U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 26 W. Martin Luther King Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45268

A -- DEGRADATION AND TOXIC ASSESSMENT OF WEATHERED TOXAPHENE IN SOILS SOL RFQ-OH-99-00232 DUE 081099 POC Hans Schellhas (513) 487-2055 or Marie Nichols (513) 487-2054 WEB: NA, NA. E-MAIL: U.S. EPA -- Cincinnati Contracts Management Division, schellhas.hans@epamail.epa.gov. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to procure on a sole source basis with Dr. James C. Young for the acquisition of a specific technique and approach for biodegradation studies using the Challenge Anaerobic Respirometry System. This acquisition will evaluate the pesticide toxaphene in soils and identify if the weathering process, as a result of biological degradation, contributes to toxicity reduction and/or changes in toxic bioavailability of this mixture over time. Based on a report prepared by Dr. Patrick Durkin of Syracuse Environmental Research Associates, Inc. and work cited by Fingerling et al., 1996 and follow-up QSAR analysis of the various identified toxaphene-relevant compounds (Colen and Parlar, 1996), EPA has come to the conclusion that additional research is needed to establish whether the toxicity of technical toxaphene is similar to Aweathered@ toxaphene. The conclusion from the Durkin report, based on the literature, is that little difference may exist between technical andweathered toxaphene. As a first step in this effort, it is necessary to establish the bioavailability of weathered toxaphene. If the weathered toxaphene is not bioavailable, then the issue with respect to risk assessment is moot. Further, conversations with leading experts suggest that toxicological differences between the technical and weathered toxaphene are likely. In order to allow more complete evaluation of the toxicity of weathered toxaphene, the following tasks are to be carried out using the unique Challenge Anaerobic Respirometry System: *Replicate the procedures and conditions used in the Fingerling et al (1) for identifying the final toxaphene end products by using the Challenge Anaerobic Respiratory System and producing enough end product soil sample material for subsequent toxicity testing and bioavailability ( Medaka fish and genotoxicity assay analysis). * Using GC/MS analysis and other analytical methods as necessary to verify the final weathered toxaphene components in the test soil. The type of soils to be tested shall be characteristic of at least three Superfund sites where toxaphene waste material products are known to be deposited in the U.S. and one typical soil profile known to promote maximum conditions for anaerobic degradation. * The Contractor shall travel to at least three Superfund sites to collect soil samples. The contractor shall be responsible for making all of their own arrangements for necessary round trip travel, including overnight lodging if needed. * Verify the progress of the anaerobic experiment over time to demonstrate the reductive dehalogenation of toxaphene using appropriate GC/MS analysis techniques and samples from the Challenge Respiratory System. * Conduct bioavailability test using the Alexander method (2) for characterizing the genotoxicity of stabilized toxaphene products in the test soils produced as described above. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS. Only sources capable of providing the unique technique and approach outlined above, without exception, will be considered. Technical documentation fully demonstrating the unique capabilities above, must be submitted within 15 days of the publication of this notice to the office identified above. A determination not to compete this acquisition is solely the discretion of the Government. The point of contact is Hans Schellhas at (513) 487-2055. The subject Facsimile number is (513) 487-2109. Posted 07/26/99 (W-SN358829). (0207)

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