SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- This procurement is to acquire Natural Organic Matter (NOM)
- Notice Date
- 4/29/2013
- Notice Type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- RTPPODUS Environmental Protection Agency109 T.W. Alexander DriveMail Code: E105-02Research Triangle ParkNC27709USA
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- RFQ-RT-13-00049
- Response Due
- 5/13/2013
- Archive Date
- 6/12/2013
- Point of Contact
- Jeffery Clodfelter
- E-Mail Address
-
Clodfelter.Jeffery@epa.gov
(Clodfelter.Jeffery@epa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- 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 number is RFQ-RT-13-000049 and the solicitation is being issued as a 100% SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE competition Request for Quotation (RFQ) using FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 05-55. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 541712 ? Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences which it has a size standard of 500 employees to qualify as a small business, is applicable. This procurement is to acquire Natural Organic Matter (NOM). The Government intends to award a firm fixed-price contract for an 8 month period of performance. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT: The contractor shall conduct laboratory field work (on location at a surface water location or surface water locations proposed and accepted by the U.S, EPA) to prepare concentrated natural organic matter (NOM). Chemical disinfection of drinking water is a major public health triumph of the 20th century, resulting in significant decreases in morbidity and mortality from waterborne diseases. Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) are chemicals formed by the reaction of oxidizing disinfectants with NOM and inorganic chemicals in the source water. To date more than 600 unique DBPs have been identified. Despite this massive identification effort, much of the mass of total organic halide (TOX) formed as a result of disinfection remains unidentified. The quantified DBPs account for typically less than 50% of TOX when considering disinfection with chlorine and much less of the TOX when considering disinfection with chloramine. Quantitative concentration data are t ypically available for between 20 and 30 compounds, including the four regulated THMs, the five regulated and four other chlorinated and brominated haloacetic acids (HAAs), four haloacetonitriles, aldehydes, chloral hydrate, chloropicrin, and bromate. Historically, most other DBPs have been identified by qualitative analyses only; thus, the size of the unknown fraction is large. In contrast to the large number of DBPs that have been identified, few of the known DBPs have undergone toxicological investigations usable for risk assessment. It is not possible to conduct toxicological evaluation of all known DBPs or even a sizable fraction of them. Even if this could be accomplished, a chemical-by-chemical approach would not provide information on either interactions among and between the DBPs or the toxicity of the unidentified fraction. Additional motivation for research with complex mixtures comes from the fact that while most experimental animal toxicity data are from sin gle-chemical studies, human epidemiological studies provide data on exposure to DBP mixtures. Some human epidemiological studies show positive, but weak, associations between human exposure to chlorinated water and such adverse health effects as increased spontaneous abortions, increased duration of menstrual cycles, stillbirth, low birth weight, small-for-gestational age infancy, birth defects, bladder cancer and colon/rectal cancer. Thus, to address potential health concerns that cannot be answered directly by toxicological research on individual DBPs or defined DBP mixtures, toxicological research with environmentally realistic complex mixtures of DBPs is needed. Such research can only be conducted with disinfected natural organic matter (NOM). PURPOSE: The contractor shall identify surface water sources and prepare concentrated NOM from those identified sources. While the need for toxicological research with concentrates of NOM is recognized, the availability of concentrates has severely limited progress in developing an improved understanding of the potential human health risks associated with consumption and use of water disinfected with oxidizing agents. Data are needed that provide insights into the relative toxicity of disinfection of the same source water with different disinfection scenarios. Such information may help guide water treatment plants as they change disinfectant strategies to ensure compliance with regulatory limits on the concentrations of DBPs in finished water. The goal of this requirement is to provide NOM that will enable the necessary toxicological research. SPECIFIC ELEMENTS OF THE STATEMENT OF WORK: Task 1. QA plan. Within 3 weeks of award of the contract, the contractor shall provide a QA plan as described under Interim Deliverable 1. Task 2. Preparation of Powdered, Concentrated NOM. The contractor shall use reverse osmosis techniques, electrolyte dialysis and drying techniques to prepare concentrates of NOM suitable for use in both in vivo and in vitro toxicology studies. The contractor shall conduct field studies and produce water concentrates using reverse osmosis techniques from the water sources identified by the Contractor. These concentrates shall, either in the field or in the laboratory, undergo electrodialysis for removal of electrolytes; then, the NOM contained in the concentrates shall be dried into powder. Note that the NOM must be concentrated during the higher NOM months of the year (May, June, July, August, September, October) and must be collected, concentrated and prepared in 2013. The contractor shall c ollect information on the actual water source(s) from which the NOM is being concentrated, along with information on the volumes filtered per unit time and total water filtered as well as information on the starting total organic carbon concentration, the final total organic carbon concentration, the volumetric concentration factor, the concentration factor based on the increase in total organic carbon, and the inorganic characterization of the NOM (the concentrations of bromide, iodide, aluminum, arsenic, barium, beryllium, calcium, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, hardness) shall be included. NOM must be isolated from a minimum of 150,000 liters of water, with a minimum yield of 1.6 kilograms of NOM produced. DELIVERABLES: The contractor shall submit the following deliverables to the EPA in the form of a written report: Interim Deliverable 1. (associated with Task 1: QA plan) The first interim deliverable shall consist of a quality assurance plan, specific to the performance of the Statement of Work, for preparation of NOM. The QA plan shall cite appropriate references and shall include the number of reverse osmosis units to be used in the effort, their capacity in terms of volume of water filtered per hour and the manufacturer of the unit. The same information (number of units, capacity, manufacturer) shall be provided for any electrodialysis units to be used in the project. The procedure for removal of water shall be specified in detail. The level of detail shall be consistent with that contained in a standard operating procedure. Interim deliverable1 is due 3 work weeks (15 working days) after award of the contract. Interim Deliverable 2 (associated with Task 2: NOM prep aration) The second interim deliverable shall consist of specific information on the water source(s) and their locations, with data on total organic carbon, natural constituents such as bromide and iodide and potential or actual background contaminants that may be concentrated along with the NOM. Information shall be included on known public and/or private water utilities that draw their source water from the proposed source at the proposed location. If the utility/utilities request confidentiality the Contractor must withhold the utility/utilities name. The second interim deliverable shall be due 6 work weeks (30 working days) after award of the contract. Interim Deliverable 3: (associated with Task 2: NOM preparation) The third interim deliverable shall consist of a progress report on NOM concentrate preparation. The report shall include information on the actual water source(s) from which the NOM is being concentrated, along with information on the volumes filtered pe r unit time to date, total water filtered to date, and the projected amount of water to be filtered over the course of the sampling cycle. Preliminary information on the starting total organic carbon concentration, the final total organic carbon concentration, the volumetric concentration factor, the concentration factor based on the increase in total organic carbon, and the inorganic characterization of the NOM (the concentrations of bromide, iodide, aluminum, arsenic, barium, beryllium, calcium, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, hardness) shall be included. The third interim deliverable shall be due no earlier than 15 working days and no later than 45 working days after beginning of NOM concentration at the field location.Final Deliverable: The final deliverable shall be the concentrated NOM, with data detailing the specifics of its preparation, such as the starting total organic carbon concentration, the final total organic carbon con centration, the volumetric concentration factor, the concentration factor based on the increase in total organic carbon, and the inorganic characterization of the NOM (the concentrations of bromide, iodide, aluminum, arsenic, barium, beryllium, calcium, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, hardness). US EPA RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. The U.S. EPA will review and approve the interim deliverables and the final deliverable. If revisions are required to either the interim or final deliverables, the U.S. EPA will provide comments within 15 business days of receipt of the draft deliverable. The EPA will provide review comments via teleconference with the contractor and the EPA will follow up with a written summary. OPTIONS FOR ADDITIONAL WORK: The options (1,2 and 3) for additional work must be exercised during the collection phase of the NOM (May-October 2013) and the contractor shall perform preparation of Powdered, Concentrated NOM outlined in Task 2 of the SOW and shall submit the associated deliverables. Option 1 is for concentration of an additional 15,000 liters of water, with a minimum yield of 0.16 kilograms of NOM produced. Option 2 is for concentration of an additional 30,000 liters of water, with a minimum yield of 0.32 kilograms of NOM produced. Option 3 is for concentration of an additional 30,000 liters of water, with a minimum yield of 0.32 kilograms of NOM produced. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The period of performance shall be 8 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: 1.TECHNICAL APPROACH: Demonstrated technical approach of performing the requirements of the Statement of Work. Specifically, the offerors shall provide details regarding their technical approach with the types of studies outlined in the Statement of work, including the minimum amount of water processed and the expected yield of NOM. The technical approach should include details on the water source(s) and locations proposed to be used to fulfill the requirements of the Statement of Work and any required permissions for use of this water source. The details shall include such data as dissolved organic carbon, total organic carbon, expec ted carbon losses, bromide levels, iodide levels and potential or actual background contaminants that may be concentrated along with the NOM and other information specific to the proposed water source relevant to successful completion of the Statement of Work. The contractor shall include information on known public and/or private water utilities that draw their source water from the proposed source at the proposed location. 2. Qualifications of Personnel: The offeror shall provide specific, relevant experience and availability for the personnel in accordance with the SOW. Offerors will be evaluated on the adequacy of the types of personnel, their experience and their educational background as it relates to the SOW. Relevant experience in successful NOM production shall be provided, including, where available, publications demonstrating proficiency in the proposed methods and techniques. 3. Past Performance: Submit a list of up to 3 customers for whom like or similar activ ities have been performed within the past 3 years. Include specific points of contact, phone numbers and e-mail addresses. 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. Lack of past performance shall be considered as neutral. 4. 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 requirement, 'best value' will be determined based on technical approach, qualifications of personnel, past performance and price. For this requirement, technical approach, qualifications of personnel, 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 SAM 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 clauses 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.jeffery@epa.gov. Technical questions are due by May 6, 2013. 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 May 13, 2013, 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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