National Library of Medicine, Office of Acquisitions Management, Building 38A, Room B1N17, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20894

R -- PUBLIC RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANCE SOL NLM 00-203/SAN POC Susan A. Nsangou, Contract Specialist, (301) 496-6546 E-MAIL: Click here to send an email to the Contract Specialist, NsangoS@mail.nlm.nih.gov. It is the intent of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to negotiate on behalf of the National Bioethics Advisory Commission (NBAC) a fixed price type contract on a sole source basis with Burness Communications, Inc., for Public Relations and Communications Assistance. NBAC was created in response to Executive Order 12975 of October 3, 1995, which directs the Commission to make recommendations regarding "the appropriateness of departmental, agency or other governmental programs, policies and regulations as they relate to bioethical issues arising from research on human biology and behavior." The primary objectives of the NBAC are (1) to consider the adequacy of the protection of the rights and welfare of human research subjects and (2) to assess issues in the management and use of genetic information. 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 the specialized communications functions such as: Attend monthly meetings with NBAC staff regarding communications, as well as ongoing strategic counsel as needed regarding any communications-related activity of interest to NBAC. Outreach in advance of NBAC meetings and around the country, including (a) compilation of lists of possible attendees at the meetings and efforts as requested to generate public attendance at meetings; (b) media relations in advance to attract media coverage when desired; and (c) arrangements to meet with editorial writers or "talk radio" hosts while NBAC is in particular cities. Commissioner orientation regarding communications plans as well as a presentation about desired procedures for interaction with the press and policy makers. Assistance with tracking NBAC media coverage. Assistance with NBAC's operations on the World Wide Web, including an analysis of the current site with recommendations for improvement; implementation of an improvement plan; cyber marketing of NBAC information, with particular attention to the promotion of NBAC reports; and ongoing maintenance of the site, as needed, following discussion with NBAC staff. Counsel as needed for NBAC's relationships with government officials in the legislative and executive branches, including the possibility of arranging meetings with congressional staff. Arrangements for presentations before "stakeholder" individuals or groups, such as city-wide leadership groups, the AAAS, the Institute of Medicine, think tanks, major civic organizations and/or forums, university audiences and professional associations of insurers, providers and trustees. 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 and experience who can provide NBAC with necessary services without substantial duplicaton of costs and unacceptable delays. Authority: U.S.C. 253(c)(1) and FAR 6.302-1(a). All responsible sources may submit a proposal which will be considered by the NLM. This notice of intent is not a Request for Proposals (RFP), nor is an RFP available. See Numbered Note 22. Posted 12/08/99 (W-SN406750). (0342)

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