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

A -- HAZARD AND RISK ASSESSMENT OD ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS SOL RFQ-OH-99-00233 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 negotiate on a sole source basis with Dr. Rochelle W. Tyl to examine the EDSTAC proposed screening tests, and alternative testing, for endocrine active chemicals or EDC. The report will provide a scientific review of each test proposed in the EDSTAC Tier I and Tier II testing proposal and describe the type of information that it does or does not provide, the strength and weakness of each test in determining endocrine activity, and the usefulness of this information for chemical ranking and for human health and ecological hazard and risk assessment. The contractor will make recommendations for appropriate approaches to the assessment of EDC and will discuss any deficiencies in current testing or assessment procedures that weaken the Agency's ability to accurately assess EDC. The basis for sole source negotiations is Dr. Tyl's unique experience. Dr. Tyl was invited by EPA to be a member of the Agency's Endocrine Disrupter Screening and Testing Advisory Committee (EDSTAC). This Federal advisory committee, which met over a two year period, provided the primary input to EPA on the development of testing activities needed to address the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water and Food Quality Protection Acts in which Congress required the Agency to develop a program to test chemicals specified in the Acts for endocrine activity. Dr. Tyl, due to her extensive laboratory experience, was an active participant in the discussions and decisions which led to the recommendations for an EPA program to screen and test for endocrine activity. Currently, her laboratory is actively conducting studies related to the development and validation of the tests identified in this program. The laboratory is also investigating alternative testing which may be useful as additions or supplements to this testing program for endocrine activity. Her laboratory is also conducting studies on chemicals of high interest to the Agency in this area. Based on Dr. Tyl's expertise, and that of herlaboratory, she serves as a consultant to EPA's National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory. In this capacity, Dr. Tyl has routine interactions and cross-consultations with key EPA laboratory personnel actively involved in EDC investigations. Dr. Tyl's participation in the EDSTAC program, her consulting activities with EPA and her active ongoing laboratory programs provide a detailed, and scientifically current, understanding of the types of data which will be generated as part of the current EPA program of testing for endocrine active chemicals. This hands-on experience with the Agency's testing program provides Dr. Tyl with a broad understanding of the questions which will arise from the expanded investigations of endocrine active chemicals. Due to her active role in the conduct of tests for endocrine activity, Dr. Tyl has a strong interest in how data generated on reproductive toxicity, developmental toxicity and endocrine activity will be used and interpreted. Dr. Tyl has strong scientific views on the proper evaluation of this test data and on the factors which must be considered for correct interpretation of this information. She has a clear understanding of EPA risk assessment approaches and supporting research, especially in the area of developmental and reproductive toxicology. Through the conduct of laboratory studies, Dr. Tyl has an intimate knowledge of the information available for such assessments and of the historical approaches to hazard and risk assessment that have been taken by Agency and non-Agency scientists. This knowledge of the Agency's current and proposed testing programs, and of the hazard and risk assessment procedures currently used within the Agency, is necessary for this project. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS. Only sources with the unique experience and qualifications outlined above, without exception, will be considered. A determination not to compete this acquisition is solely the discretion of the Government. Technical documentation must be submitted within 15 days of the publication of this notice to the office identified above. The point of contact is Hans Schellhas at (513) 487-2055. The subject Facsimile number is (513) 487-2109. Posted 07/26/99 (W-SN358841). (0207)

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