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

R -- CREATE AND DOCUMENT A NEW TESTING PROTOCOL ON THE FATHEAD MINNOW (PIMEPHALES PROMELAS) SOL SOL ND1143 DUE 071598 POC Ramona G. Evans, Contracting Officer (919/541-4749) E-MAIL: CLICK HERE TO CONTACT THE CONTRACTING OFFICER VIA, EVANS.RAMONA@EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV.. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency intends to negotiate a sole source simplified acquisition with Lake Superior Research Institute/University of Wisconsin-Superior, Superior, WI 54880, to create and document a new testing protocol on the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). The new protocol will be used for regulatory programs and to screen endocrine-disrupting chemicals. The U.S. Congress has mandated that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) develop screening methods for endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) within a specific time-frame. One of the deadlines is development of a fathead minnow Tier 1 screening protocol by August, 1999. The purpose of this acquisition is to develop and document a 21 day bioassay with reproductively-active groups of male and female fathead minnows. No new testing will be undertaken to develop the protocol. An expert assessment and analysis of published methods on culturing and testing fathead minnows will be used to prepare the protocol. This method then must be written in a format consistent with other EPA testing guidelines. The recipient of this work, therefore, must have extensive experience in three areas: (1) maintaining, handling and testing fathead minnows at different life stages; (2) using fathead minnows in tests with a wide variety of chemicals; and (3) critically reviewing and summarizing aquatic toxicology literature (data and methods) in documents suitable for EPA regulatory needs. The period of performance is expected to be from date of award through June 15, 1999. EPA believes that Lake Superior Research Institute/University of Wisconsin-Superior is the only vendor capable of satisfying the technical and time requirements stated above. No solicitation is available. All interested parties must respond within 15 days of the date of this announcement. Interested vendors shall: (1) include information on the proposed services which clearly supports the requirements outlined above; and, (2) provide itemized pricing that is sufficient to make a determination that competition is feasible. Submit response to the U.S. EPA, Attn: Ramona G. Evans, ORD Service Center/NHEERL, Contracts Management Division (MD-33), Research Triangle Park, N.C. 27711. No telephonic requests will be honored. Posted 07/01/98. (0182)

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