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FBO DAILY - FEDBIZOPPS ISSUE OF JUNE 13, 2015 FBO #4950
SOURCES SOUGHT

B -- RAZORBACK SELENIUM EFFECTS STUDY

Notice Date

6/11/2015
 

Notice Type

Sources Sought
 

NAICS

813312 — Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations
 

Contracting Office

BIA NAVAJO 00009301 WEST HILL ROOM 346Contracting OfficeGallupNM87301US
 

ZIP Code

00000
 

Solicitation Number

A15PS00740
 

Response Due

6/22/2015
 

Archive Date

7/22/2015
 

Point of Contact

Mary Jane Johnson
 

E-Mail Address

Mary Jane Johnson, Contracting Officer
(maryajne.johnson@bia.gov)
 

Small Business Set-Aside

N/A
 

Description

SOURCES SOUGHT The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Navajo Region, Branch of Acquisitions is issuing this sources sought synopsis as a means of conducting market research to identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support this requirement for selenium toxicity studies for aquatic organisms. The result of this market research will contribute to determining the method of procurement. The applicable North American Industry Classification System 813312, Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations $15.0 THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AT THIS TIME. This request for capability information does not constitute a request for proposals; submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary; the government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred. If your organization has the potential capacity to perform these contract services, please provide the following information: 1) Organization name, address, email address, Web site address, telephone number, Dunn and Bradstreet number (DUNS) and size and type of ownership for the organization; and 2) Tailored capability statements addressing the particulars of this effort, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability. If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capability, organizations should address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements. The government will evaluate market information to ascertain potential market capacity to 1) provide services consistent in scope and scale with those described in this notice and otherwise anticipated; 2) secure and apply the full range of corporate financial, human capital, and technical resources required to successfully perform similar requirements; 3) implement a successful project management plan that includes: compliance with tight program schedules; cost containment; meeting and tracking performance; hiring and retention of key personnel and risk mitigation; and 4) provide services under a performance based service acquisition contract. BASED ON THE RESPONSES TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE/MARKET RESEARCH, THIS REQUIREMENT MAY BE SET-ASIDE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES OR PROCURED THROUGH FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION, and a single award will be made. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions. Submission Instructions: Interested parties who consider themselves qualified to perform the above-listed services are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice by June 22, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. Mountain Standard Time. All responses under this Sources Sought Notice must be emailed to maryjane.johnson@bia.gov. If you have any questions concerning this opportunity please contact: Mary Jane Johnson at maryjane.johnson@bia.gov. The Government does not guarantee questions received after Monday, June 15, 2015 will be answered. APPENDIX 1: Purpose and Objectives BACKGROUND: This study is being funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to support various consultations with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. Water quality concerns associated with irrigation return flows from projects such as the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project (NIIP) were first identified in the preliminary findings of a Department of Interior study (DOI 1991). This study did find low level pesticide contamination in the San Juan River but the concentrations were below concentrations of concern. Of the contaminants found, only selenium (Se) was found to be directly associated with NIIP. Rehabilitation is planned for the San Juan Irrigation Systems along the Hogback and Fruitland Canals where Se loading from irrigation returns flows is also a concern. Selenium will also need to be addressed in upcoming consultations due to lease renewals for the PNM San Juan Generating Station and the APS Four Corners Power Plant, both located west of Farmington. Within the San Juan River, there are two endangered fish species, razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus) and Colorado pikeminnow (Ptycocheilus lucius), and one candidate species, roundtail chub (Gila Robusta). Studies by Hamilton and Buhl (1995, 1996) demonstrate that Se toxicity is highest for razorback sucker larvae, followed by flannelmouth sucker (Catostomus latipinnis), and Colorado pikeminnow (least sensitive). Since the razorback sucker is the most Se sensitive endangered fish in the San Juan River, by determining the appropriate chronic Se toxicity threshold for razorback sucker the Colorado pikeminnow will also be protected. The razorback sucker is one of the largest suckers in North America; growing up to 3 feet long and weighing up to 13 pounds. Breeding males turn gray-black with an orange belly. They were listed as endangered under federal law in 1991. The razorback sucker critical habitat includes the San Juan River and its 100 year flood plain from Neskahai Canyon in Lake Powell to the Hogback diversion dam (Bliesner and Lamarra 1999). The overall goal of this study is to determine the chronic tissue residue Se threshold that impairs overall reproductive health and vigor of the razorback sucker in the San Juan River. This will be accomplished by developing a Se dose-response curve for razorback suckers, determining the chronic effects of Se on hatchability, teratogenicity, growth, survival, and reproduction of razorback sucker from a range of combined waterborne exposure and dietary organic selenium exposure, relating these effects to razorback sucker egg Se concentrations in a controlled setting. Another aspect of this study that should be addressed within the proposals is how the laboratory based dose-response curve and chronic toxicity results for razorbacks can be extrapolated to wild San Juan River razorback sucker skeletal muscle Se concentrations so that the San Juan River razorback sucker Se toxicity can be easily monitored by collecting muscle plugs. Mathematical relationships for Se concentrations between muscle plug and whole body and muscle plug and egg shall be developed for San Juan River razorback sucker. This shall be similar to the work done by Osmundson and Skorupa on other species (Osmundson, 2011). These mathematical relationships must be applicable to the San Juan River. PROJECT REQUIREMENT: All standard operating procedures (SOPs) used in this study shall comply with the Good Laboratory Practice outlined in the latest Federal Register (40 CFR 160). Fish used in the study shall be treated according to all current state, federal, and institutional guidelines. The frequency of teratogenic deformities in early development stages of fish continues to be the most useful indicator of Se toxicity. Thus, this is very similar in objective and design to the Colorado pikeminnow Se toxicity study conducted by Hamilton and Buhl (2000), except this study will examine razorback sucker Se toxicity. Proposals shall make recommendations as to the need and importance to mimic the water chemistry of the San Juan River. This raises questions on how to address the interaction of other constituents specific to the San Juan River that could have antagonistic or synergistic effects on Se toxicity. Recommendations to mimic or not mimic the San Juan River water chemistry shall be well documented. At minimum, the basic chemistry (major cations and anions, electrical conductivity and pH typical of the winter flow conditions in the San Juan River at Shiprock, should be maintained in the treatment water. If further mimicry is suggested, the proposed scope of work shall describe how antagonistic and synergistic effects on Se toxicity will be addressed. Listed are the key components recommended for this study. Some of these components were derived from the Hamilton and Buhl (2000) protocol. These are only recommendations and the proposal can deviate from these components as long as justification for doing so is included: Securing and Handling of Fish; Adult Exposure Study Phase; Egg Viability Study Phase; Larvae Viability Study Phase; Development of Mathematical Relationship; and other requirements. 1. INFORMATION REQUESTED: Private firms, government agencies and universities seeking qualification to receive a request for proposal shall meet the following minimum requirements: a. Facility Each entity submitting qualifications shall have under their control a facility adequate for holding adult razorback suckers in a controlled and safe environment for the duration of the study. The facility shall have suitable equipment for preparing feed and maintaining water quality to meet the study objectives. It shall also be suitable for spawning adult fish, incubating eggs and rearing larval fish as required by the study. Submitters shall provide full documentation of the facilities they plan to use for this study. Laboratory(ies) used for water, feed and tissue analysis shall be listed in the submittal and must be EPA certified. b. Qualified Staff Each submitter shall identify all key individuals that will participate in the study. They shall provide an organization chart showing the relative positions anticipated and the name of staff to fill each position. They shall also submit a resume (maximum of 2 pages) for each key individual on the organization chart (laboratory technicians excepted.). The principle investigator shall have at least 10 years experience in similar toxicology work and must have experience with Se in native species in the Colorado River System. Other key staff shall have at least 5 years experience in similar toxicology work. Experience with Se in razorback sucker is desired, but not required. Experience related to this study shall be included in the resume of each key staff member. c. Demonstrated Experience on Similar Studies Each submitter must demonstrate the successful completion of at least one chronic toxicity study of similar scope utilizing the facility and principal investigator proposed, completed in the last 10 years. In addition, the principle investigator shall have the minimum experience stated above. Each submitter shall provide a copy of the report for one of the studies completed and a list of all similar studies completed within the last 10 years and the client for which they were completed. Submitters shall also submit a summary of other relevant studies completed that may be different in scope, but demonstrate capacity to complete the scope of work. 2. ANTICPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Delivery 2 year after receipt of the Notice to proceed.
 

Web Link

FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOI/BIA/RestonVA/A15PS00740/listing.html)
 

Place of Performance

Address: BIA - Navajo Indian Irrigation Proj304 North Auburn, Suite BFarmingtonNM87401USA

Zip Code: 87401
 

Record

SN03761901-W 20150613/150611235659-b745cd50b2cb11cb60c1245b3249f04d (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)

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