March 28, 2007
Dear Colleague,
The National Children’s Study is moving forward and broadening its reach to a number of new communities across the United States. By following 100,000 U.S. children from birth to the age of 21, the Study aims to better understand how the environment influences children's health, disease, and development. In September 2005, the Study opened seven initial Vanguard Centers (PDF 54 kb). With the 2007 expansion, the Study plans to establish up to 20 new Study Centers in up to 30 previously designated Study locations across the country.
To carry out this expansion, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), of the National Institutes of Health, has issued a new Request for Proposals (RFP) to award contracts to interested organizations with the capability to serve as Study Centers. To view the RFP, please visit: http://www1.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/NIH/NICHD/RFP%2DNIH%2DNICHD%2DNCS%2D07%2D11/Attachments.html.
For more information on the National Children’s Study, including a map and list of all Study sites nationwide, please visit: http://www.nationalchildrensstudy.gov/studylocations/.
The increased pace of Study preparations is possible because of the recent Congressional appropriation of funds for fiscal year 2007. Congress appropriated these funds for the first phase of implementation for the Study. With these funds, the seven Vanguard Centers will begin recruitment of families into the Study, and new contracts will be awarded to additional Study Centers, as explained above.
The National Children’s Study is led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services--through the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention--and by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
If you have general questions about the National Children’s Study, please e-mail ncs@mail.nih.gov. Press inquiries should be directed to the NICHD Public Information and Communications Branch at 301-496-5133. Inquiries about the RFP should be directed to Mr. Fred Ettehadieh, Contracting Officer, at fe19w@nih.gov or by mail to the Office of Acquisitions, NIDDK, NICHD Branch, Executive Building, Suite 7A-07, 6100 Executive Boulevard, MSC 7510, Bethesda, MD 20892-7510.
Sincerely,
Peter C. Scheidt, MD, MPH
Director, National Children’s Study
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH