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

R -- TOXICOLOGICAL AND ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH SUPPORT, II SOL PR-NC-98-10194 POC Ramona G. Evans, Contract Specialist (919/541-4749) or Barbara H. Stearrett, Contracting Officer (919/541-3113) WEB: Click here to visit the site that has information about this solicitation., http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd. E-MAIL: Click here to contact the Contract Specialist via e-mail., evans.ramona@epamail.epa.gov. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory/Mid-Continent Ecology Division (MED-D), Duluth, Minnesota, is seeking qualified 8(a) sources to provide technical ecological and ecotoxicological research support services in determining ecotoxicity and freshwater ecological effects, with an emphasis on the Great Lakes and Great Plains, to reduce uncertainty in risk assessments and support risk management options. Research involves the development of sound methods and models to screen, diagnose and predict ecological effects in both prospective and retrospective ecological risk assessments. Effects research is designed to improve knowledge bases, mechanistic understandings and techniques in the context of the problem formulation, analysis and risk characterization phases of ecological risk assessments. The contract shall support EPA on-site research tasks that: (1) develop scientifically-sound approaches to assess and characterize ecologicaleffects; (2) integrate human health and ecological effect assessment methods into a comprehensive multimedia methodology; (3) provide credible, state-of-the-science ecological risk assessment methods, models, and guidance; and (4) exchange scientifically-reliable effect characterization information among private and public stakeholders. Specific on-site tasks include (but are not limited to): Maintaining scientific equipment owned by the Government; providing environmental education/ communication technical support to include workshops and tours of the facility; and, collecting from outside sources then maintaining in the laboratory several species of fish. Additionally, off-site optional support may include: (1)routine culturing of both plant and animal aquatic species; (2) understanding and predicting basic biological and chemical mechanisms of toxicity; (3) determining reproductive and developmental effects of chemical stressors; (4) determining the effects of mixtures and/or multiple stressors in water and sediment; (5) characterizing and predicting the responses of aquatic ecosystems to physical, chemical and biological stressors; (6) understanding the characteristics of the surrounding watersheds that influence the sustainability of the aquatic systems; and (7) developing ways to measure the integrity and sustainability of freshwater ecosystems, and diagnosing causes of degradation. The US EPA anticipates awarding a cost-plus-fixed-fee, term (level of effort/work assignment) type contract from this solicitation. A twelve-month base year with four twelve-month option years (60 months/5 years total effort) is anticipated. A basic (on-site) level of effort of 13,900 direct labor hours per 12 month period with optional quantity hours (primarily off-site) totaling 18,400 per 12 month period is anticipated. The total potential hours anticipated for the base period and each option period is 32,300. The maximum total potential hours anticipated for the base and option periods is 161,500 over the 60 month (five year) period. The SIC code number is 8731. To be eligible for consideration firms are required to provide (1) written certification/verfication of current participation in the 8(a) program; and (2) written certification/verfication of compliance with 8(a) competitive mix requirements verified by the appropriate assistant director for minority enterprise development of the cognizant district offices. The solicitation is expected to be issued on or about 03/31/98, with proposals due approximately 04/30/98. A preproposal conference on-site at EPA's Duluth, Minnesota facility is tentatively scheduled for April 16, 1998. The RFP and any amendments will be available only via the Internet World Wide Web at http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd. Firms have the responsibility to frequently check the same site where the RFP is posted for any amendments. See Numbered Note 26. (0071)

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