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

R -- ANALYSIS OF POWER TO DETECT ACIDIFICATION TRENDS IN VIRGINIA STREAMS SOL RFQ-RT-99-00370 POC Marsha B. Johnson, Contract Specialist, (919)541-0952; Ramona G. Evans, Contracting Officer, (919) 541-4749 E-MAIL: Click here to contact the Contract Specialist via, johnson.marsha@epa.gov. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency intends to negotiate a sole source simplified acquisition with the University of Virginia, Department of Environmental Sciences, Charlottesville, VA 22903 for the analysis of stream data from the Virginia Trout Stream Survey (VTSS) to determine the power of these data to detect acidification trends in subregions of the Mid-Atlantic. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been investigating the impact of acidic deposition on aquatic resources in the Mid-Atlantic region since 1993 as part of its Temporally Integrated Monitoring of Ecosystems (TIME) project. This effort is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of the Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA) of 1990, which require the EPA to report to Congress in 2002 on regional trends in the acidification of streams in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. This region is one where the greatest changes in acidic deposition are expected to take place. The TIME project subdivides the Mid-Atlantic Region into areasof similar acid sensitivity (the Appalachian Plateau, Sandstone/Shale Ridges in the Ridge and Valley Province, and the Blue Ridge); responses (to changes in acidic deposition) are expected to be relatively similar within these subregions, but different between subregions. Of these subregions, it is clear that the site selection approach used for TIME (a probability, or random, sample) will be adequate to detect regional acidification trends in the Appalachian Plateau, but will not produce enough sites on the Ridges or in the Blue Ridge Province to allow us to detect acidification trends with TIME data in the required time period. It is anticipated that the period of performance will be from date of award through January 1, 2000. The proposed purchase order action is for services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302. The University of Virginia has been collecting quarterly data on a large number of streams in these subregions throughout the 1990s. EPA believes that the University of Virginia is the only alternative source of information on how streams in this area are changing in response to the CAAA. No solicitation is available. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. All interested parties must identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement within 15 days of the date of this announcement. A determination by the Government not to compete with this proposed purchase order based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Telephone or fax requests will not be honored. Submit response to the U.S. EPA, Attn: Marsha B. Johnson, (MD-33), Contracts Management Division, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. See also numbered Note 26. Posted 05/18/99 (W-SN332879). (0138)

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