H--MARKET SURVEY/Request For Information to identify laboratories qualified to test to NSF Protocol P248 "Emergency Military Operations Microbiological Water Purifiers"

The U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC), Natick, MA is conducting a market investigation on behalf of the U.S. Army Africa (USARAF) Personnel Recovery Directorate in support of Operation Enduring Freedom-Trans Sahara (OEF-TS), Combined Joint Task Force - Horn Of Africa (CJTF-HOA), to identify domestic analytical laboratories with experience testing and evaluating Individual Water Purifiers (IWPs; in-line or pump filters, chemical disinfectants, etc.), and/or small, multi-user "suitcase-sized" Small Unit Water Purifiers (SUWPs) consisting of various treatment technologies. The U.S. Army is interested in locating firms familiar and experienced with bench-top challenging of water treatment devices in accordance with testing protocols such as the USEPA Guide Standard and Protocol for Testing Microbiological Water Purifiers, NSF International Protocol P231 Microbiological Water Purifiers, NSF International Protocol P248 Emergency Military Operations Microbiological Water Purifiers, and NSF International/American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standards 53, 55, and 58. Specific testing experience against these, or similar, protocols is requested. Information provided should include the laboratory's capabilities to produce, culture, and verify consistent challenges of various microorganisms as directed in these protocols (particularly P248), including MS2 and Fr coliphages, poliovirus, rotavirus, Raoultella terrigena, Escherichia Coli, Bacillus atrophaeus, Cryptosporidium parvum, and Giardia lamblia, among others. Labs should also provide information on their ability to produce and verify consistent challenges of various inorganic and organic contaminants (including, but not limited to, aldehydes, carbamate pesticides, haloacetates, organo-phophates, alkenes, alkaloids, etc.), radioisotopes, and warfare agents, as well as general water quality parameters defined in the protocols and Standards (e.g., TDS, UV transmittance, turbidity, and organic carbon). As part of these tests procedures labs should be able to quantify the pressure drop, flow rate, and temperature across the system. It is also requested that labs provide their experience and capabilities with regards to producing and analyzing chemical oxidants such as chlorine, iodine, and chlorine dioxide, etc, in clear, colored, and/or turbid waters. Labs must provide the following required certifications and/or accreditations: o ISO 17025 Accreditation (or equivalent recognized accreditation based on ISO 17025 requirements) o Scope of Accreditation covering all analytical procedures used during P248 testing (or through sub-contract laboratory) o Documented Good Laboratory Practices Program o Verifiable Standard Operating Procedures o Quality Assurance Feedback Loop Recommended o EPA approvals for virus testing o EPA Performance Evaluation Program for Protozoan testing Information submitted shall include: 1. Company name and address. 2. The nature of the laboratory (private, university, government). 3. Point of contact, telephone, fax, Web address, and e-mail address. 4. Relevant company background/experience (including information detailed in the FedBizOps Note 25 regarding a firm's experience, personnel, and facilities) with this type of testing (prior P248 testing, low-flow system testing, etc). 5. Specific information regarding to in-house versus sub-contract analytical capabilities for all requested analyses. 6. Additional technical capabilities. 8. Prior work with man-portable systems, electrochemical generators, leaching analysis, EPA registrations and NSF/ANSI material certifications. 9. General testing costs and fees. This Market Survey is for information purposes only and does NOT bind the U.S. Government to any type of contracting action, or guarantee any purchase by the U.S. Government. Submittals: Information about a particular brand/product should be submitted in electronic (MS Word) format by 4:00 pm EST on 11 May 2011 by e-mail to Mr. Jeffrey Pacuska at contact@example.gov. If submitting via e-mail, put "RFI - USARAFP248" in the e-mail subject line. Submission may also be sent by mail to: U.S. Army Natick Soldier RD&E Center, ATTN: RDNS-WPW-P, Jeffrey Pacuska, Bldg 4, Kansas St., Natick, MA 01760. All technical questions regarding this RFI should be directed via email to contact@example.gov. Only email questions will be addressed.