Drought Stress Effects on Plant Water and Carbon Balance

This notice is published for informational purposes only and not as a request for competitive quotations. The USDA Forest Service Western Wildland Environmental Threat Assessment Center (WWETAC) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis under the authority 6.302-1 - only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements with Dr. David Grantz, University of California at Riverside to conduct research on O₃/drought interactive effects on plant water and carbon balance. Contractor must use a gas exchange system that concurrently measures ozone (O₃), water vapor, and CO₂ flux to and from the leaf at biologically relevant concentrations and at flow rates low enough to detect flux into and out of the leaf (in the range of 85 to 120 sccms). Only one gas exchange system of its kind exists globally, and is located in the contractor's lab. The proposed contractor is the only one capable of running or closely supervising the work with the novel gas exchange system. All responses from responsible sources will be considered. Responses must be submitted in writing within 15 calendars of publication of this notice.