A -- Student Laboratory Services

NAICS Code: 541710. This is a Pre-Solicitation Synopsis for student laboratory services to be obtained on a contract basis by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The solicitation Number is ORDPS/CWX545 (RFQ-RT-05-00335). The Ecosystem Research Division (ERD) of the National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL), Office of Research and Development (ORD), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is seeking an undergraduate level student in Environmental Health, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Ecology or related disciplines, to provide services under a contractual agreement in support of a research project focusing on the evaluation of DNA genetic techniques to identify bacterial indicators of fecal contamination in aquatic resources. The Government will make the contract award based on the student's work experience, knowledge and skills, training and course work (GPA and number of course hours) as it related to the services described in this Announcement. Specifically, the preferred students should possess skills/experience in DNA molecular techniques such as DNA extraction from various matrices, performance of polymerase chain reactions, gel analysis, cloning and sequence analysis. The candidates should have experience in general microbiological techniques and water quality analysis such as membrane filtration, fecal bacterial counts, and isolation of pure cultures from environmental matrices. The undergraduate student must have completed a minimum of two (2) years of college and at least one college level course in each one of the following areas: Microbiology, Chemistry, (organic, analytical, or biochemistry), and Biology, Molecular Biology or Environmental Health Science. In addition, the student should have basic knowledge of safety requirements for laboratories and offices. The Ecosystems Research Division (ERD) conducts process, modeling, and field research to assess the exposure risks of humans and exosystems to chemical and non-chemical and non-chemical stressors. This research provides data, modeling tools and technical support to U.S. EPA Program and Regional Offices, state and local governments, and other customers, enabling achievement of Agency and ORD strategic goals in the protection of human health and the environment. For additional information regarding ERD, visit it's home page at http://www.epa.gov/athens/. The undergraduate student contractor will assist in testing the genomic variability at the subspecies level of a library of enterococci. The tasks to be performed include, but are not limited to: (1) provide support for field sampling activities; (2) process environmental samples for total bacterial counts and isolation of enterococci; (3) perform multiplex PCR for identification of enterococci isolates; (4) maintain isloate library and stock cultures; (5) extract isolate and community DNA; (6) assist in DNA analysis to determine genotypic variability of isolates; (7) provide support for implementation of new molecular approaches; (8) perform data reduction and analysis as required; and (9) perform regular laboratory maintenance and literature searches. This work is to begin on or about September 1, 2005. It is anticipated that the student contractor will work up to 25 hours per week. The initial contract will be one year with an option for 12 additional months. All questions are to be forwarded via email to the Contracting Officer at the following email address: contact@example.gov. Interested parties should review all material relevant to the requirement by looking under Request for Quotation section of the U.S. EPA's website at the following address: http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd. These solicitation documents will be posted to that website by August 15, 2005. Interested parties should go the website and click on the link entitled "Student Services ORDPS/CWX545, RFQ-RT-05-00335" to check the status of this procurement and to ascertain when and if any amendments have been issued.