ISTRODUCnON AND BACKGROUND 



The SEFC has reqxsnsibility for an Emergency Invesdgnion inio the eoent, cause and effea of the 

 mass mortality of bottknose dolphins in the US Gulf of Mexico. Bottlenoce do^hins have been stranding at 

 about 3 times the normal rate along the Gulf of Mexico from north central Florida to south Texas smce the 

 fim of January (over 300 stranded dolphins have been observed). The majority of animals (circa 140) have 

 stranded along the Texas coast. A biotoxin was identiSed as a possible cause of the 1987-88 east coast 

 bottlenoce do^hin dieoS, and it is imperative that samples from the current dieoCT be analyzed for presence 

 of biotcodns. Chiral Corporation was selected to cany out the assays for brevetoxins, based on expertise in 

 the isolation and purification of these potent biotoxins. 



STATEMENT OF WORK 



The contractor shall complete analyses of bottlenose do^hin bver saiiq>les for brevetoxins for $2S0iX) 

 per sample NTE S12400 in a term of 6 months. The contractor shaD analyze available marine mammal liver 

 samples and fish samples selected by the NMFS OOTR, in consultation with the oontraaor and other 

 researchers. The contractor agrees to conduct analyses of fifty (SO) san^)les for individual brevetoxins. A 

 detailed schedule of activities wiD be provided by the contractor and agreed to by the OOTR before award. 

 The contraaor also agrees to the following award conditions. Award of this contract is contingent upon 

 acceptance by the CX)TR of the schedule and aU items identified by the OOTR below as award conditions 

 before contract items 1 through S. Rnal paymem is oontingem vpoa acceptance by the OOTR of aD items 

 identified below as Award Conditions Fioa] Report items 1 through 5. 



The contractor may submit biweekly invoices for saiiq>les analyzed, or may submit an invoice after all 

 tissues are analyzed. The final invoice shaD consist of a draft final iqxm which nieets the specifications of 

 aD items identified below as Award Conditions Final Rqiort items 1 throu^ 5. The draft final repon shaD 

 be received by Dr. T. Siekicki of the Southeast Fisheries Science Center. Comments on the draft need to be 

 incorporated into the final fqx>rt before final paymem can be made. 



NOTE: Subsequent to Award Notification, Dr. T. Siewicdd was replaced as OOTR by Dr. Sylvia 



Galloway. We operate under the assumption that Dr. Galloway shaO receive both the Draft and Revised Final 

 Report 



PRE- AWARD CONDITIONS 



1. Provide and agree to detaliled protocols for aD steps of sample preparation, extraction, purification, 

 bioassay, and chromatography. Details should be provided to allow any competent researcher to repeat aD 

 steps, (attached herein as ITEM #1] 



2. Provide rationale for methods that sippon the effectiveness of the methods for detection and 

 quantification of brevetoxins in marine mammal tissues, (attached herein as ITEM #2] 



3. Identifywhat samples to analyze based on proximity of impacted area, confirmed bloom, freshness of 

 carcass, case history (ind. pertinent Uological dau), proper handling and norage of the sample. AD samples 

 wiD be coded and provided Mind to the contractor. A total of ten suitable control and qiiked-oontrol samples 

 wiD be included in the total (attached as ITEM #3]. 



4. Documentation of experience, expertise, and p ro fiden^ of of brevetoxin analyses of tissue samples 

 for aD persoiuiel must he provided. Similarly drtailrd documentation must be provided for any subcontractors 

 to be used. Approval of subcontractois by the OOTR is required before award, (attached as ITEM #4] 



5. Spediy amount of tissue needed for each analysis and any tpedai collection, handling or storage 

 procedures required. 



U6 



