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

B -- ACCEPTANCE TESTING SOL RFQ-RT-99-00137 POC Sandra Clark/Contract Specialist (919)541-2213/Sue Miller/Contracting Officer (919)541-2213 E-MAIL: Click here to fontact the CO via e-mail, CLARK.SANDRA@EPA.GOV. The Environmental Protection Agency has a requirement for testing and distributing teflon filters of high purity to the State/local air pollution control agencies. The teflon filters are used with a sampler to collect PM-2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 2.5 micrometers) samples. This process assures filters with uniform characteristics and known quality assurance testing for the national particulate networks. EPA obtains the filters each year from a filter manufacturer 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 EPA's specifications for physical and chemical properties, the contractor shall ship the filters to the State/local air pollution control agencies. The contractor shall test 350 filters from the batch of Teflon filters provided by the manufacturer, where a batch is defined as the filters to be used in one calendar year, specified by the PO for acceptance testing by the physical and chemical test described as follows: American Society of Testing Methods (ASTM) Method D645-92 (standard test Method for Thickness of Paper and Paperboard); ASTM Method D828-93 (tensile Properties of Paper and Paperboard Using constant-Rate-of-Elongation Apparatus with Attachment for use on Hi-Vol Filters); Filter Flow Rate Acceptance Test Procedure; Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory (AREAL) Visual Inspection Test for filters; and ASTM Method D2986-91 (Standard Practice for Evaluation of Air Assay Media by the Monodisperse DOP (Dioctyl Phthalate Smoke Test). The contractor shall distribute the filters to the State/local air pollution control agencies as soon as the testing has been completed and the filters are determined to be acceptable to EPA. The Teflon filters will be shipped by the manufacturer in one lot packed in sets of 50 filters per container in suitable clear harddust-tight non-contaminating plastic. The contractor shall transfer the appropriate number of filter boxes from the manufacturer's shipping cases to boxes provided by the contractor for distribution of the filters to the State/local air pollution control agencies nationwide. EPA will provide to the contractor shipping labels and a master letter which summarizes the acceptance testing results. The contractor shall include one copy in each shipment to the agencies. After the filters for CY-1999 are distributed, it is anticipated that some filters will remain. The contractor shall move the remaining filters to the EPA storage facility until the PO notifies the Contractor in writing to either (a) send to State/local agencies whose filters were damaged in shipment, or (b) to dispose of them. The award will be through full and open competition. SIC code number 8999 applies, with a size standard of $5M in average annual receipts over the preceding three fiscal years. Any offeror wishing to receive the RFQ should submit a request to the above address. If no responses are received within fifteen (15) days of this notice, an order will be placed with the offeror that is in the best interest of the Government. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the Agency. See Note(s) 26. Posted 01/25/99 (W-SN291026). (0025)

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