U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Program Contract Service Center (3803R), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460-0001

B -- QUALITATIVE RESEARCH FOR THE CONSUMER LABELING INITIATIVE SOL RFQ-DC-98-00110 DUE 050198 POC Valoree S. Lilley, Contract Specialist, lilley.valoree@epamail.epa.gov WEB: click here to download a copy of the RFQ, http://www.epa.gov/oamhpod1/oppts_grp/dc9801861/index.htm. E-MAIL: click here to contact the contract specialist, lilley.valoree@epamail.epa.gov. The U.S. Environmental Agency (EPA), under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures of FAR Part 13, intends to issue a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for services to perform qualitative research for the Consumer Labeling Initiative (CLI) to foster pollution prevention, empower consumer choice, and improve understanding by presenting clear, consistent and useful environmental safe use, and health information on household consumer products labels. The purpose of the qualitative research is to learn from consumers about: 1. Consumer preference for a specific format for the presentation of standardized information. This is based on an assumption that a comparison is needed to test consumer preferences between a "box" format and other standardized designs of information grouped together, for example standard short phrases, with the same information content. This also assumes that it is possible to have more than one "box" or other standardized information presentation format on a given label. 2. Consumer understanding of the same information presented in different formats. This is based on an assumption that a comparison is needed to test whether one format does a better job than others of improving consumer comprehension of the information presented. 3. Consumer preference for which information should be presented in box(s) or other standardized formats of information grouped together. This assumes that an interactive interview method will be used; for example, giving participants the opportunity to arrange information on a Velcro board. This also assumes that it is possible to have more that one "box" or standard format on a given label because consumers may look for different information at different times or decision occasions. 4. Consumer preference for where particular groupings of information should be located on the product label. This is based on an assumption that certain information should be grouped together in a box or standard format(s) and that this grouping or groups could be located on the label by decision occasion, that is, collecting information sought at the time of purchase, the time of use, or when storing or disposing of the product. This also assumes that it is possible to have more than one box or standard format on a given label. 5. Consumer understanding of the existence of a hazard hierarchy in the signal words "caution, warning, danger" when conveyed graphically, and of the point in the hierarchy on which a given product falls. This is based on the assumption that a graphical presentation of the hierarchy may improve consumer comprehension of the meaning of the signal words, and that different representations may have different degrees of success in conveying this information. Various graphical interpretations should be tested, including such things as a variegated color bar graph, thermometer, street light, etc., where the image includes a pointer or other device to indicate where on the progression the specific product fits. 6. Consumer preference for a particular graphical representation of the "caution, warning, danger" hierarchy and product status information. This acknowledges that preference may or may not relate to the effectiveness of a particular design in correctly conveying understanding of the hierarchy information. 7. Consumer understanding of the association between the product ingredients, the hazard(s), and the relative hierarchy. This is based on an assumption that consumers will better understand the importance of the safe use of products if safety-related information, including environmental, hazard, and hierarchy information, is presented together. The SIC code for this procurement is 8732. EPA is facnet certified. Award will be based on the best value to the Government, technical and price factors considered. Two copies of all proposals are requested.Complete evaluation criteria will be published at the EPA website hyper-linked below. The RFQ will be posed on this website and can be downloaded. TELEPHONE REQUESTS FOR THE RFQ WILL NOT BE HONORED. Proposals are due no later than 2:00 p.m. EST, May 1, 1998. US MAIL ONLY -- US EPA, 401 M Street, SW: Mail Code 3803R, Washington, D.C. 20460 ATTN: Valoree S. Lilley. HAND CARRY TO (includes all couriers services, e.g. FedEx, UPS): Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Bid and Proposal Room, 6th Floor Room 1107.See Notes 1 and 26 (0104)

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