B--DUST CULTURABLE FUNGI ANALYSES ON ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLES

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE - Several studies have linked residential mold growth or moisture problems with asthma in children. The systematic study of asthma in relation to bioaerosols and characteristics of residential environments has not been paralleled by system efforts to understand the effects of identical exposures in the work environment. It has been shown that office buildings and schools commonly incur moisture problems and moldy conditions. Despite very strong evidence that fungi are likely a major cause of asthma, data are inadequate to support exposure guidelines. This is in part due to the sampling inadequacies for fungi and bacteria. The conventional method for detection and quantification of bioaerosols in the indoor environment is short-term grab sampling for culture of the microorganisms. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) laboratory facility in Morgantown, WV intends on entering into a sole source procurement with Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, San Bruno, CA to obtain analytical services for chair and floor dust culturable fungi analyses on environmental samples collected within the scope of the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Work-Related Asthma in Schools and Office Building Project. Environmental Microbiology Laboratory was the laboratory used in the Environmental Protection Agency's Building Assessment Survey and Evaluation (BASE) study for fungal spore trap analyses. This procurement will allow standardization of our NORA (Work Related Asthma in School and Office buildings) data with previous research contract data (BASE). Any change in analytical laboratories would affect the quality and standardization of the data and compromise the research study because there could be potentially significant differences in fungal species identification and quantification between different labs with different protocols and procedures. Expertise and standardization of methodology is essential, therefore, Environmental Microbiology Laboratory is the only available source. However, if any interested party believes they can meet the above requirements, it may submit a statement of capabilities. The capability statement must contain material in sufficient detail to allow NIOSH to determine whether the party can fully meet the requirements herein. Capabilities statements must be received in the contracting office no later than seven (7) days from the date of this announcement. Submit information to Brenda Goodwin, MS-1019, Reference #2002-Q-00469, DHHS/PHS/CDC/NIOSH/ALOSH, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26505. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. This notice is issued for informational purposes only.