A -- PROCUREMENT OF BENTHIC IDENTIFICATION AND ENUMERATION SERVICE

Notice Date

August 14, 2001

Contracting Office

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

ZIP Code

27711

Solicitation Number

11JR08

Response Due

August 31, 2001

Point of Contact

matt ake (919) 541-3112 christopher baker (919) 541-2501

E-Mail Address

click here to contact the contract specialist via (ake.matt@epa.gov)

Description

THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMAT IN SUBPART 12.6 AS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS NOTICE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION. QUOTES ARE BEING REQUESTED AND A WRITTEN SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED. The solicitation number is 11JR08, and the solicitation is being issued as a request for quotation (RFQ). The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541380 which has a size standard five million dollars to qualify as a small business. This procurement is set aside for a small business. This procurement requires the contractor to conduct macro benthic community analyses on each of 414 sediment samples collected during summer of 1999 for the Region 2 RARE Program. These analyses require the measurement of species composition and abundance of macro invertebrate fauna found in the sediments. Samples were collected in the field using the petite Ponar grab (232 cm2), sieved through 0.5 mm sieves, placed in pre-labeled jars, and preserved in a formalin Rose Bengal-stained buffered solution. Currently the samples are being stored at the Edison, NJ EPA laboratory. Basic sample processing steps include sieving, sorting, and species identification and enumeration. The 414 samples consist of 3 replicates from each of 138 sites along the New Jersey coastline. Procedures for sorting, counting, and identifying the estuarine benthic macro invertebrates will follow EMAP-E procedures (Frithsen et al., 1994, http://www.epa.gov/emap/html/pubs/docs/groupdocs/estuary /field/labman.html). Estuarine benthic macro invertebrates will be identified to the lowest level practical taxonomic level. A reference collection that represents all dominant taxa will be developed and retained for three years. QA/QC procedures for macro invertebrate recounts and reidentifications will follow Frithsen et al. (1994). The vendor is required to submit a copy of their Quality Assurance/Quality Control protocols to the EPA Project Officer as part of their submission. The contractor must permit a QA audit of laboratory and/or data entry procedures by an authorized agent of EPA at any time during the conduct of analyses (given advance notification). The successful vendor must have experience in the conduct of these analyses on freshwater and marine samples and shall employ methods equivalent to those utilized by EPA's EMAP (Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program). The vendor shall adhere to strict sample tracking procedures to ensure samples are handled in an expeditious manner. EPA Region 2 will provide a listing of the samples to the contractor in electronic form. The samples will be shipped to the contractor with a tracking sheet documenting the number of samples and sample IDs. The contractor will be required to notify us within 24 hours of receiving the samples. Details of the tracking shall include, as a minimum, immediate notification of shipment arrival followed within 24 hours by an electronic listing of the samples received. Results shall be reported in an electronic format detailed in the MAIA-Estuaries Data Format Manual (see references). A copy of the cover letter which accompanies the results shall be sent to the EPA Contracting Officer. The contractor shall also provide a hard-copy output of data files (i.e., EXCEL spreadsheets) for the purpose of quality assurance. A written report detailing the methods used discussing problems encountered must be included as an appendix to this report. Original records, such as laboratory notebooks, shall be retained for at least three years following final report submission, as they may be requested to be sent to EPA. The contractor shall provide EPA with a cost estimate on a per sample basis based on the number of samples. Costs for the retention of samples at the contractor's facility for two years following final report submission shall be included. Previous experience in conducting macro benthic analyses on marine, estuarine and freshwater sediments from Atlantic is required. A Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) program shall be in place at the vendor laboratory, and shall address, at a minimum the following topics: replicates, sorting efficiency, reidentification and reenumeration, physical processing of samples, analytical methods utilized, QA/QC samples, and data reporting. Details on QA/QC for a similar scope project are available in the EMAP Estuaries Quality Assurance Project Plan (see references). Results for the samples shall be reported to the EPA Project Officer no later than 120 days after contract award. RFQ will be evaluated on the basis of technically acceptable, low cost. Evaluation criteria can be found in the Statement of Work. Award will be made on a best value basis. The following FAR clauses apply to this acquisition: 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions -- - Commercial Items. All offerors are to are to include with their offers a completed copy of provision 52.213-3, Offeror Representation and Certifications -- - Commercial Items. The following additional FAR clauses which are cited in Clause 52.212-5 are applicable to the acquisition: 52.203-6 Restrictions on subcontracting Sales to the Government, with Alternate I; 52.203-10, Price or Fee Adjustment for Illegal or Improper Activities; 52.219-14, Limitation on Subcontracting; 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity, 52.222-35, Affirmative Action for Special Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era Veterans; 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Handicapped Workers; 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era; 52.222-41. It is requested that the completed Representations and Certifications be included with the proposal. All technical questions are to be forwarded via email to the contract specialist at the following email address: ake.matt@epa.gov. Telephone inquiries may be directed to the contract specialist at (919) 541-3112. Quoters should review the Statement of Work for complete requirements and additional information posted with this Request for Quotation on EPA's website at the following address: http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd. Please review the EPA website for additional details on this procurement. Representations and Certifications can be found on the EPA Website under "Commercial Buy Clauses". Enter this page and click on FAR 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications -- Commercial Items (Oct 2000). Interested parties should go to the website and click on the RFQ to check the status of this procurement and to ascertain when and if any amendments have been issued. Please submit two (2) copies of the price proposal and three references to Matt Ake, Contract Specialist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Contract Management Division MD-33, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. Courier delivery address is U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Receptionist-Administration Bldg., Lobby, Attn: Matt Ake (MD-33), 79 Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709. All offers are due by August 31, 2001 at 5:00 p.m. Please allow sufficient time for your mailed quotation to arrive in a timely manner. No telephone or faxed requests will be honored.

Web Link

click here to download a copy of the RFQ (http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd/)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010816/ASOL002.HTM (W-226 SN50U8K8)