Nitrite and Nitrate Pesticide Residues in Pig Tissues—In-Life Animal Study with Tissue Residue Analysis and Tissue Residue Storage Stability

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service seeks a study and testing services.  The scope of this proposed contract will include drafting a study protocol, laboratory testing, data analysis, final report writing, and quality assurance review of the study in accordance with EPA OPPTS 860.1480 and 860.1380, and EPA FIFRA GLP requirements.

Services involvethe detection of nitrite and nitrate residues in tissues from domestic pigs administered technical grade sodium nitrite by oral gavage. Specific tasks included are:

1. GLP characterization of the test animals’ domestic pig commercial maintenance feed for nitrite and nitrate.
2. Characterization of the test animals’ drinking water for nitrite and nitrate.
3. Analytical method validation and characterization of test dosing solutions for sodium nitrite.
4. In-life animal phase administration of technical grade sodium nitrite by oral gavage in domestic pigs, followed by collection of muscle, adipose, liver, and small intestine tissues for analysis of nitrite and nitrate residues following EPA Residue Chemistry Test Guidelines OPPTS 860.1480 (1) as modified by the USDA-provided study design.
5. Analysis of nitrite and nitrate tissue residues using the USDA-provided LC-UV methods for pig muscle, adipose, liver, and small intestine tissues collected during the in-life animal phase. This analysis will follow EPA Residue Chemistry Test Guidelines OPPTS 860.1480 and analytical methods provided by the USDA.
6. Storage stability (30-day) evaluation of nitrite and nitrate residues in pig muscle, adipose, liver, and small intestine tissues collected during the in-life animal phase per EPA Storage Stability Guidelines OPPTS 860.1380 (2). 

All tasks listed above must be conducted following EPA FIFRA regulatory requirements for Good Laboratory Practice Standards (GLPs; 40 CFR 160) (3).

The NAICS code for this procurement is 541940, with a small business size standard of $8M.  A solicitation will be issued this week on an unrestricted basis.  Questions concerning this synopsis should be directed to Jim Roloff, contracting officer, by email at james.g.roloff@usda.gov.