interested in whether there are companies that have the ability to fabricate aero-hydrofoils with sizes up to a duct diameter of nominally 13 feet. The propulsor assembly will need to be structurally sufficient to absorb nominally 5000 kW of Power, and produce nominally 20000 lbs of thrust force. This announcement is being issued to help determine whether the Navy should proceed with a formal broad agency announcement (BAA) or request for proposals (RFP). Should interest be determined sufficient, a formal BAA or RFP may be forthcoming. Offerors should provide as a minimum the following information: (1) capability (including facility, equipment and apparatus, computer hardware and software, and human resources) and experience in the structural and manufacturing design of complex 3-dimensional thick composite structures, (2) capability and experience in manufacturing of thick composites with complex 3-dimensional shapes,(3) rough-order-of-magnitude estimates of the cost to develop these structures, as well as estimated development time frame, and (4) current capability for classified manufacturing. 

Proposals will be sought from small business concerns for participation in the Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology Directorate Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. The SBIR Program is a three-phase program which implements Public Law 102-564, the Small Business Research and Development Enhancement Act of 1992. The following five (5) research topics are available under this solicitation:
1) H-SB08.1-001 - Assess Ability to use Eye Tracking and Pupil Dilation to Determine Intent to Deceive;
2) H-SB08.1-002 - Miniature Chem/Bio/Explosive Sensors;
3) H-SB08.1-003 - Mapping of Long-term Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Impacts;
4) H-SB08.1-004 Trace Explosives Sampling for Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosives Device (VBIED) Detection; and
5)H-SB08.1-005 - Smart Sensor System.

Research Opportunity Description: The U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) solicits proposals for basic and scientific research in chemistry, electronics, environmental sciences, life sciences, materials science, mathematical and computer sciences, mechanical sciences, physics, computational and information sciences, sensors and electron devices, survivability/lethality analysis, and weapons and materials research.

All administrative inquires regarding this BAA shall be addressed to voice mailbox number 919-549-4375. Technical questions should be ref erred to the TPOCs shown following each research area of interest. When an inquiry is made, please clearly state your name, correct spelling, and telephone number.

Research Opportunity Description: The U.S. Army Research Office (ARO) solicits proposals for basic and scientific research in mechanical sciences, environmental sciences, mathematical and computer sciences, electronics, computational and information sciences, physics, chemistry, life sciences, and materials science.    

Point of Contact

Kathryn McManus, 919-549-4264
Email your questions to RDECOM Acquisition Center - Research Triangle Park at kathryn.mcmanus@us.army.mil