U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Contracts Management Division (MD-33), Attn: ORDSC, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

A -- ON-SITE TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND ANIMAL CARE SUPPORT SERVICES FOR NERL- CINCINNATI DUE 021600 POC Antonio Leathers, Contracting Specialist, (919)541-2312/Macdonald Morrison, Contracting Officer, (919)541-4364 E-MAIL: Click here to contact the Contracting Specialist via, leathers.antonio@epa.gov. 8(a) SMALL BUSINESSES: NOTE REQUEST FOR CAPABILITIES STATEMENT. The Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development (ORD), is conducting a market search for 8(a) small business set-aside firms to provide on-site technical support services for ecological research and animal care support services for the National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) at the Andrew W. Briedenbach Research Center (AWBERC) in Cincinnati, Ohio. Most of the contractor services will require the use of Government Furnished Property (GFP), albeit there will also be some field work involved. The contractor shall be responsible for furnishing other non-specialized equipment and all resources necessary for field studies. The successful offeror will be tasked with the following 7 (seven) objectives: (1)Sample Collection -- the primary focus of the contractor's effort shall be to obtain reliable environmental field samples representative of the resources being examined and non-field samples from controlled experiments (experiments conducted in the animal/aquatic facility). (2)Sample Analysis -- the emphasis of this objective shall be on providing high quality, well trained technical support for planning, analyzing and reporting the results from either field studies samples or controlled research samples. (3) Methods Development and Testing- the emphasis of this objective shall be to provide trained, technical personnel capable of initiating indicator development research. (4) Statistical and Management -- the emphasis of this objective shall be to provide statistical and data base expertise. Potential contractors shall be capable of providing statistical support personnel capable of performing at the Master's degree level. (5) Quality Assurance/Quality Control -- the primary focus of the contractor's effort shall be to improve and document the quality of the data being produced. (6) Technology Transfer and Reporting requirements -- the contractor shall be required to provide high-quality outputs that are readable/intelligible to a myriad of audiences, ranging from the general public to the scientific community. (7) Operation and Maintenance of Animal Care Facility -- the contractor shall maintain the Central Animal Facility at the AWBERC which houses both aquatic and terrestrial animals (as well as some plant species) used for research activities. The average daily population will vary between 500 and 1000 rodents and a smaller number of rabbits and other common terrestrial laboratory species. EPA reserves the right to set this action aside for 8(a) small businesses. The applicable SIC Code is 8731 with a size standard of 500 employees. ALL INTERESTED SMALL BUSINESSES SHOULD FURNISH STATEMENTS REFERENCING THEIR CAPABILITIES WITHIN FIFTEEN (15) DAYS OF THIS NOTICE. This requirement is a follow-on to contract numbers 68-C6-0019 and 68-C6-0074 both with SoBran, Inc. It is anticipated that the contract start up date will be July 01, 2001. This solicitation will be issued as a competitive 8(a) Small Business Set-Aside. All responsible, eligible 8(a) firms may submit a Capabilities Statement which shall be considered by the Agency. A Pre-Solicitation notice will be issued at a later date. Posted 02/01/00 (W-SN420645). (0032)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0015 20000203\A-0015.SOL)