B--Long-term Health Consequences to Troops Exposed to Burning Wastes in Open Pitts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction intends to award a firm fix price contract on a sole source basis to the National Academy of Sciences, 500 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001 under the authority of FAR 6.302-5(c)(1)(iii)(B). The Department of Veterans Affairs Health Administration intends to acquire research, analysis, and study support services on science, technology and health policy issues in support of the Office of Public Health and Environmental Hazards to evaluate the potential long-term health consequences to troops exposed to smoke from burning wastes in open pits in the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. FAR 6.302-5(c)(1)(iii)(B) provides sole source authority for "any contract requiring the National Academy of Sciences to investigate, examine, or experiment upon any subject of science or art of significance to an executive agency and to report on these matters to the Congress or any agency of the Federal Government." The National Academy of Sciences has been identified as the only source that can provide the measure of expertise, independence, objectivity, and audience acceptance necessary to meet the program requirements of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Public Health and Environmental Hazards.