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R -- HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH-IN-PROGRESS SUPPORT SOL RFP NLM 97-203/MLM POC Lynn Montalvo, Contract Specialist/(301) 496-6546 It is the intent of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to negotiate on a sole source basis with the Association for Health Services Research (AHSR), Washington, DC for professional and technical support services related to the continued development and enhancement of HSRProj (Health Services Research Projects in Progress), a grants and contracts information system. NLM has a requirement for: (1) expert review and guidance in identifying appropriate organizations and individuals engaged in health services research of merit and soliciting their participation in HSRProj; (2) expert review, collection, selection and editing of submissions from a wide variety of funders and producers of ongoing health services research projects for NLM's MEDLARS system; (3) developing and providing targeted educational programs for health services researchers about HSRProj; (4) providing expert analysis of projects in HSRProj for possible future research directions; and (5) suggesting unmet informational needs of the health services research community. AHSR was the designer and original developer of the HSRProj information system. Their personnel are intimately familiar with the design and structure of HSRProj and have both the knowledge of and existing relationships with funders from whom data must be obtained for HSRProj. They have successful experience in soliciting data from multiple funders, and coordinating the data selection, collection, review and editing for submission into the MEDLARS system. AHSR was the driving force behind the accepted definitions of health services research and has a unique combination of experience and expertise working with public and private funders, professional organizations, and researchers within the health services research community through its program of educational workshops on timely health services research policy issues, national and local research agenda-setting conferences, and series of scholarly publications. NLM has determined that AHSR is the only source with the previous experience, established relationships with agencies and organizations funding health services research of merit, in-depth subject expertise, and personnel capable of providing the necessary service. (See Numbered Note 22). (0345)

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