B -- Notice of Intent to Negotiate a Sole Source Contract

Notice of intent to negotiate a sole source contract with the University of Western Ontario (UWO) for the NW Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC). Purpose of proposed contract is to provide flowcytometry and molecular cell detection. Dr. Trick of UWO will assist the ECOHAB project with field community sampling and antibody development. This will include development of independent measurement of cellular iron status using fluorescent probes, fluorescent antibodies to Pseudo-nitzschia (in collaboration with NWFSC) and a fluorescent marker for DA content in both water and cells. The proposed research will involve analyzing approximately 30-50 community samples per day for each three-week cruise in July and September 2003. UWO will prepare and calibrate flow cytometer before, during and after each cruise. UWO will also perform data reduction, statistical analyses, and interperetation of results, syntehesis, and publication. Dr. Charlie Trick of UWO is biological oceanographer in area of nutrient regulation of growthk, competition, and secondary metabolite production in marine photosynthetic pathways. He is world-renowned specialist in use of flow cytometry to study the role of iron and other nutrients. He has also used this sytem to study macro- and micro-nutrient dyanmics in the California and Peruvian upwelling system, the Sargasso Sea and the Costa Rica dome. This is a simplified acquisition with an estimated value of less than $100,000.