SOURCES SOUGHT
Analytical Microbiology Laboratory Services Supporting the Unregulated
Contaminant Monitoring 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) Office of Water, Office of
Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW), Technical Support Center requires
contractor support to provide laboratory services contracts under the Unregulated
Contaminant Monitoring Regulation (UCMR) implementation program.
EPA is responsible for investigating chemical, radiological and microbiological
contaminant occurrence in an effort to characterize drinking water. EPA relies on
independent research efforts (e.g., United States Geological Survey [USGS] studies)
and is heavily engaged in conducting occurrence studies to obtain new data. The
largest occurrence study is the monitoring program mandated by the UCMR. UCMR is
a 5-year cyclic monitoring program that allows OGWDW to evaluate contaminant
occurrence in finished drinking water. Every five years, the UCMR is redefined through
regulatory proposal and promulgation. Monitoring results collected under the UCMR
are correlated with population data to obtain an exposure assessment for each
contaminant. If warranted, exposure information from the UCMR is then combined with
health effects and water treatment control information to determine a maximum
contaminant level (MCL) for a contaminant as a National Primary Drinking Water
Standard (NPDWS). This sound science strategy provides the basis for maximizing
public health protection.
The purpose of this announcement is to identify potential small businesses with the
capability to perform all or a portion of the requirements defined in the attached draft
Performance Work Statement (PWS) and to further determine whether or not all or a
portion of the work can be set-aside for potential small businesses sources. The North
American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this requirement is 541380
Testing Laboratories with a size standard of $12 Million. This industry comprises
establishments primarily engaged in performing physical, chemical, and other analytical
testing services, such as acoustics or vibration testing, assaying, biological testing
(except medical and veterinary), calibration testing, electrical and electronic testing,
geotechnical testing, mechanical testing, nondestructive testing, or thermal testing. The
testing may occur in a laboratory or on-site.
All interested parties are hereby invited to submit a capability statement of no more than
fifteen (15) pages, and no smaller than 12 point font. The Government will evaluate
each capability statement based on the interested party’s demonstrated qualifications,
capabilities, expertise, experience, and past performance in each of the areas included
in the draft PWS. Interested parties should describe their ability to provide all necessary
labor, materials, services, equipment, and facilities in support of the efforts required by
the PWS. The proposed contract will have a five year ordering period. It is anticipated
that a multiple award indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract with firm fixed price
task orders will result from the subsequent solicitation.
Interested parties are requested to address the following questions:
1. Have you participated in surveys or embarked in a research project that
involved virus detection from water samples?
2. Have you performed qPCR analysis for viruses or other pathogens? Please
include a list of publications, reports of surveys, and/or research results.
3. How many analysts do you expect to participate in the analysis, in order to
assure implementation of high quantity of samples?
4. Are you capable of performing analysis for total coliforms/E.coli,
bacteriophage, aerobic spores and enterococci indicators?
5. Given that the holding time for the analysis of these microbes is in the range
of 30-72 hrs, sub-contracting may not be feasible. Do you intend to analyze
the indicators and the viruses at one facility?
6. How many samples can you analyze by method 1615, per week? In your
response please take into consideration that you will have to analyze
additional four indicators.,namely total coliforms: E. coli, Enterococci,
Bacteriophage, and Aerobic spores
7. Do you have separate dedicated rooms/ hoods for the different aspects of
sample preparation, qPCR preparation, performing actual qPCR, tissue
culture facilities, as specified in EPA manual 815-B-04-001- and Method
1615?
8. Will your lab be able to perform both qPCR and tissue culture? Are your
analysts trained in these techniques?
9. Do you have and maintain in-house tissue culture facilities?
10. Is your laboratory drinking water certified (NELAC; EPA certified) or if not
currently certified was it ever in the past? Do you have any other kind of
certification? Have one or more of your analysts been a member of a
certified lab?
11. Were you an ICR approved laboratory?
12. Will you be ready to participate in a proficiency test that will be organized by
EPA as part of the solicitation process early next calendar year?
Interested parties should provide their 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 disabled veteran owned concern.
EPA reserves the right to use any and all information submitted by, or obtained from, an
interested party in any manner EPA determines is appropriate, including, but not limited
to, the creation of a competitive solicitation. An interested party should avoid including
any classified, business confidential, and/or proprietary information in its response.
However, if an interested party must submit such information, the information must be
clearly marked accordingly, and the interested party must provide sufficient justification
as to why such information is business confidential and/or proprietary. EPA will review
said information and safeguard it accordingly. The Government will not pay for any
information that is provided in response to this announcement, nor will it compensate
any respondents for the development of such information.
Responses to the above should be submitted to Erin Ridder via email,
ridder.erin@epa.gov, with a courtesy copy to Noelle Mills, mills.noelle@epa.gov, no
later than 15 calendar days from date of posting.