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R -- COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES SOL NLM/98-060/LTN DUE 060298 POC Liem T. Nguyen, Contract Specialist, 301-496-6546 E-MAIL: Click here to contact the contract specialist via e-mail, liem_nguyen@nlm.nih.gov. The National Bioethics Advisory Commission (NBAC), intends to procure on a sole source basis specialized communications services from Burness Communications, Inc., 7910 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814-3015, to assist NBAC in developing a multifaceted proactive communications program. NBAC, a presidential commission administratively supported by NIH, was established in 1995 to provide advice and make recommendations to the President, the National Science and Technology Council, and other governmental entities on the appropriateness of departmental, agency, or other governmental programs and policies in relation to bioethics arising from biomedical and behavioral research on human subjects. NBAC was instructed to give priority attention to the protection of the rights and welfare of human research subjects and issues in the management and use of genetic information. NBAC has developed a comprehensive research agenda for the remaining 17 months of its current authorization. It is completing work that itbegan before a ninety-day request by the President to provide advice on legal and bioethical issues in cloning. The Commission is nearing conclusion on two reports: one on research involving persons with mental disorders affecting decision making capacity; the other on the use of human biological materials in research. NBAC is also continuing a comprehensive human subjects project which focuses on the current system of federal oversight on human subjects research, and will address issues on genetics and international research. NBAC's deliberations take place in communication with a large number of organizations, groups, and individuals. To ensure that NBAC's deliberations take into account the views of the many constituencies that may be affected, it must make certain that its ongoing debates, reports and recommendations reach the audiences for which they are intended in a very timely and efficient manner. NBAC therefore requires professional assistance to develop an effective and appropriate communications program. The professional assistance must come from a source with very specific experiences with similar advisory bodies and knowledge of the health, science, and public health fields and of the political and governmental arena. Assistance given must be tactful and sensitive to the issues. Specifically, NBAC requires specialized communications services to (1) establish effective communication with major national and international print and broadcast media; (2) make information easily accessible and appropriate for the use of journalists at NBAC meetings and other issue-related events where journalists are present; (3) assist NBAC in targeting and disseminating its recommendations; (4) develop op-eds to accompany NBAC reports to be placed in major print media or trade publications in the fields of ethics, research, and public health; (5) advise on the planning of certain public events in which NBAC is involved; (6) develop local and regional media links between the press and NBAC; (7) provide public information and education assistance in developing a strategy to utilize intermediary groups and organizations; (8) provide communications assistance in keeping outside organizations advised; (9) develop strategies to elicit input from outside organizations and constituencies; (10) provide other important public relations and communications services to ensure appropriate communication on emerging bioethics issues; and (11) advise on cultivating international press contacts to assist in the dialogue with the international community. Burness Communications, Inc. and its founder and president, Andrew Burness, have extensive and unique experience in a combination of several areas: Communications and public relations for presidential commissions and advisory bodies; understanding of current national and international issues of bioethics and health and their history as they apply to NBAC; the internal workings of a presidential commission dealing with ethical issues in medicine and biomedical and behavioral research; and an understanding of the bioethics environment and its constituencies. Andrew Burness has unique experience having served as (1) a legislative assistant for health and education policy in the U.S. House of Representatives (2) the public information officer for a presidential medical ethics commission throughout its life cycle, and (3) as president of Burness Communications, Inc. The staff of Burness Communications, Inc. has a combination of extensive experience in strategic communications; media relations; conference and special event planning; writing; governmental relations (both federal and state); dissemination of publications; and serving and interacting with a wide range of small and large nonprofit organizations, including foundations, public and private universities, professional associations, and advisory bodies in the U.S. and abroad in the areas of ethics, health, and science. NBAC has determined that Burness Communications, Inc., is the only source with the unique combination of required expertise andexperience who can provide NBAC with the necessary specialized communications services within the time constraints. This is a notice of intent and not a Request for Quotations (RFQ), nor is an RFQ available. ***** (0135)

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