B--Laboratory analytical services to provide micropla

Laboratory analytical services to provide microplastics analysis in water, sediment, and air media for The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Upper Midwest Water Science Center (UMid-WSC), Middleton, WI THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. NO FORMAL SOLICITATION IS BEING REQUESTED UNDER THIS NOTICE. This Sources Sought Notice is for market research purposes to identify interested firms for the potential requirement detailed below. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541380 (Testing Laboratories) and the size standard is $16.5 million. The Government will review the information requested in this announcement to determine the type of set-aside (if any) for this requirement, should it come to fruition. 1. Introduction: The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Upper Midwest Water Science Center (UMid-WSC), Middleton, WI has a requirement for laboratory analytical services to provide microplastics analysis in water, sediment, and air media. This Statement of Work defines the sample processing, laboratory analytical services, and data reporting needed to provide results in support of microplastics project activities for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) performed under the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) Phase VI corridor study. 2. Background: The USGS Upper Midwest Water Science Center (UMid-WSC) conducts unique investigations into the prevalence of microplastics in freshwater environments from around the Great Lakes region. The UMid-WSC, in collaboration with the Washington Water Science Center (WA WSC) microplastics laboratory, jointly developed proposals for microplastics projects under the MMSD Phase VI corridor study until the WA WSC microplastics laboratory discontinued offering analytical services to other USGS cost centers in May, 2020. As a result of this closure, The UMid-WSC needs an experienced, ISO certified accredited laboratory for microplastics analysis in water, sediment, and air media to allow for consistent, quality-derived, and cutting-edge microplastics results and research. As part of the MMSD Phase VI corridor study, the USGS UMid-WSC is conducting microplastics research to evaluate, 1) the sources and types of microplastics to water and sediment in Milwaukee area streams and rivers under different urban land use settings, and 2) the effectiveness of infiltration-based green infrastructure practices on the removal of microplastics from urban stormwater. Data gathered during these evaluations, and the resulting information and interpretations will allow for a better understanding of sources and types of microplastics to the aquatic environment as well as potential remediation practices for the removal of microplastics from stormwater. This project relies on the use of automated water sampling methods, and/or in person sampling techniques to collect water samples over the course of precipitation and/or snowmelt-induced runoff events. In addition, periodic sediment samples along with wet and dry atmospheric deposition samples will be collected to assess additional sources and types of microplastics to Milwaukee area streams and rivers. 3. Scope: The Contractor shall provide specified laboratory services relating to microplastics analysis in water, sediment, and air media. The Contractor shall provide the required analytical services and conform to specialized micro-particle sample processing and analysis techniques and procedures. USGS UMid WSC will send various samples of different media directly to the laboratory. All water and air samples will be sent in wide-mouth glass mason jars with deionized water and preserved with isopropyl alcohol. Sediment samples will be sent in 250 to 500 mL wide-mouth glass bottles. All samples will be labeled with a unique USGS assigned sample identification number. A chain of custody sheet will contain the list of assigned sample identification numbers, sample collection date and time, and media, for each sample submitted to the laboratory. The Contractor shall employ state-of-the-art particle handling and isolation techniques for micro-sized particles (e.g., microtomy and ultramicrotomy, ultra-microbalance) for each media sampled in addition to the use of advanced microparticle identification technology required (polarized light microcopy, infrared microspectroscopy, fluorescence microscopy, Raman microspectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray analysis, and pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). The Contractor shall be strictly adherent to all defined tasks in order to maintain scientific integrity and to ensure consistency and data quality throughout the project effort. The microplastics analyses shall be performed by the same laboratory. 4. Technical Requirements: The technical requirements list technical details related to small particle isolation and identification, the processing of water, sediment and air samples for microplastics and quality assurance/quality control. 4.1 The laboratory shall be an ISO17025 accredited laboratory specializing in microanalysis of particles. 4.2 The laboratory should routinely work with particles ranging from 100 nanometer to 1 millimeter in size. 4.3 The laboratory shall routinely isolate individual synthetic organic polymeric particles as small as 1 micrometer from water, sediment, and air matrices with sample preparation capabilities that include expertise in microtomy and ultramicrotomy. 4.4 The laboratory shall routinely analyze particles by infrared microspectroscopy down to 10 x 10 micrometers and obtain data from even smaller synthetic organic polymeric particles. 4.5 The laboratory shall routinely analyze particles by confocal Raman microspectrophotometry down to approximately 1 micrometer. 4.6 The laboratory shall routinely have access to various commercial spectral libraries as well as internal libraries that include a wide range of organic synthetic polymers and inorganic fillers. 4.7 The laboratory shall have access to physical reference collections that are immediately available for developing particles for particle recovery control validation experiments. 4.8 The laboratory shall use the most up to date and established procedures and techniques for the isolation, enumeration, and identification of microplastics from various environmental media. The selected approach, procedures, and techniques must be robust to undergo U.S. Geological Survey and independent scientific peer-review for publication in scientific peer-reviewed journals. Methodological guidance documents have been provided in section 1.4 Applicable Documents. 4.9 The laboratory shall ensure microplastic particles are recovered and not destroyed during the preparation of samples regardless of environmental media. Obtain reference microplastics of various morphologies and polymers, preferably less than 333 micrometers in size, and preferably a bright color such as red, green, or yellow. Add between 5-10 reference microplastics to 10% of the samples per sample extraction batch prior to commencing any oxidation or digestion steps so that the reference microplastics are taken through all the steps of the extraction process. 4.10 The laboratory shall, following the completion of sample preparation, plate each sample containing the reference microplastics on either a microscope slide, appropriate filter, or other material depending on the appropriate analytical procedure and visually inspect via microscopy to verify the presence of both the quantity and structural integrity of the reference microplastics. 4.11 The laboratory shall identify a minimum of 80% of the reference microplastics. Identification of greater than 120% of the reference microplastics is an indication that the preparation procedures is overly aggressive and causing fragmentation of particles. Techniques used should be modified until fragmentation of reference microplastics is no longer observed. 4.12 The laboratory shall perform a sufficient number of negative control (blanks) equal to or greater than 10% of the total number of samples collected for each media. A petri dish, centrifuge tube, pipette, microscope slide, or other acceptable material used by the laboratory for the processing of microplastics samples that has gone through the complete preparation process (handling, extraction, oxidation, digestion, etc.), not including the sample sieve materials for each media preparation, should be used by the laboratory for performing negative controls. 4.13 The laboratory shall evaluate all sample processing materials, supplies, laboratory equipment, oxidation reagents, digestion reagents, solutions, solvents, laboratory purified water, and any other processing utensils, materials, and consumables used for the processing of any environmental matrix sample submitted for their contamination potential. If any of the above are found to have microplastics contamination, then the laboratory shall switch to materials and supplies free of microplastics. A detailed scope of work will be provided with any solicitation that may be issued. All business concerns who believe they can responsibly provide this type of service should submit the following information to the Contracting Officer. 1. Tailored capability statement describing information in providing the services described above. Capability statement shall include the following: (a) RECENT (within the last three fiscal years) RELEVANT (similar projects to this requirement) performance history. (b) In what capacity (e.g., prime, subcontractor etc.) they performed the work; and (3) their SIZE STATUS. 2. The firm shall specify that they are either a: a. Small Business (8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, etc.) or b. Other Than Small Business under the NAICS Code listed in the announcement. 3. The firm shall provide a point of contact name and e-mail information, and the firm's Cage Code, and D&B Number. NOTE: All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary - the Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the Government. Materials submitted to the Government for review will not be returned. Respondents will NOT be notified of the results of the evaluation. This is NOT a request for quotations. The Government does not intend to award a contract based on responses received under this announcement. BASED ON THE RESPONSES TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE/MARKET RESEARCH, THIS REQUIREMENT MAY BE SET-ASIDE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES OR PROCURED THROUGH FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION. In order to be responsive to this Notice, a firm must provide the appropriate documentation for consideration no later than 2:30 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. Responses that do not comply with these procedures will NOT be considered. Inquiries will only be accepted by e-mail to Lisa Williams at contact@example.gov