National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Contracts & Procurement Management Office, OM, P. O. Box 12874, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

A -- GENETIC TOXICITY TESTING IN RODENTS SOL NIH-ES-97-26 DUE 020397 POC Saundra J. Walsh, Contract Specialist 919/541-0419, Elizabeth B. Ford, Contracting Officer 919/541-0415 This requirement is to provide the Government with the capacity to test approximately 15 chemicals per year for five years for somatic cell genetic effects in rats and/or mice. All tests will not be performed on all chemicals. Tests to be performed will include ABS in bone marrow, ABS in peripheral lymphocytes, MN in bone marrow, MN in peripheral erythrocytes from sub-chronic studies (mice only), MN in peripheral lymphocytes, MN in other tissues (e.g. lung, spleen), centromeric probe analysis of MN, Single-cell gel electrophoresis assays of various tissues, measurement of mutations in liver of transgenic animals, and measurement of mutations in other tissues of transgenic animals. All work shall be performed in a manner compatible with the NTP Health and Safety Minimum Requirements. All laboratory records shall be kept in accordance with FDA Good Laboratory Practice regulations (Federal Register, Friday, September 4, 1987, pp. 33768-33782 (21 CFR Section 58)). All animal care and handling procedures shall be in accord with the appropriate sections of the NIEHS "Specifications for the conduct of studies to evaluate the toxic and carcinogenic potential of chemical, biological and physical agents in laboratory animals for the National Toxicology Program (NTP)." Two contract awards are anticipated for this requirement. Each contract award is estimated to be a base contract of three years, with two one-year options for continued support. The contract shall not exceed five years. In the initial contract award the first years effort may be to conduct the genetic toxicity tests on up to fifteen chemicals, or, in the event that the contract is awarded to a firm without prior demonstrated experience with the NTP, year 1 will consist of a two phased effort. The project has been divided into four tasks, each representing a different test system, induction of ABS and MN in bone marrow and other tissues (Task 1), testing for the presence of centromeres in MN (Task 2), induction of DNA damage as measured by the single-cell gel assay (Task 3), and induction of gene mutations in transgenic rodents (Task 4). It is recognized that not all contractors may have the expertise in all four task. All offerors must respond to Task 1, the measurement of ABS and MN in rodents. Offerors are not required to respond to Tasks 2, 3, and 4, although they are expected to have expertise in, and respond to, a least one of these additional tasks. The contracts to be awarded will be complementary, in that, together, the contractors shall have expertise in all four tasks. Both contract awards will be level-of-effort, term-form cost reimbursement type contracts. It is estimated the project will require 0.5 professional person-years and 1.5 technical person-years per contract year. The principal investigator and professional staff should have training and experience in the areas of cytogenetics and chemical mutagen testing using the test procedures described in the statement of work. It is expected that the contracts will be awarded by September 30, 1997, with each contract to expire by August 31, 2002 (if all options are exercised by the Government). The expected release date of the RFP is January 31, 1997. Interested organizations who request a hard copy of the solicitation should request either a streamlined or full RFP package. If no selection is made, a streamlined version of the RFP will be provided. The streamlined version includes only the Statement of Work, deliverable and reporting requirements, special requirements and mandatory qualifications, if any, and technical evaluation criteria. On the release date, a copy of the streamlined version of the solicitation will be available, on the Internet at: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/omcpmb/external/. Those individuals who wish to access the on-line version should follow the instructions provided in the on-line solicitation package. After examination of these documents, any organization interested in responding to this RFP must request the entire RFP in writing or by telephone (919) 541-0419 or by FAX request (919) 541-2712. This requirement is restricted to 100% Small Business competition. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the agency. The SIC Code is 8731. (0017)

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