U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Contracts Management Division (MD-33), Attn: ORDSC, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

A -- GULF ECOLOGY DIVISION ANALYTICAL SERVICES-PENSACOLA BAY STUDY SOL QQ7001 DUE 070798 POC Sya Mayes (919) 541 3416 WEB: click here for references/tables, http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd. E-MAIL: click here to contact the contract specialist via, mayes.sya@epa.gov. THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMAT IN SUBPART 12.6, AS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS NOTICE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION; QUOTES ARE BEING REQUESTED AND A WRITTEN SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED. The solicitation number is QQ7001 and the solicitation is being issued as a Request for Quote (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-03. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) anticipates that the contract will be awarded as a result of full and open competition. A firm-fixed-price contract is anticipated to result from the award of this solicitation. The contractor shall conduct analysis of 32 sediment samples for organic and elemental contaminants. The samples were collected during the summer of 1997 for the Gulf Ecology Division's assessment of the condition of Pensacola Bay. These samples are currently stored at the EPA laboratory located in Gulf Breeze, FL. EPA will ship samples to the successful contractor for analysis. There are approximately 500 ml of sediment, frozen in a clean glass container for each sample. Subsamples for both organic and inorganic analyses will be taken from the same containers. The successful contractor shall have 1.) demonstrated experience in the analysis of these analytes (see references) in marine sediments, and 2.) shall employ methods equivalent to those utilized by the National Status and Trends (NS&T) Program under NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) or EPA's EMAP (Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program). Prior to contract award, 3.) the contractor shall demonstrate the ability to meet the required method detection limits (see tables) and shall also 4.) provide applicable reference material results. The vendor is required to 5.) submit a copy of their Quality Management Plan and Quality Assurance/Quality Control protocols to the EPA Project Officer prior to the analysis of samples. The contractor shall permit a QA audit of laboratory and/or data entry procedures by an authorized agent of EPA at any time during the conduct of analyses (given advance notification). Results shall be reported in an electronic format (ASCII or compatible spreadsheet). A copy of the cover letter which accompanies the results shall be sent to the EPA Contracting Officer. The contractor shall also provide a hard-copy output of data files (i.e. spreadsheets) for the purpose of quality assurance. A written report detailing the methods used and the results of QA measures shall also be provided by the contractor. Any laboratory notes discussing problems encountered shall be included as an appendix to this report. Original records, such as laboratory notebooks and chromatograms, shall be retained for at least three years following final report submission, as they may be requested to be sent to EPA. The contractor shall provide EPA with a cost estimate on a per samplebasis. ITEM 0001: The contractor shall perform chemical analyses on 32 marine sediment samples. The analytes of interest and method detection limit requirements are listed in Tables 1-5 . Note that MDL calculations follow EPA's "Definition and Procedure for the Determination of the Method Detection Limit-Revision 1.11", 40 CFR Part 136, Appendix B. Analytical methods utilized by the NS&T or EMAP programs (see references) or equivalent shall be utilized in order to meet the specified method detection limit and performance criteria. A Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) program shall be in place at the contractor's laboratory, and shall address, at a minimum, the following topics: accuracy and precision; calibration; detection limits; physical processing of samples; analytical methods utilized; QA/QC samples, including all acceptability criteria; and data reporting. Routine analysis, i.e. on a per batch basis, of Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) is required. Results for the samples shall be reported to the EPA Project Officer no later than 120 days after contract award. Proposals will be evaluated using the following technical capabilities criteria: 1.) QA/QC protocols, including plans for analyzing CRMs; 2.) Demonstrated analytical experience in similar analyses (i.e. NS&T, EMAP, similar programs); 3.) Proposed methodology to include demonstrated ability to meet MDLs; 4.) Experience with similar size/scope projects; 5.) Past performance -- provide 3 references; 6.) Report preparation and records management. Award will be made to the lowest priced offer meeting all of the technical requirements. The following FAR provisions apply to this solicitation: 52.212-1, Evaluation-Instructions to Offerors-Commercial; 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Item. Evaluation criteria to be included in paragraph (a) of provision 52.212-2 are as follows: (i) technical capability to meet the Government requirements; (ii) past performance; (iii) price, in decreasing order of importance. Technical and past performance, when combined, are significantly more important than price. 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 clause applies 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: 52.203-6, Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government, with Alternate I; 52.203-10, Price or Fee Adjustment for Illegal or Improper Activity; 52.219-14, Limitation on Subcontracting; 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity, 52.222-35, Affirmative Action for Special Disabled and Vietnam Era Veterans; 52.222-36 Affirmative Action for Handicapped Workers; 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era; 52.225-3, Buy American Act -- Supplies; 52.222-41, Service Contract Act of 1965, As Amended. Cost and technical information should be submitted in separate proposals. Please submit three copies of offers to Sya M Mayes, Contract Specialist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, MD-33, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. Courier Delivery Address is: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Receptionist-Administration Bldg. Lobby, Attn: Sya M. Mayes, 79 Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. All offers are due by July 9, 1998, 4:30 p.m. EST. Offers/bids received after the exact time specified will not be considered. No telephonic or faxed requests will be honored. References/Tables can be found at http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd. (0169)

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