U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Exposure Research Laboratory, 79 Alexander Drive, MD-78A, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

A -- PARTICLE EXPOSURES OF HIGH-RISK SUBPOPULATIONS SOL NERL/HEASD/002 DUE 060198 POC Shari L. Pricer, 919-541-2198 E-MAIL: Click here to email the contact person, pricer.shari@epamail.epa.gov. The United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Research and Development (ORD) is issuing a "Request for Assistance" (RFA) in support of EPA's Human Exposure Research Program. The objectives of this RFA are: (1) to study the relationship(s) between concentrations of particles measured at ambient monitoring sites and personal exposures to particles and (2) to characterize the personal exposures with regards to particles of ambient origin and particles of other sources. Research should focus on persons in high-risk subpopulations, in particular but not limited to, persons with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The study will require measurements of personal, indoor, and outdoor (both residential and central-site) concentrations of fine, coarse, and possibly ultra fine particles and associated gases/chemical species. EPA is requesting innovative proposals that: characterize personal exposures to particles from all sources with an emphasis on particles of ambient origin. Research should collect data on personal, indoor, and outdoor particles, environmental characteristics, and personal activities; characterize the particle size fraction(s) and other important physical/chemical parameters for particle samples; identify the indoor and outdoor sources of the particles; characterize the personal exposure particle samples; and, determine the fraction of particles that are of ambient origin. Specifically, the planned RFA will solicit proposals for cooperative research to establish the strength of the relationship between concentrations of particles at ambient monitoring sites and personal exposure to particles from ambient (and other) sources; to investigate the dependence of the relationship on personal activities and microenvironmental characteristics; and to investigate ways to differentiate the contributions of ambient and indoor particle sources to personal exposure. Applications that respond to this RFA may be submitted by domestic not-for-profit or non-profit research institutions such as universities, research institutes, and federal research laboratories. Applications will be accepted from single research institutions and from consortia which include more than one research institution. All applications will be evaluated by scientific peer review panels of experts in the research area. The research objectives for this RFA support the long-term ORD research priorities. ORD has identified research to strengthen the scientific foundation for human health risk assessment as one of its six high priority areas. The funding mechanisms that will be used to support this objective under this RFA is the cooperative assistance agreement. The selection of this research mechanism reflects ORD's decision to sustain joint scientific collaboration in the design, conduct, interpretation, and reporting of research supported under this agreement through the expertise of principal investigators from its National Exposure Research Laboratory. The anticipated funding rate for the cooperative agreement will be approximately $450,000 per year for total (direct plus indirect) costs, to extend over a three-year period (for a funding total under the base agreement of $1.35 million). Proposals are invited to include optional research at an anticipated funding rate of $250,000 per year for years two and three that would significantly improve the overall research program. Including the base and all options, the total funding level over the three years is anticipated to total $1.85 million. ORD may elect to fund one, or more than one, cooperative research agreement from the applications that respond to this solicitation. In response to electronic or written requests, NERL-RTP will mail out a solicitation package on or after April 6, 1998 which will describe the requirements of the RFA. Requests for copies of the RFA should be sent to: Shari Pricer U.S. EPA: National Exposure Research Laboratory (MD-78A) 79 Alexander Drive Research Triangle Park, N. C .27711 EMAILADD: pricer.shari@epamail.epa.gov (0086)

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