B -- DEVELOPMENT OF SENSORS FOR IN-SITU MEASUREMENT OF VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS IN GROUNDWATER

Notice Date

March 21, 2001

Contracting Office

U.S. Department of Energy, Savannah River Operations Office, Contracts Management Division, P.O. Box A, Aiken, South Carolina 29802

ZIP Code

29802

Solicitation Number

N/A

Response Due

April 21, 2001

Point of Contact

Sharon M. Campbell, (803) 952-6112

E-Mail Address

Click here to contact Sharon Campbell via e-mail (sharon-pmmd.campbell@srs.gov)

Description

Westinghouse Savannah River Company (WSRC) is the managing and operating contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site (SRS) near Aiken, South Carolina and is therefore responsible for executing the Environmental Restoration program at the Site. The presence of dissolved volatile organic compounds (VOC) in groundwater is a major source of environmental contamination at SRS. WSRC is actively seeking technologies, or the development of such technologies, that will directly measure the concentration of these VOCs in groundwater. During the earlier years of operations at SRS, waste handling practices often consisted of disposing of waste organic solvents directly into unlined pits and trenches, which has resulted in extensive subsurface groundwater contamination. Since the enactment of environmental laws, these areas of contaminated groundwater have been incorporated into the sitewide environmental restoration program and are scheduled for monitoring and clean up under either the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) or the Comprehensive Emergency Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). The principal organic groundwater contaminants at SRS are trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene, which are also found at many other Federal sites, together with at least 50% of all the environmental superfund sites nationwide. Concentrations in the various groundwater monitoring wells across the site range from a few ppb to the lower ppm, although SRS is predominantly interested in sensors for the lower concentration ranges. The current program for these monitoring wells consists of traditional manual well sampling on a quarterly or semi annual basis, followed by offsite laboratory analysis together with the appropriate transportation, chain of custody and data validation procedures. This well monitoring program represents a substantial operating cost, and SRS is interested in reducing the cost by gradually transitioning from the current manual system to an electronic real-time data gathering system. This real time system will consist of a sensor, which will measure the contaminant concentration directly, then transmit the signal to a unit located at the well head, which will then transmit the data to a central location via a dedicated site telemetry network. The sensor can operate by either sensing contaminant concentrations directly in the groundwater, sensing contaminant concentrations in the vapor in the well headspace or be located at the well head and interact remotely with the groundwater via an electrical or optical link. A suitable telemetry network is available commercially. However, a cost effective sensor for measuring dissolved VOCs in groundwater, with a sensitivity in the lower ppb concentration ranges, that will operate reliably and unattended in the field for long periods of time is in need of development and/or field validation. Potential commercial vendors that are interested in either providing such a sensor or working to develop such a unit, should submit either a detailed description of their technology or a description of their technology development program, with an explanation of how direct measurement of groundwater VOC concentrations might be achieved. Submittals shall include (1) technology name; (2) technology provider; (3) technology description; (4) description of previous use at other DOE, government or commercial locations; and (5) name, address, telephone and e-mail point of contact. Information provided under this request is not considered an offer. This information will only be used to assist the Government in planning the acquisition. All responses must be received by April 21, 2001. Please provide the requested information to Westinghouse Savannah River Co., ATTN: Sharon Campbell, CPCM, Procurement Specialist, BLDG 730-4B, Aiken, SC 29808. This is not a formal request for proposals. It is a request for expressions of interest and statements of capabilities only.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010323/BSOL006.HTM (W-080 SN50G8N7)