A--Technical Support to the Performance Optimization Research Team (PORT)

Under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(a)2(b), the U.S. Army RDECOM Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Division, Natick, MA intends to award a Firm Fixed Price Purchase Order to Underwood, Danielle of Randolph, MA, to provide technical support to the Performance Optimization Research Team (PORT). The support requires expertise in the following areas of Food Microbiology: challenge studies involving the pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Clostridium sp. and Listeria monocytogene; and probiotics, which will require knowledge of culturing techniques for probiotic organisms and determining their stability during desiccation and subsequent storage at 37C. The contractor has recently earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Health Science (concentration in Pre-Medicine) from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA. The contractor is uniquely qualified to execute this contract because of her academic preparations, interest and practical experiences. A limited market research was conducted and other candidates were identified who could conceivably perform this effort; however, it was determined that there would be a steeper learning curve (training) to overcome for those individuals. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement in the future. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement to the U.S. Army RDECOM Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Division, via e-mail at contact@example.gov. no later than 02 February 2010, 12:00 pm EST.