B--35 Analyte Study Drinking Water Concentrates

Amendment By this amendment, the due date for all quotes has changed from August 28, 2013 to September 3, 2013. This amendment also displays the questions submitted by potential contractors along with answers. Q&A for RFQ-DC-13-00113 and RFQ-DC-13-00117 There are only 80 samples with a possibility of addition of 48 samples. I have two questions: 1) Would it be possible to receive all samples for measurements in 2014 ? EPA intends for many of the base period samples to run calendar year in 2014, assuming that the water samples and other essential experimental elements allow for this study to be conducted in 2014. EPA does not envision that all of the 80 base period samples will be run in calendar year 2014. When possible, due to other experimental constraints, EPA will provide as much flexibility as possible about coordination of experimental dates. Especially, if EPA exercises options 4-8, samples, will be delivered throughout the 36 month period of the contract 2) Should we provide the budget considering overall 128 samples ? The base period budget should cover the cost of the 80 samples to be run as the base samples. There should also be a cost of all possible Options samples. The contractor?s price should display a cost for all samples, 80 + 48= 128. 3) We are having issues trying to find the standards for 3 of the analytes (cyanogen chloride, pentachloropropanone, and 1-bromo-1,1-dichloropropanone) from the 35 analyte list. Is there a particular company that we can contact to purchase the required standards for the above mentioned analytes? Any help you can give us would be very much appreciated. A standard method for cyanogen chloride is available (ASTM D4165 - 06(2012) Standard Test Method for Cyanogen Chloride in Water) as well as a historical standard method. If the contractor is unable to locate a source for a standard, they may elect to not include that analyte in their response to the RFQ or they may propose custom synthesis of the standard or they may propose the approach they will take in the absence of an official standard. 4) I have a question about the budget/award period. In the "sources sought" announcement, I found the following text: Please refer to the posted solicitation and not the sources sought notice. The solicitation was posted on FedBizOps and all the attachments are on fedconnect which can be found via a hyperlink on the FBO posting. The link to fedconnect is in the FBO solicitation for both RFQ-DC-13-00113 and RFQ-DC-13-00117. 5) 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. There are a possible total of 8 options. Each option is for an additional 6 samples each. If all options were to be exercised, there would be a total of 48 option samples. The total period of performance for the contract would be 36 months long. For the options, the EPA would only have the option to exercise options 1-4 during the first 18 months of the contract. And would only have the option to exercise the last four options (5-8) during the last 18 months of the contract. 6) Will all of the work take place in the first 18 months? Should the budget period be for only 18 months? Should I assume a start date of August 28, 2013 and forecast the work over 18 months from then? The work will take place as the samples arrive through the course of 36 months. EPA will provide the contractor a minimum notice of 8 weeks during the major portion of the study and a minimum of 4 weeks for studies with fewer samples. This is the minimum notice. Whenever possible, EPA will provide earlier advance notice and based upon other factors that determine when experiments can be done (commitments made, re delivery of experimental results, availability of experimental rooms, equipment and technical support at EPA, etc) EPA will provide flexibility when possible. The award date of August is an estimated date used for the purpose of displaying a time frame for this solicitation. This date is subject to change to a later date when the actual award is made. 7) Are "Tasks" the same as "Options"? Tasks are not the same as Options. There are three tasks. The Options are to have the option to add more samples during the course of the contract. There are 80 base samples that will be completed during the course of this contract. The Options allow the EPA to add up too 48 additional samples. The contractor will not need to repeat Tasks 1 and 2 for all samples. Task 1 is the QA plan, SOPs, and work plan details ? these will not change. Task 2 is for the convenience of the contractor and once they have experience working with water concentrates, they will not need to repeat the Task 2 work again. Task 1 will be done once. Task 2 will be done once with an initial set of 6 samples, but will not need to be repeated again. 8) I have a question about the timeline. The text in the "sources sought" announcement states: The basic effort shall be comprised of a total of 80 samples run in replicate. Will the 80 samples be split between Task 1 (matrix evaluation) and Task 2 (Full Study), or just be analyzed in Task 2? Do I need to budget for additional samples in Task 1? Task 1 does not involve running any actual samples. ?the contractor shall develop a QA plan that includes the operating procedures (OPs) for analysis of the 35 chemicals.? Task 2 is for a limited set of samples (6) that will allow the contractor to gain experience with working with water concentrates. The 6 samples are : (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. These samples are part of the 80 samples allocated for the base period. Instructions To Vendors Disinfection By-Product 35 Analyte Study in Drinking Water Concentrates RFQ-DC-13-00113 This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with FAR Subpart 12.6 and 13 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This solicitation is issued as a Request for Quotations (RFQ) under solicitation number RFQ-DC-13-00113. Award will be made using Simplified Acquisition Procedures in accordance with FAR Part 13. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Due to market research through a sources sought notice, it has been determined by the Contracting Officer to solicit this procurement unrestricted. Large and small businesses may submit quotes to compete for the award of this procurement. The anticipated award date for this procurement is August 28, 2013. The dates of the SOW reflect this anticipated award date and are subject to change due to actual date of award. The U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA), National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) is seeking chemical analysis support of 35 analytes in drinking water. 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. EPA anticipates awarding firm-fixed price contract under NAICS 541380. This is one of two similar solicitations for drinking water DBP study. This solicitation (RFQ-DC-13-00113) is for 35 analytes, solicitation (RFQ-DC-13-00117) is for 43 analytes. Offerors may submit quotes for both solicitations, but may only be awarded for one solicitation. The period of performance will be 36 month from the date of award. Proposals shall address all aspects of the Statement of Work and are limited to 20 pages in length, inclusive of all documents. Evaluation Factors: Quotes submitted in response to this solicitation will be evaluated on a best value basis in accordance with FAR 12.301(c). Award will be made on a best value basis and the Government reserves the right to award to other than the low offeror. Technical Approach, Qualifications of the Team and Study Personnel, Past Performance, and Price will be evaluated. Technical proposals will be reviewed for compliance with the specification herein. 1.Technical Approach 2.Qualifications of the Team Lead and Study Personnel 3.Demonstrated Past Performance 4.Price Options. The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s). Vendors shall submit their proposals via email to Frank Bottalico, Contract Officer, contact@example.gov . Proposals shall be submitted in either Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word format. Questions regarding this requirement shall be submitted no later than 1:00 p.m EST. on Wednesday, August 21, 2013, via email to the addresses listed above. Responses will be provided to all contractors shortly thereafter. Proposals shall be submitted by 3:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, September 3, 2013 The technical proposal must be sufficiently detailed to enable EPA to make a thorough evaluation and to arrive at a sound determination as to whether the proposed services meet the requirements of the Statement of Work and the offered approach is valid and practical. The technical proposal must be specific, detailed and complete to clearly demonstrate the offeror has a thorough understanding of the requirements for providing services of the scope and character outlined in the Statement of Work. Clear evidence of services/processes previously demonstrated and currently in place relating to the technical evaluation criteria should be included. Statements the offeror understands can or will comply with all statements in the Statement of Work, and statements paraphrasing the Statement of Work are considered insufficient. For example, statements such as standard procedures will be employed, or well-known techniques will be used, etc., will be considered insufficient. Elaborate brochures or other presentations beyond that sufficient to present an effective proposal are not desired. The following clause, EPAAR 1552.237-71 Technical Direction, will be applicable to this requirement. It is hereby included as part of this Request for Quote and provided in full text below. 1552.237-71 Technical direction. Technical Direction (APR 1984) (a) The Project Officer will provide technical direction on contract performance. Technical direction includes: (1) Direction to the Contractor which assists him in accomplishing the Statement of Work. (2) Comments on and approval of reports or other deliverables. (b) Technical direction must be within the contract Statement of Work. The Project Officer does not have the authority to issue technical direction which (1) institutes additional work outside the scope of the contract; (2) constitutes a change as defined in the Changes clause; (3) causes an increase or decrease in the estimated cost of the contract; (4) alters the period of performance; or (5) changes any of the other express terms or conditions of the contract. (c) Technical direction will be issued in writing by the Project Officer or confirmed by him in writing within five (5) calendar days after verbal issuance. (End of clause)