U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Contracts Management Division (MD-33), Attention: CMB-A, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

A -- MERCURY EMISSIONS AND CYCLING IN THE COASTAL ZONE SOL 7D1603 POC Lenora Hilliard, 919-541-4392/ James F. Kempf, 919-541-4392 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency intends to negotiate sole source with the Department of Marine Sciences of the University of Connecticut located at 1084 Shennecossett Road, Groton, Connecticut 06340-6097. Under this requirement the University of Connecticut will determine the partitioning of mercury between air and water interfaces and to estimate the mass emissions of mercury from water surface. Extensive shipboard investigations of the air-water surface partitioning of elemental mercury in the Long Island Sound will be conducted to complement and extend preliminary estimates that are available. It is anticipated that these sound-wide, frequent surface water measurements of elemental mercury will begin in 1997, using traditional techniques developed by the Department of Marine Sciences at the University of Connecticut. Work will also be initiated on the design, construction, and field testing of an analytical instrument that will allow frequent and direct analysis of elemental mercury in surface waters (high time and spatial resolution). The Environmental Protection Agency believes that the Mercury Laboratory at the University of Connecticut is the only source capable of satisfying this requirement based on its unique qualifications and available facilities. They are the following: 1) the Mercury Laboratory at the University of Connecticut has been in operation for 25 years; 2) It was developed by Dr. William Fitzgerald who is recognized nationally and internationally for pioneering efforts concerned with the complex and ultra-trace cycling of mercury in the environment; 3) Much of the state-of-the-art ultra-trace collection and analytical procedures that are currently in world-wide use for studies of mercury in the environment were developed by Dr. William Fitzgerald and his students; 4) Dr. Fitzgerald and his students are continuing to conduct diverse, important and long-term research dealing with the biogeochemical behavior and fate of mercury; 5) Dr. Fitzgerald has authored or co-authored a variety of (over fifty) significant peer-reviewed research papers dealing with the atmospheric and aquatic biogeochemical cycling of mercury and with the influence of anthropogenic mercury emissions on the natural mercury cycle; 6) The Mercury Laboratory located in the Department of Marie Sciences of the University of Connecticut will be available for data analysis; 7) Dr. Fitzgerald is currently investigating mercury in Long Island Sound, therefore, he has first hand knowledge and data concerning the behavior and fate of mercury in air and waters of the Long Island Sound and environs; and 8) The boats, marine facilities, and experience personnel of the Department of Marine Sciences and the University's Marine Science and Technology Center allow ready access and essential support demanded by this project. The period of performance is expected to be from date of award through September 30, 1998. No solicitation is available. All interested parties must respond within 15 days of the date of this announcement. Interested parties shall: 1) include information on the proposed services which clearly supports the requirements outlined above and; 2) provide itemized pricing that is sufficient to make a determination that competition is feasible. Submit response to the U.S. EPA, Attention: Lenora Hilliard (MD-33) Contracts Management Division, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. No telephonic requests will be honored. See numbered Note 22. E-mail address is Hilliard.Lenora@epamail.epa.gov. (0224)

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