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 DUE 052700 POC Antonio Leather, Contract Specialist (919)541-2312; McDonald Morrison, Contracting Officer, (919)541-4364 WEB: Click here to visit the site that has information about, http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd/. E-MAIL: Click here to contact the Contract Specialist via, leather.antonio@epa.gov. 8(a) SMALL BUSINESSES: NOTE REQUEST FOR CAPABILITIES STATEMENT. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 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 (mammalian, aquatic species)care support services for the National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) at the Andrew W. Briedenbach Research Center (AWBERC) in Cincinnati, Ohio. EPA intends to set this procurement aside for 8(a) small businesses. NERL is organized into five divisions, two of which are located in Cincinnati: the Ecological Exposure Research Division (EERD) and the Microbiological & Chemical Exposure Assessment Research Division (MCEARD). The proposed contract will be primarily intended to support EERD sponsored research. The EERD basically develops suites of biological indicators to describe the conditions of watershed ecosystems. NOTE: For additional information about EERD research programs, visit the following Internet web site: http://www.epa.gov/nerl/eerd. If there are an insufficient number of qualified 8(a) concerns to ensure adequate competition, then the agency may elect to compete the requirement as a small business set-aside. Therefore, qualified small businesses are encouraged to submit capability statements. 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 seven (7) 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). The term "samples" is used herein to incorporate more then just physical samples, primarily samples refer to biological samples, e.g., fish, macroinvertebrate, periphyton, phytoplankton, zooplankton, etc., it also includes data collection, such as, habitat metrics, riparian metrics, hydrological data, geomorphological data and geophysical data. Appropriate principles of planning, sample design, quality control, sample shipment, preservation, and documentation need to be adhered to. Example activities the contractor may be called upon to perform are as follows: (a)Preparing sampling plans; (b) Organizing logistics (includes arranging for site access); (c) Collecting samples; (d) Preserving samples; and (e) Transporting samples. (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. Sampled media shall include, but not necessarily limited to, water, sediments, soils and biologicals. Biological samples are predominant. Samples collected for chemical analyses shall include, but not be limited to, metals, organometallics, polar and non-polar volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, inorganic ions and known or expected endocrine disrupting compounds. Samples collected for biology span the level of biological organization, they shall include, but not be limited to, biochemicals (e.g., proteins and DNA/RNA) and organism identifications. Molecular biological analyses have a significant focus. Example activities the contractor may be called upon to perform are as follows: (a) chemical analysis (includes sample login, sample preparation, sample analysis, reporting results); (b) identify fish, macroinvertebrates and periphyton to the lowest taxonomic level; (c) tissue, blood analysis (after necropsies and biopsis); (d) environmental indicator analyses (molecular and non-molecular levels; indicators span levels of biological organization, e.g., community, population, organism, organsystem, organ, and cell); (e) molecular biological analysis (measures changes in gene expression, genetic diversity using advanced technology, e.g., polymerase chain reaction); and (f) aquatic toxicity testing. (3) Methods Development and Testing- the emphasis of this objective shall be to provide trained, technical personnel capable of initiating indicator development research. Contractor personnel should be able to perform a needs analysis, plan the research, carry out the research, validate the results, and disseminate the research findings in the appropriate communications media (journals, presentations, symposia, etc.). Examples of the types of research are as follows: (a) Molecular biology methods (polymerase chain reaction technology to measure gene expression and genetic diversity, biochemical indicators, metabolites, etc); (b)Ecological exposure assessment methods (diagnostic methods); (c)Bioassessment methods for aquatic resources (at multiple scales); (d)Statistical methods for interpreting molecular, biological and ecological empirical and experimental data; (e)Remote sensing and technological advances; (f)Environmental models for aquatic resources (including landscape, biological, hydrological and geomorphological data elements); and (g)conduct literature searches and data mining of existing data bases. (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. Statisticians need to be familiar with parametric and non-parametric techniques, familiar with statistical computer packages, e.g., SAS, and to work collaboratively with environmental scientists. The contractor shall be responsible for data base management. Data base management personnel should be familiar with Agency Information Management Guidelines and Agency authorized data base management software. Example activities that the contractor may be called upon to perform are: (a) Support contractor staff in designing experiments, field studies, new methods;(b) Support in managing data from analytical and methods development and testing;(c) Support in interpreting data and providing outputs -- statistical, geographical information systems (GIS); and (d) Construction, maintenance and input data to EPA data bases. (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. The Agency has a formal quality assurance program which contractor personnel shall be expected to adhere to. Numerous techniques may be used, e.g., management, statistical, investigative, preventive, etc., to maximize the quality of the data. Example activities the contractor may be expected to perform in this area are: (a) Develop and implement overall Quality Management Plan; (b) Develop and implement Quality Assurance Project Plans for individual projects; (c) Develop and implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's); and (d) Conduct and participate in Quality Assurance (QA) audits. (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. The contractor shall support the Agency's efforts in this regard. Example activities are as follows: (a) Develop posters and presentations for seminars; (b) Provide training to EPA and other scientists on methods developed; (c) Prepare draft and final reports on all work performed; and (d) Prepare journal articles. (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. The contractor shall culture and hold freshwater and/or marine fish, invertebrates and plants in support of toxicity testing programs including, but not limited to, fathead minnows, Ceriodaphnia, Daphnia magna, Hyallela azteca, duckweed and embryo/larval trout. The contractor shall be responsible for the care and feeding of the animals and general maintenance of the facility in such a manner as to maintain the American Association for Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AALAAC) accreditation. The contractor shall dose and sacrifice animals pursuant to Standard Operating Procedures in accordance with the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act. Example activities are as follows: (a) Maintain animals (care, feeding, cleaning, etc.) in animal care facility; (b) Culture and hold freshwater and/or marine fish, invertebrates and plants; (c) If available ship cultured animals or plants to outside clients; (d) Maintain AALAAC accreditation for the facility; (e) Dose animals; and (f) Perform biopsies and necropsies, prepare slides, tissue samples, etc. for further analysis. To review the draft Statement of Work for the proposed contract, visit the following Internet web site: http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd/. 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 8(a)and SMALL BUSINESSES SHOULD FURNISH STATEMENTS REFERENCING THEIR CORPORATE EXPERIENCE AND CAPABILITIES RELATIVE TO ALL THE ABOVE REFERENCED RESEARCH AREAS (A THROUGH G) WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS OF THIS NOTICE. This requirement is a follow-on to contract numbers 68-C6-0019 (on-site technical support) and 68-C6-0074 (animal care support) 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 04/27/00 (W-SN449178). (0118)

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