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

A -- AGRICULTURAL HEALTH STUDY, HUMAN EXPOSURE STUDY SOL PR-NC-98-10031 POC Karen Z. Gibson, Contract Specialist (919)541-4556/Christopher Baker, Contracting Officer. WEB: Click here to visit the site that has information about this solicitation., http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd. E-MAIL: Click here to contact the Contract Specialist via e-mail., gibson.karen@epamail.epa.gov. SMALL BUSINESSES: NOTE REQUIREMENT FOR CAPABILITIES STATEMENT BELOW. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires a contractor to provide support for field and environmental sample collection and personal exposure monitoring at up to 200 farms in North Carolina and Iowa for the Human Exposure and Atmospheric Science Division in Research Triangle Park, NC. The scope of work includes recruiting farm applicators into the field study; the collection of survey questionnaire data; photo-documenting the handling, mixing, and loading of the mixture as well as the application of the pesticides; the field collection of environmental and biological samples to determine dietary, inhalation, and dermal exposure of farmer-applied pesticides; the analysis of these samples for the 33 target analytes; the preparation of written and electronic records documenting site operation, results from laboratory analysis of samples, quality control, and data recovery information; the establishment and maintenance of a relational data base system that readily interfaces with other Agency data base systems; and the preparation of descriptive summary and interpretive data reports. The field studies will provide relevant exposure data that will be used to develop exposure classifications for comparing farmers' rates of various diseases to their potential exposures to agricultural pesticides. Currently, EPA anticipates this requirement will be awarded as a result of full and open competition; however, EPA reserves the right to set this action aside for small businesses. The applicable SIC Code is 8731 with a size standard of no more than 500 employees. ALL INTERESTED SMALL BUSINESSES SHOULD FURNISH 2 COPIES OF STATEMENTS AND DOCUMENTATION DEMONSTRATING THEIR CAPABILITIES TO PERFORM THIS EFFORT WITHIN FIFTEEN (15) DAYS OF THIS NOTICE. EPA anticipates award of a hybrid firm-fixed price and cost plus-fixed fee indefinite quantity contract for this effort. Small businesses are requested to submit appropriate documentation that demonstrates their capability to support this effort. The documentation submitted should address as a minimum the ability and experience to provide (a)collection of environmental and biological samples (including blood and urine); (b) storage, shipping, preparation, and analyzing of these samples; (c) planning, organizing, and executing a field study on human exposure, as measured in questionnaires or directly in biological or environmental samples; (d) the analysis of samples; (e) the development and maintenance of relational meta and analytical data; and (f) experience in analyzing human exposure data and developing peer review reports. It is anticipated that this solicitation will be issued on or around 12/24/97 and that proposals will be due approximately 1/27/98. No further synopsis will be issued. Firms must identify their size status when requesting a copy of the solicitation. Firms who fail to do so shall be considered to be large businesses. The solicitation, amendments, and source list will be available via the Internet World Wide Web at http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd. Firms are encouraged to access the solicitation, source list and amendments via the Internet. Interested parties may obtain a copy of the solicitation by submitting a written request. Telephone and FAX requests will not be honored. If you obtain a copy of the solicitation and source list via the Internet, it will be your responsibility to frequently check the same site where the solicitation is posted for any amendments. Firms who do NOT have the capability to obtain the solicitation and source list from the Internet may submit a written request for a diskette with the solicitation and source list in WordPerfect 6.1 format from the contact point at the address above. However, only those firms who do NOT have the capability to obtain the solicitation from the Internet should request a copy of the diskette. Diskettes will not be sent to those firms who have Internet access. If you request a diskette of the solicitation, you will receive amendments by mail, unless you notify us otherwise. Only one copy shall be issued to a corporate entity, regardless of the number of requests from one or more different geographic locations. A copy of the preliminary source list will be issued to all prospective offerors along with the solicitation. A separate request is not necessary. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using Part 12. (0329)

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