US Env. Protection Agency, CMD-RTP MD-33 (NCCM-JS, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

R -- SUPPORT TO EPA QUALITY ASSURANCE DIVISION TRAINING PROGRAM SOL D700004M1 POC Jeffrey Simmons, Contract Specialist, (919)-541-3570/Barbara Stearrett, Contracting Officer, (919)-541-3570. The Environmental Protection Agency is performing a ''market search'' for a contractor to provide support to EPA in the development and implementation of quality assurance training programs for Agency personnel and to a lesser extent other cooperating federal and state personnel. Quality assurance is the process of management review and oversight at the planning, implementation, and completion stages of an environmental data operation to assure that the resulting data are of the quality needed and claimed. Quality assurance training focuses both on management issues (e.g., Quality Management Plan development) and on technical ones (e.g., statistics, design of field sampling activities). In order to further EPA's quality assurance training efforts, this procurement calls for support in the following areas: (1) development of courses and other training materials consistent with that strategy; (2) support for classroom instruction and other means of distribution of training materials; and (3) communication of QA training program to support QA implementation. The successful offeror will need to demonstrate a high degree of competence with the required procurement training programs, as well as familiarity with the management and technical issues associated with quality assurance for environmental data operations. EPA reserves the right to set this action aside for small businesses. The applicable SIC Code is 8748 with a size standard of $5 million in average annual receipts over the preceding three years. ALL INTEREST SMALL BUSINESSES SHOULD FURNISH STATEMENTS REFERENCING THEIR CAPABILITIES WITHIN FIFTEEN (15) DAYS OF THIS NOTICE. It is anticipated that a cost plus fixed fee/level-of-effort/work assignment contract will result from the award of this solicitation. The Government anticipates a level-of-effort of 13,000 direct labor hours per 12 months with four one year options of 13,000 direct labor hours per period for a total potential of 65,000 direct labor hours over 60 months. Small businesses are requested to submit appropriate documentation that demonstrates their capability to support this effort. This documentation should address as a minimum support for 1) development of QA courses and other training materials; 2) classroom instruction and other means of distribution of training materials; and 3) assistance in the preparation and presentation of technical training seminars and workshops, including development of PC-based software designed for key QA issues. It is anticipated that this solicitation will be issued on or around 11/25/96 and that proposals will be due approximately 12/27/96. This notice will be amended to indicate whether this action will be set-aside for small businesses or be processed under full and open competition. Interested parties may obtain a copy of the solicitation by submitting a written request. Telephone and FAX requests will not be honored. Firms must identify their size status when requesting a copy of the solicitation. Firms who fail to do so shall be considered to be large businesses. A limited number of copies are available. Only one copy shall be issued to a corporate entity, regardless of the number of request from one or more different geographic locations. A copy of the preliminary source list will be issued to all prospective offerors along with the solicitation. A separate request is not necessary. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which will be considered by the Agency. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using Part 12. (0302)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0056 19961029\R-0014.SOL)