B -- SURFACE WATER AND TISSUE RESIDUE CHARACTERIZATION

Notice Date

August 16, 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

XQ8E45

Response Due

September 4, 2001

Point of Contact

JENNIFER HILL, Contract Specialist, 919-541-3083

E-Mail Address

Click here to contact the contract specialist. (hill.jennifer@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 XQ8E45, and the solicitation is being issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-27. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 541380, which has a size standard of $5 million to qualify as a small business, is applicable. The contract will be awarded as a result of full and open competition. A firm, fixed-price purchase order is anticipated to result from the award of this solicitation. This procurement is for the analysis of samples for organic and elemental contaminants from date of award through December 31, 2002. This procurement requires the contractor to provide analysis on water and oyster tissue samples, which will be shipped quarterly. The contractor shall provide a price on a per sample basis for the following contract line items, including the cost of the contractor picking up or shipping the samples from Gulf Breeze, Florida to the contractor's analytical facility: CONTRACT LINE ITEM NUMBER (CLIN) 1: The contractor shall perform metal analysis of 27 surface water samples for organic and elemental contaminants. The metals to be analyzed and detection limits are in Table 1. The preferred method to be used for analysis of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel and selenium is Method 200.121 (USEPA 1992) for stabilized temperature graphite furnace atomic absorption. Mercury is to be analyzed following EPA Method 245.72 using cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrophotometry. All other metals are to be analyzed using EPA Method 200.8 (ICP-MS)3. CLIN 2: The contractor shall perform analysis of total organic carbon (TOC) and other organic analytes (Table 2) for the same 27 surface water samples as above for organic and elemental contaminants. The MDL's should not exceed 10 ppb for organo chlorine pesticides, 2 ppb for organo phospate pesticides, 10 ppb for PCBs, 4 ppb for PAHs, and 2 ppb for chlorinated phenoxy and triazine herbicides. The preferred method of analyses is that of the USEPA (1995). CLIN 3: The contractor shall perform metal analysis of 27 oyster tissue samples. The metals to be analyzed and detection limits are in Table 1. Results shall be reported relative to dry weight. CLIN 4: The contractor shall perform analysis of organic compounds listed in Table 3 for the same 27 oyster tissue samples as listed above. Full scan GC/MS techniques should be used as described in the Puget Sound Estuary Program-Protocols and Guidelines (1996). MDLs (wet weight basis) for oyster tissue analyses shall be 0.1 -- 5 ppb for chlorinated pesticides and 10-20 ppb for PCBs and PAHs. Results shall be reported in an electronic form (Microsoft Excel or Lotus 123). The contractor shall also provide a hard-copy output of data files (i.e., spreadsheets) and chromatograms of standards and sample analyses for the purpose of quality assurance. A written report detailing the methods used, and the results of QA measures shall also be provided by the contractor (for each set of samples analyzed). The report for the initial set of 18 samples is to be submitted to the EPA Project Officer within 120 days after receipt of the samples. This initial report shall include a quality control chart of all detectable observations that occur with plots of mean 3 standard deviations (SD) for each detectable substance (section 1020 B.7.a of ASTM Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 1992). Analyses shall be verified by repeat performance for any sample that generated results above the upper 3 SD quality control range. Reports for each quarterly set of three oyster and three water samples shall be submitted to the EPA Project Officer within 45 days after receipt of samples. Detectable results shall be added to the control charts with each monthly set of data being calculated into the mean and 3 SD determinations. Updated charts shall be submitted with each report. Observances outside of the 3 SD ranges will be noted in a summary section. Samples shall be retained for 90 days following analysis. EPA Project Officer shall notify contractor within 90 days of receipt of report if any analyses are to be repeated. Any laboratory notes discussing problems encountered shall be included as an appendix to each report. Original records, such as laboratory notebooks and chromatograms, shall be retained for at least five years following final report submission, as they will be requested to be sent to the EPA. The contractor shall transfer copies of all technical, fiscal, and programmatic files regarding this contract to the Project Officer. These files shall be boxed in accordance with Federal Record Keeping Standards in boxes required by the Records Center and labeled as "SURFACE WATER AND TISSUE RESIDUE CHARACTERIZATION -- Contractor Name / Contract Number" and contain an internal and external packing slip that identifies the specific contents of each box. The contractor shall provide a written QA Management Plan equivalent to the EPA's requirement document (EPA QA/R-2: EPA Requirements for Quality Management Plans) and a written Quality Assurance Project Plan equivalent to the EPA's requirement document (EPA QA/R-5: EPA Requirements for Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPP) for Environmental Data Operations (category 2)) for EPA's review and approval prior to initiation of analyses. These reference documents can be located at http://es.epa.gov/ncerqa/qa/qa_docs.html. The QAPP shall describe in detail all chemical methods, including expected percentage recovery of all analytes in each matrix, and all standard operating procedures used in these analyses. The quality assurance and quality control criteria for these analyses shall be stated in the QAPP and meet those specified for the EMAP-Estuaries Program. The basic minimum criteria include the following quality control samples for each set of samples analyzed or for a minimum of every 20 samples analyzed: (i) one laboratory method blank, (ii) one matrix spike, (iii) one matrix spike duplicate (spike concentration should be five to ten times the specified Method Detection Limit (MDL)), (iv) laboratory control reference materials (equivalent to a certified reference material), and (v) calibration curve. The mean percentage recovery and variance of all analytes of interest in a laboratory fortified matrix and standard reference materials shall be documented in the QA PP and reported in for each batch of samples. The contractor shall re-analyze (at no cost to the Government) the entire batch of samples if recovery results of the spike matrix are deemed unacceptable for the methods utilized. The contractor shall permit QA audit of laboratory and/or data entry procedures by an authorized agent of EPA at any time while conducting the analyses (given advance notification). The following FAR provisions apply to this solicitation: 52-212-1, Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial Items; 52.212-2, Evaluation -- Commercial Items. Evaluation criteria to be included in paragraph (a) of provision 52.212-2 are as follows: (i) TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES CRITERIA: 1) Provide a copy of QA/QC protocols including plans for analyzing Certified Reference Materials; 2) Demonstrate previous experience with tissue analysis for the various metal and organic analytes; 3) Demonstrate previous analytical methods utilized by EMAP or similar programs; 4) Demonstrate previous experience with TOC; 5) Brief explanation of methods used for each CLIN, with references, and expected MDLs; 6) Experience with similar size/scope projects; 7) Ability to meet the deadlines for the project; 8) Plan to submit a final report (electronic format) as required; and 9) Description of Record Management Program; (ii) PAST PERFORMANCE: Provide 3 references (quality of product or service, timeliness of performance, ability to adhere to deadlines, and overall customer satisfaction); and (iii) PRICE. Award will be made to the offeror whose offer is the lowest priced offer meeting all of the technical requirements. Offerors must satisfactorily meet all of the technical requirements to be considered "technically acceptable". All offerors are to include with their offers a completed copy of provision 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications -- Commercial Items. The following FAR clauses apply to this acquisition: 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions -- Commercial Items; 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items and the following additional FAR clauses which are cited in Clause 52.212-5: 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities; 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity, 52.222-35, Affirmative Action for Special Disabled and 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, Service Contract Act of 1965, As Amended. Any applicable wage determination(s) will be made a part of the resultant purchase order. Price and technical information should be submitted separately. The completed Representations and Certifications should be included with the price proposal. All technical questions are to be forwarded via email to the Contract Specialist at the following email address: hill.jennifer@epa.gov. Offerors should review the Statement of Work and other information posted with this Request for Quotation on EPA's website at the following address: http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd. Arrow down to the REQUEST FOR QUOTATION section and click on the solicitation. Arrow down below that section to COMMERCIAL BUY CLAUSES AND FORMS which are provided for your convenience. Please submit two copies of the technical proposal and two copies of the price proposal to Jennifer B. Hill, Contract Specialist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, MD-33, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. Courier delivery address is U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Receptionist-Administration Bldg., Lobby, Attn: Jennifer B. Hill (MD-33), 79 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. All offers are due by September 4, 2001, 3:30 p.m., ET. No telephonic or faxed requests will be honored.

Web Link

Click here to visit the site that has information about (http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010820/BSOL001.HTM (W-228 SN50V1T1)