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Dr. Peters is an aquatic toxicologist and pathobiologist with more than 35 years of experience in aquatic biology, as well as extensive environmental consulting, project management, quality assurance, and teaching experience. She has performed extensive work on the comparative histopathology of invertebrates and fishes, particularly carcinogenesis, as well as the relationships between adverse environmental conditions and diseases caused by pathogens and parasites. Dr. Peters, now an internationally recognized expert on comparative invertebrate histopathology who has published more than 40 articles in this field. No other coral reef scientist has this level of expertise in comparative histopathology and no other scientist has the extensive sets of histoslides and samples that Dr. Peters has collected of diseased and apparently healthy Acropora spp., nor has made arrangements with molecular and microbiology expert collaborators to work towards the goal of understanding why the Caribbean acroporids have been dying out since the early 1970s.
The two species of Acropora that are listed as threatened under the ESA have been devastated by diseases since the late 1970s. Histoslides are created from tissue samples obtained from the corals. These samples have been taken from healthy and diseased corals from multiple locations ranging throughout their range over the past 40 years. The tissue samples are then processed and prepared for reading under a microscope, producing a histoslide. The samples have been collected from multiple locations over the course of 40 years and represent the disease or health condition of that particular coral at that particular moment in time. No one else has collected these tissue samples. Because we cannot recreate the conditions in the environment at the particular time the sample was taken, the collection of slides is not reproducible. Dr. Peters is the only known scientist to have collected the amount of samples at the spatial extend to provide a range-wide understanding of the potential pathogens or sources of coral diseases.
Objectives
• Reading of histoslides of acroporid tissues from the following collections:
Late 1970's Florida Keys
1980-1981 Peters White Band Disease
2003 Florida Keys
Smith Broward County
Sutherland
Kline Panama
Carne Belize
2010 Key Largo
• Development of a database of the tissue and zooxanthellae condition and the presence of several parasitic and pathogenic microorganisms
• Preparation of a manuscript of the findings
The results of this project will be used to inform the recovery of the ESA-listed corals.
Tasks
Task 1 - Preparation of histoslides from recently collected acroporid tissues
The acroporid tissue samples recently collected will be prepared for reading by light microscopy.
Task 2 - Reading of histoslides
Histoslides of acroporid tissues will be read for tissue and zooxanthellae condition and the presence of parasitic and pathogenic microorganisms.
Task 3 - Database development
All data collected in Task 2 will be entered into a database for analysis.
Task 4 - Manuscript preparation
A manuscript of the findings of the study will be prepared.
Deliverables
Electronic copy of database and manuscript of the findings of the project.
Special Material Requirements
Tissue processing supplies and reagents including agarose, 10% EDTA solution, paraffin, hematoxylin and eosin, stains
Place of Performance
Performance will be at the Contractor's facility.
The proposed contract action is for services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302. The service will be acquired in accordance with Far Part 12 Commercial Items. This is not a small business set-aside. The NAICS code for this action is 813312. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all proposals received within three (3) calendar days after date of publication of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the agency. Interest parties are to provide the address, detailed capabilities statement, and references. Interest firms shall include, in writing, the company name, address, point of contact, telephone number, and business size; a statement regarding their capabilities and qualifications; and any additional supporting literature. If no affirmative responses are received, the government intends to issue a purchase order to the Island Green Build Association c/o Friends of Virgin Island National Park. Faxed information can be sent to 816-274-6983, Attn: Sharon Walker. The Eastern Region Administrative Division (CRAD), requires that all contractors doing business with the Acquisition Office must be registered with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). No award can be made unless the vendor is registered in CCR. For additional information and to register in CCR please access the following website: http://www.ccr.gov/. In order to register with the CCR and to be eligible to receive an award from this acquisition office, all offerors must have a Dun & Bradstreet Number. A Dun & Bradstreet number may be acquired free of charge by contacting Dun & Bradstreet on-line at https://www.dnb.com/product/eupdate/requestOptions.html or by phone at (800) 333-0505. The government now encourages all contractors to submit their Certification and Representation thru the on-line Business Partner Network (BPN). The BPN is the single source for vendor data for the federal government. Contractors should go on-line at www.bpn.gov. Award will not be made to any contractor that is not registered in CCR and BPN. Responses should be faxed to 816-426-7530. Attn: Sharon Walker.