Development of a Retail Bacterial Cross-Contamination Model for Foodborne Pathogens

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) intends to award on a sole source basis a Firm Fixed Price Purchase Order to Virginia Tech University, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 409 Durham Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061. This proposed action is being procured on an unrestricted basis. This requirement is for the development of a retail bacterial cross-contamination model for foodborne pathogens. The following activities will be conducted: 1) A literature review and analysis of cross-contamination models appropriate for food safety; 2) In conjunction with FSIS, conduct a literature review and evaluate unpublished studies (e.g., those from industry, academia, government, and/or consumer group) of retail food handling and sanitation practices and food safety interventions for both RTE and raw food products; 3) In conjunction with FSIS, collect data and information related to various retail settings, including retail profiles, food handling practices, and sanitation practices; 4) In conjunction with FSIS, develop data needs for cross-contamination models. Identify existing data sources and highlight data gaps and potential interventions to be considered; 5) In conjunction with FSIS, assist in the design of a large scale observational study of retail RTE food handling and sanitation practices stratified by differing retail setting (i.e., retail profile data) and in the design of a pathogen contamination (prevalence, level and subtype) study in the retail environment; 6) In conjunction with FSIS, develop appropriate cross-contamination model methodology and guidance for incorporation into risk assessment models. Develop a working prototype cross-contamination model based on Listeria monocytogenes at retail establishments, and integrate this model with the existing FSIS (2003) in-plant model and the existing FDA/FSIS (2003) risk ranking model. Modify these models as needed as well as incorporate the newest retail contamination (prevalence, concentration, and subtyping) data, retail food handling and storage time-temperature data, current predictive microbiological models, and retail and/or consumer food handing data available; 7) In conjunction with FSIS, characterize the impact of retail practices and/or interventions on the transmission of Listeria monocytogenes at retail, changes in contamination of FSIS-regulated products and the retail environment, and subsequent impact on public health (e.g., increase or reduction in foodborne illness); 8) In conjunction with FSIS, characterize the effectiveness of retail practices and/or interventions in terms of human health risk, including characterization of the uncertainty associated with risk estimates; and 9) In conjunction with FSIS, develop final risk assessment reports, briefings, and presentations related to the development of cross-contamination modeling methodology and the retail risk assessment evaluating retail practices and/or interventions (e.g., product separation, sanitation practices, etc.). In conjunction with FSIS, respond to comments from internal and independent peer reviewers on the analyses and cross-contamination model(s) developed under this contract. Virginia Tech is the author of the work which is to be expanded in this current contract and is therefore uniquely qualified to continue the evolution of this project. Virginia Tech was involved with the collection and analysis of data, construction and coding of the original Listeria monocytogenes risk assessment model, and the original drafting and writing of the main report. Virginia Tech fully understands the construction and history behind the report and model, and has a working knowledge of all the inputs and relationships represented within the model. They are therefore uniquely qualified to change the original model coding by developing and incorporating a new model component and new data. Given this, they are also uniquely qualified to understand, manage, and if needed troubleshoot how such changes will affect the Listeria monocytogenes risk assessment. Virginia Tech is experienced in developing cross-contamination models for Listeria monocytogenes applicable to the type of model needed for a retail risk assessment. One of their employees served as the technical lead in the development of this cross-contamination model (FSIS (2003) in-plant model) for FSIS, presenting at FSIS public meeting, to senior management and at the Interagency Risk Assessment Committee. In addition, a Virginia Tech employee authored supporting documents, including 1) developing technical responses to external peer review panel tasked to review the draft Listeria monocytogenes risk assessment, 2) developing technical responses to public comments on the draft Listeria monocytogenes risk assessment, and 3) developing technical responses an additional set of responses to supplemental public comments. Virginia Tech also presented and responded to questions at the public meeting on proposed Listeria regulations (The FSIS Draft Listeria Risk Assessment, Part I, FSIS Draft Listeria Risk Assessment Technical Meeting, Washington DC, February 26, 2003). Given that the changes to this risk assessment could have regulatory impact, Virginia Tech's previous experience with the regulatory process will be invaluable. This is not a request for quote. No solicitation is available for this requirement. Interested concerns may submit a capability statement within 15 days after the posted date of this notice. All timely responses will be considered; however, a determination by the Government not to complete this requirement based upon the responses received is solely within the discretion of the Government. Responses should be addressed to the attention of the Contracting Officer referencing number FSIS-177516. Responses may be submitted via email to Crandall.Watson@fsis.usda.gov or by fax at (301) 504-4276. It is anticipated that award will be made by August 29, 2008.