PFAS Laboratory Testing SOW Southern Region.pdf

TASK ORDER

Statement of Work (SOW)

Laboratory Testing for PFAS in Region 8 Forest Service Drinking Water Systems

EPA established the final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water: PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, and HFPO-DA as contaminants with individual Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs), and PFAS mixtures containing at least two or more of PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, and PFBS using a Hazard Index MCL to account for the combined and co-occurring levels of these PFAS in drinking water.

Public water systems must monitor these PFAS and have three years to complete initial monitoring (by 2027), followed by ongoing compliance monitoring. Water systems must also provide the public with information on the levels of these PFAS in their drinking water beginning in 2027.

This SOW will cover the laboratory analysis for the water samples at facilities required to sample for PFAS. The laboratory shall furnish all equipment, shipping, testing and incidentals necessary for the performance of the tasks specified in this SOW.

I. BACKGROUND:

The purpose of this contract is to conduct laboratory testing for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at Forest Service owned drinking water systems on National Forest System (NFS) lands in Region 8. Known as the Southern Region, it is a dynamic collection of lands that encompass 13 states and Puerto Rico.

II. SCOPE OF WORK TO BE PERFORMED:

The laboratory will perform testing for PFAS at 31 Forest Service water systems across LA, TN, AL, GA, SC, NC, FL, VA, KY, TX and Puerto Rico. Five of the water systems sampled are classified as non-transient non-community (NTNC) public water systems by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and results will be submitted to the local state primacy agency in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act. The remaining 26 water systems to be sampled are non-public non-transient water systems required to be monitored in the same manner and frequency in accordance with the Forest Service Manual (FSM7421.25).

The laboratory will be responsible for providing shipment of sampling bottles including required QA/QC bottles, sampling instructions, coolers, chain of custody (COC) sheets, gloves, postage (shipping labels), laboratory testing, follow-up QA/QC samples when required, reporting to primacy agencies when required, and reporting to USFS. For cost estimating, keep in mind that each water system will have its own cooler, COC sheets, and postage (shipping labels) even if shipped to the same address as other water systems since systems are far apart and sampling will occur on different days.

Sample transport, and laboratory analysis will be performed according to the Directions for PFAS sampling on EPA’s website at www.epa.gov. Provide everything needed for proper sampling and transport including Ziplock bags, gloves, etc.

The current analytical methods used to assess the presence of PFAS in drinking water are EPA Method 537.1 (March 2020) or EPA 533. The laboratory will provide all equipment and materials necessary for testing. Sample analysis will be performed by a laboratory currently Accredited for PFAS Analysis in drinking water.

Laboratory analysis will be completed for the 6 regulated forms (PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, HFPO-DA (Gen X chemicals) and PFBS) of PFAS. The 6 regulated PFAS, their Maximum Contaminant Levels (40 CFR 141.61(c)(2)) and Trigger Levels (40 CFR 141.902(a)(5)) are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1

PFAS DRINKING WATER REGULATIONS

Chemical Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)

Trigger Level

PFOA 4.0 ppt 2.0 ppt

PFOS 4.0 ppt 2.0 ppt

PFNA 10 ppt 5 ppt

PFHxS 10 ppt 5 ppt

HFPO-DA (GenX chemicals) 10 ppt 5 ppt

Mixture of two or more: PFNA, PFHxS, HFPO-DA, and PFBS

Hazard Index of 1 Hazard Index of 0.5

In the event of a PFAS test over the trigger level, a duplicate test and the field blank will be analyzed to confirm results. Duplicate and field blank samples are to be taken at the same time as other samples but only analyzed if there is a triggered PFAS result. The laboratory will provide a report showing the results of all PFAS testing. PFAS levels above the MCL and/or the Trigger Levels will be clearly highlighted. For cost estimating, assume that 25 % of the samples are above trigger levels and require blank and duplicate sample analysis.

According to the method, blank and duplicate analysis is not required if sample results are below the trigger levels. If more than 25 % of the samples are above trigger levels, it would constitute a change in contract terms.

III. Tasks:

The water systems to be tested under this Task Order are in ten states and Puerto Rico. For bidding and implementation, the tasks are shown in the Schedule of Items (Table 2). For each state or territory, see Table 3 for the water system name, water system identification number if reporting required, and mailing address for cooler. The one surface water system in PR will have four sample tests over 12 months, spaced three months apart. The remaining groundwater systems will have sample tested twice within 12 months, spacing testing five to seven months apart.

Five systems require reporting to the primacy agency for that state or territory. These systems are LBJ Job Corps in NC, Winn Work Center in LA, Chattooga River Admin Site in GA, Catalina Work Center in El Portal, and Lake George Administrative Site in FL. These sites are listed in bold in the table. LBJ Work Center in NC has already undergone one round of clean samples so these samples will count as the first set of routine samples for that location.

TABLE 2

Schedule of Items

Initial Laboratory Testing for Region 8 USFS Drinking Water Systems

Item # Item(s) Quantity Unit Cost Unit Amount

1 Sample Analysis for PFAS EPA Method 537.1 or 533 64 Each $0.00 2 Cooler and Supplies 64 Each $0.00 3 25 Percent above level QA/QC Trip Blank 16 Each $0.00 4 25 Percent above level QA/QC Duplicate 16 Each $0.00

Shipping LS $0.00

Total $0.00

TABLE 3

REGION 8 PFAS INITIAL SAMPLING EVENT

DRINKING WATER SYSTEM LIST

IV. DELIVERABLES:

The laboratory will provide all laboratory results of all PFAS sampling and testing. PFAS levels above the MCL and/or the Trigger Levels will be clearly identified.

Project Work Plan:

The laboratory shall provide the Government with a project work plan for the project. The work plan shall include, but is not limited to the following:

• A description of the work to be performed

• A description of how the work will be performed

• Specific exclusions/assumptions regarding the specific work to be performed

• A listing of personnel, including other labs, working on the project

• List of equipment and supplies to be utilized

• Project specific “Quality Assurance Plan”

• Project timeframe and schedule for analysis

Final Report:

The laboratory shall Prepare a final report upon completion of performance of work under this Task Order. The final report shall include:

• A summary of the results

• Identification and discussion of any deviations from the approved methods

• Discuss any duplicate and blank sampling analysis to confirm positive sampling results.

• Copies of all laboratory test results, including QA/QC efforts and results

V. SCHEDULE OF WORK:

Within 15 days of Notice to Proceed, the laboratory will ship the first round of sample bottles and coolers to the locations listed in Table 1. Laboratory analysis and reporting will be completed within 30 days. All the laboratory work will be completed within one year after the first shipment of samples for analysis. The surface water system Catalina Work Center in PR will have four shipments and sampling events within the year and the groundwater systems will have two sampling events within the year time frame. The Period of Performance will be 15 months after Notice to Proceed, which includes reporting of all sampling events, including QA/QC samples required for results over the trigger level. The timeline may be modified based on sampling results.

VI. TASK ORDER POINT OF CONTACT:

The point of contact for this task order is:

Kimberly Barnett kimberly.barnett2@usda.gov (828)573-4858 USFS SRS HQ, 200 WT Weaver Boulevard, Asheville, NC 28804 mailto:kimberly.barnett2@usda.gov