National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Contracts and Procurement Management Branch, P. O. Box 12874, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

A -- GENETIC TOXICITY TESTING IN RODENTS SOL SS-NIEHS-97-21 POC Contract Specialist, Saundra J. Walsh, 919-541-0419, Contracting Officer, Elizabeth B. Ford, 919-541-0415 Small Disadvantaged Business sources are sought to provide the Government with the capacity to test approximately 15 chemicals per year for five years for somatic cell genetic effects in rats and/or mice. All tests will not be performed on all chemicals. Tests to be performed will include ABS in bone marrow, ABS in peripheral lymphocytes, MN in bone marrow, MN in peripheral erythrocytes from sub-chronic studies (mice only), MN in peripheral lymphocytes, MN in other tissues (e.g. lung, spleen), centromeric probe analysis of MN, Single-cell gel electrophoresis assays of various tissues, measurement of mutations in liver of transgenic animals, and measurement of mutations in other tissues of transgenic animals. All work shall be performed in a manner compatible with the NTP Health and Safety Minimum Requirements. All laboratory records shall be kept in accordance with FDA Good Laboratory Practice regulations (Federal Register, Friday, September 4, 1987, pp. 33768-33782 (21 CFR Section 58)). All animal care and handling procedures shall be in accord with the appropriate sections of the NIEHS ''Specifications for the conduct of studies to evaluate the toxic and carcinogenic potential of chemical, biological and physical agents in laboratory animals for the National Toxicology Program (NTP).'' The subsequent contract award is estimated to be a base contract of three years, with two one-year options for continued support. The contract shall not exceed five years. In the initial contract award the first years effort may be to conduct the genetic toxicity tests on up to fifteen chemicals, or, in the event that the contract is awarded to a firm without prior demonstrated experience with the NTP, year 1 will consist of a two phased effort. The project has been divided into four tasks, each representing a different test system, induction of ABS and MN in bone marrow and other tissues (Task 1), testing for the presence of centromeres in MN (Task 2), induction of DNA damage as measured by the single-cell gel assay (Task 3), and induction of gene mutations in transgenic rodents (Task 4). It is recognized that not all contractors may have the expertise in all four task. All offerors must respond to Task 1, the measurement of ABS and MN in rodents. Offerors are not required to respond to Tasks 2, 3, and 4, although they are expected to have expertise in, and respond to, a least one of these additional tasks. The contracts to be awarded will be complementary, in that, together, the contractors shall have expertise in all four tasks. The contract will be a level-of-effort, term-form cost reimbursement type contract It is estimated the project will require 0.5 professional person-years and 1.5 technical person-years per contract year. The principal investigator and professional staff should have training and experience in the areas of cytogenetics and chemical mutagen testing using the test procedures described in the statement of work. Small Disadvantaged Business concerns having research and development capabilities in this field and facilities for the performance of this work are invited to submit a summary of qualifications to the procuring office listed in this notice within 30 calendar days from the date of this notice. Information furnished should include the professional qualifications of scientific and technical personnel; a description of the general and specific facilities and equipment for the proposed testing; and outline of previous projects similar to this that have been conducted by your organization; and other available descriptive literature. When submitting this information please reference Sources Sought Announcement No. SS-NIEHS-97-21.(0306)

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