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

A -- GULF ECOLOGY DIVISION -- BACTERIAL CHEMICAL ANALYSES SOL XQ8107 DUE 063099 POC Marsha B. Johnson, Contract Specialist (919) 541-0952 or Barbara Stearrett, Contracting Officer, (919) 541-3113 WEB: Click here to visit the site that has information about, http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd. E-MAIL: Click here to contact the Contract Specialist via, johnson.marsha@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 XQ8107 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 97-11. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) anticipates that the contract will be awarded as a result of full and open competition. A firm-fixed-price purchase order is anticipated to result from the award of this solicitation. The associated Standard Industrial Code (SIC) is 8734. This procurement requires the contractor to conduct analysis of up to 208 bacterial supernatants for phytohormone-like compounds, including the auxin indole-3-acetic acid. The samples will begenerated at the Gulf Ecology Division (GED) during the period from May 1999 to June 2000, and will be shipped to the Contractor for analysis. The successful contractor shall have experience in the analysis of analytes similar to those listed in Table 1 and shall employ methods described in Fett et al., 1987, Maruyama et al., 1989, or use an equivalent method. The contractor shall demonstrate the ability to analyze these types of chemical samples by analyzing ten (10) samples of known concentrations provided by GED. These ten bacterial samples will be grown in 10-100% Trypticase soy broth amended with L-tryptophan and/or salt. The cultures will be centrifuged and 100 ml of each supernatant will be provided to the contractor for this initial set of analyses. Upon demonstration of methodological capability with these 10 samples, GED will ship up to 198 additional samples. These optional quantities will be ordered in nine (9) increments of 22 samples each. Ordering the optional quantities is at the sole discretion of EPA. 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, the physical processing of samples; analytical methods utilized; QA/QC samples, including all acceptability criteria, and data reporting. Results shall be reported to the EPA Project Officer no later than 60 days after contract award for the initial 10 samples and no later than 120 days after receipt of incremental samples. Results shall be reported in an electronic format (Word Perfect). The contractor shall also provide a hard-copy output of data files (i.e. Lotus 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. The report is to be submitted to the EPA Project Officer 60 days after the receipt of the initial 10 samples and 120 days after receipt of incremental sample batches. Any laboratory notes discussing problems encountered must 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 the 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 sample basis for each of the contract line items below, based on the number of samples projected for each line item. Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) One: The contractor shall perform analyses for phytohormone-like compounds including the auxin indole-3-acetic acid using (10) bacterial supernatant samples provided by GED. Analyses shall be completed from the compounds listed in Table 1 with a level of detection of 0.01 ug/ml extract. The remaining extracts from each sample will be returned on ice to EPA's Project Officer. Contract Line Item (CLIN) Two: The contractor shall perform up to 198 analyses for phytohormone-like compounds including the auxin indole-3-acetic acid from incremental batches of 22 samples. Analyses shall be completed from the compounds listed in Table 1 with a level of detection of 0.01 ug/ml extract. The remaining extracts from each sample shall be returned on ice to EPA's Project Officer. Proposals will be evaluated using the following technical capabilities criteria: 1.) QA/QC protocols, including plans for analyzing Standard Compounds; 2.) Demonstrate previous analytical experience with proposed analytical techniques; 3.) Demonstrated previous experience with similar compounds; 4.) Experience with similar size/scope projects; 5.) Past performance -- provide 3 references; 6.) Report preparation and records management experience; and 7.) Proposed methodology used for each area with references. 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 and 52.217-7, Option for Increased Quantity -- Separately Priced Line Item. 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; 52.222-41, Service Contract Act of 1965, As Amended. Cost and technical information should be submitted in separate proposals. Please submit two copies of the technical proposal and two copies of the cost proposal to Marsha B. Johnson, 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: Marsha B. Johnson, 79 Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. All offers are due by June 30, 1999, 4:00 p.m. ET. No telephonic or faxed requests will be honored. References and Table 1 can be found at http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd. Posted 06/14/99 (W-SN342341). (0165)

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