Questions_and_Answers.pdf

Questions and Responses to FedBid Buy #927880

South Atlantic Water Science Center

MARSSIM Decommissioning Surveys

June 22, 2018

1. Section g states. "The contractor shall dispose of USGS-stored low-level mixed waste. It consists of solid waste (sorbent paper, gloves, vials). Conservative high estimate of activity is 40mCuries. Physically, the waste is contained in two (2) 55-gallon drums."

Q1. Can drum weights be provided?

Approximate weights of two drums: 85 lbs, 150 lbs.

2. Q2. Do these drums contain a RCRA regulated hazard that characterizes the material as a

"mixed waste?" If so what is the hazard and quantity of the hazardous material?

No. Mixed waste description refers to range of solid material, including sorbent paper, tissue, gloves, glass vials (some with aluminum crimps), plastic, plastic vials, and limited amount of dry sediment/soil samples that could not be removed from microcosm vials.

Note: The term mixed waste is being interpreted, understandably, by the vendor as

"mixed hazardous waste". The solid waste drums contain a mix of materials, including glass, gloves, paper, etc. All 14C-labeled chemicals, which were used in the lab, were at quantities well below regulated amounts for hazardous waste. The only applicable hazard is the radioactive hazard.

3. Q3. Do the drums contain metal or glass?

Yes, glass vials and ampoules and limited items of metal (aluminum crimps).

4. Q4. On page 3 the text describes the MARSSIM Class 1, 2, and 3 SUs. On page 4, 4th paragraph, the text states that the rationale for selecting the Class 2 SU shall be developed using DQOs. Also on page 4, in the Scope of Work Tasks and Standards, under Task 2, number 1, the text mandates that the surfaces will be tested under the MARSSIM protocols for a Class 2 or 3 SU. On page 4 the SOW indicates that there are two 55-gallon drums with less than 3 mCi of C-14 activity. The text implies that the contents are from laboratory operations. On page 5, item g, the text again references two 55-gallon drums, however the waste is referred to as “USGS-stored low-level mixed waste with an estimated activity of 40 mCi”. This implies that some sort of remediation was performed in the laboratory. If that is the case, then the laboratory is a Class 1 SU. The drawing only shows two drums in the room.

Solid waste drum contents are from laboratory 14C operations. The lab has been inactive for more than 2 years, but 14C-materials were still present in the lab storage as working stocks, at the time that the decommissioning request was initiated. In preparation for lab decommissioning, these stocks were evaporated to dryness in the fume hood and disposed to solid waste in April-May 2018. The final activity in solid waste is estimated at less than 13 mCi. The text should have read “with an estimated activity of less than 40 mCi”. As of June 2018, all laboratory 14C materials and solid waste are in the solid waste drums and the final activity content of the drums is estimated at less than 13 mCi.

5. Q5. On page 4 the area is described as 825 square feet. Is this the floor foot print only, and if so, what is the wall area (up to 10 feet)?

The total laboratory wall space, assuming a height to 10 feet, is 1420 square feet.

6. Q6. On page 6, Task 3, number 2, the document states, “Interior and hallway floor drains do not have to be surveyed. No radioactive material has been deposited down the drains.” The drawing on page 13 shows one sink that is labeled in the legend as a carbon-14 disposal sink.

Is the sink included as an interior drain?

This sentence is incorrect. The RUP78 permit included permitted disposal to the sanitary drain. This disposal was limited one sink. Total disposal to the sanitary system is logged as approximately 3 mCi since 1997, with the final disposal to the sanitary system occurring in July 2014. The Radiation Safety Office can provide the documentation if needed.

Note: The last disposal to the sewer was in July 2014. Total disposal over the more than 20-year licensed period was approximately 3 mCi. For the purposes of this project, the drain shall be surveyed.

7. Q7. On page 5, number 2, item a, the text indicates that items or equipment below the MDA or at or below background shall be free released and disposed. Is the contractor responsible for removing or disposing of any items other than the two 55-gallon drums?

Yes, the fume hood HEPA filter shall be disposed of if the survey is above background activity.

8. Q8. We would need to know the details of the mixed waste drums, such as what makes it a mixed waste. Is there an EPA profile as well as the radioactive waste?

There is no EPA-waste profile since the radioactive waste takes precedence. Mixed waste description refers to range of solid material, including sorbent paper, tissue, gloves, glass vials (some with aluminum crimps), plastic, plastic vials, and limited amount of dry sediment/soil samples that could not be removed from microcosm vials.

9. Q9. On page 5, 2, item d, the text states: The contractor may use portable tritium counters for samples and then shall use an offsite LSC on a confirmatory basis. 100% of the samples shall be counted. We take this to mean that we can use a portable LSC counter to count the smears, and send some portion, for example 10%, of those samples to an offsite laboratory for conformation. Is this your understanding as well?

The sentence was written so that if the contractor used a portable tritium counter on site, then it was assumed that the LSC counter would be offsite. If the contractor has a portable LSC counter that can be used on site, that is acceptable.

As stated in the Statement of Work, 100% of the samples shall be counted, whether by an offsite LSC counter or a portable LSC counter onsite.