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

H -- ACCEPTANCE TESTING AND DISTRIBUTION OF GLASS AND QUARTZ FILTERS SOL DC0328 POC James F. Kempf, Contract Specialist, (919)541-4278/Janice F. White, Contracting Officer, (919)541-3166 E-MAIL: Click here to contact the Contract specialist via, kempf.james@epa.gov. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina is responsible for procuring, testing, and distributing quartz and glass fiber filters of high purity to the State/local air pollution control agencies. The quartz filters used with a size selective sampler (SSI) to collect PM-10 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 10 micrometers) samples. The glass fiber filters are used to collect Total Suspended Particulates (TSP), and these filters are also used for lead and trace metal analyses. This process assures filters with uniform characteristics and known quality assurance testing for the national particulate networks. EPA obtains the filters from a filter manufacturer and has them shipped to EPA for acceptance testing. If the acceptance testing confirms that the filters met EPA's specifications for physical and chemical properties, the EPA instructs the independent laboratory to ship the filters to the State/local air pollution control agencies. The contractor shall use the following test methods to check the filters: 1. American Society of Testing Methods (ASTM) Method D645-92 (Standard Test Method for Thickness of Paper and Paperboard) 2). Brittleness Test for Quartz and Glass Fiber Filters 3. Test for Integrity of Quartz and Glass Fiber Filters 4. ASTM Method D828-93 (Tensile Properties of Paper and Paperboard Using constant-Rate-of-Elongations Apparatus with Attachment for use on Hi-Vol Filters) 5. Filter Flow Rate Acceptance Test Procedure 6. Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory (AREAL) Visual Inspection Test for Quartz and Glass Fiber Filters 7. ASTM Method D2986-91 (Standard Practice for Evaluation of Air Assay Media by the Monodisperse DOP (Dioctyl Phthalate) Smoke Test) 8. Reference Method for the Determination of Lead in Suspended Trace Particulate Matter Collected from Ambient Air (Appendix G 40 CFR 50), or equivalent. The contractor shall test 350 filters from each batch of glass fiber filters, and 525 filters from each batch of quartz fiber filters, where a batch is defined as the filters to be used in one calendar year, for acceptance testing by the physical and chemical test described in the pending RFQ. All 350 glass filters and 525 quartz filters shall be subjected to the visual inspection tests and then certain quantities of each shall be subjected to the other various tests. After the acceptance testing is completed in the new batch of filters, the contractor shall ship approximately 50,000 glass fiber filters and approximately 139,000 quartz filters as soon as the testing has been completed and the filters are determined to be acceptable to EPA. SIC No. 8999 applies and the size standard is $5 million in average annual receipts for the last three years. This requirement is a follow-on to purchase order 9D-1911-NTLX which expired 1/31/00. It is estimated that the RFQ will be issued approximately 15 days after the date of this notice. Quotes will be due approximately four (4) days after the RFQ issuance date. The RFQ and any amendments will be available via the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd. Firms are encouraged to access the RFQ via the Internet. If you will be obtaining a copy of the RFQ via Internet, it will be your responsibility to frequently check the same site where the RFQ is posted for any amendments. Firms who do not have the capability to obtain the RFQ from the Internet, may submit a written request for a FAX copy of the RFQ from the contact point at the address above; however, only those firms who do NOT have the capability to obtain the RFQ from the Internet should request a FAX. FAXes will not be sent to those firms who have Internet access. If you request a FAX of the RFQ, you will receive amendments by mail, unless you notify us otherwise. Telephone and fax requests will not be honored. Only one copy will be FAXed to a corporate entity, regardless of the number of requests from one or more different geographic locations. All responsible sources may submit a quotation whichshall be considered by the Agency. See Numbered Note 26.***** Posted 06/07/00 (W-SN462556). (0159)

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