B -- LIFE CYCLE REVIEW OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF THE ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PURCHASING PROGRAM

Notice Date

November 20, 2000

Contracting Office

US Environmental Protection Agency, Program Contract Service Center (3803R), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001

ZIP Code

20460-0001

Solicitation Number

RFQ-DC-01-00023

Response Due

December 11, 2000

Point of Contact

John J. Nanartowicz III, Contracting Officer, 202-564-4756

E-Mail Address

Contracting Officer (nanartowicz.john@epamail.epa.gov)

Description

THIS REQUIREMENT IS A SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION AS DEFINED BY PART = 12 OF THE FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS AND IS A FULL AND OPEN COMPETITIVE ACTION!! NOTE: THIS IS THE RE-PROCUREMENT OF U.S. EPA RFQ # RFQ-DC-00-00162 OF THE SAME TITLE!! The Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) Program of the EPA is charged with carrying out = Section 503 of Executive Order 13101 (September, 1998), "Greening the = Government Through Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Federal Acquisition" which = directs Executive agencies to reduce the environmental burdens associated with = the $200 billion in products and services they purchase each year. The EPP Program is responsible for: 1) establishing national policy for environmentally preferable purchasing; 2) providing guidance and = assistance to Federal purchasers to put EPP into practice, through pilot projects = and tools; and 3) serving as a repository of information about EPP and as = an "ambassador" on the issue. One of the key tenets in the EPP Program is = the important role that pollution prevention must play in purchasing = decisions. In making product choices which are believed to be "greener", we need = to strive to rely on approaches which minimize or eliminate environmental burdens in a comprehensive manner rather than on an approach which may = move environmental problems from one medium to another. It is recognized = that a life cycle perspective and more defined methodologies, like life cycle assessment, are tools that can be used to achieve this goal. A Life = Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies the environmental consequences throughout the = life span of a product, process, or activity (i.e. from cradle to grave) = from raw material acquisition, through manufacturing, use/reuse, and final disposal. LCA is a technique for assessing the environmental aspects = and potential impacts associated with a product, process or activity by: compiling an inventory of relevant inputs and outputs (including = resource and energy use and pollutant releases); evaluating the potential environmental impacts associated with those inputs and outputs; and interpreting the results in relation to the objective of the study. = This is a definition of Life Cycle Assessment based on ISO 14040: LCA = Principles and Framework, 1997. SCOPE OF WORK The Contractor shall develop and apply an approach for identifying key environmental attributes based on quantitative life cycle assessments (LCAs) which in turn can be used as = a basis for distinguishing among other competing products in purchasing decisions. In sum, the key components of this work are as follows: 1) = life cycle inventory data collection for two product categories; 2) using = the data to generate life cycle impact information (based on the F.R.E.D. impact assessment model); 3) developing a methodology to derive = attributes based on key impact areas using the results of #1 & #2 and the results = of BEES 2.0, which includes impact information for over 65 products; 4) applying this methodology to the two product categories to generate a = set of attributes relevant to the product category; and 5) writing a = report. Each of these components are further described below. Initially, two product categories will be chosen for this project. Within each = product category, up to three alternative products will be selected for = comparison. The results from the project will contribute to expanding the = availability of life-cycle based information about products and services in a user-friendly format to assist Federal purchasers make better (from an environmental and economic perspective) buying decisions. In addition, = the results of this project may also: a) support EPA's work with the = standards developing organizations that are seeking to develop consensus based standards for environmentally preferable products and services; b) help EPA's efforts to assist the United States Department of Agriculture = (USDA) with technical life-cycle based criteria for listing bio-based = products. Testing of product performance is NOT part of the scope of this work. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE 9 months after award of the purchase order. GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE ESTIMATE For purposes of developing a price quotation and technical proposal, the Government estimates that approximately 600 hours will be necessary to complete the proposed = work. There is no travel anticipated under this effort. It should be noted, however, that this information should be used as general guidance and should not be construed as the definitive requirement for this effort. For complete copies of the Request for Quotation with the Statement of Work, please visit the U.S. EPA Website at " http://www.epa.gov/oamhpod/index.htm." E-mail the Contracting Officer = at " nanartowicz.john@epamail.epa.gov" if you have any questions = concerning this RFQ package. Due to the anticipated large volume of interest, we = will be unable to return phone calls for this procurement. The Contracting Officer can, however, be reached at 202-564-4756 if there are problems accessing the RFQ package. NOTE: An original plus two (2) copies of = all proposals/quotations should be delivered to one of the following = addresses on or before the closing date of the RFQ (fax/e-mail copies will not be accepted) The U.S. Postal Service delivery address is: U.S. EPA, Ariel = Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W., Mail Code 3803R, Washington, = D.C. 20460 Attn: Mr. John J. Nanartowicz III -- - Courier/Hand Carry/Express = Mail Address -- - Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Bid = and Proposal Room 6th floor, Washington, D.C. 20004 Attn: Mr. John J. Nanartowicz III.

Web Link

-Life Cycle Review of Products and Services in Support (http://www.epa.gov/oamhpod/index.htm)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001122/BSOL002.HTM (D-325 SN507148)