Question and Answer_Industrial Hygienist.pdf

Question and Answer Document

Industrial Hygienist Consulting Services

April 23, 2026

1. Is there a current incumbent performing these services? If so, can the Government provide details on the incumbent?

This is a new requirement.

2. Can the Government clarify the intent of contracting for a one-year period of performance?

The period of performance is for one year. The intent is to receive industrial hygienist services for the next year.

3. Are there any Maryland-specific training, or certifications requirements applicable to the

Radiation Safety Officer.

For a Radiation Safety Officer working at a federal facility in Maryland, there are no

Maryland‑specific training or certification requirements because federal agencies fall under

NRC jurisdiction, not state authority. Maryland’s radiation regulations apply only to non‑federal entities. The only binding qualification standards for an RSO at a federal site come from NRC regulations (10 CFR 35.50), which outline required education, supervised experience, and training. Maryland’s Radiological Health Program does not regulate federal

RSOs, although a federal agency may voluntarily adopt state standards as internal policy.

4. Would a part time IH and CIH be considered as opposed to one full time CIH?

No.

5. Will the Government provide equipment necessary to perform required services (e.g., respirator fit testing, noise monitoring, and other IH activities)? If so, will the Government also be responsible for equipment calibration?

Yes. The Government will provide—or rent, as appropriate and feasible—all equipment necessary to perform required industrial hygiene services, including respirator fit‑testing equipment, noise monitoring instruments, and any other sampling or measurement devices needed to complete IH‑related tasks. The Government will also furnish all calibration services or the resources required to ensure proper calibration of this equipment.

6. Are there specific security clearance or access requirements for personnel performing work onsite?

Please review AGAR Clause 452.204-71 on page 4 of attachment 1. The IH will be required to pass a background check and receive a PIV card prior to working at the facility.

7. Section 3.1 references rotating across three shifts. Can the Government provide the specific hours associated with each shift?

The individual selected for this position will be expected to perform services during a standard

8‑hour shift. While most BARC staff typically work between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., the specific schedule for this position will be discussed and agreed upon with the Compliance

Manager for the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Safety, Health and Environmental

Management (SHEM) Unit, to whom the individual will report.

However, BARC also has several operational groups—such as wastewater operations, boiler plant personnel, farm crew, and animal care staff—who routinely work outside normal duty hours. Any industrial hygiene concerns specific to those shifts must still be evaluated and addressed. For that reason, there may be occasions when the Industrial Hygienist will need to adjust their schedule to conduct sampling or respond to an IH‑related issue occurring during these non‑standard hours.

Any sampling or work performed outside normal duty hours will be discussed in advance, approved prior to implementation, and compensated in accordance with applicable overtime or compensatory time rules. The only circumstance in which advance notice may not be possible is during an emergency response involving an immediate industrial hygiene hazard.

8. Can the Government clarify expectations for weekend work and 24/7 on-call support as referenced in Sections 3.1 and 3.6?

The Government can clarify that weekend work, and 24/7 on‑call support are not routine expectations for this position. The Industrial Hygienist will work a standard 8‑hour shift, with the specific schedule coordinated and agreed upon with the Compliance Manager for the

Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Safety, Health and Environmental Management (SHEM)

Unit.

However, BARC has several operational groups—such as wastewater operations, boiler plant personnel, farm crew, and animal care staff—who maintain schedules outside normal duty hours. Any industrial hygiene concerns specific to those shifts must still be evaluated. When such needs arise, the Industrial Hygienist may be asked to adjust their schedule, but only with prior discussion and approval. Any work performed outside normal duty hours will follow applicable overtime or compensatory time rules.

The only circumstance in which advance notice may not be possible is during an emergency response involving an immediate industrial hygiene hazard. In those rare cases, the Industrial

Hygienist may be called in outside normal duty hours, including weekends, to support emergency operations. Outside of emergency response or previously agreed‑upon sampling needs, no 24/7 on‑call requirement is expected.

9. The RFQ for IH Support Services asks for one fixed price quote for a year of service. Do you have an estimate of the type and number of IH sampling events anticipated in the year to price out the lab costs? Or, if USDA has a contract in place with a laboratory to provide sampling media and provide laboratory analysis is that something we can use for this contract?

At this time, the Government does not have an estimate for the type or number of industrial hygiene sampling events anticipated during the first year of performance. The IH program at

BARC is in its infancy, and the initial phase will require daily sampling across a wide range of task‑dependent activities. Once baseline data is collected, the long‑term sampling frequency will shift to program maintenance, which will be determined entirely by the results of the initial assessments. Because of this, it is not possible to provide a reliable estimate of annual sampling volume in advance.

The USDA does not currently have a contract in place with a laboratory to provide sampling media or analytical services. If laboratory support becomes necessary, the USDA will procure or establish access to those services as needed. The Government will provide—or rent, as appropriate—all equipment required to perform industrial hygiene sampling, and will cover all equipment‑related expenses, including calibration and maintenance. The Government will also ensure that all sample analysis is completed using whatever method is determined to be the most feasible and appropriate for the specific sampling needs.

Contractors should therefore base their fixed‑price quote on the labor required to support the

IH program, with the understanding that USDA will furnish all sampling media, laboratory analysis, and equipment‑related costs.

10. Is it possible to have a separate CLIN for the FTE position and then IH sampling events to better price this?

No, the sampling events are part of the routine job duties of the IH.

11. Are there option years for this contract or are you only looking for one year of support?

The period of performance is for one year.

12. Is the 24/7 rapid response for the imbedded IH individual or additional support staff?

The 24/7 rapid response referenced in the RFQ applies specifically to the embedded Industrial

Hygienist, not to additional support staff.

13. Is there a page limitation in the response?

No, we did not set a page limit in the solicitation.

14. Is there a requirement for a resume to be included in the response?

We did not specifically require the vendors to submit a resume in the solicitation. We will conduct a comparative evaluation of the quotes received.

15. Will all sampling equipment, lab analysis and media be provided by the site?

Yes

16. Will government vehicles be available for transport between sites?

Yes, drivers must be legally licensed to drive in the United States.