USDA, ARS, FMOD, BA, Contracting Section, Bldg. 003, Rm. 329, 10300 Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350

B -- SAMPLING & ANALYSES OF POTABLE WATER & WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS SOL 18-3K47-99 DUE 071699 POC Karen Chapman, Contract Specialist, (301)504-5073 This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The solicitation number is 18-3K47-99 and is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ) and a total small business set-aside. Offers are solicited only from small business concerns. This solicitation incorporates provisions and clauses that are in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-11. The standard industrial classification code is 8734, with a small business standard of $5.0 million. The period of performance is one base year with four option years. Service is for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland 20705. Line items and tentative dates are as follows: Item 01-Base year for the period October 01, 1999 through September 30, 2000. Item 02-Option year one for the period October 01, 2000 through September 30, 2001. Item 03-Option year two for the period October 01, 2001 through September 30, 2002. Item 04-Option year three for the period October 01, 2002 through September 30, 2003. Item 05-Option year four for the period October 01, 2003 through September 30, 2004. Each line item/year is for a quantity of 12 and unit issue is months. Invoices shall be submitted monthly in arrears in accordance with FAR 52.212-4. Contractor shall provide sampling & analyses of potable water and wastewater treatment plants for the base year and option years in accordance with the following Statement of Work: WASTEWATER EFFLUENT ANALYSES (1) Biochemical Oxygen Demand (B.O.D. 5) Two samples per week to be picked up at the BARC-West Wastewater Treatment Plant, Building 015, and three samples per week to be picked up at the BARC-East Wastewater Treatment Plant, Building 218. These samples will be 8-hour composites collected by our staff. (2) Total Suspended Solids Two samples per week to be picked up at the BARC-West Wastewater Treatment Plant, Building 015, and three samples per week to be picked up at the BARC-East Wastewater Treatment Plant, Building 218. These samples will be 8-hour composites collected by our staff. (3) Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) (Seasonal Requirement from April 01 through September 30) Two samples per week to be picked up at the BARC-West Wastewater Treatment Plant, Building 015, and three samples per week to be picked up at the BARC-East Wastewater Treatment Plant, Building 218. These samples will be grab samples collected by our staff. (4) Fecal coliform Two samples per week to be picked up at the BARC-West Wastewater Treatment Plant, Building 015, and three samples per week to be picked up at the BARC-East Wastewater Treatment Plant, Building 218. These samples will be grab samples collected by our staff. Samples from Building 015, shall be picked-up on Tuesday and Thursday between 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. Samples from Building 218, shall be picked up on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday between 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. WASTEWATER INFLUENT ANALYSES (1) Biochemical Oxygen Demand (B.O.D. 5) Two samples per week to be picked up at the BARC-West Wastewater Treatment Plant, Building 015, and three samples per week to be picked up at the BARC-East Wastewater Treatment Plant, Building 218. These samples will be grab samples collected by our staff. (2) Suspended Solids Two samples per week to be picked up at the BARC-West Wastewater Treatment Plant, Building 015, and three samples per week to be picked up at the BARC-East Wastewater Treatment Plant, Building 218. These samples will be grab samples collected by our staff. (3) Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) (Seasonal Requirement from April 01 through September 30) Two samples per week to be picked up at the BARC-West Wastewater Treatment Plant, Building 015, and three samples per week to be picked up at the BARC-East Wastewater Treatment Plant, Building 218. These samples will be grab samples collected by our staff. POTABLE WATER BACTERIOLOGICAL ANALYSES (1) Four samples per month collected by the contractor at various sites, as determined by the Water Plant staff. These samples shall be collected between the 1st and 10th day of each month during normal business hours. All four are to be taken on the same day. The sink samples located at Building 310, shall be tested once a week for iron. Provide most probable number under 100 milliliters of sample. Method to be used is either lactose broth or lauryl tryptose both as approved by the current edition of "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater". The contractor can use MMO-MUG procedure as approved by the State of Maryland. ADDITIONAL TESTING 24-hour composite -- 1 per month -- on Building 218's final effluent for the following: (1) Ammonia as N (2) Nitrites (3) Nitrate as N (4) Orthophosporus (5) Total Phosphorus (6) Total Organic Nitrogen Grab sample -- 1 per week at Building 218 and 1 per week at Building 015 of wasted sludge to be tested for % solids and % volatile solids. Grab sample -- 1 per week at Building 218 and 1 per week at Building 015 of digested sludge to be tested for % solids and % volatile solids. Grab sample -- 1 per year at Building 218 and 1 per year at Building 015 on digested sludge. To be tested for the following and expressed in units of mg/kg. (1) Total Phosphorous (2) Total Potassium (3) Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (4) Ammonium Nitrogen (5) Nitrate Nitrogen (6) Cadmium (7) Copper (8) Nickel (9) Lead (10) Zinc (11) Mercury (12) PCBs (13) Total Solids TESTS (1) Grab Sample. All grab samples shall be collected according to all State, Federal, and Prince George's County laws. Grab sample for Fecal Coliform need not be performed on-site if the contractor can start the test off-site within 6 hours after the sample is taken. The test should be completed within 72 hours. (2) Composite Samples. Composite samples shall consist of samples taken every hour for an 8-hour period. The amount of the sample depends on the contractor's needs. (3) All samples will be collected by BARC Personnel except for the drinking water samples, which the Contractor shall collect. EQUIPMENT The Contractor shall furnish all containers necessary for storing and collecting all samples. STANDARDS All sampling, analyses, and report items must meet existing Maryland State, Prince George's County, and Federal standards and requirements. In the event that the laws are changed during the course of the contract, the contract will be modified to provide for the new laws. The Contractor shall meet all Maryland Department of the Environmental Certification requirements for the examination of Drinking Water throughout the life of the contract. Drinking Water analysis shall be done in a certified laboratory. Wastewater Testing shall be done in accordance with National Pollution Discharge Illumination System, NPDES, in accordance with Code of Federal Regulations 40, Part 136, Regulations for Testing and Sampling. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS Submit a monthly report on potable water to the State of Maryland, Division of Water Supply, on form DHMH 2578 and send a copy to the COR on or before the 7th day of each month, for the previous month's testing. Potable water analyses must be returned to the COR in five working days from the date of sampling. Wastewater and sludge analyses must be returned to the COR in seven working days from the date of sampling. Delivery cost for reports shall be included in the quoted price of line items 01 through 05. This solicitation incorporates the following FAR clauses, provisions and addendums: 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial; 52.212-2 Evaluation -- Commercial Items; 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications -- Commercial Items; 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions -- Commercial Items; 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items; 52.217-5 Evaluation of Options; 52.217-8 Option to Extend Services; 52.217-9 Option to Extend the Term of the Contract; 52.219-6 Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside; 52.232-18 Availability of Funds; 52.237-2 Protection of Government Buildings, Equipment, and Vegetation. In paragraph (b) of 52.212-5 the following apply: 52.222-21, 52.222-26, 52.222-35, 52.222-36, 52.222-37, 52.222-41, 52.222-42, 52.222-43, 52.225-3 and 52.232-34. 52.222-70 COMPLIANCE WITH VETERANS EMPLOYMENT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS (JAN 1999) (DEVIATION)(USDA). (a) The offeror represents that, if it is subject to the reporting requirements of 38 U.S.C. 4212(d) (i.e., the VETS-100 report required by FAR clause 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Disabled Veterans and Veterans of theVietnam Era), it has [ ], has not [ ], submitted the most recent report required by 38 U.S.C. 4212(d). (b) An offeror who checks "has not" may not be awarded a contract until the required report is filed. CONTRACT PAYMENTS (MANDATORY INFORMATION FOR ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER) Electronic Funds Transfer compliance with 31 CFR 208. To facilitate EFT for contract payments, FAR clauses 52.232-34 and 52.232-35 (31 CFR Part 208) requires the submission of information by the contractor to the payment office. Upon award, the contractor shall contact the Miscellaneous Payments Section at the National Finance Center (NFC) to initiate the enrollment process of the Vendor Express Program (VXP), which will result in a number being assigned to the contractor for payment under EFT. NFC can be reached at 1-800-421-0323 or at www.nfc.usda.gov. All offerors must include completed copies of 52.212-3 (Representations and Certifications), 52.222-70 (Compliance with Veterans Employment Reporting Requirements). Quotations shall include information corresponding to the required service which demonstrates the capabilities of the offeror's ability. Offerors must submit their qualifications package. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: (i) technical capability of the item(s) offered to meet the Government requirement; (ii) price; and (iii) past performance. The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s). The total duration of contract, including the exercise of any options under FAR 52.217-9, shall not exceed 5 years. Fax quotations are acceptable to Karen Chapman (301)504-5009 on or before July 16, 1999 at 4:30 p.m. (EST). Posted 06/29/99 (W-SN348397). (0180)

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