MODIFICATION
B -- Stable Isotopes Ratio Analysis of Marijuana Signature Program
- Notice Date
- 4/15/2004
- Notice Type
- Modification
- NAICS
- 541690
— Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, Program Support Center, Division of Acquisition Management, Parklawn Building Room 5-101 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD, 20857
- ZIP Code
- 20857
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-04ZONDCP000015
- Response Due
- 4/30/2004
- Point of Contact
- Kevin McGowan, Contract Specialist, Phone 301-443-0708, Fax 301-443-3238,
- E-Mail Address
-
kmcgowan@psc.gov
- Description
- C.1. TITLE Stable Isotopes Ratio Analysis of Marijuana Signature Program. C.2. PURPOSE The goal of this research effort is to demonstrate the feasibility of using the stable isotopes within marijuana to develop a ?natural signature? program providing region-of-origin information of this illicit drug that will be of use in federal and state efforts to identify where seized marijuana has originated from. Given successes with isotope analyses of other drugs, it should be possible to develop an isotopic signature program to identify the geographic region-of-origin of marijuana obtained from domestic and foreign drug seizures. Ultimately, the goal of this proposed research and database program is to develop routine monitoring tools to complement or replace current technologies for sourcing and geo-locating the region-of-origin of marijuana. The proposed effort would be based on scientific information and chemical signals that are incorporated into marijuana naturally during growth of these plants. C.3. BACKGROUND The Need for a Marijuana Signature Program Marijuana is the most widely available illicit drug in the United States today. Yet an understanding of the quantities of marijuana produced in different regions (foreign or domestic) is limited and unconstrained. Based on current information, models and analytical approaches, it is not possible to clearly constrain estimates of the amounts of marijuana produced each year. Marijuana availability estimates are based on both seizure and eradication data and involve a number of untested assumptions. While it is very clear that marijuana seizures at U.S. borders have increased from 229 metric tons in 1994 to 1,058 metric tons in 2001, a nearly 5-fold increase, it is not so clear as to whether the increased seizure numbers reflect increased efficiency in seizing samples at our borders, increased foreign production of the drug, or some combination of these two factors. Is the increased foreign marijuana filling a gap, replacing domestically-seized marijuana? That answer is unknown at the moment. Decision makers need quantitative information based on scientific information in order to better understand how marijuana is being produced (indoors, outdoors, hydroponics) and where marijuana is being produced (foreign versus domestic, which countries, which parts of the U.S.). Stable isotope analyses of marijuana could form a foundation for a marijuana signature program. Stable Isotopes as Natural Taggants Stable isotopes are non-radioactive forms of the same chemical element with the same chemical properties but different weights While the basic application of stable isotopes at natural abundance levels is a fundamental and common approach in biological/ecological and geochemical sciences, it is not as well established for forensics Analyses of the small differences in isotopic composition can tell much about plant materials, recording valuable information about climate, precipitation, soils and water that together describe geographic areas. Stable isotope composition provides a naturally occurring taggant - the label is permanent as long as the basic molecules in a material remain in their original state. C.4. STATEMENT OF WORK OBJECTIVES/TASKS 1.0 Technical Requirements and Tasks to Produce a Marijuana Signature Program The success of this research project will hinge on several factors, the most important of which is a strong requirement for the sponsor or associated federal/state agencies to provide marijuana samples from specific growth regions or specific growth conditions (e.g., indoors versus outdoors, different geographic regions). Thus, for any effective study, the sponsor and other federal and law-enforcement agencies shall provide the marijuana samples to be analyzed and comment on the priority for sample analyses. To be successful, such a signature program would require two simultaneous efforts: a stable isotope analysis effort to determine which isotopes provide key information of use in geo-location efforts and a modeling program that relates isotope variations across geographic regions with biochemical models to predict the isotope ratio of marijuana plants. 1.1 Marijuana region-of-origin research to establish a signature program This Statement of Work (SOW) defines possible tasks to be performed by the contractor. A one year study is anticipated. This research allows for initial analyses, refinements of the signature program effort, and repeated testing of the signature program. This research will analyze drug samples provided by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), US Customs, other appropriate federal and state agencies, and the sponsor. Samples collected worldwide by the sponsor and these other federal/state entities will be used for the isotope analyses, including material obtained during law enforcement activities and samples of known origin to serve as standard controls. 1.1.a Stable isotope ratios of authentic marijuana samples seized from different regions, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, and Jamaica Task 1. Conduct stable isotope ratio analyses on marijuana from known locations as well as seizures of unknown origins as determined by the sponsor. 1.1.b Predictive model for the region-of-origin of marijuana Task 2. Develop a mathematical model to predict the geographic origins of the marijuana, based on known physiological and environmental isotope factors. 1.1.c Marijuana isotope database Task 3. Develop a searchable database to be provided to the sponsor upon completion of the project. 2.0 Status and Final Reports Quarterly status reports will summarize progress to date on isotopic analyses. A comprehensive report will be produced annually. This report will detail the results of the analyses. The final report will be prepared for the sponsor's review at the conclusion of the final month of the performance period. The final document will provide a comprehensive analysis of the stable isotope information, its value, and scientific validity. The proposed negotiated acquistion is for services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source (F.A.R. 6.302-1). A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed negotiated acquistion based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Contractors may forward capability statements to the refernced address. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of detrmining wether or not to conduct a competitive procurment. See Numbered Note 22.
- Record
- SN00566439-W 20040417/040415211808 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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