PWS Tasks.doc

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

Senior Science Support for Safe Water Assessment for Microbial Pathogens and Toxicants and Subterranean and Dense Urban Environments Medical Research

UNITED STATES ARMY CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH (USACEHR)

In Transition to

Walter Reed Army Institute of ResearcH (WRAIR)

1.0. Background. The United States Army Center for Environmental Health and Research (USACEHR) has had the lead among the United States Army Medical Research and Development Command (MRDC) laboratories to address potential health effects resulting from exposures to environmental toxicants, hazardous materials, and pollutants. USACEHR researchers in the Environmental Health Program develop surveillance tools and countermeasures against adverse health effects that degrade Warfighter health and performance, to include products that assess responses to environmental toxicant/pollutant exposures in field drinking water and in dense urban and subterranean environments. USACEHR is currently in the midst of decommissioning where research activities and mission will be transitioned to and become part of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR).

2.0. Objective and Scope. The contractor will provide part-time (~0.65 FTE) senior level subject matter expertise and technical support for a number of collaborative research efforts as well as participate as a technical collaborator for in-house research and advanced development efforts within the Environmental Health Program at USACEHR as it transitions to WRAIR. During the transition USACEHR/WRAIR and subsequently will continue to have a requirement for a knowledgeable life scientist/subject matter expert (SME) with experience conducting and supporting the research efforts and programs related to the current and future research initiatives as listed below:

2.1. (Primary Task) Safe Water Assessment for Microbial Pathogens and Toxicants

2.1.1. Provide expertise and support for the programmatic development and down-selection of rapid coliform biosensors by providing technical review and support of the technologies that are currently under development by the Army to ensure that they will meet EPA Alternative Test Procedures for total coliforms and E. coli as well as meeting Army requirements for passage into advance development and ultimately fielding as an advanced technology to support the Water Quality Analysis Set – Preventive Medicine (WQAS-PM).

2.1.2. Provide expertise through prior experience and/or peer reviewed literature related to research methods and product development of rapid coliform detection methods (including chlorine stress procedures) as described above.

2.2. (Primary Task) Rapid Screening Methods for Therapeutics to Improve Soldier Medical Fitness and Performance in Subterranean Environments

2.2.1. Support the development of zebrafish models or other relevant models for high-throughput screening of novel or repurposed drugs to counter performance decrements resulting from claustrophobia, sleep deprivation, and hypoxia or other environmental extremes in subterranean (SubT) or dense urban environments.

2.2.2. Support the development of zebrafish models for assessing the toxicity of novel therapeutics as a screening process for preclinical drug candidates.

2.2.3. Responsibilities will require assisting with the design, conduct, analysis and publication of research and findings as peer reviewed literature and/or research reports and presentations.

2.2.4. Demonstration of expertise through prior experience and/or peer reviewed literature using fish models to support medical or toxicology research is desired.

2.3. Environmental Sentinel Biomonitor (ESB) and Aquatic Biomonitoring support

2.3.1. Provide subject matter expertise and support for ongoing advanced development efforts related to the fielding of the ESB and planned product improvements as well as ongoing CRADA activities supporting the Aquatic Biomonitor for homeland defense water security initiatives. The ESB is a cell-based toxicity sensor for drinking water developed at USACEHR that will be deployed as a component of the WQAS-PM. The Aquatic Biomonitor is a real-time toxicity sensor that uses bluegill fish for real-time water toxicity monitoring.

2.3.2. Provide subject matter expertise in product development and research methods through prior experience and/or peer reviewed literature related to the Environmental Sentinel Biomonitor and Aquatic Biomonitor systems.

2.4. Provide literature review and technical writing support

2.4.1. Support and maintain literature databases for the research initiatives above as well as other areas of research and development support relevant to the environmentally focused research mission of the Environmental Health Program at USACEHR.

2.4.2. Provide technical writing support for internal and peer reviewed publications, reports, research projects and proposals related to the Environmental Health Program mission.

3.0. Period of Performance. The period of performance shall be for one (1) year of 12 months and four (4) 12-month option years.

4.0. Desired Experience:

4.1. A senior research scientist with a PhD within one of the biological life sciences with over 10 years of combined experience in the following areas of scientific research and/or program management

4.1.1. Research and/or product development of rapid coliform detection methods including an understanding of the requirements and methods for EPA Alternative Test Procedures for total coliforms and E. coli (including chlorine stress procedures) research

4.1.2. Product development using fish models for toxicological and/or behavioral assessment expertise in product development

4.1.3. Research methods development related to the Environmental Sentinel Biomonitor and Aquatic Biomonitor systems.

4.2. Discriminating factors

4.2.1. Candidate should demonstrate qualifications through direct work experience in all of the areas mentioned above as well as through peer reviewed publications or other documents and reports that demonstrate expertise in all of the areas listed above.

4.2.2. The ideal candidate/contractor will have expertise in all of the areas listed above in order most effectively support the current Environmental Health Program mission at USACEHR.