SOLICITATION NOTICE
Q -- Analysis of Sediment and Water Samples
- Notice Date
- 11/16/2011
- Notice Type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- NAICS
- 541380
— Testing Laboratories
- Contracting Office
- RTPPODUS Environmental Protection Agency109 T.W. Alexander DriveMail Code: E105-02Research Triangle ParkNC27709USA
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- RFQ-RT-12-00032
- Response Due
- 12/2/2011
- Archive Date
- 1/1/2012
- Point of Contact
- Jeffery Clodfelter
- E-Mail Address
-
Clodfelter.Jeffery@epa.gov
(Clodfelter.Jeffery@epa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMAT IN FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (FAR) SUBPART 12.6 'SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS', AS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS NOTICE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION. QUOTATIONS ARE BEING REQUESTED AND A WRITTEN SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED.This solicitation was originally issued as Small Business set-aside as SOL-NC-11-00026 and the solicitation is being amended a full and open competition Request for Quotation (RFQ) as RFQ-RT-12-00032 using FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 05-41. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 541380 ? Testing Laboratories, which has a size standard of $12.0 million to qualify as a small business, is applicable. This procurement is for the analysis of sediment and water samples. The Government intends to award a firm fixed-price contract for a 36 month period of performance for a minimum of 90 sample analyses and a maximum of 2200 sample analyses. The analysis will consist of the following Organophosphorus Pesticides, Chlorinated Pesticides, PCBs, Mercury, Trace Elements, TPH, SHC and Biomarker/PAH. Statement of Wo rk: BACKGROUND: This research develops and evaluates spatially-explicit population models of the sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus) that can be used for population risk assessment of physical and chemical stressors. This research is conducted under the EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD) Safe Pesticides/Safe Products multi-year plan in response to Office of Pesticide Program?s need for more realistic population modeling tools for ecological risk assessment. In response to that need, EPA?s Gulf Ecology Division (GED) is using data collected from areas affected by the Deepwater Horizon Oil spill to develop contaminant exposure and effects layers for population models. This work includes 1) analysis of collected sediment from oil-impacted areas in Barataria Bay, LA and 2) analysis of water samples from chronic toxicity testing of sheepshead minnow exposed to oil-contaminated sediment in the laboratory. OBJECTIVE: This procurement requests the analysis of sedime nt and water samples to be tested for TPH, saturated hydrocarbons, biomarkers, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their alkylated homologs (alkyl PAH) as well as standard analytes including organics and metals. Sediment grab samples were collected throughout Barataria Bay, Louisiana in December 2010 and are currently stored frozen (-4?C) in Gulf Breeze, Florida. For laboratory toxicity tests, 15 gallons of sediment were collected from both Barataria Bay and Choctawhatchee Bay, FL (reference site), and are currently stored frozen at GED. Analyses requested through this contract will also include sediment samples used in laboratory toxicity studies of the sheepshead minnow, as well as water added to the sediment during exposure. Water samples will only be those collected from the water column of toxicity studies. Samples will be shipped to the contractor for analyses. Task Description: SubTask 1: Level 1 Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP). The Contractor shall develop and deliver a Level 1 QAPP to the Contracting Officer?s Representative (COR) within one week after award. SubTask 2: Analysis of organics and metals in sediment samples. Suggested analytes (Table 1) and detection limits (Table 2) are listed below. Analytical methods used by NOAA?s National Status and Trends (NS&T) or Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) are preferred. Minor amendments to the appended list are acceptable as a means of increasing efficiency when alternate standard suites of analytes are appropriate. EPA may request analysis for a combination of the available analyses offered. Contractor shall provide analysis for the minimum number of samples ordered with additional samples ordered at the discretion of EPA, not to exceed the maximum indicated in the contract. SubTask 3: Analysis of TPH, saturated hydrocarbons, and alkyl PAHs on sediment samples. The contractor shall analyze a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 250 sediment samples for organic s and metals as well as TPH and saturated hydrocarbons (SHC) to determine a subset of sediment samples to be analyzed for oil biomarkers and alkyl PAHs (Table 3). TPH, SHC and subsequent PAH/biomarker analyses will be conducted on samples provided by EPA. The contractor shall analyze samples for TPH and SHC by mass spectrometry (e.g., SIM mode; EPA method SW 846 8015). The contractor shall provide a QA report with each sample batch. Batches of samples will range from 10-50 samples per batch. Samples shall be analyzed within 60 days. Subtask 4: Analysis of TPH, saturated hydrocarbons and alkyl PAH fingerprinting on water samples. The contractor shall analyze a minimum of 10 and maximum of 100 water samples for TPH, SHC, biomarkers (e.g., pristane/phytane, terpanes olyprenoid compounds), and alkyl PAHs (Table 3). Saturated hydrocarbons, TPH, and PAH analyses will be conducted on different samples provided by EPA. The contractor shall analyze samples for saturated hydrocarbons, TPH and SHC by mass spectrometry (e.g., SIM mode; EPA method SW 846 8015. The contractor shall provide a QA report with each sample batch. Batches of samples will range from 10-25 samples per batch. Samples shall be extracted within 6 days and analyses conducted within 30 days of receiving samples. DELIVERABLES: Deliverables required shall be an Excel spreadsheet to be provided by the contractor to the EPA COR at the conclusion of each batch of samples. Interpretation of results shall be provided to the COR, as will the writing of the report. An existing Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) program in place at the contractor?s laboratory shall document accuracy and precision, calibration, detection limits, processing methods, analytical methods, acceptability criteria, and data reporting. Per batch routine analysis is required. The contractor shall submit Quality Assurance/Quality Control protocols to the EPA COR prior to sample analysis. Contractor laboratories sh all permit QA audits of analysis and/or data entry at any time during analysis, with advanced notification. Results shall be provided as a hard copy as well as in electronic format for quality assurance purposes. Contractor shall report methods used in sufficient detail for scientific publication as well as results from QA measures. Reports are to be provided to EPA within 60 days of receiving the samples, including problems encountered within an appendix. The contractor shall re analyze (at no cost to the Government) the entire batch of samples if QA results are deemed unacceptable for the methods utilized. Contractor shall retain original records of laboratory analysis for at least three years following completion of contract to provide to EPA upon request. Samples shall be retained for 90 days following analysis. The COR will notify the contractor within 90 days of receipt of report if any analyses are to be repeated. Any laboratory notes discussing problems encounte red shall be included as an appendix to each report. Copies of original records, such as laboratory notebooks and chromatograms, shall be sent to the EPA upon completion of the contract. COSTS: EPA will pay to ship samples to the contractor via overnight shipment. Reanalysis of samples resulting from laboratory QA issues will be at the cost of the contract laboratory. EPA may select up to 10% of samples for re-analysis for QA purposes. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The period of performance shall be 36 months from the date of contract award. The following FAR provisions apply to this solicitation: 52.212 1, Instructions to Offerors Commercial Items, FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation ? Commercial items. Evaluation criteria to be included in paragraph (a) of provision 52.212-2 are as follows: A.TECHNICAL CRITERIA: 1. Adequacy of QA/QC protocols provided, including plans for analyzing Certified Reference Materials or equivalent and adequacy of Records Management Program. 2. Demonstrated e xperience with analysis of sediment and water samples for metal and organic analyses specified in the SOW. (Tables 1 and 3). 3. Demonstrated use of the analytical methods specified or comparable methods in projects of similar size and scope. 4. Demonstrated ability to meet the target MDLs as specified in Table 2 of the Statement of Work and specify in detail which method will be used for each analysis. B. PAST PERFORMANCE: Submit a list of 3 customers for who like or similar sample analysis have been performed within the past 2 years. 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 overall customer satisfaction. C. PRICE: The Government intends to award a single contract to the responsible offeror whose technically acceptable proposal offers the 'Best Value' to the Government price and other factors considered. For this requireme nt, 'best value' will be determined based on technical criteria, past performance and price. Only those offerors submitting technically acceptable quotations shall be considered for award. For this requirement, Technical Criteria and Past Performance are significantly more important than price. All offerors are to complete the On-line Representations and Certifications at https://orca.bpn.gov/. In accordance with FAR 52.204-7(b)(1)Central Contractor Registration, all prospective awardees shall be registered in the CCR database prior to award, during performance, and through final payment of any contract or purchasing agreement resulting from this solicitation. 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. The following additional FAR clauses which are cited in c lauses 52.212 5 are applicable to the acquisition: 52.219-6 Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside; 52.219-28, Post Award Small Business Program Representation; 52.222-3 Convict Labor, 52.222-21 Prohibition of Segregated Facilities, 52.222 26, Equal Opportunity; 52.222 35, Affirmative Action for Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era; 52.222 36, Affirmative Action for Handicapped Workers; 52.222 37, Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era; 52.222-50 Combating Trafficking in Persons; 52.225-13 Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases; 52.232 33, Payment by Electronic Fund Transfer-Central Contractor Registration; 52.222-41 Service Contract Act of 1965, As Amended; 52.222-42 Statement of Equivalent Rates for Federal hires. Any applicable wage determination(s) will be made a part of the resultant contract. All technical questions are to be forwarded to the Contracting Specialist at the following email address: Clodfelter.j effery@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. Arrow down to the CURRENT SOLICITATIONS section and click on the solicitation. ALL FURTHER INFORMATION RELATED TO THIS SOLICITATION WILL BE LOCATED AT THE EPA WEBSITE. Please submit two copies each of the technical and price proposal (including pricing sheet) to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, RTP Procurement Operations Division, Attn: Jeffery Clodfelter (E105-02), 4930 Old Page Road, Durham, NC 27703. All offers are due by December 2, 2011, 12:00 p.m. (noon), ET. No telephonic or faxed requests will be honored. E-mail proposals are acceptable and should be e-mailed to: clodfelter.jeffery@epa.gov
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