B -- SAMPLE ANALYSIS FOR SEDIMENT TOXICITY AND RELATED MEASUREMENT

Notice Date

September 13, 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

RFQ-RT-01-00563

Response Due

September 27, 2001

Point of Contact

Pamela E. Smith (919) 541-0635

E-Mail Address

click here to contract contracting office via e-mail (smith.pamela@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 RFQ-RT-01-00563, 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. The Environmental Protection(EPA) anticipated that a firm-fixed price purchase order will be awarded as a result of full and open competition using Simplified Acquisition Procedures. This procurement is for the analysis up to 2000 samples for sediment toxicity and related measurement. Period of Performance: From date of award through October, 2005. Scope of Work For National Coastal Assessment Sediment Toxicity Tests: This procurement is for the analysis of up to 2000 samples for sediment toxicity and related measurements. A minimum of 50 samples is guaranteed. Ten-day static acute toxicity tests with the east coast amphipod Ampelisca abdita shall be conducted in accordance with standard ASTM guidelines and EPA methods. The contractor shall supply EPA with a cost on a per sample basis, assuming an estimated number of samples in the range of 50 to 2000. A copy of the contractor's Quality Assurance/Quality Control protocols shall be submitted to the EPA contract officer prior to the analysis of samples. The protocols shall conform, at a minimum, to those specified in the EPA EMAP-Estuaries Laboratory Methods manual. Furthermore, acceptable performance in the conduct of these tests shall be demonstrated to the EPA contract officer prior to the initiation of testing. At a minimum, control charts of toxicity results for reference toxicant tests utilizing Ampelisca abdita shall be provided to document acceptable performance. The contractor shall agree to allow a QA audit of laboratory and/or data entry procedures by an authorized agent of EPA at any time following advance notice. Samples will be collected by EPA and NOAA field crews. The contractor can expect to receive a steady stream of samples via Federal Express from early August through the end of September each year. Under no circumstances shall the 30-day holding time be exceeded before the contractor performs the toxicity tests. The vendor shall adhere to strict sample tracking procedures to ensure samples are handled in an expeditious manner. Details of the tracking procedure will be negotiated within 10 days of contract award, but shall include, at 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 (available upon selection). All data must be associated with the 7-digit sample ID provided with the sample. The contractor shall also provide a hard-copy output of the data files (i.e., spreadsheets) for the purpose of quality assurance. The contractor shall include a written report (and electronic copy, e.g. WordPerfect) detailing the methods used and the results of Quality Assurance measures. Any laboratory notes discussing problems encountered shall be included as an appendix to this report. A copy of the cover letter which accompanies the results shall be sent to the EPA Contracting Officer. 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. All testing must be completed within 40 days of receipt of the last sample. Data and the report shall be delivered to EPA within 90 days of receipt of the final sample. Invoicing can occur upon completion of all samples, or partial invoicing can occur upon delivery of incremental samples. The contractor is required to 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 "National Coastal Assessment Sediment Toxicity Tests -- Contractor Name / Contract Number" and contain an internal and external packing slip that identifies the specific contents of each box. The external packing slip shall be affixed to the exterior of the box. References: U.S. EPA (1995) Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP): Laboratory Methods manual -- estuaries, Volume I: Biological and Physical Analyses. United States Environmental protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Narragansett, RI. EPA/620/R-95/008. (http://www.epa.gov./emap/html/pubs/docs/estuary/labman.htm) U.S. EPA. (1997) MAIA-Estuaries 1997 Laboratory Data Format and Transmittal Guidance Document. United States Environmental protection Agency, Atlantic Ecology Division. Narragansett, RI. Valente, R.M. and C.J. Strobel. (1993). EMAP-Estuaries Virginian Province: Quality Assurance Project Plan for 1993. EPA/600/X-93/XXX. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Narragansett, RI (http://www.epa.gov/emap/html/pubs/docs/estuary/93qaplan.htm) . The following FAR provisions apply to this solicitation: 52-212-1, 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 Purchasing Agent at the following email address: smith.pamela @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 Pamela E. Smith, Purchasing Agent, 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: Pamela E. Smith (MD-33), 79 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. All offers are due by September 27, 2001, 3:30 p.m., ET. No telephonic or faxed requests will be honored.

Web Link

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

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010917/BSOL004.HTM (W-256 SN50X5G6)