A--Combined Synopsis/Solicitation

Amendment #1 extends the due date for proposals through 4:30 P.M. EST and provides answers to the below questions. All other terms/conditions of the original RFQ remain unchanged. -Do the parts need to be "drop-shipped" to 75 locations?A: No, the single FOB destination is: EPA-Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds 1301 Constitution Ave., NW Washington, DC 20004 (Attn: Amina Pollard)-Will an EPA FedEx or UPS account be used?A: The cost of shipping should be built in either to the overall fixed-price amount or included as a seperate line item in the proposal. -When does the Assessment start?A: March 2012 with field crew sampling starting in May 2012-In Item 1, what does 20 cm-30 cm cowling mean?A: A cowl, or reducing collar, is a sleeve that narrows the opening of plankton nets. Cowls are often used in studies that quantify zooplankton from net tows. These measurements give the dimensions of the collar, i.e., a 20 cm opening at the top of the collar and the 30 cm opening of the collar attaches to the net, which would have a 30 cm opening as well. -In items 1 and 2, a Wisconsin-style net typically has two rings, a large one in the middle and a smaller one on top. Are there simple sketches of the nets in question?A: The 3-point bridle attaches the net to the towing rope. No sketches are available. -Item 1 discusses simple plankton net with 50 micron mesh. Also contained in item 1 is "Plankton net: heavy duty nylon net of 150 micron mesh...". This is similar verbiage to item 2. Is it a seperate line item? Between items 1 and 2, are 2 nets or 3 nets required?A: Two nets are required-75 50-micron mesh nets and 75 150-micron mesh nets.