Cornell Univ. to Extend Longitudinal Study of Listeria monocytogenes

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS) intends to issue a sole source contract to Cornell University, Office of Sponsored Programs, 373 Pine Tree Road Ithaca, New York 14850-2820. The period of performance will be five (5) months. Cornell University shall 1) conduct additional sampling in retail environments to confirm and validate risk maps; 2) Describe in detail the number of additional samples collected, the results of those test results and if these results do confirm the risk maps or not; 3) If the test results do not confirm the risk maps, the Contractor shall identify the factors that may be responsible for the differences; and 4) The sampling protocol shall for both an indicator organism and L. monocytogenes isolate the characteristics to subtype. Cornell University is the only Contractor that can perform this work as it was the primary author and innovator of the L. monocytogenes in retail facilities in the State of New York. Cornell has display expertise with events and actions that take place in a retail environment, and how these events and actions lead to cross-contamination of ready-to-eat products including detection of bacterial and viral pathogens by molecular techniques, molecular epidemiology of human food borne and animal diseases, and Listeria monocytogenes. This project requires the expertise of Cornell University whose recent research works focused on cross-contamination issues in retail facilities in New York State and potentially additional states in the future. Data from these studies shall help populate, improve, and inform the current model with specific inputs and outputs that will ultimately help design and develop adequate policy options to address the problem. The determination by the government to issue a sole source contract is made under the authority of FAR 6.302-1 and is solely at the discretion of the Government. This notice of intent is not a Request For Proposal (RFP). All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the Agency. Responses are due by 1:00 p.m. on September 27, 2010. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. Responses must be submitted to Vangelia Campbell, Contracting Officer, at Vangelia.Campbell@fsis.usda.gov or USDA, FSIS, ASD, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Maildrop 5230, Beltsville, MD 20705-5230. Responses will also be accepted by fax at 301-504-4276. The Government anticipates awarding a Firm Fixed Price Contract. The contract is anticipated being awarded on September 29, 2010.