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

H -- QUALITY ASSURANCE TECHNICAL SUPPORT POC Kelley Brown, Contract Specialist, (919)541-2125/Sue Ellen Davis, Contracting Officer, (919)541-2125 E-MAIL: Click here to contact the Contract Specialist via, brown.kelley@epa.gov. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a current contract, number 68D70008, with Eastern Research Group, Inc. (ERG). This level of effort, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract is in its final option period and requires the contractor to provide for operation of the Stationary Source Compliance Audit Program (SSCAP). The SSCAP provides the EPA, State Agencies, and local Agencies a means to assess the proficiency of source testers who are conducting emissions test to determine compliance with air emissions limits. The current contract expires on February 6, 2000. However, services are required to continue to operate the SSCAP in accordance with the current Statement of Work (SOW). Only an extension of the present contract can provide uninterrupted, critical support to supply the necessary audit samples so that Regulatory Agencies will have the required assistance in evaluating the quality of compliance test data. Therefore, the Government intends to extend the period of performance of this contract for a period of 8 months from February 7, 2000 through September 30, 2000, for a total period of performance of 44 months for the contract. This extension will provide an additional 2,214 labor hours to Option III, for a total of 4,207 labor hours in Option III. Only the incumbent contractor has the knowledge and "know-how" to continue working with the on-going work without an extensive training and start-up period. It may not be practicable for the Government to substitute a replacement contractor(s) during the extended period of work due to the limited time support is needed and the expense and disruption of multiple transitions. The work to be completed during this time period requires the same expertise and qualifications as is currently required to perform the work under the contract. In order to provide these services, the contractor must have, as a minimum, the in-depth knowledge of this program. It may not be possible to have another firm pick up the tasks and complete them because of the loss of efficiencyand unnecessary duplication of costs. Any other firm would require extensive training and familiarization with the on-going program. The incumbent contractor has a qualified/trained contract acclimated staff in place which matches the unique immediate needs of the Agency. Interested parties who believe they can provide the required services are invited to submit, in writing, an affirmative response demonstrating an ability to immediately assume the on-going projects without disruption to the current operations and demonstrating a cost benefit to the Government in view of the short period of performance. Any written response must be received no later than 15 days after publication of this synopsis. In order to be responsive, the correspondence must be accompanied by a written narrative statement of capability, including detailed technical information sufficient to permit agency analysis in order to determine a bonafide capability to meet the Government's requirements. Responses without the required documentation will be considered non-responsive. This is NOT a formal notice of solicitation. No telephone and fax requests will not be honored. See Numbered Notes 22 and 26.***** Posted 01/05/00 (W-SN413259). (0005)

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