SPECIAL NOTICE
A -- Firefighters Overhaul
- Notice Date
- 3/9/2015
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Acquisition and Assistance Field Branch (Cincinnati), 4676 Columbia Parkway, M/S C-4, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45226
- ZIP Code
- 45226
- Solicitation Number
- 2015-Q-17052
- Archive Date
- 4/8/2015
- Point of Contact
- Dwight D Favors, Phone: (513)533-8137
- E-Mail Address
-
dyf3@cdc.gov
(dyf3@cdc.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- NOTICE OF INTENT TO ISSUE A CONTRACT. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) intends to contract to The Mining Safety and Health Program, Environmental and Occupational Health Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1656 E. Mabel Street, Rm #113 Tucson, Arizona 85724. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), has a requirement to perform environmental studies of post-structural fire environments and identify the possible increase in acute and chronic health risks associated with exposure to responders and investigators during and after overhaul activities. Draft - Brief of the Statement of Work (SOW). Background and Need The contractor will provide the management, coordination, and implementation for a research project that supports the mission of NIOSH by advancing occupational health using existing data and collecting additional data from the University of Arizona and the Tucson and Northwest Fire Districts (TFD and NWFD) of southern Arizona to evaluate the current respiratory risk from post-fire activities to workers, including first responders (fire fighters and law enforcement), arson investigators, coroners, and forensic scientists; 2) to understand the effectiveness of CBRN-fitted Air-Purifying Respirators (APR) at mitigating that risk and 3) disseminate the information gleaned from this study to assist the first responder community. Overhaul is the phase of a structural fire where hidden fires, hot embers, and combustion sources are identified and completely extinguished to avoid re-ignition. Overhaul activities typically include: • Determining carbon monoxide concentrations • Protecting the area of origin • Establishing final smoke damage and fire perimeter • Protecting neighboring properties from fire debris • Systematically locating all hidden fire During firefighter overhaul activities, respiratory protection is rarely utilized. Resultant exposures to smoke and fine particulates have been shown to result in both acute and chronic health effects, including: • Change in spirometry measurements and increased airway reactivity • Pulmonary and systemic inflammation, accelerated atherosclerosis, and altered cardiac autonomic function The University of Arizona, College of Public Health (UACPH) first demonstrated acute respiratory effects in firefighters during overhaul in 2001, Subsequently, overhaul activities have been simulated in the laboratory by burning standard residential materials inside a small burn chamber, extinguishing the fire, and allowing the residual emissions to collect inside the test chamber. Subsequent monitoring of the atmosphere within the test chamber was performed to characterize the emissions. This foundational study identified the nature of potential exposures during firefighter overhaul activities that led to further occupational exposure research of. Recent studies published in 2007 and 2009 evaluated the effectiveness of air-purifying respiratory protection during laboratory-simulated activities. This resulted in the identification of sub-standard performance of multi-gas cartridges, but promise for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) canisters. These studies utilized the burn test chamber from earlier studies, but introduced measurements of the contaminants through multi-gas cartridges and CBRN canisters under expected breathing volumes. Specific findings of prior UACPH studies include: • Exposures to contaminants such as particulate matter and vapors in smoke present during overhaul can exceed ceiling and short-term exposure limits • Overhaul increases Serum Clara Cell protein, indicating increased alveolar-capillary membrane permeability • During overhaul, changes in Forced Expiratory Volume in one second, Serum Clara Cell protein, and Serum Surfactant-associated Protein A have been associated with concentrations of specific products of combustion or carboxyhemoglobin levels • The use of respiratory protection during overhaul has been recommended, but multi-gas cartridges have been shown not to provide adequate protection. Additionally, CBRN canisters have shown promise during laboratory evaluations. Objectives and Specific Aims of New Work It is not clear that current respiratory precautions utilized by First Responders, Arson Investigators, Law Enforcement Officers, and Forensic Scientists in the post-fire environment adequately protect these workers from chemical gas, vapor, and particulate hazards. A new study will be conducted to more fully understand the possible increase in acute and chronic health risks associated with exposure to overhaul environments. During this study, further assessments will be made of the strengths and limitations of CBRN canisters to protect against a wide variety of contaminants released in actual post-fire environments. The study will be performed in collaboration with the scientists at the University of Arizona, through partnership with several fire departments located in the Tucson metropolitan who will be engaged in performing their duties in live overhaul environments. The focus will be on evaluation of respiratory exposures in the live overhaul environments and associated CBRN canister respiratory protection performance and service life. Results from this work will inform post-fire respiratory protection procedures and policy, nationally, to better protect the frontline work force. The specific objectives of this study are 1) to evaluate the current respiratory risk from post-fire activities to workers, including first responders (fire fighters and law enforcement), arson investigators, coroners, and forensic scientists; 2) to understand the effectiveness of CBRN-fitted Air-Purifying Respirators (APR) at mitigating that risk and 3) disseminate the information gleaned from this study to assist the first responder community. In collaboration with the University of Arizona (UA) and the Tucson Fire Department and Northwest Fire District (TFD and NWFD) of southern Arizona, this study will: 1) identify the type and quantity of the acute and chronic health-relevant chemical gases, vapors, and particulates in the post-fire environment; and 2) evaluate, using a case-control design, the effectiveness of APR respirators fitted with CBRN canisters (or cartridges, whichever performs better during the current Phase I and Phase II controlled live-fire studies), for providing adequate respiratory protection from the hazards in the post-fire environment. The study shall be divided into 2 sequential phases, Year 1 and 2 - FY15-FY16, and Year 3 - FY17. The requirements for this work are described in detail in the Detail Scope of Work Requirements below. Detailed Statement of Work Requirements 1. Specific Aim 1: Characterize ambient post-fire overhaul environments - Timeline: June 2015 - May 2017 a. Pilot scale field evaluations of actual post-fire exposures using ambient and personal sampling within two collaborating fire departments and two arson investigation teams will be performed. During their response to 25 actual fire sites, the NWFD, TFD, and their respective arson investigation teams, under the direction and oversight of UACPH, will characterize the overhaul environment in which they will be working through the collection of these samples. The samples shall subsequently be analyzed by UACPH. i. Identical analytical screen of acute and chronic health-relevant chemical gases, vapors, and particulates will be evaluated from these samples for each fire department. One set of ambient samples to characterize the overhaul environment and one set of personal samples to characterize worker exposure will be taken at each site. The personal samples will be collected through personal sampling devices worn by volunteers from each of these organizations. ii. The total number of sample sets that shall be taken will be 2 organizations X 2 samples/organization X 25 fire sites = 100 samples iii. UACPH shall direct and oversee NWFD and TFD in the performance of continuous on-line emissions monitoring measurements and the collection of batch samples at each fire site as per accepted methods for determination of the concentrations of the following chemical gases, vapors, and particulates. 1. Volatile Organic Profile (31 analytes including benzene) 2. Poly-nuclear aromatic hydrocarbon profile (18 analytes including naphthalene) 3. Aldehyde profile (8 analytes including formaldehyde ) 4. CO, O2, LEL, H2S (MSA four gas meter) 5. Particulates (TSI Sidepak) 6. NO2 b. UACPH shall facilitate post-test sample analyses to determine the concentrations of the following chemical gases, vapors, and particulates for the ambient and personal samples collected by the NWFD and TFD. i. Volatile Organic Profile (31 analytes including benzene) ii. Poly-nuclear aromatic hydrocarbon profile (18 analytes including naphthalene) iii. Aldehyde profile (8 analytes including formaldehyde) iv. CO, O2, LEL, H2S (MSA four gas meter) v. Particulates (TSI Sidepak) vi. NO2 c. UACPH shall tabulate all analytical data collected. 2. Specific Aim 2 (to be performed concurrently with Specific Aim 1): Perform a case-control design evaluation of post-fire CBRN air purifying respiratory protection using biomarkers - Timeline: June 2015 - May 2017 a. UACPH shall prepare the necessary IRB protocols for the use of human subjects in the case study specified in Specific Aim 2 and obtain the necessary approvals. b. UACPH shall recruit firefighters and arson investigators from the NWFD and TFD as per the IRB-approved protocols to participate in the Specific Aim 2 study. c. UACPH shall provide oversight in qualifying the NWFD and TFD firefighters and arson investigators that have been recruited and are willing to participate in the study as per the approved IRB protocol. i. Qualification of these human subjects will include being cleared to participate through the appropriate medical/physical examinations. ii. The medical/physical examination shall include biomarker and health metric evaluations (e.g., change in FEV1, spirometry, epigenetic and proteomic changes, etc.) to allow for the determination of the effectiveness of CBRN air-purifying respiratory protection for overhaul activities. Medical evaluations of this type will performed before the test project and after the test project for each volunteer that participates in the test project. d. UACPH shall assign human subjects recruited and qualified to a case group (½ TFD, ½ from NWFD) that will use a CBRN-fitted APR during all post-fire activities during the study period and a Control group (½ TFD, ½ from NWFD) that will perform post-fire activities following current standard operating procedures (SCBA). i. UACPH shall determine the best performing CBRN canister/cartridge through the review of performance data generated during the Phase I and II studies for use in the Specific Aim 2 study. ii. The Specific Aim 2 study and the participation of NWFD and TFD employees as human subjects shall be performed concurrently with the Specific Aim 1 study during their response to 25 actual fire sites. e. UACPH shall provide oversight to the NWFD and TFD during their participation in performing overhaul activities and investigations at the 25 actual fire sites as per the approved IRB protocol. f. UACPH shall provide oversight in obtaining post-test medical/physical examinations for all participating human subjects. The medical/physical examinations shall include biomarker and health metric evaluations (e.g., change in FEV1, spirometry, epigenetic and proteomic changes, etc.) to allow for the determination of the effectiveness of CBRN air-purifying respiratory protection for overhaul activities. 3. Specific Aim 3: Dissemination of information - Timeline: FY17 a. NIOSH NPPTL scientists, UA College of Public Health (clinical care (Burgess) and IH (Lutz)), and safety officers/IHs and captains (John Gulotta and Michael Duncan) at each of the two fire departments will collaboratively evaluate the SA1 and SA2 study results. b. UACPH will prepare formal reports detailing results of the SA1 and SA2 studies, and disseminate the information to the first responder community through the following: i. Creation of a publically-available dedicated web-based interface on the existing UA Preparedness Center website ii. Formal UACPH news releases iii. UACPH presentation at one first responder-focused conference and dissemination via poster presentation and/or seminar at two additional meetings (e.g., AIHce, ASSE, UACPH) Anticipated period of performance. Approximately two (2) years. Other important considerations. The study will be performed in collaboration with the scientists at the University of Arizona, through partnership with several fire departments located in the Tucson metropolitan who will be engaged in performing their duties in live overhaul environments. Responsible sources that believe they possess the expertise and capabilities identified above are hereby afforded the opportunity to submit to the Contracting Officer within 15 days from the posting date of this notice, their written capabilities statement and pricing information in the format they choose, not to exceed 10 pages. Please forward product and pricing information to Dwight Favors, Contract Specialist, CDC, Procurement and Grants Branch-V, 1090 Tusculum Ave., Cincinnati, OH 452261938; email dyf3@cdc.gov. All vendors must be registered in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) prior to an award of a federal contract. The website is: www.ccr.gov. This is not a Request for Proposals; however, the Government will review any/all product, capabilities, and pricing information submitted and determine if other qualified sources do exist that could provide this requirement. Information received in response will be used solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. If no affirmative responses are received within 15 days, in accordance with FAR 6.302-1, negotiations will be conducted with The University of Arizona, 1656 E. Mable Street, Rm #113, Tucson, Arizona, 85724 as the only source. Contracting Office Address: 1090 Tusculum Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45226-1938 Primary Point of Contact.: Dwight Favors dyf3@cdc.gov
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/CDCP/CP/2015-Q-17052/listing.html)
- Record
- SN03661372-W 20150311/150309234823-67bc5c29a274962b7095831f769e2209 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |