U.S. Department Of Energy, Idaho Operations Office, 850 Energy Drive -- MS1221, Idaho Falls, ID 83401-1563

A -- ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH AT THE IDAHO NATIONAL ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORY SOL DE-SC07-99ID13658 DUE 111398 POC T. Wade Hillebrant, Contracting Officer (208) 526-0547 WEB: Click here to access the DOE Idaho solicitations web, http://www.id.doe.gov/doeid/solicit.html. E-MAIL: Click here to e-mail the contracting officer., hillebtw@id.doe.gov. The U.S. Department of Energy, Idaho Operations Office intends to issue a solicitation in anticipation of making one financial assistance award for environmental monitoring and ecological research of geographical areas peripheral to and on the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL). The INEEL is located on 890 square miles in southeast Idaho at the northeast reaches of the Snake River Plain. Within the complex are nine major applied engineering, interim storage, and research and development facilities. The services required include: 1) Wildlife, habitat and vegetation surveys, studies and research; 2) offsite surveillance including sample collection and analysis of air, water, soil, milk, wheat, lettuce, and meat (domestic and wildlife) for radionuclides including the analysis and reporting of data obtained; 3) sitewide research about endangered wildlife species, pollutants in the environment, and revegetation, and; 4) diverse, but program specific research projects, including a demonstration of a biobarrier for environmental restoration or waste management areas, assessment of iodine 129 levels in the environment and impact of effluent disposal in lined ponds. Estimated cost for the services is approximately 1.67M to 1.9M per year. The services are currently being provided by the Environmental Science and Research Foundation (ESRF) of Idaho Falls, Idaho. The agreement with the ESRF is soon to expire. In addition to being able to complete the work objectives, proposing entities must have oversight participation by regional and State of Idaho educational institutions. Certain environmental data generated by the work is provided to DOE Headquarters, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State of Idaho. With oversight participation by state and regional stakeholders, state and public confidence in INEEL operations is enhanced. Much of the ecological research work is performed by subcontract to state and regional educational institutions. Hence, questions concerning data validity is diminished and the objectivity and independence (from DOE) of the work are ensured. The competitive procurement approach will occur under DOE financial assistance procedures at 10 CFR Part 600. "Financial Assistance" means the transfer of money or property to a recipient or subrecipient to accomplish a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by federal statute. This is accomplished via awards of grants and cooperative agreements. Refer to 10 CFR 600.5(b) for a definition and a discussion of cooperative agreements. (10 CFR Part 600 and DOE's "Financial Assistance Guide" may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.pr.doe.gov/faregs.html). The statutory authority for this action is Section 102 of the DOE Organization Act, as amended, P.L. 95-91. It is anticipated that one award of a cooperative agreement will result from the solicitation. No profit or fee will be paid under the award, as required by financial assistance procedures. This work falls within the definition of financial assistance as it objectively studies any environmental impacts of INEEL operations and provides the research data to the public to help address any public concerns. The solicitation is expected to be available on or about October 7, 1998, with a closing date on or about November 13, 1998. Award is anticipated on March 1, 1999. Proposals received shall be evaluated by the objective merit review process described in 10 CFR Part 600.13. A five-year project period is anticipated. The solicitation may be accessed at the below-identified Internet address. The solicitation includes the Internet address for the forms needed for application. Sources interested in proposing must notify Mr. Hillebrant and provide complete company information such as name of entity intending to propose, point of contact, address, telephone and fax number, and e-mail address. Providing this information does not obligate a source to propose. DOE will issue any amendments to the solicitation to a list of those responding. Posted 09/09/98 (W-SN247337). (0252)

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