DHHS/PHS/FDA/Office Of Facilities, Acquisition, And Central Services, Division of Contracts and Program Management, HFA-512(COB), 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857

A -- RESEARCH ON SURROGATES FOR 5-LOG REDUCTION DETERMINATIONS FOR FRESH CITRUS JUICE SOL F61013 POC Dee Gibson, Contract Administrator, (301) 827-7177 or fax 827-7151 The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), intends to award a purchase order on or about April 5, 1999 to Florida Department of Citrus on a sole-source basis to provide research on surrogates for 5-Log Reduction Determinations for Fresh Citrus Juice. The objective is to determine appropriate surrogate organism(s) to use to determine the effectiveness of juice processing in achieving a 5 log reduction in pertinent organisms for fruit used to prepare fresh citrus juice. The tasks involved will be to compare the pathogen(s) and potential surrogate(s) on ease of attachment to and removal in model systems (e.g. glass slides, microtiter plates) and confirm findings in studies using surfaces of citrus fruit. To compare the effects on pathogen(s) and potential surrogate(s) of various pH, temperature, chemical, and other interventions that might be used during production to reduce the numbers of a particular pathogen. Work may be performed in model systems and must be confirmed using studies with citrus fruit surfaces. Most significant results would be obtained using fruit or portions of fruit peel for inoculation, attachment, and reduction studies. The deliverables are 1. To provide data and statistical analyses on the effects of various processing parameters (e.g., pH, temperature, chemicals) on pathogens (2 or more) and surrogates (7 or more). 2. Based on this study, the contractor will provide an analysis of the scientific results for selection of appropriate surrogate(s) for particular interventions or fresh citrus juice processes for the demonstration of the 5-log pathogen reduction standard. The two reporting requirements are: 1. The contractor shall provide a brief status report to the FDA 6 weeks after the start of the purchase order. 2. The contractor shall provide a final report, which details all activities under the project within 30 days of completion of the purchase order, or by July 22, 1999. Reports shall be prepared in a minimum of 5 copies, sufficient to ensure distribution to the Project Advisory Group (PAG) and the Contracting Officer. The PAG will recommend that the contractor submit a paper containing these data for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. The period of performance will be from April 5, 1999 through June 22, 1999. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to satisfy the government requirements. Capability statements must include documentation of an in-depth knowledge and prior experience of this type of work. Capability statement must be received by April 1, 1999 to be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed purchase order based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the contracting officer. A solicitation document in not available. Posted 03/26/99 (W-SN313208). (0085)

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