SOLICITATION NOTICE
B -- Consulting Services for PM Data and Equipment Analysis
- Notice Date
- 4/7/2006
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- Environmental Protection Agency, Specialized Service Center, 26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268
- ZIP Code
- 45268
- Solicitation Number
- RFQ-OH-06-00112
- Response Due
- 4/22/2006
- Archive Date
- 5/22/2006
- Description
- NAICS Code: 541690 In accordance with FAR Part 12 Commercial Items and FAR Part 13 Simplified Procedures, the U.S. EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ), Assessment and Standards Division (ASD) requires a contractor to provide Indefinite Delivery / Indefinite Quantity Consulting Services for evaluation of a Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM)/Exhaust Flow Monitor (EFM)/Micro-Proportional Dilution System (MPS), Sunset OC/EC Analyzer, and Interpretation of Existing Field Data produced by these instruments in EPA projects. EPA has recognized the need for on-board vehicle exhaust particulate mass (PM) emissions measurement. Recent compliance actions against vehicle and engine manufacturers have demonstrated that mobile engine-powered equipment can be configured to emit low emissions under EPA test conditions, yet under "real-world" operating conditions, the equipment can emit 2 to 3 times EPA limits. Furthermore, EPA needs real-world PM emissions data to create realistic air-shed models of mobile source emissions. The National Academy of Sciences recently indicated that EPA must collect more real-world data in order to more accurately predict the effects of its own emissions regulations. To address these requirements, EPA is developing methods to continuously monitor vehicle exhaust PM emissions. EPA has identified a QCM/EFM/MPS and the Sunset OC/EC Analyzer as an on-board vehicle exhaust dilution system and PM monitor. Specifically, EPA is interested in determining performance at PM levels typical of both diesel and gasoline engines operated under the proposed 2007 regulations. The contractor shall (1) Be an educated resource on QCM instruments and data with an emphasis on QA/QC protocols. Data reduction of QCM data from a Kansas City emissions study is complete and has been provided in draft form to EPA for analysis. The contractor shall address questions that may arise concerning interpretation of the data and QA procedures for the data; (2) Consult on implementation of the on-board QCM/EFM/MPS systems for both laboratory tests and upcoming field tests of Heavy Duty vehicles. The QCM/EFM/MPS meets the ISO standard for partial flow dilution systems under transient test conditions (ISO 16183). EPA needs an experienced person familiar with using a QCM/EFM/MPS system for both laboratory and on-board tests with a vision toward developing an EPA transient test standard. This task may be accomplished with chassis-dyno tests at the EPA National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory (NVFEL). However, it is most likely to be accomplished in conjunction with an upcoming study of partial flow diluters and heavy duty vehicle tests at Southwest Research Institute (SWRI) in San Antonio, TX. The contractor shall also provide consultation on set-up and operation for both locations. The consultant shall also consult with the designer on the required post-processor program for the data; (3) The QCM/EFM/MPS prototype system includes a filter sampling system that complements the real-time operation of the QCM. In order to use this system to confirm QCM results, and provide a tool for vehicle certification, the systems must be equivalent. To determine equivalency, the contractor shall conduct a separate study; (4) Consult with EPA on the results of a temperature dependency test performed on the Kansas City study reference vehicles using both the QCM cart and the QCM/EFM/MPS. The temperature dependency tests were performed using both the QCM cart and the QCM/EFM/MPS. The resulting data on PM emissions came directly from the tail pipe through the CVS. To be effective the consultant shall consult with both the designer of the system and the people involved in the implementation of the system; and (5) Consult with EPA on use and interpretation of carbon analysis using the Sunset OC/EC analyzer. As part of the EPA off-road initiative, small engine tests require coarse hydrocarbon/elemental carbon speciation provided by OC/EC analysis. Operation of the Sunset OC/EC analyzer is straight-forward, but interpretation of the data is difficult. The contractor shall consult with EPA on the Sunset OC/EC analyzer and interpretation of data. This procurement is a small business set-aside under NAICS code 541690 with a size standard of $6,500,000. Award will be made using "Best Value" evaluation criteria. Any responsible source believing itself capable of providing the required Consulting Services may submit a fixed-rate proposal which shall be considered by the Agency. The solicitation will be posted on the Cincinnati Procurement Operations Division website at http://www.epa.gov/oam/cinn_cmd/ approximately 15 days after electronic posting of this synopsis. Questions regarding this solicitation should be submitted in writing to Scott Tharp via Fax (513) 487-2107 or email Tharp.Scott@epa.gov. See Note 1
- Record
- SN01023738-W 20060409/060407221333 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |