U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Exposure Research Laboratory, 79 Alexander Drive, MD-78A, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

A -- CHARACTERIZING THE UNIQUE ASPECTS OF HUMAN EXPOSURE IN LOW SES COMMUNITIES IN THE RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC AREA SOL NERL/HEASD/FY00-01 DUE 021800 POC Shari Pricer, (919) 541-2198 E-MAIL: Click here to email the contact person, pricer.shari@epa.gov. The United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Research and Development (ORD), National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina is issuing a "Request for Applications" (RFA) in support of EPA's Human Exposure Research Program. The objective of this RFA is to improve the scientific community's ability to characterize human exposures in low socioeconomic status (SES) areas and communicate the results of human exposure studies to the targeted population. The scientific community needs more information on identifying and characterizing the key factors and pathways influencing human exposures for low SES communities; developing and validating improved protocols for measuring exposures to low SES groups; developing and validating improved protocols and techniques that will result in increased participation rates for human exposure studies in low SES communities; and developing and validating improved techniques for communicating the results of these studies to the targeted population. EPA also hopes to foster improved access to and use of these findings by the public, particularly the low SES communities studied, to ultimately reduce future exposures. With this interest in mind, EPA seeks to collaborate with a local university in the Research Triangle Park, North Carolina (i.e., within approximately 50 miles) through this RFA. The ultimate goals are to provide the scientific community with improved information, techniques, and tools for conducting human exposure research in low SES communities and for effectively informing the public on the results of human exposure studies in low SES communities. The RFA also seeks to encourage EPA and university outreach into the local communities. Applications are being sought from colleges and universities in the Research Triangle Park area, with particular interest in historically black institutions of higher learning. Applications will be accepted from single colleges or universities, and from consortia comprised of more than one college or university. All applications will be evaluated by a scientific peer review panel of experts in the research area. The research objectives for this RFA support the long-term ORD research priorities. ORD has identified research to strengthen the scientific foundation for human health risk assessment as one of its six high priority areas, and the activities planned through this RFA will serve to support this research through community outreach. The funding mechanism that will be used to support this objective under this RFA is the cooperative assistance agreement. The selection of this mechanism reflects ORD's decision to sustain joint collaboration. The anticipated funding rate for the cooperative agreement will be $50,000 per year for total (direct plus indirect) costs, to extend over a 5-year period (for an anticipated total funding of $250,000). ORD may elect to fund one, or more than one, cooperative research agreement from the acceptable applications received in responseto this solicitation. In response to electronic or written requests, the National Exposure Research Laboratory in Research Triangle Park will mail out a solicitation package on or after January 10, 2000 which will describe the requirements for the RFA. All requests must be in writing, telephone requests will not be honored. Requests for copies of the RFA should be sent to: Shari Pricer, U.S. EPA, National Exposure Research Laboratory (MD-78A), 79 Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 (email: pricer.shari@epa.gov). Responses to the RFA are due to the above address by Close of Business, Eastern Standard Time (5:00 P.M.) February 18, 2000. Posted 12/27/99 (W-SN411428). (0361)

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