Sole Source Synopsis: Subject Matter Expert to Develop Answers to CDC?s High Priority Questions on the Safety and Use of Water during an Anthrax-related Emergency The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD), National Homeland Security Research Center (NHSRC), Office Acquisition Management (OAM) Cincinnati Procurement Operations Division (CPOD), intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 6.302-1. The applicable NAICS code is 541620. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Division of Foodborne, Waterborne and Environmental Diseases (DFWED), Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch (WDPB), has an urgent need to develop answers to previously posed questions about the safety and use of water during an anthrax related emergency. In the event of an attack or viable threat to water systems, local water utilities, public health departments, and other officials will be required to answer questions and provide information to the media and public about potential risks and necessary actions. Risk Communication research indicates that more than 95% of questions that will be raised during a crisis situation can be anticipated before an event occurs using a thorough and systematic approach. The CDC has determined that the EPA?s Office of Research and Development, National Homeland Security Research Center has the expertise needed to an ticipate potential questions and provide responses that can be communicated to the media and the general public in the event of an attack or viable threat. The Office of Research and Development (ORD), National Homeland Security Research Center (NHSRC), has been tasked through an Interagency Agreement (IA) to plan, organize, and conduct a technical Subject Matter Expert (SME) workshop to develop answers to questions the CDC has identified as critical related to the safety, supply, and use of water after an international release of Bacillus anthracis spores ( anthrax), including an aerosol release. The nature of the acquisition requires a contractor qualified to provide pertinent highly qualified national technical experts; a representative cross-section of water utility personnel representative of various US regions; local, state and federal agencies; emergency response organizations and public health agencies that will make up the SME wok group. The workshop is anticipated to occur in early December in the Washington DC metropolitan area. Therefore it is crucial that the contractor has the expertise to facilitate the worksho p and assemble participates in a timely manner. Experience from previous successful NHSRC and CDC collaborative efforts has proven that the American Water Works Association (AWWA) is uniquely qualified to provide the services for this project within the needed timeframe and has a unique ability to identify and engage qualified SMEs. AWWA is the preeminent professional organization for the drinking water industry in the Unites States, with more than 50,000 individual and 4,700 utility members. AWWA has worked to advance technology development, education, science, management, and policies for the drinking water sector. The research wing of the organization, the Water Research Foundation (WRF), is the world?s largest research organization dedicated to drinking water research and it is well respected among researchers. WRF has managed more than 1,000 high impact research studies. This includes several pertinent risk communication studies such as; Protocol for Cryptosporidium Risk Communication (Project 444); Water Conserv ation: customer Behavior and Effective Communication (Project 4012); Customer Attitudes, Behavior, and the Impact of Communications Efforts (Project 2613); Advancing Collaborations for Water-Related Health Risk Communication (Project 2851); Risk Communication for Emerging Contaminants (Project 2776) and Workshops Focusing on Adaptation Strategies and Information Needs to Respond to Extreme Events (Project 4416). AWWA shall provide technical and logistical support to 1) identify and arrange for the participation of nationally recognized subject matter experts within a relatively short timeframe; 2) provide a highly qualified technical facilitator with knowledge of public health and the water sector; 3) conduct the workshop and report the results. This is not a request for proposal. However, any firm believing itself capable of meeting EPA's requirement may submit technical documentation to establish the potential of complying with the specifications. Such documentation must be submitted to the point of contact within 15 days of the posting of this notice. A determination not to compete the proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered only for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement or to proceed on a sole source basis. The applicable NAICS code is 541620. Please submit your request in writing to: US EPA, Renita Tyus at 26 W. Martin Luther King Dr, Cincinnati, OH, 45268 or fax your request to (513) 487-2109, or email
[email protected]. No telephone request will be honored. Additional Info: The Environmental Protection Agency Contracting Office Address: Cincinnati Procurement Operations Division 26 W. Martin Luther King Drive Cincinnati, OH 45268 Point of Contact(s): Renita Tyus, Contracting Officer, Phone: 513-487-2094, E-Mail:
[email protected]