The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) intends to modify Contract500-01-0043 with the University of Minnesota and extend the period of performance for an additional year to September 29, 2008. The contract with the University of Minnesota is to maintain a Research Data Assistance Center (ResDAC) which provides: 1) academic faculty and technical staff knowledgeable in complex health services research; 2) help desk research support and website resources for researchers; 3) development of training databases and other workshop training materials; 4) development of an outreach plan to inform the general health care research community of the existence of ResDAC; and 5) technical assistance to CMS in developing enhanced research databases.