SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- Contract for Technical and Research & Development Services for Environmental Risk Assessment
- Notice Date
- 1/22/2014
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- USACE ITL, GSL, EL, CHL, Vicksburg, 3909 HALLS FERRY ROAD, VICKSBURG, MS 39180-6199
- ZIP Code
- 39180-6199
- Solicitation Number
- W81EWF33390909
- Response Due
- 2/3/2014
- Archive Date
- 3/23/2014
- Point of Contact
- Amanda Andrews, 601-634-5249
- E-Mail Address
-
USACE ITL, GSL, EL, CHL, Vicksburg
(amanda.andrews@usace.army.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- This is a REQUEST FOR INFORMATION - SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS announcement to be used for preliminary market research purposes only. No proposals are being requested or accepted with this synopsis. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION FOR PROPOSALS AND NO CONTRACT SHALL BE AWARDED FROM THIS SYNOPSIS. The type of solicitation issued in the future will depend upon the responses to this sources sought synopsis. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this synopsis or any follow up information requests. The purpose of this synopsis is to gain knowledge of interest, capabilities and qualifications of various members of the Small Business community to compete and perform a Service Contract. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is issuing this request for information (RFI) announcement as part of a market survey for Technical and Research & Development Services for Environmental Risk Assessment. This Performance Work Statement (PWS) describes the technical and research and development (R & D) services required by Environmental Risk Assessment Branch (ERAB) involved in the area of environmental risk assessment processes. The US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Environmental Laboratory (EL), Environmental Risk Assessment Branch (ERAB) conducts research on the bioavailability and effects of chemical contaminants on endpoint organisms in the environment. Scientists utilize an array of bioassay techniques to assess contaminant effects at the biochemical, cellular, individual, community, and population level and to develop models for contaminant uptake and pathways in biological systems. Developed models and effects assessments are incorporated into risk and hazard assessment protocols for use in contaminant cleanup and remediation projects and regulatory testing. The essential linkage is between the fraction of contaminant actually available for uptake by the organism and the level of response that results. Biota of primary interest are plants, invertebrates and fish intimately in contact with sediments, invertebrates, and plants in their natural habitats. The branch has wide experience in exposure and effects assessment as well as risk management, decision analytics, and risk communication. The overall objective of this procurement is to obtain a technical contractor to execute research tasks and provide deliverables to the Government, as defined in the applicable task orders, for both the Civil Works Direct/Reimbursable and Military Direct/Reimbursable work areas. The contract will include tasks for the Research and Development (R&D) being executed by the ERAB both at Vicksburg, MS, and Concord, MA (USACE New England), as well as remote field sites as applicable. CORs will be appointed to oversee tasks at all locations. The technical contract needed is aimed at satisfying the Army and DoD requirements by containing specific tasks which include a multi-disciplinary approach to basic and applied environmental research to study the effects of environmental contaminants for civil works, military projects, and environmental decision analysis. Training may be required to allow for laboratory safety, handling of radioactive materials, handling of hazardous materials, animal care and use, first aid and CPR and biannual refreshers, basic bioinformatics and statistics, decision and risk analytics, RNA/DNA sequencing applications, scientific instrumentations, protocols, and applications. Security Clearance: The contractor may be asked to possess and maintain a Department of Defense (DoD) Classified Security Clearance. If required, the contractor personnel must be a U.S. citizen and capable of obtaining and maintaining appropriate security clearances up to the SECRET level. If a SECRET level security clearance is required for a task order, it will be specified on the task order. Contractor must provide their classified CAGE code. The contractor shall perform research, development and evaluation tasks for the Army and DoD civil and military missions and to meet the project requirements of other customers and sponsors. The contractor shall provide all labor and expertise needed to conduct research into using environmental risk assessment and risk management methods to assist ERDC with addressing environmental risk assessment of contaminated media (including fresh water, ground water, soils and sediments). Projects funding this work are from USACE Districts, the Private Sector, and other federal and state agencies. An approved task will be required before the contractor performs any of the tasks outlined under the different technical areas. The contractor must be responsive to the changes and needs of the ERAB in execution of subsequent Task Orders to be filled. Specific research activities, medical monitoring and training will be outlined in each task and may include but not be limited to: Field Data Collection (Biological, Chemical, Physical) (1) Establish, operate, and maintain field office and laboratory facilities and field and laboratory equipment. (2) Develop, coordinate, implement, and conduct field data collection. (3) Collect, preserve, record, store and transport samples and data. (4) Analyze samples and field data and prepare reports in connection with the above. Laboratory Research (1) Plan, conduct and provide expertise for a variety of research with soil, sediment, plants, and animals including microbiological, toxicological, chemical, remediation and genomic studies and techniques. (2) Operate and maintain research laboratories and analytical facilities and equipment. (3) Operate and maintain instrumentation. (4) Plan, conduct and provide expertise for sample preparation (5) Perform statistical analyses on experimental data. (6) Compile electronic databases and prepare literature reviews. Environmental Risk Assessment and Decision Analytics (1) Conducts basic and applied research to develop risk-based decision analytic methods appropriate for environmental risk assessment and management applications. (2) Frames decision problems and builds complex risk-based and decision models. (3) Utilizes risk and decision tools such from fields including Risk Analysis, Decision Analysis, and Cognitive Science for application to environmental risk contexts. (4) Develops innovative techniques and integrates them into multidisciplinary investigations of environmental problems. (5) Collects raw data and performs computational and statistical manipulations for use in analytical models. (6) Prepares documentation of analytical methods and tools in databases, reports, presentations, spreadsheets, and other media. Medical monitoring may be required for persons conducting laboratory research: (1) Audiometry and evaluation. (2) Blood cyanide screen and evaluation. (3) Blood drawing. (4) CBC Screen and Evaluation. (5) Chlorinated solvent (methylene chloride) exposure screen. (6) Chest X-Ray and evaluation. (7) Complete ophthalmologic examination. (8) Dioxins exposure screen and evaluation. (9) General Physical Examination. (10) Heavy metal screen and evaluation. (11) Nitroaromatic/nitoamine exposure screen and evaluation. (12) PAH screen and evaluation. (13) PCBs/Organochlorine Pesticides exposure screen and evaluation. (14) Phenol exposure screen and evaluation. (15) Prostate cancer antigen screen and evaluation. (16) Pulmonary function test and review. (17) Resting electrocardiogram and evaluation. (18) Selenium exposure screen and evaluation. (19) SMA 21 screen and evaluation. (20) Solvents (TBX, methanol, etc. & aromatic hydrocarbons) exposure screen. (21) Thallium exposure screen and evaluation. (22) Treadmill electrocardiogram. (23) Trichloroacetic acid screen and evaluation. (24) Urinalysis (for blood glucose, protein, urea) and evaluation. Training may be required for persons conducting laboratory research: (1) Laboratory Quality Control and Quality Assurance (2) Hazwoper and Hazwoper refresher (3) Handling of Explosives (4) Handling of Radioactive Materials (5) Radiation Safety (6) Biologicals Safety (7) Chemical Safety (8) Animal Care and Use (9) High Performance Liquid Chromatography with UV and Mass Spectrometer detectors (10) Gas Chromatography with electron capture, nitrogen-phosphorous, and mass spectrometer detectors (11) Genomic Sequencers (12) Thermalcyclers (13) Microarray Scanners (14) Electrophoresis (15) Bioinformatics and Statistics (16) Sequence Detection Sytems for qPCR (17) First Aid & CPR and biannual refreshers (18) Next-generation Sequencing applications (19) Spectrometers (20) Plant and wildlife identification (21) General Laboratory Safety Minimum Requirements for Labor Categories: Senior Scientist Supervises and works alongside associate scientists in their daily operations and research in diverse biological areas. Familiar with a variety of the field's concepts, practices, and procedures. Provides scientific and technical guidance, expertise, coordination, and oversight to governmental agencies. Relies on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. Communicate scientific and technical information to the internal audiences through oral briefings, written documents, workshops, conferences, training sessions, or hearings. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected. Senior Scientist I: Requires a PhD in their field of specialty, with 0 years experience in the field or related area. Senior Scientist II: Requires a PhD in their field of specialty, with 1-2 years experience in the field or related area. Senior Scientist III: Requires a PhD in their field of specialty, with 2-5 years experience in the field or related area. Senior Scientist IV: Requires a PhD in their field of specialty, with 5-7 years experience in the field or related area. Senior Scientist V: Requires a PhD in their field of specialty, with 7-10 years experience in the field or related area. Senior Scientist VI: Requires a PhD in their field of specialty, with 10-15 years experience in the field or related area. Senior Scientist VII: Requires a PhD in their field of specialty, with 15-20 years experience in the field or related area. Senior Scientist VIII: Requires a PhD in their field of specialty, with more than 20 years experience in the field or related area. Scientist Performs a variety of laboratory and field procedures using established synthetic methods and techniques under general guidance. Conducts experiments, some moderately complex, and collects field samples. Conducts and interprets routine data, spectroscopic (i.e., NMR and IR), genetic (i.e. DNA gels, sequencing), and microbiological (i.e. plate counts, gas chromatography) data. Has knowledge of commonly-used concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field. Collect a variety of samples (i.e. plants and plant tissues, wildlife and animal tissues, gases, soils, water, waste etc.). Develop testing procedures or direct activities of workers in laboratory. Maintains files such as hazardous waste databases, DNA genotypes and sequences, chemical usage data, personnel exposure information and diagrams showing equipment locations. Records test data and prepares reports, summaries, and charts that interpret test results. Relies on instructions and pre- established guidelines to perform the functions of the job. Scientist I Requires a Bachelor's Degree in their field of specialty, with 1-2 years experience in the field or related area. Scientist II Requires a Bachelor's Degree in their field of specialty, with 2-5 years experience in the field or related area. Scientist III Requires a Bachelor's Degree in their field of specialty, with 5-10 years experience in the field or related area. Scientist IV Requires a Bachelor's Degree in their field of specialty, with 10-15 years experience in the field or related area. Scientist V Requires a Bachelor's Degree o r Master's Degree in their field of specialty with 1-2 years experience in the field or related area, or a combination of education and experience. Scientist VI Requires a Bachelor's Degree o r Master's Degree in their field of specialty, with 2-5 years experience in the field or related area, or a combination of education and experience. Scientist VII Requires Master's Degree in their field of specialty, with 5-10 years experience in the field or related area, or a combination of education and experience. Scientist VIII Requires Master's Degree in their field of specialty, with 10-15 years experience in the field or related area, or a combination of education and experience. Scientist VIIII Requires Master's Degree in their field of specialty, with 15-20 years experience in the field or related area, or a combination of education and experience. Scientist X Requires Master's Degree in their field of specialty, with more than 20 years experience in the field or related area, or a combination of education and experience. Research Assistant Selects and observes subjects and performs data analysis and reporting. Oversees experiment scheduling and collection of data. Familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field. Relies on limited experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. Conducts research or assists in the conduct of research, including the collection of information and samples, such as blood, water, soil, plants and animals. Analyzes experimental data and interpret results to write reports and summaries of findings. Keeps detailed logs of all work-related activities. Uses computers, computer-interfaced equipment, and robotics or high-technology industrial applications to perform work duties. Cleans, maintains and prepares supplies and work areas. Sets up, adjusts, calibrates, cleans, maintains, and troubleshoots laboratory and field equipment. A certain degree of creativity and latitude is required. Research Assistant I Requires a high school diploma or an Associates' Degree, with 1-2 years experience in the field or related area. Research Assistant II Requires an Associates' Degree, with 2-5 years experience in the field or related area. Research Assistant III Requires an Associates' Degree, with 5-10 years experience in the field or related area. Research Assistant IV Requires an Associates' Degree, with 10-15 years experience in the field or related area. Research Assistant V Requires a B a c h e l o r ' s Degree, with 1-2 years experience in the field or related area, or a combination of education and experience. Research Assistant VI Requires a Bachelor's Degree, with 2-5 years experience in the field or related area, or a combination of education and experience. Research Assistant VII Requires a Bachelor's Degree in their field of specialty, with 5-10 years experience in the field or related area, or a combination of education and experience. Research Assistant VIII Requires a Bachelor's Degree in their field of specialty, with 10-15 years experience in the field or related area, or a combination of education and experience. Research Assistant VIIII Requires a Bachelor's Degree in their field of specialty, with 15-20 years experience in the field or related area, or a combination of education and experience. Research Assistant X Requires a Bachelor's Degree in their field of specialty, with more than 20 years experience in the field or related area, or a combination of education and experience. Technician Conducts analysis of soil, sediment, or water samples. Performs environmental compliance audits and risk assessments. Has knowledge of commonly-used concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field. Relies on instructions and pre-established guidelines to perform the functions of the job. Performs a variety of tasks. Conducts routine and non-routine analyses of in-process materials, raw materials, environmental samples, finished goods, or stability samples. Calibrates, validates, or maintains laboratory equipment. Compiles laboratory or field test data, field collections and observations, and other information in order to perform appropriate analyses. Completes documentation needed for testing procedures including data capture forms, equipment logbooks, or inventory forms. Works under immediate supervision. Primary job functions do not typically require exercising independent judgment. Typically reports to a supervisor. Technician I Requires a high school diploma with 1-5 years experience in the field or related area. Technician II Requires a high school diploma with 5-7 years experience in the field or related area. Technician III Requires an Associates' Degree and a combination of education and experience. Travel may be required within the Continental United States. This will be identified on an as needed base at the Task Order level. The contractor will be reimbursed for travel in accordance with FAR 31.205-46. Place of performance will be specified at the Task Order level. The period of performance shall begin upon the expiration of the current contract and will end as specified by each task unless options are exercised by the government. Specific deliverables will be outlined in each Task Order issued. The contractor shall conduct research and development studies to include bioinformatic and statistical analysis, field data collection for biological, physical, and chemical studies, laboratory research, logistics, data analysis, decision and related analytics, and report preparation. A typical deliverable may include, but not be limited to, progress reports, technical report and papers, bioinformatic and statistical results, etc. Deliverables will typically fall within the listing above and be specifically detailed in individual task orders. The contractor shall perform work as specified by the Task Orders. Each Task Order will include, as a minimum, a PWS for the work to be performed and any travel, miscellaneous costs and deliverables as appropriate. North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) Code applicable to this sources sought is 541712, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology). The Small Business Size Standard for this sources sought is 500 employees Interested organizations having access to demonstrated research and capabilities in this area are invited to submit literature, which describes the general approach, previous related work, and a response per the submission instructions below. After review of the response submissions, the Government may contact select respondents to further clarify the candidate materials. If you have an interest in participating in this type of contract, please provide the following information: 1. Cage code or DUNS number 2. Company information: (type of small business): 8(a), SDB, SDVOSB, etc) Please indicate contact information and email address. 3. Capability Statement: Please include a capability statement not to exceed ten pages. Interested parties should register on-line and subscribe to receiving procurement announcements related to this sources sought notice at www.fbo.gov. Any questions related to this notice shall be submitted in writing to the point of contact listed below. All information marked as proprietary information will be safeguarded to prevent disclosures to non-government personnel and entities. Your interest in this response is appreciated. Interested vendors should provide information regarding this announcement no later than 3 February 2014 at 1:00 pm CST to: E-mail amanda.andrews@usace.army.mil
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USA/COE/329/W81EWF33390909/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: USACE EL, Vicksburg 3909 HALLS FERRY ROAD, VICKSBURG MS
- Zip Code: 39180-6199
- Zip Code: 39180-6199
- Record
- SN03271777-W 20140124/140122233829-c016592f914708f751401e9c2d7a5d26 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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