The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers intends to award a sole source cost (completion form) type contract to Michigan State University to provide services to further investigate the development of biomarkers for assessing in situ RDX biodegradation potential. The goal of the original project was to identify the microorganisms able to degrade RDX in situ and develop molecular tools so that the presence and abundance of these organisms can be investigated at different contaminated sites. The project involved the screening of ten soils for RDX degradation and the development and application of SIP to identify RDX degraders. This SIP approach has two distinct advantages i) RDX degradation can be investigated in mixed cultures and environmental samples (more typical of contaminated site conditions) and ii) only active organisms are targeted. RDX degradation activity was noted in six of the ten soils and degradation occurred only under anaerobic conditions. The SIP experiments involved exposing soil microcosms to labeled RDX, DNA extraction, DNA ultracentrifugation (to separate the labeled nucleic acid from the unlabeled background nucleic acid), terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) and 16S rRNA gene sequencing to identify the organisms responsible for label uptake from RDX. Partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated the organisms responsible belonged to either the Sphingobacteria or the Acidobacteria. These bacteria have had no previous links to RDX degradation, indicating the discovery of novel RDX degraders. Given that the proof-of-concept that SIP could be used to identify in situ RDX degraders in complex, mixed culture samples was proven successful, it was determined that a follow up effort is needed to identify the microorganisms responsible for the degradation of the environmental contaminant RDX using the molecular method SIP which will aid in the prediction of the potential for natural attenuation of RDX contamination.

Although much is known about pure cultures able to degrade RDX in the laboratory, ER-1606 confirmed that SIP could be used to identify in situ RDX degraders in complex, mixed culture samples allowing members in the scientific community with a means to better understand the microorganisms responsible for RDX degradation at contaminated sites which could provide a line of evidence for RDX natural attenuation. After conducting the initial limited-scope work under this project, it was determined that a follow up effort is needed to identify the microorganisms responsible for the degradation of the environmental contaminant RDX using the molecular method SIP. The work is important because the microorganisms responsible for in situ RDX degradation are unknown. Greater understanding of the microbiology and biochemistry responsible for RDX biodegradation in situ would improve the ability to predict and monitor the success of natural attenuation. The identification of key biomarkers that are consistently found in samples where RDX degradation is occurring will provide a third line of evidence for natural attenuation that is currently not available.

Michigan State University is uniquely qualified as they worked on the initial limited-scope effort to identify the microorganisms able to degrade RDX in situ and develop molecular tools so that the presence and abundance of these organisms can be investigated at different contaminated sites.

This is a special notice prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii)(A), Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. However, any firm that believes it can meet this requirement may give written notification to the Contracting Officer within 15 days from the date of publication of this announcement. Supporting evidence must be in sufficient detail to demonstrate the ability to comply with the requirement. Responses received will be evaluated; however, a determination by the Government to compete the proposed procurement based on the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. If no responses are received, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will proceed with awarding a Cost type contract to Michigan State University for Development of Biomarkers for Assessing In Situ RDX Biodegradation Potential. These services will be provided to the Strategic and Environmental and Development Research Program Office, Arlington, VA. Point of Contact for this requirement is Jonathan Current at [email protected], 7701 Telegraph Road, Alexandria, VA 22315.

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