H--Legionella & Dental Waterline Sampling Minneapolis

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this contract is to procure services for collecting and analyzing water samples for Legionella in accordance with VHA Directive 1061, "PREVENTION OF HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED LEGIONELLA DISEASE AND SCALD INJURY FROM POTABLE WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS" and for collecting and analyzing water samples to verify compliance with "Infection Control Standards for VA Dental Clinics," 21 October 2013, and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act regulations in Dental Offices within the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES: SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES: 1. Legionella Sampling Requirements: a. General Procedures for Legionella Sampling: The contractor shall furnish all personnel, supervision, equipment, supplies, facilities, certifications, transportation, and resources necessary to perform Legionella water testing. The contractor must furnish all sample collection equipment. Containers must be sterile, appropriate for the analysis, properly preserved, and promptly transported to the laboratory under strict chain of custody procedures. The contract shall collect and analyze water samples from distal points (sinks and showers) and ice or water from ice machines on Minneapolis VA Health Care System campuses included in the contract. Specific distal point locations for sampling will be determined by the COR and/or the Health Care System Point of Contact. The numbers and types of samples to be collected and analyzed are specified in Attachment D. Testing of the building's hot and cold water distribution system(s) for L. pneumophila must be performed quarterly (once per Federal Fiscal Year quarter, plus or minus 10 calendar days from the date of the last performance of regular quarterly service). Extensions will be granted for unforeseen conditions and for other factors outside of the contractor's control. Water samples must be taken from outlets on the hot water distribution system and outlets on the cold water distribution system from each building for each quarterly testing cycle. NOTE: "Outlets" are the points in the water distribution system where the end user comes in contact with the water (e.g., faucet, showers, and ice machines). Water samples will be taken at first "draw" to catch the water that comes out immediately from the outlet and will routinely be at least 250 ml. At the time each water sample is taken, test (measure) and document the following for each sample: water temperature, level of residual biocide, and pH. This documentation needs to be provided with the analysis results. Non-routine testing (outside of the quarterly sampling) may be conducted as needed. The Minneapolis VA Health Care System is allowed non-routine samples numbering up to 10% of the total samples taken from each health care system annually. If sampling over this amount is needed by healthcare systems, the contractor will provide a fixed price for the sampling equipment and analysis and for the collection of samples for each healthcare system. The cost of this sampling will be added to the overall price of the contract. For non-routine testing, the contractor must be able to sample within 24 hours of being notified of the need to sample. Samples of at least 1000 ml may be required. Water samples will be taken at first "draw" to catch the water that comes out immediately from the outlet. Swab sampling will be conducted along with the water sampling for non-routine sampling. Swab sampling will be done in accordance with VHA direction and in accordance with direction from the laboratory where the samples will be analyzed. The specific sampling location and type of sample (e.g. hot water or cold water) will be specified by COR and/or Health Care System Point of Contact. Specific distal points sampled will vary per quarter, so communication with the Health Care System Point of Contact will be required before the round of sampling each quarter or before non-routine sampling in order to ensure that the contractor knows the locations of sampling. The locations of buildings included in the sampling are attached at Attachment D. This list also includes the Health Care System Points of Contact information. Sampling of cooling towers will be conducted two times per year during the period in which they are running at each of the locations included in Attachment E. b. Sample Collection, Storage, and Transferring of Analysis: Samples will be collected, stored, and transferred as directed by the COR or by the laboratory. For routine testing, water samples need to be at 250 ml. For non-routine testing, water samples of at least 1000 ml may be required. Water samples will be taken at first "draw" to catch the water that comes out immediately from the outlet. Each water sample will be collected in a sterile, unused, HDPE or HDPP plastic leak-proof container provided by the testing laboratory. The following parameters will be measured and logged with each water sample is collected: water temperature, level of residual biocide, and pH. Samples will be stored and transferred for analysis in a manner that will maintain the integrity of the samples. Samples will be secured to prevent cross-contamination. Samples need to arrive at the testing laboratory within the time frame defined by the ELITE laboratory. c. Sample Analysis and Reporting: The testing laboratory processing the water samples for Legionella must be certified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Environmental Legionella Isolation Techniques Evaluation (ELITE) program as proficient at performing the culture of Legionella from environmental samples. The limit of detection must be < = 1 CFU/ml. The full 250 ml volume of potable water must be concentrated for routine quarterly testing. The full 1000 ml volume of potable water must be concentrated for non-routine testing. Cooling tower water does not require concentration. The testing laboratory must retain samples that test positive for Legionella for 30 calendar days and must release them to the healthcare system if requested. Information about ELITE certified laboratories can be found at https://wwwn.cdc.gov/elite/Public/MemberList.aspx. The testing laboratory must also be able to determine if the Legionella detected in environmental samples is the species Legionella pneumophila and whether it is serogroup 1. Quantify L. pneumophila and identify the presence or absence of other Legionella species. NOTE: rapid testing method, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) are not permitted. In addition to the CDC ELITE certification, the laboratory must have environmental microbiology accreditation by a nationally recognized accrediting body, such as EMLAP, NELAP, etc. Provide all sample analysis reports via e-mail to COR and Health Care System Point of Contact. Analytical reports shall include a signed copy of the chain of custody, identification of sampling locations and conditions, including the specific outlet temperature of water at the time the sample was collected, pH, biocide residual levels, and any biocide, method detection limits, and a description of test methodology. Sample analysis reports must be provided within 15 calendar days of the lab receiving the samples. If the 10th day falls on a weekend of federally observed holiday, the reports shall be provided no later than the next normal business day. The testing laboratory shall have qualified technical support staff for consultation relative to water sample collection, testing, and interpretation of results. 2. Procedures for Sampling for Safe Drinking Water Compliance for Dental Waterlines: a. General Requirements and Procedures for Sampling of Dental Waterlines: Sampling equipment and lab analysis will be provided to Dental Clinics for testing their waterlines for compliance with the EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standard for potable water and the "Infection Control Standards for VA Dental Clinic," dated 21, October 2013. Sampling analysis will be for total colony forming units (cfu) of heterotrophic water bacteria per milliliter of water. The Contractor will furnish sterile bottles that are appropriate for the analysis, properly preserved, and promptly transported to the facilities included in Attachment F. The Contractor will furnish appropriate shipping containers for the transportation of samples to the laboratory. The bottles will be marked to indicate what facility they are supplied to, a unique identifying number for that facility and for the sample. Comprehensive instructions on how samples will be collected, preserved, and transported to the laboratory for analysis will be provided to each facility covered under the contract. The laboratory will follow strict chain of custody procedures upon the receipt of the samples from the facilities.