SOURCES SOUGHT
Q -- 35 Analyte Study
- Notice Date
- 8/7/2013
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- Contracting Office
- SRRPODUS Environmental Protection AgencyAriel Rios Building1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W.Mail Code: 3805RWashingtonDC20460USA
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- RFQ-DC-13-00113
- Response Due
- 8/13/2013
- Archive Date
- 9/12/2013
- Point of Contact
- Frank Bottalico
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS FOR WRITTEN INFORMATION ONLY. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION ANNOUNCEMENT FOR PROPOSALS AND NO CONTRACT WIL BE AWARDED FROM THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is conducting this sources sought as market search to determine the capabilities of potential small business and large business sources under NAICS 541380, in preparation for a future procurement. Information submitted in response to this notice is merely used for internal market research purposes and no feedback will be offered to the interested parties that submit capability statements. All responses shall be submited to the Contracting Officer via email. Period of Performance 36 months from start to finish Please provide information regarding if your services are available on GSA. General The contractor shall perform chemical analyses (for the 35 analytes listed below) on drinking water samples for the Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory and National Exposure Research Laboratory. This work is part of a collaborative project called the Four Lab Study, which involves treatment of drinking water, concentration of this drinking water, chemical analysis of disinfection by-products (DBPs) formed in the water, and toxicological study of the drinking water concentrates. This contract will be to carry out chemical analysis and the essential task of reporting out, with interpretation, of the results of the sets of samples that are correlated and related, creating the study that EPA needs. The contractor shall measure 35 priority DBPs in several types of water samples: concentrated source water concentrated (nondisinfected), concentrates treated with chlorine, concentrates treated with chloramines, as well as a few samples from the non-concentrated source water (1x) and 1x disinfected water (with chlorine or chloramines). The concentrates are expected to have DBPs at concentrations between 100 and 400-fold greater than the 1x water from which they will be derived. Methods for these non-regulated priority DBPs can be found on the U.S. EPA-ERD website at www.epa.gov/athens/publications/DBP.html and as described in Pressman et al., 2010 (Environmental Science and Technology, 2010 (Oct); 44(19):7184-92). The overall experimental objectives of this project are 1) to develop integrated chemical and toxicological assessments of water concentrates disinfected with chlorine or chloramines; 2) to develop an understanding of the impact of disinfection scenarios (chlorine vs. chloramines) on DBP formation and toxicity. Government Furnished Items The government will provide water samples collected, preserved, and stored in appropriate containers (the government pays the cost of shipping water samples overnight to the contractor). Specific Tasks The contractor shall perform chemical analyses and provide the essential interpretation necessary to comprise the desired study on drinking water samples (1x raw and treated water, treated water concentrates, and raw water concentrates). The contractor shall provide concentration data for the 35 listed chemical analytes for these water samples. The contractor shall perform the chemical analyses for each specific analyte within the specified holding time for that analyte. If the contractor is within 50 miles of the U.S. EPA facility in Research Triangle Park, NC, the U.S. EPA may elect to deliver the samples to the location of the contractor. If the contractor is more than 50 miles away from the U.S. EPA facility in Research Triangle Park, NC, the U.S. EPA, water samples will be shipped overnight to the contractor. Given the physical location of the contractor, the EPA retains the right to drive the samples to the contract lab. Concentration data for samples shall be provided to EPA within 45 working days of receipt of the samples. To meet data quality objectives, it is critical that each DBP be measured only in one laboratory. Basic Effort Prior to providing the Full Study samples, water concentrates will be supplied to the contractor so that they may become familiar with analysis of concentrated samples (it is anticipated that this will occur in late fall/winter of 2013). The project will involve the analysis of water samples (in duplicate) of the following types: (1) the underlying source water (1x), (2) 1x water treated with chlorine, (3) 1x water treated with chloramines, (4) concentrated source water (nondisinfected), (5) concentrates treated with chlorine, and (6) concentrates disinfected by chloramines. The period of performance will be 36 months from the effective date of the contract. Preceding and following the major effort of the Full Study, complementary studies will be performed. A minimum of eight weeks notice will be given to the contractor for the scheduled starting date of the Full Study. Prior to the Full Study, water concentrates will be supplied so that the contractor can become familiar with the water concentrates. The basic effort shall be comprised of a total of 80 samples run in replicate. Reports The contractor shall submit an analysis report for each set of water samples tested. This report will include the measured concentrations for each analyte in each replicate, along with the calculated average concentration. Data shall be entered into an Excel data entry form within 45 working days following receipt of samples and submitted to the U.S. EPA. Any analytical problems shall be communicated to the government representative immediately upon discovery and these problems and their resolution shall be included in the analysis report for the set of water samples in which the problem occurred. The final report shall be submitted within 3 months following submission of the last set of samples. The final report shall be submitted electronically and shall include details on the analytical methods used along with the concentration results for the water samples. While the report for each set of water samples allows EPA to monitor the progress and the quality of the work, it is only the final report that provides the comprehensive study that EPA requires. The final report shall include interpretation, based on the experimental results, of the absolute formation of the measured DBPs as well as their occurrence relative to one another and their relative stability over time since disinfection, a comprehensive summary of problems encountered over the course of the study (these have been previously reported to EPA upon discovery as stated above) and their resolution). Upon request by the government representative, the contractor shall allow an on site visit to the laboratory.   Table 1. List of 35 Chemicals to be Analyzed Haloketones Chloropropanone 1,1-Dichloropropanone 1,3-Dichloropropanone 1,1-Dibromopropanone 1,1,1-Trichloropropanone 1,1,3-Trichloropropanone 1-Bromo-1,1-dichloropropanone 1,1,1-Tribromopropanone 1,1,3-Tribromopropanone 1,1,1,3-Tetrachloropropanone 1,1,3,3-Tetrachloropropanone 1,1,3,3-Tetrabromopropanone Pentachloropropanone Haloamides Chloroacetamide Bromoacetamide Dichloroacetamide Bromochloroacetamide Dibromoacetamide Trichloroacetamide Bromodichloroacetamide Dibromochloroacetamide Tribromoacetamide Halofuranones 3-Chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX) Mucochloric acid (closed ring form) Mucochloric acid (open form) 3-Chloro-4-(bromochloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (BMX-1) 3-Chloro-4-(dibromomethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (BMX-2) 3-Bromo-4-(dibromomethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (BMX-3) Oxyhalides Cyanogen chloride Cyanogen bromide Inorganics Bromate Chlorate Iodate Bromide Iodide   SPECIFIC TASKS Task 1 is for the QA plan. Task 2 is measurement in test samples. Task 3 is for analysis of water concentrates for the Full Study. Task 1 Within 4 weeks of award of the contract, the contractor shall develop a QA plan that includes the operating procedures (OPs) for analysis of the 35 chemicals. The draft deliverable is due to the U.S. EPA within 6 weeks of the date of contract award. The draft plan will include data quality elements for each of the 35 analytes (these may be grouped as appropriate based on analysis by the same extraction technique), including the sample volume required for analysis, the appropriate quenching agents, and details on sample collection for (headspace free, etc, collection vessels, etc), and where appropriate data quality elements such as information on the limit of detection of the analyte in 1x water (it is recognized that limits of detection may be different for 1x water and the water concentrates and information on the limit of detection in water concentrates will be obtained in Task 2). Either the QA plan or the OPs for analysis shall contain data acceptance and rejection c riteria. It will include a draft Excel data spread sheet for entry and reporting of the data. After receipt of the draft deliverable, a conference call/meeting (based upon the geographic location of the contractor and the convenience of EPA) will be scheduled between EPA and the contractor. This call shall be at a mutually convenient time. The EPA will provide, at least 5 working days in advance of this call/meeting, comments on the draft deliverable. At the meeting/call, the EPA will clarify any issues or questions that the contractor has with regard to the EPA comments and the contractor will be able to clarify any questions that have arisen due to EPA comments on the work plan. All reports are to be sent to the EPA project officer via e-mail. Task 2 Task 2 is for the first chemical analysis of initial test water samples. The U.S. EPA shall notify the contractor a minimum of 3 weeks in advance of the expected date of sample delivery. Paying careful attention to the holding time of the each analyte, the contractor shall analyze the provided samples for the 35 chemicals listed in Table 1. The project will involve the analysis of water samples (in duplicate) of the following types: (1) the underlying source water (1x), (2) 1x water treated with chlorine, (3) 1x water treated with chloramines, (4) concentrated source water (nondisinfected), (5) concentrates treated with chlorine, and (6) concentrates disinfected by chloramines. The draft data spread sheet (in Excel) shall be provided to the U.S. EPA within 45 working days of receipt of the water samples. The draft spread sheet shall contain the limit of detection for the analyte in the underlying source water, the 1x water and the water concentrates. The U.S. EPA shall provide comments, if any, on the draft data within 20 working days of receipt of the report (the U.S. EPA shall notify the contractor if they will be out of the office for an extended period of time, which shall move the date for providing comments to the contractor forward for that period of time). After receipt of the draft deliverable, a conference call/meeting (based upon the geographic location of the contractor and the convenience of EPA) will be scheduled between EPA and the contractor. This call shall be at a mutually convenient time. The EPA will provide, at least 5 working days in advance of this call/meeting, comments on the draft deliverable. At the meeting/call, the E PA will clarify any issues or questions that the contractor has with regard to the EPA comments and the contractor will be able to clarify any questions that have arisen due to EPA comments on the work plan. All reports are to be sent to the EPA project officer via e-mail. The purpose of Task 2 is to allow the contractor to become familiar with the sample matrices. At the request of the contractor or if deemed necessary by EPA, additional test samples for Task 2 shall be supplied to the contractor. Task 3 Task 3 is for the main chemical analysis of the majority of the water samples. The U.S. EPA shall notify the contractor a minimum of 8 weeks in advance of the expected date of sample delivery for the major Full Study experiment and a minimum of 4 weeks for sampling periods of shorter duration. Paying careful attention to the holding time of the each analyte, the contractor shall analyze the provided samples for the 35 chemicals listed in Table 1. Samples shall be run in replicate. The draft data spread sheet (in Excel) shall be provided to the U.S. EPA within 45 working days of receipt of the water samples. The U.S. EPA shall provide comments, if any, on the draft data within 20 working days of receipt of the report (the U.S. EPA shall notify the contractor if they will be out of the office for an extended period of time, which shall move the date for providing comments to the contractor forward for that period of time). After receipt of the draft deliverable, a conference call/meeting (based upon the geographic location of the contractor and the convenience of EPA) will be scheduled between EPA and the contractor. This call shall be at a mutually convenient time. The EPA will provide, at least 5 working days in advance of this call/meeting, comments on the draft deliverable. At the meeting/call, the EPA will clarify any issues or questions that the contractor has with regard to the EPA comments and the contractor will be able to clarify any questi ons that have arisen due to EPA comments on the work plan. All reports are to be sent to the EPA project officer via e-mail. The final report shall include interpretation, based on the experimental results, of the absolute formation of the measured DBPs as well as their occurrence relative to one another and their relative stability over time since disinfection, a comprehensive summary of problems encountered over the course of the study (these have been previously reported to EPA upon discovery as stated above) and their resolution). OPTION FOR ADDITIONAL ANALYSES EPA may choose to exercise options to obtain additional analyses of these analytes up to an additional 48 samples Water samples shall be analyzed as described in the base effort. As with other sample data, data shall be entered into approved Excel spreadsheets. The report for these samples shall consist of the measured concentrations for each analyte in each replicate, along with the calculated average concentration. Any analytical problems shall be communicated to the government representative immediately upon discovery and these problems and their resolution shall be included in the report. The report shall be submitted within 3 months following submission of the samples and shall be submitted electronically and shall include details on the analytical methods used along with the concentration results for the water samples The report shall include interpretation, based on the experimental results, of the absolute formation of the measured DBPs as well as their occurrence relative to one another. The US EPA may have the option to exercise up to 8 options of 6 samples each to submit up too 48 additional samples to be analyzed. The EPA may exercise Options 1 to 4 for the first 18 months of the contract. The EPA may exercise Options 5 ? 8 during the last 18 months of the contract.
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