SOLICITATION NOTICE
59 -- SAP - Acceptance Testing for Glass & Quartz Filters
- Notice Date
- 7/13/2007
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 541710
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
- Contracting Office
- RTP Procurement Operations Division (D143-01) Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
- ZIP Code
- 27711
- Solicitation Number
- PR-NC-07-10500
- Response Due
- 7/23/2007
- Archive Date
- 8/22/2007
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to modify an existing contract (EPD06107) with TRC Environmental Corp., Chapel Hill, NC, which was awarded on a sole source basis. The current contract will be modified to provide additional acceptance and testing of glass and quarts filters. BACKGROUND: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina is responsible for procuring, testing, and distributing filters of high purity to the State/local air pollution control agencies. The quartz filters are 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 with a Total Suspended Particulate (TSP) sampler. This process assures filters with uniform characteristics and known quality assurance testing for the national particulate networks. EPA obtains the filters each year from TRC Environmental, Corp and has them shipped to EPA for acceptance testing. The filters for a specific year must be made from the same lot of raw materials for distribution to the States. If the acceptance testing confirms that the filters meet EPAs specifications for physical and chemical properties, the EPA distributes the filters to the State/local air pollution control agencies. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING TASKS: I. Glass and Quartz Fiber Filter Selection and Testing - The Contractor shall use the following test methods to check the filters. a. American Society of Testing Methods (ASTM) Method D645-92 (Standard Test Method for Thickness of Paper and Paperboard) b. Brittleness Test for Hi-Volume Glass Fiber Filters c. Tensile Tests for Hi-Vol Filters d. ASTM Method D828-93 (Tensile Properties of Paper and Paperboard Using Constant-Rate-of-Elongation Apparatus with Attachment for Use on Hi-Vol Filters) e. Determination of Organic Content of Glass Fiber Filters (EMSL/RTP-SOP-QAD-522) f. EMSL/EPA/RTP Hi Vol Filter Flow Rate Acceptance Test for Quartz Filters for the SSI Samplers g. Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory (AREAL) Visual Inspection Test for Quartz and Glass Fiber Filters h. ASTM Method D2986-91 (Standard Practice for Evaluation of Air Assay Media by the Monodisperse DOP (Dioctyl Phthalate) Smoke Test i. Reference Method for the Determination of Lead in Suspended Particulate Matter Collected from Ambient Air (40 CFR, Part 50, Appendix G), or equivalent. II. . Glass Fiber Filters - The Contractor shall test 375 filters from each batch of glass 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 below. All 375 filters shall be subjected to the visual inspection and then a certain quantity (specified in chart) shall be subjected to the other tests described below. a.. Physical Properties - The number of filters to be tested and the physical properties to be measured are given below: (SEE CHART AND TEXT PUBLISHED AT THE EPA WEB SITE REFERENCED BELOW) b. Chemical Properties: a) Lead Content. No filter from a total of 50 filters shall contain more than 0.25 micrograms of lead when the filter is analyzed as per the EPA Reference Test Method for Lead 40 CFR 50. III. Quartz Fiber Filters - 475 filters from each batch of quartz fiber filters, where a batch is defined as the filters to be used in one calendar year, shall be selected for acceptance testing by the physical tests described below. All filters shall be subjected to the visual inspection test and then a certain number shall be subject to the other tests described below. a). Physical Properties -The number of filters to be tested and the physical properties to be measured are given below: (SEE CHART AND TEXT PUBLISHED AT THE EPA WEB SITE REFERENCED BELOW) IV. Distribution - After the acceptance testing is completed on the filters, the contractor shall distribute approximately 22,000 glass fiber filters and approximately 76,000 quartz filters as soon as the testing has been completed and the filters are determined to be acceptable to EPA. After the CY-2007 filters are distributed, it is anticipated that approximately 5,400 glass and 23,400 quartz filters remain. The contractor shall store the remaining filters until the PO notifies the Contractor in writing to (a) send to State/local agencies whose filters were damaged in shipment; and (b) ship approximately 22,000 glass fiber filters and approximately 67,000 quartz filters to State/local agencies approximately September 2007. The contractor shall also store the remaining filters from this mail-out. The glass fiber and quartz filters shall be shipped by the contractor after transferring the appropriate number of filter boxes from the manufacturers shipping cases to boxes provided by the contractor for distribution of the filters to the State/local air pollution control agencies nationwide. The contractor shall never ship a partial box, and the smallest quantity of filters to be shipped to any location shall be one box. EPA will provide the contractor a master letter and copies of the letter to include one copy in each shipment to the agencies. If a State/local agency receives the filters from the Contractor in a condition where contamination is suspected due to a shipping mishap and the Contractor is notified, the Contractor shall immediately notify EPA to get written consent to ship another set of filters to the participant. V. Deliverables A. The contractor shall submit all test results to the EPA within 5 days after completing the accepting testing procedures. B. The contractor shall ship the filters to the designated State/local agencies within 5 days after notification. C. The contractor shall store the remaining filters for up to 24 months. VI. Option to Extend the Term of the Contract The Government has the option to exercise the optional requirement. If more than 365 days remain in the contract period of performance, the Government, without prior written notification, may exercise this option by issuing a contract modification. To exercise this option within the last 365 days of the period of performance, the Government must provide to the Contractor written notification prior to that last 365 day period. This preliminary notification does not commit the Government to exercising the option. Use of an option will result in the following modifications: (a) The Period of Performance will be extended; (b)During the option period, the Contractor shall provide the services as described in the Statement of Work; (c) The payment clause will be amended to reflect increased fixed price for the optional services. VII. Payment Schedule Payment 1 - The contractor shall be paid ______ after acceptance testing is completed. Payment 2 - The contract shall be paid _______ after the first mailing. Payment 3 - The contractor shall be paid ______ after the second mailing EPA intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with TRC Environmental Corporation, Chapel Hill, NC for the above services for continuity of the current contract. EPA obtains these filters each year from TRC Environmental and has them shipped to EPA for acceptance testing and storage. The filters for a specific year must be made from the same lot of raw materials for distribution to the States. EPA has only 90 days to accept or reject the filters once received. Therefore, the services are deemed to be available only from the original source for the continued provision of highly specialized services. If the acceptance testing confirms that the filters meet EPA's specifications for physical and chemical properties, the contractor shall ship the filters to the State/local air pollution control agencies. The base performance period is for twelve months with two additional optional periods of 12 months each. The place of performance is at the contractor's site. Any subsequent amendments or status may be viewed at EPA's web site: http:www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd. Hard copies, CDs or disketts are not be available. It will be your responsibility to frequently check the same site for any amendments. Telephone and FAX requests will not be honored. No Solicitation is available. All interested parties who believe they can provide the required services should fully explain their capabilities in writing within 10 days of the date of this announcement. Any response (s) failing to provide the aforementioned data but instead choosing to merely submit a routine letter, calling or requesting a FAX copy of an RFP will not be honored. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 541710, which has a small business size standard of 500 employees. Submit your response no later than 23 July 2007, noon. EST to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, RTP-POD, 109 T.W. Alexander Dr., Attn: Joy Kimble, E105-02, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. Courier Delivery Address is: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, RTP-POD, 4930 Page Road, Attn: Joy Kimble, E105-02, Research Triangle Park, NC 27703.
- Web Link
-
The Environmental Protection Agency
(http://www.epa.gov/oam/solam.htm)
- Record
- SN01342320-W 20070715/070713221857 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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