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FBO DAILY - FEDBIZOPPS ISSUE OF OCTOBER 06, 2017 FBO #5796
DOCUMENT

H -- RFI Service - Legionella Water Testing - STC - Attachment

Notice Date

10/4/2017
 

Notice Type

Attachment
 

NAICS

541380 — Testing Laboratories
 

Contracting Office

Department of Veterans Affairs;Network 23 Contracting Office (NCO 23);113 Comanche Rd.;Fort Meade SD 57741
 

ZIP Code

57741
 

Solicitation Number

VA26317N1210
 

Response Due

10/13/2017
 

Archive Date

10/18/2017
 

Point of Contact

Chad Raterman
 

E-Mail Address

7-7027<br
 

Small Business Set-Aside

N/A
 

Description

RFI Description Legionella Sampling / Testing and Dental Waterline Sampling /Testing Performance Work Statement Legionella Sampling Requirements: General Procedures for Legionella Sampling: The contractor shall furnish all personnel, supervision, equipment, supplies, facilities, certifications, transportation, and resources necessary to perform Legionella water testing. The contractor must furnish all sample collection equipment. Containers must be sterile, appropriate for the analysis, properly preserved, and promptly transported to the laboratory under strict chain of custody procedures. The contract shall collect and analyze water samples from distal points (sinks and showers) and ice or water from ice machines on the St. Cloud VA Health Care System campus included in the contract. Testing of the building s hot and cold water distribution system(s) for L. pneumophila must be performed quarterly (once per Federal Fiscal Year quarter, plus or minus 10 calendar days from the date of the last performance of regular quarterly service). Extensions may be granted for unforeseen conditions and for other factors outside of the contractor s control. Water samples must be taken from outlets on the hot water distribution system and outlets on the cold-water distribution system from each building for each quarterly testing cycle. NOTE: Outlets are the points in the water distribution system where the end user comes in contact with the water (e.g., faucet, showers, and ice machines). Water samples will be taken at first draw to catch the water that comes out immediately from the outlet and will be at least 250 ml. At the time, each water sample is taken, test (measure) and document the following for each sample: water temperature after it reaches a stable temperature, level of residual biocide (performing the proper testing for the site based on type of biocide), and pH. This documentation needs to be provided with the analysis results. Non-routine sampling (outside of the quarterly sampling) may be conducted as needed. The St. Cloud VA Health Care System is allowed non-routine samples numbering up to 10% of the total samples taken from each health care system annually. If sampling over this amount is needed by healthcare systems, the contractor will provide a fixed price for the sampling equipment and analysis and for the collection of samples for each healthcare system. The cost of this sampling will be added to the overall price of the contract. Additional sampling will be conducted upon approval by the Contracting Officer s Representative. For non-routine sampling, the contractor must be able to sample within 24 hours of being notified of the need to sample. Samples of at least 1000 ml may be required. Water samples will be taken at first draw to catch the water that comes out immediately from the outlet. Swab sampling may be conducted along with the water sampling for non-routine sampling. Swab sampling will be done in accordance with VHA direction and in accordance with direction from the laboratory where the samples will be analyzed. The specific sampling location and type of sample (e.g. hot water or cold water) will be specified by COR and/or Health Care System Point of Contact. Specific distal points sampled will vary per quarter, so communication with the Health Care System Point of Contact will be required before the round of sampling each quarter or before non-routine sampling in order to ensure that the contractor knows the locations of sampling. Sample Collection, Storage, and Transferring of Analysis: Samples will be collected, stored, and transferred as directed by the COR or by the laboratory. For routine sampling, water samples need to be at 250 ml. For non-routine sampling, water samples of at least 1000 ml may be required. Water samples will be taken at first draw to catch the water that comes out immediately from the outlet. Each water sample will be collected in a sterile, unused, HDPE or HDPP plastic leak-proof container provided by the testing laboratory. The following parameters will be measured and logged with each water sample is collected: water temperature upon reaching a stable temperature, level of residual biocide, and pH. Samples will be stored and transferred for analysis in a manner that will maintain the integrity of the samples. Samples will be secured to prevent cross-contamination. Samples need to arrive at the testing laboratory within the time frame defined by the ELITE laboratory. Sample Analysis and Reporting: The testing laboratory processing the water samples for Legionella must be certified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Environmental Legionella Isolation Techniques Evaluation (ELITE) program as proficient at performing the culture of Legionella from environmental samples. The limit of detection must be < = 1 CFU/ml. The full 250 ml volume of potable water must be concentrated for routine quarterly testing. The full 1000 ml volume of potable water must be concentrated for non-routine testing. The testing laboratory must retain samples that test positive for Legionella for 30 calendar days and must release them to the healthcare system if requested. Information about ELITE certified laboratories can be found at https://wwwn.cdc.gov/elite/Public/MemberList.aspx. The testing laboratory must also be able to determine if the Legionella detected in environmental samples is the species Legionella pneumophila and whether it is serogroup 1. Quantify L. pneumophila and identify the presence or absence of other Legionella species. NOTE: rapid testing method, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) are not permitted. In addition to the CDC ELITE certification, the laboratory SHALL have environmental microbiology accreditation by a nationally recognized accrediting body, such as EMLAP, NELAP, etc. Proof of certification must be provided before acceptance of contract. Provide all sample analysis reports via e-mail to COR and Health Care System Point of Contact. Notification of any positive sampling results will be made within two working days of making this determination. Analytical reports shall include a signed copy of the chain of custody, identification of sampling locations and conditions, including the specific outlet temperature of water at the time the sample was collected, pH, biocide residual levels, method detection limits, and a description of test methodology. Sample reports need to be provided in a format that can be copied into the VHA Legionella sampling results reporting form. Sample analysis reports must be provided within 15 calendar days of the lab receiving the samples. If the 15th day falls on a weekend or federally observed holiday, the reports shall be provided no later than the next normal business day. The testing laboratory shall have qualified technical support staff for consultation relative to water sample collection, testing, and interpretation of results. Procedures for Sampling for Safe Drinking Water Compliance for Dental Waterlines: a. General Requirements and Procedures for Sampling of Dental Waterlines: Sampling equipment and lab analysis will be provided to the Dental Clinic for testing their waterlines for compliance with the EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standard for potable water and the Infection Control Standards for VA Dental Clinic, dated 21, October 2013. Sampling analysis will be for total colony forming units (cfu) of heterotrophic water bacteria per milliliter of water. The Contractor will furnish sterile bottles that are appropriate for the analysis, properly preserved, and promptly transported to the facilities. The Contractor will furnish appropriate shipping containers for the transportation of samples to the laboratory. The bottles will be marked to indicate what facility they are supplied to and a unique identifying number for that facility and for the sample. Comprehensive instructions on how samples will be collected, preserved, and transported to the laboratory for analysis will be provided to each facility covered under the contract. The laboratory will follow strict chain of custody procedures upon the receipt of the samples from the facilities. Sampling is required on a quarterly basis for each waterline in the St. Cloud Medical Center Dental Clinic, which is located at 4801 Veterans Drive, St. Cloud, MN 56303. samples will be taken during quarterly sampling. Non-routine sampling (outside of the quarterly sampling) may be conducted as needed. The health care system is allowed non-routine samples numbering up to 10% of the total samples taken annually. If sampling over this amount is needed by the healthcare system, the contractor will provide a fixed price for the sampling equipment and analysis. Additional sampling will be conducted upon approval by the Contracting Officer s Representative. The cost of this sampling will be added to the overall price of the contract. For non-routine testing, sampling bottles and supplies must be received the requesting Dental Clinic within 2 business days of being notified of the need to sample. The laboratory that processes the water samples will be certified by the Environmental Protection Agency or a State environmental protection agency to perform environmental sampling. Proof of certification must be provided before acceptance of the contract. The laboratory will utilize the Standard Spread Plate Method 9215C using R2A agar. Sampling results will report the number of colony forming units of heterotrophic water bacteria per milliliter of water (cfu/ml), readings of less than 10 or greater than 500 may be recorded as 500 cfu/ml. The testing laboratory shall have qualified technical support staff for consultation relative to water sample collection, testing, and interpretation of results. SECURITY REQUIREMENTS: The Contractor will be responsible for ensuring compliance by its employees with all VA procedures governing building access and security. Contractor personnel will be escorted by VHA personnel at all times. The COR will assist Contractor personnel in obtaining requisite identification badges to enter the facilities and collect samples. All Contractor employees and subcontractors under this contract or order are required to complete the VA's on-line Privacy and HIPAA Focused Training  -  TMS Code 10203. Contractors must provide signed certifications of completion to the COR during each year of the contract.   This requirement is in addition to any other training that may be required of the contractor and subcontractor(s). Contractor staff is required to conform to VHA s security and privacy requirements as described below: The Contractor will be responsible for ensuring compliance by its employees with the security regulations of VA, VHA and other Government installations or Contractor facilities where work is performed under this Contract. This includes the safekeeping and display of a Government-provided photo ID badge for employees of the Contractor and any subcontractors while these employees are on VHA property. The Contractor will ensure the security of all VHA property, building ID badges, key cards, and standard keys issued to Contractor staff. For employees leaving the project permanently or for an extended period of time, the Contractor will return all badges, property, key cards, parking placards, and keys, etc. the same day the employees leave the project. Background Investigations will be required for the performance of this contract. The C & A requirements do not apply, and a Security Accreditation Package is not required. EMPLOYEES Contractor employees shall present a professional appearance at all times and their conduct shall not reflect discredit upon the United States and or the VA/VHA. The Government may, at its sole discretion, direct the contractor to remove any contractor employee from U.S. VA/VHA facilities for misconduct or for security reasons. Removal does not relieve the Contractor of the responsibility to continue providing the services required under any Contract awarded. The Contracting Officer will provide the contractor with a written explanation to support any request to remove an employee. The Contractor shall not employ any person who is an employee of the United States Government if that employment would appear to cause a conflict of interest. SUBCONTRACTS No portion of the work shall be subcontracted without prior written consent of the Contracting Officer. Please Note: If the contractor desires to subcontract some part of the work specified herein, the contractor shall furnish the Contracting Officer with the names, certifications, and qualifications, and Subcontracting plan. The Contractor shall, however, remain fully liable and responsible for the work to be done by his subcontractor(s) and shall assure compliance with all requirements of the contract. TYPE OF CONTRACT: The government anticipates award of a Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) Contract. If you are interested, please send your information to: Chad.Raterman@va.gov DISCLAIMER This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked as proprietary will be handled accordingly. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI.
 

Web Link

FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/VA/VABHHCS568/VABHHCS568/VA26317N1210/listing.html)
 

Document(s)

Attachment
 

File Name: VA263-17-N-1210 VA263-17-N-1210_1.docx (https://www.vendorportal.ecms.va.gov/FBODocumentServer/DocumentServer.aspx?DocumentId=3833502&FileName=VA263-17-N-1210-001.docx)

Link: https://www.vendorportal.ecms.va.gov/FBODocumentServer/DocumentServer.aspx?DocumentId=3833502&FileName=VA263-17-N-1210-001.docx

 

Note: If links are broken, refer to Point of Contact above or contact the FBO Help Desk at 877-472-3779.
 

Place of Performance

Address: St. Cloud VA Medical Center;4801 Veterans Drive;St. Cloud, MN.

Zip Code: 56303
 

Record

SN04706334-W 20171006/171004231356-4d46ad42fc944cd38914907fdbff933a (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

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

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