[Federal Register: June 21, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 118)] [Notices] [Page 33101-33102] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr21jn99-77] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute: Opportunity for a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) for the Research and Development of Software for Managing Distributed Knowledgebases Consisting of Large Numbers of Object of Diverse Categories Spanning Administrative, Scientific and Other Knowledge Domains The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has extended the deadline for submission of written notices and proposals regarding the CRADA opportunity described in the Federal Register Notice number 74, volume 64, page 19183, dated April 19, 1999. [[Page 33102]] AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, PHS, DHHS. ACTION: Notice of extension of announcement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The National Cancer Institute (NCI) seeks a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with a software company with demonstrated excellence in the development and deployment of software applications for the enterprise and individuals. NCI has recently developed a powerful but user-friendly computer-based system which enables its users to create, use and share a knowledge base of information consisting of diverse objects related to each other by semantically meaningful links. This system, provisionally called ``KBTool'', can be considered a new class of software application since it is sufficiently different from existing applications. The system provides a knowledge base that is seamless, allowing individuals to store information on a virtually unlimited range of objects and concepts. In addition, dense and informative links between many types of concepts are constructed. The system is extensible so that it is suited for use in distributed systems in which information is shared between users and stored at different physical locations. Because of the power of the system and its relevance to many domains of knowledge and types of applications, the NCI is seeking a commercial partner for its continued development and deployment. The software was originally created to organize and link vast quantities of scientific data; however, NCI predicts that KBTool's functionality will be applicable to a wide variety of fields. The Collaborator must have a demonstrated record of success in privately producing and marketing information resources. Please refer to Federal Register notice number 74, volume 64, page 19183, dated April 19, 1999 for additional information about the KBTool technology and the corresponding CRADA opportunity. A Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) is the anticipated joint agreement to be entered into by the NCI pursuant to the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986 and Executive Order 12591 of April 10, 1987 as amended by the national Technology Transfer Advancement Act of 1995. The NCI is looking for a CRADA partner to collaborate in the development of the properties of the KBTool data management system. The expected duration of the CRADA would be from one(1) to five (5) years. DATES: Interested parties should notify this office in writing of their interest in filing a formal proposal no later than July 21, 1999. They will then have an additional thirty (30) days to submit a formal proposal. CRADA proposals submitted thereafter may be considered if a suitable CRADA Collaborator has not been selected. ADDRESSES: Inquiries and proposals regarding this opportunity should be addressed to Holly S. Symonds, Ph.D. (Tel. #301-496-0477, FAX # 301- 402-2117), Technology Development and Commercialization Branch, National Cancer Institute, 6120 Executive Blvd., Suite 450, Rockville, MD 20852. Inquiries directed to obtaining patent license(s) needed for participation in the CRADA opportunity may be addressed to John Fahner- Vihtelic, Office of Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health, 6011 Executive Blvd., Suite 325, Rockville, MD 20852, (Tel. 301-496- 7735, ext. 270; FAX 301-402-0220). Dated: June 13, 1999. Kathleen Sybert, Chief, Technology Development and Commercilization Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. [FR Doc. 99-15637 Filed 6-18-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4140-01-M