R--Technical Support for Drinking Water Optimization Program

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS FOR WRITTEN INFORMATION ONLY. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION ANNOUNCEMENT FOR PROPOSALS AND NO CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED FROM THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is performing a ?market search? to determine potential sources in preparation for a future procurement. The EPA Office of Water requires a contractor that can provide technical support for continued implementation and expansion of the drinking water Optimization Program. The goal of the Optimization Program is to improve the quality of public drinking water by maximizing the effectiveness of drinking water treatment, conveyance, and storage, through operational changes and with limited capital expenditure. The contractor will work directly with state and EPA regional drinking water programs to optimize water quality at public water systems. Currently, there are 21 states and 4 EPA regional offices participating in the Optimization Program. Contract support shall require a superior level of technical and implementation expertise in the areas of drinking water treatment optimization, and maintaining water quality in distribution system storage and conveyance facilities. Contract Support shall also require a working knowledge of the existing Composite Correction Program, which is the basis for most Optimization Program activities. The successful contractor shall provide all necessary labor, materials, services, equipment and facilities in support of the efforts delineated by the performance work statement (PWS). Services to be performed include: ? Development of analytical tools (e.g., spreadsheets), operational procedures and training curricula for use by state and EPA staff members while working with public water system personnel. These efforts may include reviews of current science and engineering literature, as well as direct communication with appropriate experts, in areas such as particle removal, disinfection, and disinfection byproduct formation in surface water and ground water systems. ? Demonstrate the effective use of the aforementioned analytical tools, operational procedures and training curricula to state and EPA staff members participating in the Optimization Program.? Facilitate the implementation of state and EPA Area-Wide Optimization Programs through the use of strategic implementation meetings, conducting training workshops, and the provision of targeted assistance for individual public water systems. A draft PWS can be obtained from the OAM website, http://www.epa.gov/oam/cinn_cmd/. It is anticipated that the contract will be a Firm Fixed Price contract starting in February 2010 with a one year Base Period and four Optional Periods of 12 months each. Approximately 2,200 Level of Effort (LOE) hours are anticipated for each contract period with contractor?s needing to provide as much as an additional 2,200 hours each contract period for a total of 22,000 hours in total for all periods if all the potential LOE hours are realized. The applicable NAICS code is 541330 with a size standard of $4,500,000. This requirement was previously competed and awarded as a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee contract and EPA?s intention is to undertake the prospective requirement by employing a Firm-Fixed Price contract. Historical data from previous contract option periods is attached, indicating the Level of Effort and Other Direct Cost usage. The historical data can be obtained from the Office of Acquisition Management?s website http://www.epa.gov/oam/cinn_cmd/. The purpose of this synopsis is to gain knowledge of interest, capabilities and qualifications of various members of the Small Business Community to include Section 8(a), Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUB-Zone), Women-Owned Small Business and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) to compete and perform a Firm Fixed Price Contract. The type of solicitation to issue will depend upon the responses to this sources sought synopsis. The Government must ensure there is adequate competition amoung the potential pool of responsive firms. Any interested firm should submit information which demonstrates the firm?s ability to perform the key requirements described above. Standard company brochures alone will not be considered a sufficient response to this Sources Sought Synopsis. The information should include: size status for the above referenced NAICS code, (i.e. large, small) and whether or not they are a certified Hubzone, 8(a), women-owned, small disadvantaged and/or service disabled veteran owned small business concern, point of contact, telephone number, email and interest in proposing on the solicitation when issued. The EPA reserves the right to set this action aside for small businesses if it determines that there are two or more small businesses able to compete in terms of market prices, quality, and delivery. If set aside, a small business would be required to perform at least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel (FAR 52.219-14). Capability statements from small businesses should address their ability to meet this requirement. Responses to the above should be submitted to Angela Lower at contact@example.gov no later than 4:00PM ET on April 30, 2009. A separate synopsis will be issued for the Request for Proposal (RFP) resulting from this sources sought synopsis.