66--Region 7 Environmental Sample Testing (REST)

This requirement will be a 100% Small Business set-aside under NAICS 541380. The anticipated Solicitation post date is April 15th 2015. The contractor shall be assigned work by Task Orders (TO). For all contract required hardcopy (i.e. paper) deliverables, the paper utilized shall be 100% recycled with a minimum of 50% post-consumer content, processed chlorine free, and no old forest growth content. Additionally, hardcopy deliverables shall be printed double-sided (This may not be practical or possible for some instrument raw data and/or lab logbooks). The contractor shall make every effort to be as green (i.e. environmentally friendly) as possible in all areas of work conducted under the contract. The contractor shall use analytical instruments, methods and techniques, and documented Quality Assurance (QA)/Quality Control (QC) procedures which meet the approval of EPA Region VII and/or the regulatory program being supported. QA/QC procedures may be those specified in EPA Region VII Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) or other EPA documents. Procedures to be utilized by the contractor will be approved by EPA on a TO-by-TO basis, but, where appropriate, the approved methods may be those chosen by the contractor. The contractor shall provide technical/scientific and support personnel in such a number and with such specific skills and qualifications as are necessary to satisfactorily perform all contract requirements. The contractor shall be responsible for maintaining sufficient backup capabilities including personnel, equipment, supplies, and parts, to fulfill contract requirements within applicable time restraints. The contractor shall provide all required equipment, materials, and supplies necessary to meet the requirements of a TO, unless otherwise specified by the Agency. All capital equipment, small equipment, and non-expendable supplies purchased under this contract shall be, and shall remain, EPA property. The contractor may be required to coordinate activities with various EPA programs and contract organizations. These activities may include, but not be limited to, participating in conference calls and/or meetings, and obtaining information/documentation in support of a specific TO. Contractor interaction with these and other Agency groups shall be specified and limited by the EPA Contracting Officer Representative (COR). The samples to be handled by the contractor may contain potentially hazardous materials. The contractor should be aware of the potential hazards associated with activities to be conducted under this contract. It is the contractor's responsibility to establish and implement the necessary measures to comply with all local, state, and federal safety and environmental regulations. The responsibility of the contractor includes any cost incurred for the proper disposition of all environmental samples or other waste material received or generated under this co ntract. Computer and computerized word-processing systems used by the contractor in performance of this contract shall be compatible with Agency-utilized systems. Computer and word-processing hardware and software shall be IBM or IBM-compatible. A word-processing system shall support Windows and be Microsoft Word or compatible. Electronic spreadsheets will be utilized extensively for the electronic data deliverables under the contract. Microsoft Excel or other compatible spreadsheet software shall be utilized by the contractor. The contractor is responsible for providing all computer software, except for software written by the Agency for the sole purpose of providing electronic data deliverables under this contract. Software provided to the contractor by the Agency shall not be modified, duplicated, or distributed to any parties without the written approval of the EPA Project Officer. All data generated, under specific TOs, are the property of the Agency and shall not be modified, copied, released, or distributed by the contractor without the written approval of the PO or his designee. In the event that the contractor fails to adequately defend data generated under this contract, the Agency may institute proceedings against the contractor to recover all government costs associated with the analysis effort and the associated enforcement activity. An "inadequate defense of data" shall mean a decision against the Agency in a formal enforcement action, where such decision is a result of the failure of the contractor to demonstrate the technical validity of data generated under the contract in a legal proceeding.