Cooperative Research and Development Agreement

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[CRADA EPO-98-001]

Cooperative Research and Development Agreement

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of

Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),

Epidemiology Program Office (EPO), Division of Applied Public Health

Training (DAPHT), announces the opportunity for potential collaborators

to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA)

for development of an interactive computer game based on principles of

epidemiology and public health practice.

The science of epidemiology is a critical element to achieving

CDC's mission, ``To promote health and quality of life by preventing

and controlling disease, injury, and disability.'' Through interaction

with this computer game, players will have an opportunity to apply

epidemiology in simulated public health situations. Through this

activity, players will acquire knowledge and develop skills enabling

them to promote CDC's public health prevention mission.

It is anticipated that all inventions which may arise from the

CRADA will be jointly owned. The collaborator with whom the CRADA is

made will have an option to negotiate an exclusive royalty-bearing

license.

Because CRADAs are designed to facilitate the development of

scientific and technological knowledge into useful, marketable

products, a great deal of freedom is given to Federal agencies in

implementing collaborative research. The CDC may accept staff,

facilities, equipment, supplies, and money from the other participants

in a CRADA; CDC may provide staff, facilities, equipment, and supplies

to the project. There is a single restriction in this exchange: CDC MAY

NOT PROVIDE FUNDS to the other participants in a CRADA. This

opportunity is available until May 26, 1998. Respondents may be

provided a longer period of time to furnish additional information if

CDC finds this necessary.

DATES: Comments must be received by May 26, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

[[Page 17420]]

Technical: Peter Jenkins, Office of Scientific and Health

Communications, Epidemiology Program Office, CDC, Mailstop C08, 1600

Clifton Rd., NE., Atlanta, GA 30333, telephone 404-639-3909, FAX 404-

639-3950; Kimberly Geissman, Division of Applied Public Health

Training, Epidemiology Program Office, CDC, Mailstop D18, 1600 Clifton

Rd., NE., Atlanta, GA 30333, telephone 404-639-4772, FAX 404-639-2222.

Business: Janet Mosser, Office of the Director, Epidemiology

Program Office, CDC, Mailstop C08, 1600 Clifton Rd., NE., Atlanta, GA

30333, telephone 404-639-3191, FAX 404-639-2132.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

EPO/DAPHT Development Team will work with applicant to develop and

promote an interactive, strategic computer game (similar to SimCity[TM]

& SimHealth[TM] 1) that simulates the work environment of a

practicing epidemiologist/public health specialist in which the player

investigates disease outbreaks. Collaborating with DAPHT staff,

applicant will design and produce a CD-ROM-based game that simulates

disease outbreaks, e.g., infectious diseases and environmental injuries

that affect the health of a fictitious human/animal population. The

game is to contain epidemiologic data from 5-15 actual CDC-conducted

disease outbreak investigations. (Variables in epidemiologic data may

be introduced to increase possible combinations.) The player uses

epidemiologic principles to determine the source of the outbreak and

develop a response to control disease-related morbidity and mortality.

The game is to be designed for multiple levels of player experience,

beginning with high-school students through professionally trained

public health specialists. Training and background-information modules

will be included to guide beginner and intermediate players while

expert level players may bypass those activities. Consideration is to

be given for adding new epidemiologic data to extend the longevity of

game marketability. The game is to be marketed to public health

professionals, educators, and the general public.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\1\ Use of trade names and commercial sources is for

identification only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services or CDC.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The goal of this CRADA is to establish a commercial partnership for

the development and production of an interactive computer-based game in

epidemiology. CDC holds a wealth of data from actual epidemiologic

investigations that would be useful in educating students and health

professionals about public health principles if presented in a popular,

entertaining computer medium that is highly developed in the commercial

marketplace.

Respondents to this application are to provide evidence of

expertise in the development and marketing of computer-based simulation

games. Respondents should provide supporting information (e.g.,

resumes) of qualifications for the project director and staff such as

instructional designer, computer programmer, and graphic artist who

would be involved in the CRADA. In addition, evidence should be

provided that a technical representative familiar with epidemiological

data systems will be able to work on-site at CDC. The respondent should

also provide samples of similar projects developed and indicate the

length of time of production and examples of successful marketing to

academic and professional audiences. The respondent will develop the

final research plan in collaboration with CDC but should provide an

outline of a research plan for review by CDC in judging applications.

Applicant submissions will be judged according to the following

criteria:

1. Expertise, qualifications, and experience of staff.

2. Willingness to assign technical representative on-site at CDC.

3. Demonstration of development of a similar technical product in a

timely manner.

4. Ability to produce a product suitable for an academic/

educational audience (high school through post-graduate/professional).

This CRADA is proposed and implemented under the 1986 Federal

Technology Transfer Act: Public Law 99-502, as amended.

The responses must be made to: Peter Jenkins, Office of Scientific

and Health Communications, Epidemiology Program Office, CDC, Mailstop

C08, 1600 Clifton Rd., NE., Atlanta, GA 30333, telephone 404-639-3909;

FAX 404-639-3950.

Dated: April 3, 1988.

Joseph R. Carter,

Acting Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

[FR Doc. 98-9333 Filed 4-8-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4163-18-P