NJOY will provide FDA-approved Scientific Research Electronic Cigarette (SREC) Batteries, SREC nicotine cartridges, and SREC placebo cartridges for a NIH-funded clinical trial examining whether conventional cigarette smokers can significantly reduce their combustible cigarette use by switching to a SREC and whether reductions in conventional cigarette use and uptake of SREC are associated with changes in health and biomarker variables. NJOYs SREC is the only FDA approved SREC for use in clinical research studies and its use was required in the funding announcement (PAR-17-156).

This purchase is exempt from the usual selection processes of the Procurement Code because the procurement expenditure is for performing sponsored research and other sponsored activities under grants and contracts funded by the sponsor or by sources other than State appropriations. (30 ILCS 500 / 1-13(b)(8)) This NIDA-funded grant requires the use of NJOY's SREC. If this procurement cannot be made, the grant cannot be conducted and all funds, direct and indirect, would need to be returned to NIDA. These funds provide a portion of the salary for many UIC staff members and we have already used greater UIC resources in obtaining the approvals in place to conduct the study.