KING OF PRUSSIA, PA--- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Tunnell Consulting a multi-million dollar labor-hours type contract to provide staffing support to assist HHS in preparing for a potential global influenza pandemic. Tunnell will work directly with the Office of Research and Development Coordination (ORDC) within the Office of the Secretary. This award provides for a base year at up to $6,450,000 if the Government buys all 31,960 labor hours in the contract. The contract also includes four one-year options at $6,450,000 per year, for a potential total of $32,250,000. This award continues Tunnell's history of providing consulting services to more than two dozen government agencies. [This project has been funded with federal funds by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Secretary under Contract Number HHSO1002006000021.]

ORDC is increasing significantly the scope and breadth of its Pandemic Influenza Program as the U.S. government prepares for the spread of avian flu. According to the United Nations and the World Health Organization, the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian flu virus has killed an estimated 200 million birds and infected more than 200 people in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. At least 113 people have died V more than half of those infected. The human cases involved persons who had contact with birds. All cases have occurred outside the United States.

Many noted scientists say it is only a matter of time before avian flu infection is found in birds in North America. The worldwide concern is that rapid spread among birds could lead to a virus mutation that would sustain human-to-human transmission. Such sustained human transmission has not occurred anywhere globally that has been identified. However, the threat is real since humans have no natural immunity to the H5N1 virus.

Under the contract, Tunnell Consulting, which is headquartered in King of Prussia PA, will
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Contact: Paul Moniz or Rexy Legaspi
Paul.Moniz@widmeyer.com
212-260-3401
Widmeyer Communications
17-May-2006

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