[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 68 (Thursday, April 9, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17419-17420]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9333]


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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.

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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.
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    \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.
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    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