National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Contracts Branch, DERT, P.O. Box 12874, Building 4401, Research Commons, 79 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

A -- POTENTIAL FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND THERAPEUTIC AGENTS TO INDUCE IMMUNOTOXICITY. SOL NIH-ES-00-23 DUE 022200 POC Howard Hill, Contract Specialist, (919) 541-4971 WEB: NONE, NONE. E-MAIL: NONE, NONE. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), is soliciting proposals from offerors that have these capabilities and facilities: Task I, demonstrate proficiency in the performance of the Immune Testing Assays required by the EIG to detect chemical-induced immune alteration. The sub-task I-A Immunosuppression shall involve Immunopathology, Humoral Mediated Immunity, Cell Mediated Immunity, Cell Quantification, Non-specific Immunity and Host Resistance Assays and sub-task 1-B Hypersensitivity Assays shall involve Mouse ear swelling test (MEST) and Local lymph node assay (LLNA). Task II-A, upon demonstration of proficiency, the contractor shall test four xenobiotics per year using tests described in Task I-A.1, I-A.2 and I-A.4. Task II-B, the contractor shall test two xenobiotics per year thereafter. Task II-C shall test 2 xenobiotics per year for their potential to produce skin hypersentivity in the mouse. Task II-D, the contractor shall test 1 xenobiotic per year for the potential to influence autoimmune disease. Task III, Evaluation of Additional Xenobiotics on an "As Needed Basis" (Options 1-3) that will not exceed 35% of the total yearly level of effort to conduct additional Task II studies. Task IV, Development and/or Evaluation of New and Improved Technology (Option 4), for example, it may be necessary to evaluate methods to assess the relevance of changes in cytokine levels, monitor additional cell surface markers or quantitate certain biomedical changes in chemical models of autoimmune disease. Activities performed under this task shall not exceed 8% of the basic contract effort. The Government estimates that the base contract excluding options will require approximately 1.4 professional person-years, 1.8 senior technical person years, 0.5 technical person years and .25 for administrative person years per contract year. The level of effort for the options shall be explained in the RFP. The estimated period of performance is 5 years. Requests must reference RFP No. NIH-ES-00-23 and must be directed to the office listed above. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the Agency. Posted 01/07/00 (W-SN414243). (0007)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0004 20000111\A-0004.SOL)