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R -- CONFERENCE MANAGEMENT SERVICES SOL NLM 99-063/UHP DUE 042399 POC uyen phuong (301) 496-6127 E-MAIL: karen_riggs@nlm.nih.gov, uyen_phuong@nlm.nih.gov. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Extramural Research (OER), intends to procure on a sole source basis specialized conference management services from Faith Travel Network (FTN), 1221 Brandywine Road, Brandywine, MD, to assist with the planning and conduct of the NIH Extramural Associates (EA) Program Biannual Update Meeting to be held in Bethesda, MD, September 1999. The Extramural Associates (EA) Program, OER conducts biannual meetings for all active Extramural Associates, approximately 100, who have participated in the EA Program's summer and winter classes since the inception of the EA Program in 1978. The Update Meeting, a form of continuing education, is held for the purpose of informing Extramural Associates of: 1) New NIH initiatives, programs, and funding opportunities; 2) Providing EAs an opportunity for networking and dialoguing with high level NIH officials and representatives from other Federal agencies regarding funding opportunities; 3) Providing a conducive environment for building or establishing partnerships and/or collaborations; 4) Providing the Extramural Associates an opportunity to inform and update the NIH on the successes of their current and future institutional plan; and 5) Allowing NIH officials the opportunity to clearly state their continued support of the EA Program based on sustained productivity of the Extramural Associates Research Development Award (EARDA) participants, etc. FTN has been selected to provide logistical and technical support for the EA Program's Biannual Update Meeting based on the following unique capabilities and experience: 1) Provide the Director of the EA Program suggestions for names of conference speakers and conference agenda topics germane to the objectives of the conference and the EA Program in general; 2) Respond directly to inquires (programmatic and administrative) from the Extramural Associates regarding the EA Program and the conference with minimal input from the EA Program Office; 3) Provide the desired experience in working personally with the Extramural Associates which requires a unique and an in depth degree of knowledge of the EA Program with respect to accuracy, diplomacy, sensitivity, and confidentiality necessary for the maximum conference participation. Faith Travel Network (FTN) by virtue of its in depth knowledge of the history, philosophy, EA class orientation, and programmatic intricacies is uniquely capable and qualified to provide the technical services being sought by the EA Program. By virtue of its unique experience gained in consulting and assisting with previous workshops/conference, expertise, and staff resources, FTN is the only source that can successfully provide the required specialized conference management support services that the EA Program mandates for this meeting. This notice of intent is not a Request for Quotations (RFQ) nor is an RFQ available. Posted 04/07/99 (W-SN317490). (0097)

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