The Water Research Foundation Releases RFQ for SARS-CoV-2 Sewershed Sampling Study

This week, The Water Research Foundation (WRF) released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to identify a research team to optimize sample design for the quantification of SARS-CoV-2 genes in sewage and wastewater. The research will encompass a range of scales by conducting a sampling and analytical program in multiple locations within well-characterized community sewersheds of varying size. This project was identified as a high-priority research need during WRF’s recent International Water Research Summit on Environmental Surveillance of COVID-19 Indicators. In addition to WRF funds, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation contributed $150,000 in funding to support this technical, research and development project.

The research team will develop an approach to understand the detection, variability, and dynamic range of SARS-CoV-2 genes in sewage and wastewater at three scales: a large urban sewershed, a medium-sized regional sewershed with small bore sewers, and a small regional system (e.g., rural township in the United States serviced by decentralized onsite systems, which will also help to inform potential approaches in remote and rural communities as well as low- to middle-income countries).

Please refer to the RFQ for a more detailed summary of the project, team qualification requirements, specific project objectives, and additional instructions.

Statements of Qualifications are due by 4:00 PM MDT on August 10, 2020. Please send RFQ submittals to RFQ5093@waterrf.org. If you have questions about this project, please contact Ashwin Dhanasekar, WRF Research Program Manager, at 303-734-3423.