Q--NItrate Isotopic Analysis

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotations are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Refer to RFQ-OH-11-00045 when responding to this request. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 05-52. This acquisition is not set-a-side for small business. The NAICS code is 541380-Testing Laboratories. The size standard for this NAICS code is twelve (12) million dollars. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), ORD, NRMRL, STD, located in Cincinnati, Ohio has a requirement for a Nitrate Isotopic Analysis. All services shall be provided to the U.S. EPA NRMRL, Sustainable Technology Division, located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The F.O.B. point shall be destination. Price quotes shall include any setup charges. The provision at FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial, applies to this to this acquisition. The provision at FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Items is applicable and the specific evaluation criteria are included in the Technical Evaluation Criteria. Offers shall provide descriptive technical literature in sufficient detail to demonstrate that the technical approach meet the minimum requirements specified in Statement of Work. Statement of Work:The National Risk Management Research Laboratory is currently investigating the use of green infrastructure (GI) to control storm water runoff from urban basins, reduce the frequency of combined sewer overflows, and improve water quality. One of the goals of the program is to improve our ability to predict the effectiveness of GI which will greatly reduce the risk assumed by city managers when implementing GI with grey infrastructure as a part of a comprehensive long-term nutrient control plan. In order to accomplish this, scientists from the Office of Research and Development (ORD) are evaluating the potential effectiveness of ?stream day-lighting? as a type of GI for improving water quality. In urbanized basins up to 70% of the stream network may be buried under parking lots, roads, or other developments. Day-lighting consists of removing these streams from underground pipes and routing them through new channels which are exposed to sunlight and bordered by a riparian zone. It is anticipated that these newly day-lighted streams will process nutrients more efficiently leading to water quality improvements. Scientists from ORD will use stable isotope methods to measure nitrogen (N) uptake rates in buried and day-lighted streams in Cincinnati, OH and Baltimore, MD to determine if they support different N processing rates. Since ORD does not have the instrumentation to analyze the isotopic composition of N and oxygen (O) in nitrate (NO3-) in a timely manner, it is necessary to establish a contract with an isotope analysis lab. This purchase order will consist of analytical services from a laboratory capable of measuring the ?15N and ?18O of streamwater NO3-. The ?15N levels will range from natural abundance to 5000 per mil. All ?18O values will be at natural abundance. OBJECTIVEThe contractor shall analyze ?15N and ?18O of NO3- in streamwater samples provided by EPA personnel. EPA will provide:1. Frozen 60mL samples of streamwater filtered to 0.45?m and shipped overnight on ice.2. Sample list in spreadsheet format for each batch of samples including the NO3- concentration. Contractor shall furnish:1. Sample ?15N and ?18O of NO3- in a spreadsheet along with the associated QA/QC checks.DESCRIPTION OF TASKS TASK 1:The contractor shall use the N2O- denitrifier method with P. aureofaciens to convert the NO3- to N2O on a gas bench. The N2O will then be transferred to an isotope ratio mass spectrometer via a carrier gas where the ?15N and ?18O of the N2O will be measured. QA/QCThe contractor shall employ the basic hardware configuration described below. The contractor shall comply with the following QA/QC requirements. 1.0 Vial Preparation1.1 Clean vials with a dilute solution of sodium hypochlorite, followed by a thorough rinse in DI water.1.2 Wash vials with dilute Extran 300, followed by a thorough rinse in DI water.1.3 Soak vials in 0.5M hydrochloric acid for a minimum of 24 hrs(hours)1.4 Rinse a minimum of 5 times with house DI water and 1 time with NANOpure water before drying for 24 hrs1.5 Wrap vials in aluminum foil and bake in muffle furnace for 2 hrs at 500 C1.6 When the vials are cool enough to handle, wear a new pair of nitrile gloves and place a brand new septum in each vial cap, Teflon side down. Screw a clean, dry cap on tightly, but not as tight as you possibly can because this might warp the septum1.7 The clean vials can be stored in I-chem vial boxes indefinitely, but do not open the cap again until adding bacteria broth2.0 Purging vials of residual nitrate and adding sample material2.1 A solution of soy broth and microbes will be added to the vials. Residual N2O will be purged from the broth and the headspace using helium for a minimum of two hours before sample is added to the vial2.2 Sample must be added to the vial within 2 hrs of purging2.3 Samples must be frozen until just prior to analysis2.4 Samples must incubate in the sample vials for a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 24 hrs prior to analysis.3.0 Pre-run instrumentation checks3.1 The average isotope value for the reference N2O gas must be the -0.10 to +0.10 per mil range, and the standard deviation <0.10 per mil for both ?15N and ?18O.3.2 Visually inspect the ascarite trap4.0 Running samples4.1 The purge needles should enter the sample below the liquid level to ensure any dissolved N2O is flushed into the headspace4.2 The sample should be purged for a minimum of thirty minutes to ensure completer recovery of the N2O4.3 After the run inspect the peak sizes. If a peak size is less than 80% of the expected peak size based on the mass of NO3 in the sample, repeat the sample if there was only one replicate of it in the run. If it was one of multiple replicates, discard the data point if the peak size differs from the other replicates by more than 10%, or if the isotope values do not agree within 0.75 per mil for ?15N or 1.50 per mil for ?18O4.4 If the low peak is a standard, discard the data point4.5 After the run inspect the color of the broth in the vials. They should be a milky white color. If any of the vials have a yellow tint, the bacteria may have been exposed to oxygen, which often results in poor NO3 recovery4.6 If the yellowish vial is a standard and the peak size is > 80% of the expected peak size, check that the isotope value doesn?t differ from the average for that standard on that run by more than 0.75 per mil for ?15N or more than 1.50 per mil for ?18O. If it does, discard that data point4.7 If a sample has a yellowish vial, repeat the sample if there was only one replicate of it in the run. If it was one of multiple replicates, discard the data point if the peak size for the yellow vial differs from the other replicates by more than 10%, or if the isotope values do not agree within 0.75 per mil for ?15N or 1.50 per mil for ?18O4.8 If the peak sizes are large enough to max out the IRMS detector (a lab specific criteria), a smaller volume of the sample must be rerun5.0 Standards and calibration5.1 For natural abundance samples, calibrate the instrument using at least three IAEA certified standards (e.g., USGS32, USGS34, and USGS35). For runs including enriched ?15N samples, the calibration should include a standard enriched to 5000+/- 1000 per mil. Since no IAEA certified standards are available at this enrichment level, use an in-house or 3rd party standard5.2 Each standard should be run in duplicate near the beginning and end of each run. Acceptable values for the IAEA certified standards can be found below (Table 1)5.3 If the average isotope value for any of the standards listed in Table 1 is not within the specified range, repeat the entire run. If the average is within spec, but any replicate is not, do not report the value for that replicate5.4 Stock solutions of the above standards should be made by dissolving the standard in NANOpure water. These standards can be kept refrigerated, in a dark area, in well-sealed Nalgene bottles, for a maximum of 18 months5.5 Working solutions made from the stock solutions can be stored refrigerated for up to 1 month in well-sealed Nalgene bottles5.6 Run a minimum of one blank to ensure that the peak area is below detection. If not, repeat the entire run as this indicates that residual nitrate wasn?t properly removed from the vials.5.7 Run a working standard before the first sample, after the last sample, and at a minimum frequency of every 10 samples. The working standard replicates should always have the same volume and concentration. If the final value of any working standard replicate disagrees with the published value range by more than twice the allowable standard deviation (? 0.25 ? for 15N and ? 0.50 ? for 18O), repeat all of the samples before, after, and in between any working standard replicates that are not in spec.5.8 Run a minimum of 1 duplicate sample every 10 samples. The replicates are in spec if the range is ? 1.0 ? for ?15N. Repeat the sample as necessary until the criteria is achieved.Standard ?15NAIR Acceptable Range, Any 1 Replicate ?15NAIR Acceptable Range, Average of all Replicates ?18OVSMOW Acceptable Range, Any 1 Replicate ?18OVSMOW Acceptable Range, Average of all ReplicatesIAEA-NO3 +3.90 to +5.50 +4.15 to +5.25 +24.20 to +27.00 +24.70 to +26.50USGS32 +179.5 to +180.5 +179.7 to +180.3 +24.30 to +27.10 +24.80 to +26.60USGS34 -2.50 to -1.10 -2.25 to -1.35 -29.50 to -26.30 -29.00 to -26.80USGS35* +2.00 to +3.40 +2.25 to +3.15 +56.10 to +58.90 +56.60 to +58.40Table 1. Acceptable isotope values for IAEA certified standards. DELIVERABLEThe contractor shall provide interim reports containing the ?15N and ?18O values of NO3- in the samples and associated QA/QC data to EPA personnel in the form of an Excel spreadsheet delivered via e-mail within 2 months of receipt of a batch of samples (Table 2). At a minimum, QA/QC data must include the calibration standards, laboratory blanks, and laboratory duplicates. EPA personnel will advise the contractor of any problems with the interim report within 3 weeks after receipt of the interim report. The contractor shall provide a revised report within 3 weeks of receiving comments from EPA personnel. A final report containing the ?15N and ?18O values of NO3- of all samples and associated QA/QC data will be delivered to EPA personnel in the form of an Excel spreadsheet within two months of receipt of the final sample batch. As described above, EPA personnel will review the report within three weeks. Within three weeks of receiving comments from EPA personnel the contractor shall deliver the final report. The contractor shall maintain electronic copies of the data on at least two separate storage devices (e.g., computer hard drive, external hard drive) for the duration of the project. The samples will be delivered to the contractor in 24 batches 34 samples (i.e., total of 816 samples) according to the sample schedule in Table 2. Batch # *Anticipate delivery date1 ? 3 8/1/11 ? 8/15/114 - 6 8/16/11 ? 9/15/117 - 12 10/15/11 ? 11/30/1113-18 1/10/12 ? 2/27/201019-24 3/27/12 ? 5/01/12*Delivery date will be contingent upon weather conditions. The sampling schedule is designed to focus on the four seasons (i.e., summer 2011, fall 2011, winter 2012, spring 2012.Table 2. Anticipated sample delivery dates. BASIC HARDWARE CONFIGURATION FOR THE ISOTOPIC ANALYSIS OF N AND O IN STREAMWATER NITRATE SAMPLES USING THE DENITRIFIER METHOD SCOPE AND APPLICATIONThis document instructs users on the basic hardware configuration required to analyze ?15N and ?15O values of stream water NO3 samples using the denitrifier method. Denitrifying bacteria, lacking the enzyme to reduce nitrate/nitrite to N2 gas, are used to reduce nitrate/nitrite to N2O gas, which is analyzed with an isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS) for ?15N and ?18O. The technique, known as ?the denitrifier method,? analyzes isotopes from the sum of both species, but it is assumed that nitrate dominates for most samples. Samples are added to a concentrated bacteria solution and allowed to incubate for full conversion of nitrate to N2O. After incubation, samples are purged with helium gas to ensure that all of the N2O gas is removed from the vial. During this process the N2O is frozen out of the helium stream by a liquid nitrogen trap. The trap is then raised to allow the focused peak of N2O to travel to the IRMS.CITATIONSU.S. Geological Society. Determination of the ?(15N/14N) and ?(18O/16O) of nitrate in water: RSIL lab code 2900. In Book 10, Methods of the Reston Stable Isotope Laboratory. PROCEDURES AND HARDWARESee the QA/QC section in the Statement of Work for QA/QC additional operating details. Sample gas will be extracted from the sample vials using a Gasbench. The sample gas will be directed from the Gasbench to a Nafion dryer for water removal. From the Nafion dryer, the gas stream will be directed to a PreCon, where most of the CO2 will be removed using as ascarite trap. The gas stream will then be directed into a stainless steel loop submerged in liquid nitrogen, where the N2O freezes and is trapped as a solid. After the N2O has been cryogenically trapped, the loop will be raised to atmosphere and the carrier gas flow reversed. The N2O will sublimate and be carried as a sharp peak through capillaries back to the Gasbench. In the Gas bench, the flow will be sent to a capillary gas chromatography (GC) column optimized for the separation of CO2 from N2O. This is important because a small amount of CO2 may make its way past the ascarite trap. It must be separated from N2O bec ause both molecules have isotopologues that results in m/z signals for 44, 45, and 46. Upon exiting the GC column, the stream will flow through a second Nafion dryer and on to a split vessel, where a small capillary takes it to the IRMS.Evaluation Factors The Government intends to award a single purchase order on a best value basis to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other non-price factors considered. Technical proposals shall not exceed 15 pages in length. Curriculum Vitae submitted with the proposal are not included in the length restriction, but should be limited to critical information. The non-price evaluation factors are as follows:Technical Evaluation Criteria:1) The contractor must use the denitrifier method to measure the ?15N and ?15O of streamwater NO3-. a. The contractor shall provide a detailed technical approach outlining a plan for fulfilling each task identified in the Statement of Work (SOW), including the QA/QC criteria.2) Demonstrated ability to analyze a minimum of 200 water samples for ?15N and ?15O of NO3-. 3) Results within two months. a. Due to the number of samples that will be generated in this project, the contractor must have high throughput capabilities.4) Demonstrated qualifications and availability of proposed management and technical personnel in performing analysis.5) Previous Experience and Past Performancea. Demonstrated performance on orders, grants, contracts, or subcontracts performed during the past three years, which are similar in scope. Factors for consideration include: (1) quality of products; (2) timeliness of products; (3) compliance with cost estimate; (4) initiative in meeting requirements; and (5) customer satisfaction.b. The Contractor shall submit the customer contact name, mailing address, e-mail address, phone number, fax number, project description, and project value for at least 2 projects similar in size, scope, and complexity to this requirement.Offerors shall include a completed copy of the provision at FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items, with its offer. This clause may be found on the Internet at the following site: http://www.arnet.gov/far/. Clause FAR 52.212-4, Contract terms and Conditions-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The Clause at FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. Under FAR 52.212-5 paragraph (b), the following additional clauses apply to this acquisition: 52.222-50(Feb 2009), 52.204-10 (Jul 2010), 52.204-11(Jul 2010),52.222-3 (June 2003),52.222-3(June 2003), 52.222-26, 52-222-21 (Feb 1999), (E.O. 11246), 52.222-35 (Sep 2006). 52.222-36,(Jun 1998), 52.222-37(Sep 2006), 52.222-54, 52.223-18 (Sep 2010), (Jan 2009), 52.225-13 (Jun 2008), 52.232-30 (Oct 1995), 52.232-33 (Oct. 2003). These documents can be found at: http:www.epa.gov/docs/etsdop/. Any firm that believes it is capable of meeting EPA's requirement stated herein shall submit 1 copy of their offer including their DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System) number, referencing RFQ-OH-11-00045 and, no later than, July 15, 2011 at 5:00 PM EST to Katie Rechenberg as follows: via email at contact@example.gov. Questions may be submitted via e-mail at contact@example.gov. All quotes received in response to this posting will be evaluated based on Best Value.