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

A -- PM10 INFLAMMATION PATCH CLAMP RECORDINGS SOL PR-RT-98-0031 DUE 020498 POC Robin J Traylor, Contracting Officer (919)541 3830, FAX: (919) 541 4273 WEB: click here for EPA Web Page, http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp-cmd. E-MAIL: click here to contact the contracting officer via e-mail, traylor.rob@epamail.epa.gov. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency intends to negotiate sole source with the Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina for support and professional services in conducting patch clamp recordings of mouse dorsal root and trigeminal ganglia neurons in response to exposure to PM10 at different concentrations. The contractor shall have demonstrated expertise in electrophysiological techniques such as patch clamp and single cell calcium imaging. in addition, the contractor shall have previous experience in working with particulate matter inflammants (PM10) and documented proof (ie, peer reviewed publication, abstracts) of their expertise in exposing animals and cells to these compounds. The contractor shall also have the ability to synthesize PM that reflect both the zeta potential and size of environmentally relevant PM. The contractor shall also have demonstrated experience with the biophysical characterization of of the capsaicin an pH irritant receptors and their relevance to PM inflammation. EPA believes that the Duke University School of Medicine is the only firm capable of satisfying the requirements stated above. The period of performance is expected to be from the date of contract award through 31 December 1999. No solicitation is available. All interested parties must respond within 15 days of the date of this announcement. Interested parties shall submit in writing information which clearly demonstrates and documents their expertise in conducting all of the above research areas. Submit responses to the USEPA, Contracts Management Division (MD-33), Attn: Mr Robin Traylor, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. No telephonic requests or submissions will be honored. (0020)

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