R -- INDEXING OF BIOMEDICAL LITERATURE

Notice Date

October 6, 2000

Contracting Office

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

ZIP Code

20894

Solicitation Number

01-101/SAN

Point of Contact

Susan A. Nsangou, Contract Specialist, (301) 496-6546

E-Mail Address

Click here to submit an email message to the contract (nsangos@mail.nlm.nih.gov)

Description

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) has a need for indexing of biomedical literature. NLM requires that approximately 375,000 biomedical journal articles per year be indexed for Index Medicus and MEDLINE. Multiple awards are anticipated. Indexing is to be performed over a one-year period (April 1, 2001 through March 31, 2002), with options to extend for three additional one-year periods. Most of the articles to be indexed are in English, with lesser amounts in German (approximately 7,700 articles annually), French (7,700 articles), Japanese (6,900 articles), Russian (6,100 articles), Spanish (5,500 articles), Italian (2,100 articles) and sixteen other foreign languages (each fewer than 1,000 articles annually). The articles to be indexed are in highly technical, scientific biomedical subject areas (e.g., anesthesiology, biochemistry, cardiology, genetics, hematology, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, neurology, pharmacology, radiology, etc.) and are from journals selected by NLM for citation in Index Medicus and MEDLINE. Indexing will be performed in accordance with policies and procedures set forth in NLM's Indexing Manual. Indexers must analyze each journal article for subject content and apply appropriate subject headings drawn from NLM's controlled vocabulary, Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). Indexers who work on this project must complete the standard training regimen provided at NLM's facilities in Bethesda, Maryland. The training regimen, scheduled by NLM, consists of formal two-weeks of Indexing Class and informal one-on-one training and feedback. The total formal and informal training regimen requires trainees to work on site at NLM for at least six weeks, depending on the proficiency of the individual. The minimum educational requirement for proposed trainees is a Bachelor's degree with a major in the biomedical sciences, or its equivalent in work experience in a biomedical field. Average production from trainee indexers in past years has been 50 articles per week during the first six months; average weekly production from individual trainees during the first six months has ranged from 25 to 82 articles per week. After six months, indexers are expected to produce four articles per hour, and to work at least half-time (20 hours/week) on this project. Journals to be indexed will usually be assigned by NLM to individual indexers in batches containing approximately one week's work capacity and based on the indexer's language and subject capabilities. NLM prefers that indexers work in the local Washington, DC metropolitan area and requires local work to be completed and returned within one week of pick-up at NLM. NLM will allow indexers to work outside the Washington, DC area, but the contractor must then bear all costs related to pick-up, delivery and return of journals between NLM and indexers, and journals must be completed and returned to NLM within fourteen days of pick-up. Rapid processing of work is required to ensure the currency of citations in Index Medicus and MEDLINE. Indexers will perform work online using NLM's Web-based indexing system, the Data Creation and Maintenance System (DCMS). Online work will be performed using Government equipment loaned by NLM for installation at individual work sites. Equipment will consist of a specially-configured WinPath Terminal. Indexing is also sought for up to 6,000 chemical queries per year to be indexed by chemical specialists, and for up to 1,500 records per year of ongoing health services research projects for the National Information Center on Health Services Research and Health Care Technology (NICHSR). Multiple awards are anticipated for this project. Awards will be based primarily on the merits of the proposed indexing personnel, ranked by experience with NLM indexing, past performance with any form of indexing or work involving analysis of the biomedical literature, and subject and foreign language expertise. All responsible small businesses may submit a proposal, which will be considered by the NLM. See Numbered Note 1.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001011/RSOL006.HTM (W-280 SN5038S3)