SOLICITATION NOTICE
B -- Consultation for Air Quality Science Assessment for Sulfur Oxides: Epidemiologic Studies of Mortality
- Notice Date
- 8/30/2006
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- Environmental Protection Agency, Ord Service Center, 26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268
- ZIP Code
- 45268
- Solicitation Number
- RFQ-OH-06-00226
- Response Due
- 8/31/2006
- Archive Date
- 9/30/2006
- Description
- NAICS Code: 541620 NCEA TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES This is a combined synopsis/request for quote (RFQ) for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. The identifying RFQ number is RFQ-OH-06-00226. The RFQ and incorporated provisions/clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 05-11. This requirement is 100% set-aside for small businesses. A firm fixed price purchase order is anticipated to result from the award of this RFQ. The NAICS code is 541620, and the size standard is $6.5 million. STATEMENT OF WORK I. Project Identification: Consultation for Air Quality Science Assessment for Sulfer Oxides : Epidemiologic Studies of Mortality II. Period of Performance: September 2006-September 2008 III. Type of Purchase Order: Firm Fixed Price (inclusive of all travel costs and fees) IV. Estimated Level of Effort: 217 hours for Tasks 1-8 (50 hours for Optional Task 9-10) BACKGROUND The Clean Air Act requires periodic review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). As part of this process, the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Research and Development (ORD) review and integrate new scientific information on the pollutant in a Science Assessment (SA), historically known as an Air Quality Criteria Document (AQCD). The EPA is now in the process of reviewing the NAAQS for sulfur oxides (SOx). On April 30, 1971, the EPA promulgated primary NAAQS for SO2 at 0.14 parts per million (ppm), averaged over a period of 24 hours and not to be exceeded more than once per year, and 0.030 ppm annual arithmetic mean based on the findings outlined in the original 1970 AQCD, Air Quality Criteria for Sulfur Oxides. In 1982, EPA published the Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter and Sulfur Oxides along with an addendum of newly published controlled human exposure studies, which updated the scientific criteria upon which the initial standards were based. A second addendum presenting newly available evidence from epidemiologic and human controlled exposure studies was published in 1986 followed by a supplement to the second addendum in 1994. On April 26, 1988, the EPA announced its proposed decision not to revise the standards for SOx. In that notice, the Administrator also solicited comment on an alternative of adding a 1- hour primary standard of 0.4 ppm. On November 15, 1994, the EPA proposed not to revise the 24 hour and annual standard but solicited comments on adding a new 5-minute standard of 0.60 ppm, with one expected exceedance. The final decision on May 22, 1996 stated that revisions of the NAAQS for SOx was not appropriate at that time. The schedule for the current review of the NAAQS for SOx is the subject of ongoing litigation and will eventually be established as a court-ordered schedule. The EPA's proposed schedule includes a commitment for completion of the SOx SA by September 2008, in order to provide the scientific basis for re-evaluation of the SOx air quality standard. The EPA's proposed schedule also includes a number of target dates for interim steps in the development of the SOx SA, including completion of the first draft of the SOx SA by June 2007. The scientific information on SOx shall be reviewed and summarized in a Science Assessment Support Document (SASD) and the Science Assessment (SA). The first draft of the SASD will be reviewed at an authors review meeting sponsored by the EPA. This draft SASD will be revised to produce a peer review draft that shall be reviewed by peer reviewers at a public meeting. Peer review comments will be incorporated in the draft final SASD. After the peer review comments are incorporated to the draft final SASD, the SA (a focused integrative document) shall be prepared as an external review draft for review by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) of the EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB), and for public comment. The EPA anticipates preparing two drafts of the SOx SA for public and CASAC review, before completion of the final SOx SA. NCEA is seeking to retain the professional services of scientists to assist with the review, critical evaluation summary and integration of the available scientific database on SOx physical and chemical properties, measurement methods, environmental sources, concentrations, and pathways to human exposure, environmental effects, toxicological and human effects, and an evaluation of health risks to include public health significance. Under this order, the EPA seeks the professional services of an expert scientist(s) to accomplish the tasks described in the statement of work, with respect to assessing human health risks from SOx exposure. ***Note: Due to the length of the SOW, Technical Evaluation Criteria, and Attachments 1-4, the EPA could not post the entire information to the Fed Biz Ops website. If a contractor or consultant is interested in this requirement, please submit a request in writing via email to Courtney Whiting at whiting.courtney@epa.gov requesting an electronic copy of the SOW, Technical Evaluation Criteria and Attachments. All requests for these documents need to be submitted by close of business September 13, 2006. The following clauses apply to this request for quote: FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items; FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation-Commercial Items, and the specific evaluation criteria: (See Technical Evaluation Criteria attachment) Offers shall provide information to demonstrate/substantiate that its quote meets the requirements in the Statement of Work; FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations & Certifications-Commercial Items, shall be completed by offeror and submitted with quote, unless the offeror's registered with CCR; FAR 52.212-4, Contract terms & Conditions-Commercial Items; The following FAR clauses in paragraph (b) of FAR clause 52.212-5, Contract Terms & Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items will apply, 52.222-3, 52.222-19, 52.222-21, 52.222-26, 52.222-35, 52.222-36, 52.222-37, 52.225-13. FAR 52-225-1, FAR 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-Central Contractor Registration; all clauses can be found at: http://farsite.hill.af.mil/VFFARA.HTM. In addition, the following US EPA EPAAR clause is applicable to this RFQ: EPAAR 1552.233-70, Notice of Filing Requirements for Agency Protests, and 1552.211-79, Compliance with EPA Policies for Information Resource Management. These EPAAR clauses are available at http://www.epa.gov/oam/ptod/epaar.pdf. The government anticipates award, using simplified acquisition procedures, of a purchase order resulting from this solicitation to the responsive/responsible offeror whose quote conforms to the solicitation, and is most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. Offers shall submit 1 copy of their quotation that references RFQ-OH-06-00180, no later than September 15, 2006 at 3:00 PM (EST) to Courtney R. Whiting, at whiting.courtney@epa.gov or via fax at 513 487-2107. Questions or comments may also be directed to Courtney Whiting, at 513 487-2002, or at whiting.courtney@epa.gov. The last day for Technical Questions is September 11, 2006.
- Record
- SN01130401-W 20060901/060830221831 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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