U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 26 W. Martin Luther King Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45268

A -- DIRECT BETA APPLICATION TO USE AN ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT TO MERGE SCIENCE AND POLICY NEEDS SOL PR-OH-98-00824 DUE 090998 POC Billy Oden, Contracting Officer, (513)487-2126 E-MAIL: U.S. EPA -- Cincinnati Contracts Management Division, oden.billy@epamail.epa.gov. Under authority granted in FAR 6.302-1, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency intends to seek a quotation on a sole source basis from Dr. Leon Danielson to develop an Analytical Hierarchy Process protocol to address pollution in the Neuse River basin and pilot an assessment program to integrate science and public policy. In support of EPA's strategic planning and mission directives at Office of Research and Development -- National Center for Environmental Assessment (ORD-NCEA), Research Triangle Park, NC, this project will develop and apply specific decision analysis tools, i.e., the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), to determine how ecological indicators and assessment endpoints can best be developed from the use of a top-down hierarchial approach when applied in beta-test form to specific regional assessment problems. These processes will be applied to the ORD-RTP "near laboratory research site", within the Neuse River basin, to address state-of-the-environment assessments while at the same time addressing State, regional and EPA-wide decision needs through merging sound scientific approaches and reduced uncertainty through the use of state-of- the-science decision tools. If successful, this project is anticipated to lead to a longer term cooperative agreement with North Carolina State University. This procurement will be accomplished under FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit quotations. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations. To receive a Request For Quotation (RFQ) package, send your request to the e-mail address shown below. Please include a complete mailing address and fax number in your e-mail message. No telephone or fax requests for the RFQ package will be honored. All quotations received by the response due date stated in the RFQ will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Posted 08/25/98 (W-SN241583). (0237)

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