SOLICITATION NOTICE
B -- ANALYSIS OF NON-STRUCTURAL CARBOHYDRATES IN SEAGRASS
- Notice Date
- 3/26/2004
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- Environmental Protection Agency, Ord Service Center/Nheerl, Rtp Procurement Operations Division, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
- ZIP Code
- 27711
- Solicitation Number
- RFQ-RT-04-00221
- Response Due
- 4/13/2004
- Archive Date
- 5/13/2004
- Point of Contact
- Point of Contact, Jennifer Hill, Purchasing Agent, Phone (919) 541-3083
- E-Mail Address
-
Email your questions to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(hill.jennifer@epa.gov)
- Description
- NAICS Code: 541380 THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMAT IN SUBPART 12.6, AS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS NOTICE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION. QUOTES ARE BEING REQUESTED AND A WRITTEN SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED. The solicitation number is RFQ-RT-04-00221, and the solicitation is being issued as a full and open competition Request for Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 01-20. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 541380, which has a size standard of $6.0 million to qualify as a small business, is applicable. A firm, fixed-price purchase order is anticipated to result from the award of this solicitation. This procurement is for the analysis of seagrass (Thalassia testudinum) root, rhizome and leaf samples to determine total nonstructural carbohydrates (starch, total soluble sugars). The samples were collected beginning in June 2002 and will continue to be collected through November 2004. The samples will be approximately 0.2 g of dried, ground plant material. There will be a minimum of 297 and maximum of 335 total samples. Sample quantities above the minimum will be ordered at the discretion of the government. Each sample will require two separate analyses for (i) starch and (ii) total soluble sugars and individual sugars. Samples will be shipped to the contractor through December 2004. The period of performance will be from date of award through March 1, 2005. The contractor will be responsible for digestion, extraction/filtration and analyte analysis. The successful contractor shall have demonstrated experience in the analysis of carbohydrates in plant material and shall employ methods and detection limits equivalent to those utilized by the references provided herein. The submitted proposal shall include a written QA Management Plan (QMP) equivalent to the EPA's requirement document (EPA QA/R-2: EPA Requirements for Quality Management Plans). A written Quality Assurance Project Plan equivalent to the EPA's requirement document [EPA QA/R-5: EPA Requirements for Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPP) for Environmental Data Operations (category 2)] shall be provided for the Project Officer's review and approval prior to the analysis of samples. These reference documents can be located at http://www.epa.gov/quality/qa_docs.html. The QAPP shall describe in detail all chemical methods, including expected recovery of all analytes, and all standard operating procedures used in these analyses. The basic minimum criteria include the following quality control samples for every 20 samples analyzed: (i) one laboratory method blank, (ii) laboratory control reference material(s) (equivalent to a certified reference material), and (iii) calibration curve(s). The minimum expected mean recovery efficiencies for non-structural carbohydrates is 95 % . The mean percentage recovery and variance of all analytes of interest and laboratory standard reference materials shall be documented in the QAPP and reported for each batch of samples. Method Detection Limits (MDL) requirements are provided in Table 1. The contractor shall re-analyze (at no additional cost to the Government) an entire batch of samples if (i) recovery results of the spike matrix are deemed unacceptable for the methods utilized or (ii) values for control reference materials differ by 10%. The contractor shall permit QA audit of laboratory and/or data entry procedures by an authorized agent of EPA at any time while conducting the analyses (given advanced notification). Results shall be reported on the basis of analyte g-1 dry weight and provided in an electronic form (disc or CD). The contractor shall also provide a hard-copy output of data files (e.g., spreadsheets) for the purpose of quality assurance. A written report detailing the methods used, and the results of QA measures shall also be provided by the contractor. The report is to be submitted to the EPA Project Officer within 60 days after receipt of the samples. Any laboratory notes discussing problems encountered shall be included as an appendix to this report. The contractor is required to transfer copies of all technical, fiscal, and programmatic files regarding this contract to the Project Officer. These files shall be boxed in accordance with Federal Record Keeping Standards in boxes required by the Records Center and labeled as "Analysis of Non-Structural Carbohydrates in Seagrass - Contractor Name / Contract Number" and contain an internal and external packing slip that identifies the specific contents of each box. The external packing slip shall be affixed to the exterior of the box. The contractor shall provide EPA with a quote on a per sample basis for each of the contract line items below, based on the number of samples projected for each line item. Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) One: The contractor shall perform non-structural carbohydrate analysis for the determination of starch in seagrass root, rhizome and leaf material (297 samples minimum; 335 samples maximum). CLIN) Two: The contractor shall perform non-structural carbohydrate analysis for the determination of total sugars in seagrass root, rhizome and leaf material (297 samples minimum; 335 samples maximum). Optional quantities up to the maximum amount of samples may be ordered at the discretion of the government. Applicable References and Table 1 are provided at the EPA website in the Statement of Work. The following FAR provisions apply to this solicitation: 52-212-1, Instructions to Offerors--Commercial Items; 52.212-2, Evaluation--Commercial Items. Evaluation criteria to be included in paragraph (a) of provision 52.212-2 are as follows: I. TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES CRITERIA: 1.) Provide a copy of QA/QC protocols, including plans for analyzing Certified Reference Materials. 2.) Provide a copy of QA Management Plan. 3.) Demonstrate previous experience with analysis of plant tissues for carbohydrates. 4.) Demonstrate previous analytical experience for EMAP or similar programs. 5.) Provide a brief explanation of methods used for each CLIN, with references, and expected MDLs. 6. Provide description of standards, calibration curves, check standards, and duplicate analyses used for QA/QC. 7.) Describe experience with similar size/scope projects. 8.) Ability to meet the deadlines for this project. 9.) Plan to submit a final report (electronic format) as required. 10.) Describe Record Management Program. II. PAST PERFORMANCE - Submit a list of 3 customers for whom like or similar sample analysis have been performed. Include specific points of contact and phone numbers. Past performance will be evaluated on 1) quality of product or service; 2) timeliness of performance (ability to adhere to deadlines); and 3) overall customer satisfaction. III. Price - Price will be evaluated inclusive of options. Offers must satisfactorily meet all of the technical requirements to be considered "technically acceptable." Award will be made to the offeror whose response is determined the lowest priced, technically acceptable. NOTE: The Technical Proposal shall be formatted to address each of the technical capabilities criteria in the same order as above. All offerors are to include with their offers a completed copy of provision 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications--Commercial Items. The following FAR clauses apply to this acquisition: 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions--Commercial Items; 52.246-11, Higher Level Contract Quality Requirement, 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders--Commercial Items and the following additional FAR clauses which are cited in Clause 52.212-5: 52.222-3, Convict Labor; 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities; 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity, 52.222-35, Affirmative Action for Special Disabled and Vietnam Era Veterans; 52.222-36 Affirmative Action for Handicapped Workers; 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era; 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer; 52.222-41, Service Contract Act of 1965, As Amended. Any applicable wage determination(s) will be made a part of the resultant purchase order. The completed Representations and Certifications should be included with the price proposal. All technical questions are to be forwarded via email to the Contracting Officer at the following email address: hill.jennifer@epa.gov. Offerors should review the Statement of Work and other information posted with this Request for Quotation on EPA's website at the following address: http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd. Scroll down to the REQUEST FOR QUOTATION section and click on the solicitation. Scroll down below that section to COMMERCIAL BUY CLAUSES AND FORMS which are provided for your convenience. Please submit two copies of the technical proposal and price proposal to Jennifer B. Hill, Contracting Officer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, RTP Procurement Operations Division (D143-01), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. Courier delivery address is U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Attn: Jennifer B. Hill, RTP Procurement Operations Division (D143-01), 4930 Page Road, Durham, NC 27703. All offers are due by April 13, 2004, 12:00 p.m., EDT. No telephonic or faxed requests will be honored.
- Record
- SN00555287-W 20040328/040326212750 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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