SOURCES SOUGHT
B -- Operation of Wolf Creede NADP/Air Monitoring Station
- Notice Date
- 4/27/2017
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, R-2 Rocky Mountain Region, 740 Simms Street, Regional Office, Golden, Colorado, 80401
- ZIP Code
- 80401
- Solicitation Number
- AG-82AK-S-17-0019
- Archive Date
- 5/16/2017
- Point of Contact
- Kim A Decker, Phone: 719-852-6211
- E-Mail Address
-
kdecker@fs.fed.us
(kdecker@fs.fed.us)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- The Rio Grande National Forest in the south central part of Colorado, is seeking sources for operation of the Wolf Creek National Atmospheric Deposition Program National Trends Network (NADP NTN) station located within the Wolf Creek Ski Area on National Forest Service (NFS) lands. The site was selected considering avalanche hazards, winter access, quantity of precipitation, and the opportunity to cooperate in station operations with the Wolf Creek Ski Area to minimize operating expenses and maximize the utility of data collected. The NTN is the only network providing a long-term record of precipitation chemistry across the United States. Sites predominantly are located away from urban areas and point sources of pollution. Each site has a precipitation chemistry collector and gage. The automated collector ensures that the sample is exposed only during precipitation (wet-only-sampling). Operation Protocols and Operator Responsibilities: Every Tuesday morning at 9:00 a.m., NTN site operators across the country head to their monitoring stations to retrieve their samples of the previous week ' s precipitation, whether rain, snow, or sleet. Site operator must follow standard operational procedures to ensure NTN data comparability and representativeness. They collect samples weekly on Tuesday morning, using only containers cleaned at the Central Analytical Laboratory (CAL) at the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS). The Operator weighs the collection bucket to determine sample volume and transfer the sample from the collection bucket to a shipping bottle. All samples are sent to the CAL for analysis, and data entry, verification, and screening. Samples are collected continuously in a wet deposition collector. The collector opens automatically during wet weather, allowing the precipitation to fall into a collection bucket, and then closes as soon as the precipitation stops. At the site, the operator replaces the collection bucket with one specially cleaned for the next sample. The operator then takes the sample to a field laboratory, where it is weighed. Next, the sample is transferred to a shipping bottle and sent to the CAL in Champaign, Illinois within 24 hours of the sample collection. Careful handling of precipitation samples from the field to the final review in the laboratory is critical to obtain precise data. Mishandled or compromised samples can easily become contaminated. Each site is also equipped with a weighing-bucket rain gauge that provides a continuous record of rainfall amounts. Rainfall is recorded to the nearest 0.01 in. The rain gauge also monitors the wet deposition collector, recording whether the collector was properly open during wet periods and closed during dry periods. The operator downloads the weekly precipitation measurements and electronically sends them to the CAL on a weekly basis within 24 hours of the data download. The operator also works with CAL directly to resolve any data discrepancies and/or sample contamination issues. Operator response to data issues should occur within two (2) weeks of receiving the CAL inquiry. Long-term continuity of data is critical to this precipitation monitoring network. Retaining the same site operator for long periods of time has the benefit of gaining maximum continuity of data quality, site operations and minimal QA/QC problems. Knowledge and Qualifications 1.Demonstrated extensive knowledge and experience with the standard operating procedures and protocols of a NADP station. 2.Demonstrated extensive knowledge and familiarity PLUVIO instrumentation. 3.Demonstrated knowledge and familiarity with solar power instrumentation. Central Analytical Laboratory (CAL) Responsibilities The CAL reviews field and laboratory data for completeness and accuracy, and flags samples that were mishandled, compromised by precipitation collector failures, or grossly contaminated. The CAL delivers all data and information to the NADP Program Office, which applies a final set of checks and resolves remaining discrepancies. Data then are made available on the NADP Web site. The CAL measures free acidity (H+ as pH), conductance, calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+ ), sodium (Na+ ), potassium (K+ ), sulfate (SO42-), nitrate (NO3+ ), chloride (Cl- ), and ammonium (NH4+). The CAL also measures orthophosphate, but only for quality assurance as an indicator of sample contamination. The CAL provides the expertise to troubleshoot any malfunctions of the sampling equipment and the precipitation gage. In the event of major sampling equipment failure, the CAL provides equipment and/or repairs. Rio Grande National Forest Responsibilities The Rio Grande National Forest (Forest) is the official Contact and Responsible Official for the Wolf Creek NADP NTN site. The Forest provides the annual funding required for labor to operate the site. The Forest provides funding to purchase materials that may be necessary to maintain the station platform and incidental materials needed to maintain the sampling equipment and rain gage. The Forest provides funds required to ship precipitation samples and equipment that may need repairs to the CAL. The Forest in cooperation with the Wolf Creek Ski area will rectify any physical site problems which do not meet NADP site requirements identified during CAL site inspections. An example, trimming or removing tall trees too close to the sampling bucket. If you are qualified to provide this service, please respond by email to kdecker@fs.fed.us with your company contact information by May 1, 2017 by 10:00 am. Vendors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) to be considered for award.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USDA/FS/82X9/AG-82AK-S-17-0019/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Wolf Creek Ski Area, South Fork, Colorado, 81154, United States
- Zip Code: 81154
- Zip Code: 81154
- Record
- SN04487612-W 20170429/170427234442-30d0d46ec22dcf4f4e63841de614172f (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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