CONDUCT ANALYSIS OF FATTY ACID PROFILES The USEPA intends to negotiate on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 6.302, with Microbial Insights Incorporated. The Contractor shall provide services required for quantitatively characterizing the changes that occur within oil degrading mixed microbial communities as they metabolize crude oil hydrocarbons. The comprehensive characterization shall consist of measuring viable biomass, community structure, and metabolic status in 294 field and laboratory samples (provided by the EPA Project Officer) by quantifying the Phospholipid Fatty Acid (PLFA) profiles of oil degrading populations within the samples and identifying specific aliphatic and aromatic degrading subpopulations using gene probe amplification techniques. These analyses shall be performed without resorting to the use of culturing methods. Services are anticipated to be performed during the period June 30, 1997 to June 30, 1998. Following the analysis of all samples from a given experimental series, the Contractor shall submit to the EPA Project Officer all raw data in tabular format as well as a summary thereof and additionally prepare a report that fully interprets the data and assesses the biomass, discusses the potential for specific activity, determines the types of organisms present, and measures the metabolic status of the organisms present. The DNA probe analysis will be used to provide further interpretation of the results of both the experimental oil spill study conducted on the shoreline of Delaware Bay 3 years ago and another study being conduct in an interagency agreement with TVA involving oil-contaminated freshwater wetland bioremediation and to attempt to predict microbial community changes in the field from laboratory experiments. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. Sources wishing to be considered must submit documentation to the office identified above, which establishes the ability to provide the required services identified in this abstract. Documentation must be submitted within 15 days of the date of publication of this notice. Contact Barbara Curtiss regarding questions at 513-366-2036. E-MAIL: Purchasing Agent, Curtiss.Barbara@epamail.epa.gov.

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0585 19970715\SP-0002.MSC)