Question and Answeres 1333ND21QNB150143 v3 Final.pdf

Questions and Answers for RFQ 1333ND212QNB150143 - ISPOSAL OF CHEMCIAL WASTE AND

EMERGENCY RESPONSE SERVICES

Question Answer 1 Please describe the on-site industrial service projects that vendors have performed in the past and how frequently these services are provided. i.e. oil water separators, manhole cleanings, etc.

Industrial services include cleaning out 2 large waterjet metal cutting machines. This process requires 2 turbo vac trucks and approximately 100’ of 6-inch hose to vacuum out non-hazardous sand and water 2-4 times per year. Occasionally oil waste vacuum service is required to pump out manhole pits (as needed). Oil water separator cleanout is done annually by separate vender not associated with this solicitation.

2 The second paragraph of the scope of work refers to Emergency Response services in Boulder, CO. However, it appears all services that bidders are being asked to price are only related to the Gaithersburg, MD site. Please describe the services that may be required in Boulder, CO. Must the Industrial Service and Emergency Response rates we provide also apply to services in Boulder, CO? Will bidding only for services in Gaithersburg, MD be a disqualification? Are the ER response times/requirements the same for the Boulder, CO location?

The requirement related to Boulder, CO is deleted from the SOW.

3 Regarding Past Performance, Section 2.3, Phase 2, Factor 3 references work performed within the past 5 years. Are 5 continuous years of performance per customer required in order to qualify or does any experience within the last 5 years qualify for this requirement?

All experience within the last 5 years qualifies.

4 If it is necessary to render a chemical safe for handling and transportation, is high-hazard chemical stabilization permitted at NIST if an appropriate safety plan is provided and approved?

Only EPA/MDE approved methods shall be used and prior approval of a Safety Plan by the COR will be required for any such practices.

5 Can you provide examples of Explosives 1.1-1.3 that were generated in the past? Please provide how frequently and what quantities of these items have been

NIST mostly deals with trace quantities (PPB) of explosive materials. Most of these are not 1.1-1.3. NIST has had some small quantities of TNT, RDX, HMX, and occasional black powder (which can be generated in the past? Can these items be priced on a case by case basis?

wetted). Other items may include, but are not limited to, marine flares, small caliber ammunition.

No, these items cannot priced on a case by case basis.

6 Regarding CLIN 44.00 30 YD Covered Dumpster for all Non Haz materials, directly below this line CLIN 44.10 states Regulated waste / cubic yard/ton), what are the RCRA associations with this waste which makes it Regulated and please provide the frequency of shipment?

CLIN 44.00 Non-hazardous material is mainly empty chemical containers and lab debris that is not EPA regulated material. This material is produced on a weekly basis and the dumpster is filled up every 2-3 months. CLIN 44.10 is for regulated wastes that cannot go into the non-hazardous waste stream yet are in large quantities that will not fit into a smaller container. Examples would be lead debris, contaminated filters from chemical fume hoods, Bag house dust (if it fails a TCLP), and any other hazardous wastes that require a cubic yard container or regulated dumpster.

7 Regarding CLIN 42.00 Vac Truck Flammable/Toxic liquid, what are the RCRA associations with this waste which makes it flammable and toxic?

On rare occasions there may be a need to pump out contaminated equipment or if a waterjet metal cutting machine is used to cut a toxic metal (e.g. lead or cadmium) (which is unlikely) a line item is needed to address such a need.

8 Regarding CLIN 607.80 45 gallon per minute oil water separator. Directly below this it states: Oil water separator w/ carbon filtration (including 500 lbs.

carbon does). Are you asking for the rate to include up to 500 lbs. carbon disposal?

Yes, the rate would include carbon disposal. All the 600 CLINS are for emergency response only. If there are some items in this list that you are not able to address, NIST will evaluate any substitutions that may be used in that event.

9 Regarding CLIN 15.00 PCB Materials >500 ppm, please provide more description on the type of PCB materials.

For concentrations greater than 500 ppm for PCBs, the source would generally be from old scientific pumps or electric transformers. NIST believes that most of this waste stream has already been dealt with but there is always a possibility of getting some from the labs. Another source could be research samples of high concentration PCB’s from the laboratories in lab pack quantities.

Testing for PCB’s is required prior to disposal of all bulked organic wastes NIST ships out. If NIST receives a positive hit for PCB’s NIST will search the log sheets to determine the source.

10 Regarding CLIN 16.00 and 17.00 Bulk Toxic Liquids and Bulk Toxic Solids, please provide the associated RCRA codes with each of these wastes.

Mostly P listed waste codes and other toxic related D codes.

11 Should rates for analytical testing be provided for a standard turnaround time of 10 business days?

NIST would prefer 7-day turnaround. 10 day will be acceptable. NIST must have required results at least a week before shipments.

12 Would you please provide a report of all waste/recyclables and quantities of each shipped offsite from 2019 and 2020?

NIST has provided estimates for the quantities shipped based on 2019 data.

13 Must everything be packed into DOT compliant containers in Building 312 at the end of every day for the weekly service or can the contractor store waste in bins with other similar items?

In general, all wastes must be processed and packed in DOT compliant containers by the end of the workday.

Only on rare occasions will wastes be allowed to be placed in non-DOT containers overnight. This must be approved by the COR and these wastes must be processed/packed the next day.

If it is determined that wastes cannot be picked up/processed in a single day the following day will be allowed to complete the pickups/processing.

Each DOT container and must be closed at the end of the shift and segregated.

Prior to shipment, some of the lab pack chemicals may be added to an existing container.

14 Section 4. Waste Bulking paragraph “b” requires sampling/analytical of bulked waste 3 weeks prior to shipment. Our question: as a cost saving measure, assuming that neither the waste generation process nor the chemical composition of the waste stream has changed, can sampling be reduced to once annually coinciding with WCR recertification? Or, waived entirely if

All bulked wastes (chlorinated and non-chlorinated solvent drums, oil drums etc.)

shall be tested for PCBs per the SOW. It is acceptable to use a TSDF facility lab to do this testing. An accredited lab may also be used.

A composite sample of several drums can be taken. As long as the PCB level comes back as ND, that record can be filed with the shipment and no other action will be none of the pre-existing conditions have changed?

required for that batch. If, however, any PCB’s show up all containers will need to be individually sampled to determine which container is contaminated prior to shipping per the SOW.

15 Would NIST please provide a copy of the existing contracted rates for all services?

No, this information is proprietary and cannot be released.

16 Can NIST please provide waste profiles for each waste stream that will be managed by the vendor?

No

17 Can NIST please provide the actual quantities shipped by waste stream?

No. NIST has provided estimates for the quantities shipped based on 2019 data.

18 Who the incumbent? Clean Venture – Contract No.: SB1341-16-

CQ-0009

19 Combined Synopsis/Solicitation (CSS) posted as solicitation number 1333ND21QNB150143 will be a follow-on requirement to any work performed currently or in the past, or will this be a new requirement?

This CSS is a follow-on requirement, 20 Please provide the most recent contract or task order number?

Contract No.: SB1341-16-CQ-0009 Task Order No.: 1333ND20FNB150101

21 Upon reviewing the SOW, on page 4 it states: The Contractor shall own and operate at least one currently permitted EPA Part A or Part B Treatment, Storage, Disposal (Recycling) facilities (TSDRFs) for hazardous waste disposal. This wording limits competition because it does not allow environmental companies that do not own a TSDRF to submit a proposal.

Will NIST change this requirement?

NIST will not be changing this requirement. NIST has determined that a full-service hazardous waste disposal firm (including a TSDF) is appropriate for the scope of services required under this solicitation.

22 Also, an offeror would have to a TSDRF be within 50 miles of NIST Gaithersburg campus to bid.

All offerors are required to have a field office within 50 miles of the NIST Gaithersburg campus. Offerors must be able to respond in case of an emergency to the NIST Gaithersburg campus within the time limits stated in the SOW.

23 Please provide the existing contractual rates for the service.

No, this information is proprietary and cannot be released.

24 Cylinders item 50.00-57.40: We are requesting the dimensions for Lecture/Spud (3 x12)? Small, Medium, and large? The bid has identified Compressed Gas Cylinders

These cylinder dimensions and categories are based on SET’s category and size lists. Lecture size is the smallest cylinders usually 1.5-2x12-18, smalls are slightly larger (size of small propane can 4x12), CATA. What is the type of gas for each of the categories?

med is 2-foot-high size, large is full sized roughly 5 foot tall etc.

25 Explosive Compounds item 45.00- 45.20: What is chemical composition of each of the Hazardous Class listed and frequency of shipment for those Class’s?

Frequency if class 1.1-1.3 explosives is very rare. Please see response to question number 5.

26 Gallon Fiber Drum item 405.30: The bid states Evaluated Quantities. Please explain.

Provide price per container

27 Biological Decontamination 612.00: Is this item referencing per event or items such as a kit? If an event, please give scope of work to be performed and duration.

This is based on CDC guidelines for COVID disinfection response. Requires 4- 5 personnel per request and 4-hour maximum turnaround 7 days a week availability. Use of foggers and wipes depending on the size of the area being cleaned. Frequency is dependent on need. To date, during peak times we were doing 1 or 2 disinfections a week however this is completely random.

28 Medical Waste (per box): Please provide frequency and box size.

Standard size 18x18x24, approximately ship out approximately every 2 months 50- 80 boxes per shipment.

29 Labor per Hour: The SOW states two personnel, the bid documents accounts for 2080 hours. Are these onsite people part time? How many current contractor (people) are being used to perform the duties currently?

Per the SOW a minimum of 2 personnel on site each week. Every Wednesday will require 2 preferably 3 personnel and Thursday will require 2. This is where the 2080 hours comes from up to 40-man hours per week total. 3x8 on wed, 2x8 on Thursday. If less hours are needed to complete the work, then less time will be billed for the day’s services.

30 The information provided references Bolder Colorado. Is this for Emergency Response only?

Response was previously answered under question number 2. Please reference question number 2.