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

A -- NHEXAS BALTIMORE ANALYSIS AND DATABASE SOL PR-NC-98-11832 DUE 071698 POC Pamela G. Ricks, Contract Specialist, 919-541-2312, Julio Lopez, Contracting Officer, 919-541-4474 E-MAIL: click here to contact the contract specialist via, ricks.pamela@epamail.epa.gov. The EPA plans to negotiate a sole source completion contract with Emory University to conduct multi pathway human exposure analyses of the multimedia data sets collected previously under a cooperative agreement; and to select and reformat results and supporting "meta-data" from the National Human Exposure Assessment Survey (NHEXAS) databases into a common NHEXAS format and coding convention. The NHEXAS measurements and questionnaire data shall be statistically analyzed to test the relationships identified below; distributions and summary statistics shall use weighing factors resulting from the population-based probability sample design. The contractor shall develop technical manuscripts based on knowledge of the NHEXAS objectives, the knowledge gained through planning and conducting the innovative research studies, quality systems results, and the results of the analyses, to evaluate: the relationships of aggregate exposures (in air, food, dermal) and biomarkers (blood, urine) for metals, VOCs, and/or pesticides and/or PAHs to environmental concentrations (water, air-indoors, air-outdoors, dust, soil); the relationships among environmental concentration measurements (air, water, food, dust); the relative contributions and independence of measured pathways; the relationships of questionnaire/activity data and environmental concentrations to measured exposures and biomarkers; and the relationship of estimated food exposures (from consumption and concentration data) to measured dietary exposures. The EPA will be provided with a complete, final, validated (quality assured) NHEXAS database in electronic format. A sub-set of the data elements and descriptive information (or "metadata") needed to support and understand the characteristics and data quality of the measurement and analytical results will be identified. This set of data elements and associated data (including selected questionnaire items) shall be provided to the EPA in a format, and with codes, that are consistent with EPA human exposure assessment studies. Only Emory University has the knowledge and "know-how" to complete the on-going work without an extensive and expensive start-up period. It would not be practicable for the Government to substitute another contractor to finalize the studies since only the contractor working under the cooperative agreement can effectively organize, format and analyze the data collected and synthesize this data into scientific manuscripts as required by EPA. The work to be completed requires the same expertise and qualifications as is currently required to conduct the studies under the cooperative agreement. Interested parties who believe they can provide the required services are invited to submit, in writing, an affirmative response demonstrating an ability to immediately assume the on-going project without disruption to the current operations and demonstrating a cost benefit to the Government. Any written response must be received no later than 15 days after publication of this synopsis. In order to be responsive, the correspondence must be accompanied by a written narrative statement of capability, including detailed technical information sufficient to permit agency analysis in order to determine a bonafide capability to meet the Government's requirements. Submit responses to the U.S. EPA, ATTN: Pamela Ricks (MD-33), Contracts Management Division, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. Responses without the required documentation will be considered non-responsive. No telephone or facsimile requests will be honored. Posted 07/01/98. (0182)

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