L--Performance Evaluation of Instrumentation for the National Health and Effects Research Laboratory

100% SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE COMPETITIVE ACTION. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 541380. Please note that the NAICS Code has been changed from 541990 to 541380. The size standard for NAICS Code 541380 is $10M. The Environmental Protection Agency has a requirement for Performance Evaluations to be conducted for Instrumentation within the National Health and Effects Research Laboratory. A contractor is needed conduct performance evaluations which are a type of QA assessment in which a quantitative analysis or check is made with a material or device of known properties or characteristics, normally high-accuracy audit test materials and standards traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), as available and approved by EPA, in order to evaluate the operating condition of the laboratory instrument. The intended purposes of an instrument PE are to (a) confirm satisfactory performance of measurement instruments, or (b) to detect and initiate resolution of those unsatisfactory conditions and activities that may result in research data of poor or questionable quality. The NHEERL PE program supported by this contract will address laboratory instruments that are used in support of a broad range of biological measurements, dose-exposure measurements, chamber systems, and/or various research support areas as may be involved in any NHEERL project or program. The auditable instrument inventory typically includes primarily pH meters, balances, spectrophotometers, and optical plate readers, which are used throughout the Laboratory, as well as gaseous analyzers, flow-meters, and temperature and humidity sensors that are used in animal inhalation exposure facilities. The Contractor shall provide all necessary materials and equipment, including audit standard reference materials of known properties for the determination of the quality parameters of specific measurement systems. The Contractor shall provide Technical Auditors with appropriate technical and QA competence suitable for performing the required instrument PEs. The Contractor shall maintain up-to-date standard reference materials obtained from or certified by NIST or other sources as approved by the Project Officer, when available. For other cases, the Contractor shall prepare reference samples as needed, and perform verification analyses on those samples. EPA anticipates award of a fixed-rate, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity term type contract with a period of performance of 60 months consisting of a base year and four 12 month options. The solicitation will be issued on or around May 15, 2004 and proposals will be due approximately 30 days after the RFP issue date. This procurement is a follow-on contract to contract number 68D99087 with Research Triangle Institute that expires September 30, 2004. It is anticipated that the follow-on contract will have an effective date of October 1, 2004. EPA has determined that this action will be processed as a small business set-aside. Regarding this procurement, no further synopsis will be issued. The solicitation and any subsequent amendments will be available via the EPA Website at http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd only. Hard copies or diskettes will not be available. Telephone and fax request will not be honored. It will be your responsibility to frequently check the same site for any amendments. The same website should also be checked for any additional information that may become relevant.