Phormidium Toxicology

Details

Tender Closed
RFx ID :	17273574
Tender Name :	Phormidium Toxicology
Reference # :	0620-01-RFP
Open Date :	Thursday, 3 March 2016 8:00 AM (Pacific/Auckland UTC+13:00)
Close Date  :	Monday, 4 April 2016 12:00 PM (Pacific/Auckland UTC+12:00)
Department/Business Unit :	Procurement & Contracting
Tender Type :	Request for Proposals (RFP)
Tender Coverage :	Sole Agency  [?]
Categories :	77000000 - Environmental Services
Regions:	New Zealand
Exemption Reason :	None
Required Pre-qualifications :	None
Contact :	Jillian Kuch procurement@mfe.govt.nz
Alternate Physical Delivery Address  :
Alternate Physical Fax Number  :
Agency Address :

Phormidium is a benthic cyanobacteria (slime that grows on riverbeds) that can produce toxins. We need to better understand how the toxins work so that we are able to estimate the health risk to humans.

This procurement relates to the delivery of research to understand the toxicity of anatoxins.

This is a critical step in developing a National Objectives Framework (NOF) attribute/s that relate to managing toxic algal blooms.
Phormidium is a benthic cyanobacteria (slime that grows on riverbeds) that can produce toxins. New Zealand has other toxic benthic cyanobacteria, but Phormidium appears to be the most ubiquitous and problematic taxa, particularly in rivers. The toxins (anatoxins) are considered a human health risk potentially through ingestion and through skin contact. Each summer there tends to be media focus on dogs dying as a result of ingesting Phormidium.
MfE commissioned a literature review in 2015 to summarise existing knowledge on benthic cyanobacteria and associated toxins. Following this, the panel of benthic cyanobacteria experts was reconvened to discuss the report of the literature review. This enabled data gaps to be identified and prioritised. Understanding the toxicity of the four anatoxin variants associated with Phormidium blooms is a significant gap that needs to be addressed to allow the development of NOF attributes that relate to Phormidium.

The four variants of anatoxins Phormidium is known to produce are anatoxin-a (ATX), homo-anatoxin-a (HTX), dihydro anatoxin-a (dhATX) and dihydro-homo-anatoxin-a (dhHTX). Ultimately we seek to understand the maximum non-toxic dose of the anatoxin variants for humans.

IMPORTANT
All questions must be submitted electronically by 1:00pm, 11 March 2016 and all Proposals must be submitted electronically by 12:00pm (noon), 04 April 2016 via the GETS eTender box function. Please refer to the RFP document for information. If any issues arise with uploading your proposal please contact The Ministry for the Environment immediately.

This tender has been awarded to:

• Cawthron Institute

Award Date: Wednesday, 15 June 2016 (Pacific/Auckland UTC+12:00)
Date RFx was completed/updated: Wednesday, 15 June 2016 9:56 AM (Pacific/Auckland UTC+12:00)