B -- REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN VISIBILITY ASSESSMENT

Notice Date

October 12, 2000

Contracting Office

Southern Appalachian Mountains Initiative, 57 Woodfin Place, Asheville, NC 28801

ZIP Code

28801

Solicitation Number

vis102000

Response Due

November 16, 2000

Point of Contact

Patricia Brewer (828) 251-6889

E-Mail Address

SAMI Technical Coordinator, Pat Brewer at "Pat.Brewer@ncmail.net" (Pat.Brewer@ncmail.net)

Description

SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS INITIATIVE (SAMI) REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Assessment of Visibility Responses in the Southern Appalachian Mountains to SAMI Emission Strategies SAMI is a non-profit organization whose mission is, "Through cooperative effort, identify and recommend reasonable measures to remedy existing and prevent future adverse effects from human-induced air pollution on the air quality related values of the Southern Appalachians, primarily those of Class I parks and wilderness areas, weighing the environmental and socioeconomic implications of any recommendations." SAMI is led by eight states (AL, GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV) with participation by the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Park Service, the US Forest Service, industries, universities, environmental organizations, and other stakeholders across the region. SAMI is conducting an Integrated Assessment that simultaneously focuses on ozone, acid deposition, and suspended aerosols that impair visibility. The assessment is evaluating the environmental and socioeconomic responses to changes in air emissions due to implementation of current requirements of the Clean Air Act and to additional strategies that SAMI is considering. The assessment results will guide SAMI's policy recommendations to the eight SAMI states for implementation of emissions strategies. SAMI's Integrated Assessment is divided into 7 linked modules: I. Emissions Inventory (Base year, Future Year Projections, and Control Costs) II. Atmospheric Chemistry and Transport III. Acid Deposition Effects to Aquatic and Forest Resources IV. Ozone Effects to Forests V. Visibility VI. Socioeconomic Consequences VII. Synthesis This request solicits proposals for the fifth module above, Visibility. SAMI's Effects Subcommittee directs the visibility assessment. The visibility component is intended to use aerosol species concentrations projected by the atmospheric modeling component to evaluate visibility responses to SAMI emissions strategies. Visibility results and interpretation of the scientific confidence in these results are to be provided to SAMI's socioeconomic and policy analyses. The successful contractor(s) will be expected to work closely with the Effects Subcommittee and with the contractors for the other components to assure that the data and interpretation required for integration are met. This request describes SAMI's Integrated Assessment and visibility assessment design, the aerosol data being developed under SAMI's atmospheric chemistry and transport modeling, and the tasks to be performed under this contract. The selected contractor will work with the Subcommittee to finalize the technical design. FUNDING This request solicits responses assuming a funding level of $50,000. The contract will be managed as a fixed price contract. SCHEDULE SAMI's visibility assessment is to be completed in June 2001. Responses to this request for proposals are due to the SAMI Office before the close of business on Thursday, November 16, 2000. Respondents are expected to provide a schedule of deliverables that assumes that contract selection will be completed by December 15, 2000, atmospheric model results will be available in January 2001, and a draft visibility report will be due to SAMI May 1, 2001. QUALIFICATIONS Proposals from individuals, universities, private organizations, and /or federal agencies will be considered. RESPONSES Respondents are requested to provide to SAMI: 1)Technical proposal responding to SAMI's task statements below 2)Qualifications including both technical expertise and previous work experience, especially work with multi-stakeholder organizations 3)Cost proposal describing labor, office, and overhead cost structure in response to SAMI's task statements. Specific cost proposals will be requested once the technical design is finalized. CONFERENCE CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION A conference call has been scheduled for Thursday October 25, from 11 AM to 1 PM Eastern. The purpose of the call is to clarify any questions that potential respondents might have about this request for proposals. So that all respondents have equal access to additional information and clarification by SAMI, this call will be the ONLY opportunity to ask questions about this request for proposals. The call in number is 202/260-7280, access code 2181 followed by the # sign. Please notify the SAMI office (828/251-6889) by Monday October 23, 2000 of your intent to participate on the conference call.

Web Link

Request for Proposals: Southern Appalachian Visibility (http://www.saminet.org/)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001016/BSOL001.HTM (W-286 SN5041A7)