B09_Attachment_16_Updated_Statement_of_Work_0001.docx

IDIQ STATEMENT OF WORK

1. INTRODUCTION:

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) seeks to obtain the services of drilling contractors (Drilling Contractor) to use air-rotary drilling methods to install monitoring wells in Pennsylvania. This work will be part a study by the USGS of the hydrogeology and groundwater resources of fractured bedrock aquifers. Due to the uncertain location, scope, and timing of the studies, an Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract will be used to obtain the services. Each job will involve a Task Order with specific work involving one or more of the drilling services described in Section 4.

2. BACKGROUND:

The USGS is the primary source for scientific data and analysis about the Nation’s earth resources. The USGS has an ongoing long term field investigation to characterize groundwater resources through an ambient monitoring well network (the Network) throughout the State of Pennsylvania. The installation of monitoring wells is an important aspect of the investigation.

Air-rotary drilling methods are typically used for drilling boreholes in the bedrock of various lithologies in the region. In the study-area hydrogeologic settings, boreholes initially are drilled through overburden and weathered bedrock to competent bedrock and steel casing is set and grouted in place, commonly at least 5 feet (ft) into competent bedrock. Casing lengths range from20 to 150 ft in the existing Network. Boreholes are then advanced through competent bedrock to the specified depths. Planned depths of investigation typically are less than 250 ft below land surface (BLS), and minimal use of drilling fluids (potable water) is strongly preferred. After drilling, boreholes are developed to remove cuttings and fines.

3. OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE:

The USGS seeks to obtain air-rotary drilling and well-reconstruction services through the use of an IDIQ contract. The specific drilling services are described in the following sections. The USGS expects to complete the work in a number of separate jobs, with each job expected to take from 2 days to several weeks to complete. The quantity of services and timeline are uncertain given the nature of the field investigations. Therefore, the work for each job will be described in a Task Order and will consist of one or more of the drilling services described in Section 4.

4. DRILLING SERVICES:

Air-rotary drilling methods will be used to drill through overburden and weathered bedrock to set casing and then advance the borehole through competent fractured bedrock. The nature of the work is specified below. Diameters where given are in nominal units according to standard specifications of commonly used air-rotary drilling equipment. As described in greater detail in the following sections, USGS hydrologists, in consultation with the Drilling Contractor, will direct on-site drilling activities. The Drilling Contractor should have previously demonstrated experience drilling and reconstructing boreholes similar to those specified in this section and in bedrock units in Pennsylvania.

4.1. AIR-ROTARY DRILLING:

The Drilling Contractor will use air-rotary methods to through overburden and weathered bedrock to set casing. Steel surface casing will be set at least 5 feet into competent bedrock and grouted in place before advancing the borehole deeper into competent bedrock. The depth of drilling to competent bedrock and length of casing will depend upon the degree of weathering of the geological formation at the borehole location as determined by the Technical Liaison; the 28 monitoring wells in the existing network have an average of 50 feet of casing, with a range of 20 to 150 feet of casing. The open boreholes will be 6 inches in diameter and will remain as open holes for the purpose of long-term water quality monitoring sites.

All 6-inch inner diameter (ID) casing shall be grouted with cement/bentonite (90 percent cement and 10 percent bentonite) using a tremie pipe. After allowing the cement grout to cure, the remainder of the borehole shall be drilled to depths and at depths specified in the Task Order.

Boreholes are to be drilled to depths specified under the task order, ranging from about 60 to about 250 feet BLS. These depths may be modified by USGS at the site based on field conditions and in consultation with stakeholders and the Drilling Contractor, as needed. At least five, and up to twenty, 6-inch diameter wells may be drilled for use as long-term monitoring wells in settings with no known groundwater contamination.

As the borehole is advanced, the Drilling Contractor will coordinate with the USGS hydrologist on site to provide or allow collection of pertinent information about drilling rates, depth of water-bearing features, estimated amount of water produced from water-bearing features, and character of well cuttings. During drilling, the Drilling Contractor shall provide the Government (USGS) every opportunity to collect geological and hydrologic samples and information, including 1) collection of a composite of drill cuttings and produced fluids for each 5-foot interval of borehole or at every color change or when each water-bearing zone is reached or at depths as specified by the USGS Technical Liaison, and 2) measurement of the yield or discharge of water from the aquifer when each water-bearing zone is reached or at depths as specified by the USGS Technical Liaison. Equipment shall be provided by the Drilling Contractor that allows cutting and fluid samples to be safely collected and yields to be estimated.

The Drilling Contractor will provide a summary log of their activities and drilling details at the conclusion of the drilling process for each borehole.

The Drilling Contractor will develop the borehole after completion of drilling to the specified depth to remove fines by blowing with air pressure for approximately 30 to 60 minutes, or until the USGS and the Drilling Contractor jointly determine that development is sufficient. Drill cuttings generated during drilling will be containerized by the Drilling Contractor at sites where required by the property owner as specified in the Task Order. After the boreholes are drilled to depths specified in the task order and developed to remove fines, the 6-inch holes will be finished as open-hole monitoring wells as specified in the Task Order and sections 4.1.2 and 4.2.

4.2. FINISHING WELLS AT LAND SURFACE:

The Drilling Contractor will finish wells with 1-to-3-foot stick-up casings set in small (about 1 to 1.5-foot square) concrete pads. The concrete pads should slope away from the protective casing to shed rainwater away from the well. The stick-up casings shall be fitted with lockable caps.

4.3. SITE MAINTENANCE AND RESTORATION:

The Drilling Contractor will take appropriate care to maintain an orderly and clean drilling site and minimize disturbance of the site. The Drilling Contractor will discuss with the USGS concerns about access and potential for site damage prior to moving onto a site. The Drilling Contractor will take appropriate care to prevent spills of fuel, lubricants, and other fluids associated with the operation of the drilling rig. The Drilling Contractor will be responsible for the cleanup of any spills. The Drilling Contractor will take appropriate steps to prevent damage to lawns and other landscaping (e.g., the use of mats or plates to prevent the creation of ruts in lawns) and will make landscaping repairs as needed (e.g., filling in ruts and reseeding grass) at the completion of work.

Drilling cuttings generated during advancement and development of the borehole or monitoring well after reconstruction may need to be containerized by the Drilling Contractor as described in the Task Order. Disposal of cuttings generated during drilling and well development may be required and will be done by the Drilling Contractor as specified in the Task Order. Disposal of drill cuttings, soil, mud, and other materials will be done in accordance with all laws and regulations applicable for such materials.

4.4. DECONTAMINATION OF DRILLING EQUIPMENT:

The Drilling Contractor will, when required because of site-specific conditions, decontaminate drill rods by rinsing the devices or steam cleaning (if specified in the Task Order) with potable water prior to use for the next boring. The Task Order will indicate for each drilling site whether decontamination is needed.

4.5. EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES:

4.5.1. The Drilling Contractor will provide all equipment and supplies necessary to drill the boreholes and set casings in each monitoring well. This includes the drilling rig and all associated drilling rod, drilling tools, drilling-water containers, cuttings containers, pumps, measuring tapes, hardhats and safety equipment, and miscellaneous spare parts and tools.

The Drilling Contractor shall provide one complete drilling unit capable of air rotary drilling. The Drilling Contractor shall furnish all drill pipe and bits used for this contract. The Drilling Contractor shall provide all tools, supplies, drilling equipment, accessories, water for drilling, shovels, power, lighting, controls, discharge pipe, pumps, bag filters, compressor, experienced personnel, safety clothing and equipment, and all other items necessary to conduct efficient and satisfactory drilling, sampling, setting of casing, and completion of monitor wells as specified in this contract. The drilling unit shall be in good condition and have the capacity to drill a hole to a depth of 250 feet. The air compressor on the rig must be of sufficient capacity to recover drill cuttings as required for accurate sampling of geologic materials. The Drilling Contractor shall provide all materials and services necessary for satisfactory completion of all work required under this specification. No oil or grease shall be introduced into the drill hole for lubrication of drilling bits, joints, or other equipment

The Drilling Contractor shall provide all 6-inch ID diameter steel casing as specified in the Task Order to be installed in the boreholes. The casing must be certified as solvent free by the manufacturer. The casing may be of any reasonable length for safe and efficient handling. The casing must be undamaged, with no cracks or snags inside the casing that might cause an obstruction for experimental apparatus to be lowered into the well. Each length of casing to be inserted into a drill hole will be inspected by the Drilling Contractor to ensure that these conditions are met. The Government (USGS) will not be responsible for any cost or delay due to casing that is faulty or that fails under the service to which it is subjected or called for in these specifications.

Although air rotary drilling methods are preferred, the Drilling Contractor shall provide potable water for drilling, should such water be needed as determined by the USGS Technical Liaison. Potable water typically is not, but may be, available at the site, as specified in the Task Order. The Drilling Contractor shall be responsible for both the transportation of the water to the site and its storage at the site. All the water provided shall be potable and shall be transported and stored in clean containers that are free of all hydrocarbons or other contaminants. The Government (USGS) will not be responsible for any cost or delay due to the Drilling Contractor’s inability to supply potable water for drilling

The Drilling Contractor shall provide tables, space on truck bed, or drill pipe and casing standards for keeping drill bits, tools, drill pipe, and casing off the ground during drilling and well construction operations. In addition, the Drilling Contractor shall provide a steam cleaner and spraying equipment for cleaning drilling tools if specified in the Task Order.

The Drilling Contractor shall maintain all equipment in good operating condition during the life of the contract. In the event that the equipment, judged by work completed, and the specifications in section 4.5.1, is considered unsatisfactory by the USGS Technical Liaison, the Drilling Contractor shall be notified in writing. The Drilling Contractor shall then within the time specified in such notice (generally 10 days) replace or repair the unsatisfactory equipment

4.5.2. The USGS will provide or have available some equipment and materials during drilling, development, and testing of the wells as specified in the Task Order and may include a storage tank for filtered water produced during drilling and development of the boreholes, bags or bottles for collecting geologic and water samples, and for well caps.

5. ABANDONED HOLE OR WELL:

A hole or well that is satisfactory and acceptable under the aforementioned specifications shall be completed to the depth designated by the USGS, unless advancing the drill rods to the desired depth is not possible due to unfavorable geologic conditions. A hole will be considered abandoned if it does not satisfy the requirements described herein because the contractor voluntarily stops work and/or fails to complete the boring in a satisfactory manner (e.g., because of mechanical failure of the drilling equipment). A well will be considered abandoned if it cannot be set in a hole advanced to the specified depth or is not clear and open to the bottom due to the bridging of materials causing obstructions. An abandoned hole or well is of no value to the government; therefore, no payment will be made for the associated drilling and setting of well casing.

An abandoned hole or well will be backfilled from bottom of the well to land surface with clean bentonite clay or cement by the contractor, with all labor and materials provided by the contractor at the contractor’s expense. The contractor shall then move to another government-designated location and drill a second hole and/or install the well in accordance with these specifications.

6. PERMISSIONS AND LICENSES:

The Drilling Contractor will have all necessary licenses, training, and insurance to conduct drilling operations in the potential work area in Pennsylvania. This area is defined in Section 9. The Drilling Contractor will also obtain PA One Call clearance for all work sites. The USGS will obtain permissions from property owners and local officials and regulatory boards, as required for work at the sites.

7. WORKDAY:

The workday will consist of 8 hours worked on site or moving within or at the end of the day to another site. Time spent to obtain fuel, do regular incidental maintenance on the drilling rig, or suspend work owing to an electrical storm will be considered part of the workday. The workday will not include mobilization at the start and end of the effort, or at the start and end of work weeks when the effort extends across a weekend or Federal holiday. The workday will not include time spent traveling between the work site and the Drilling Contractor’s home base of operations or temporary lodging at the start and end of a workday. Workdays also will not include downtime because of equipment failure.

Each job for which a Task Order is issued will consist of at least 2 days of work. Work will be scheduled to maximize continuous workdays within a week. If the effort requires more than 5 days of work, the weekend days will not be workdays unless there is a mutual agreement between the USGS and the Drilling Contractor to work on the weekend.

8. MOBILIZATION COSTS:

The work specifications accompanying the Task Order will give the locations of all the work sites. The Drilling Contractor can, at their discretion, charge one mobilization fee for the job outlined in the Task Order.

9. GEOGRAPHIC AREA:

The area of potential work is throughout the State of Pennsylvania. Current known locations include Angelica Creek Park (Berks County), Louise W Moore County Park (Northampton County), Stage Gamelands #205 (Lehigh County), Raccoon Creek State Park (Beaver County), and Clear Creek State Forest (Clarion County). Task Orders will include detailed maps and addresses of the specific work sites. Future drilling may occur in yet-to-be-determined areas of Armstrong, Bedford, Blair, Columbia, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Luzerne, McKean, Mifflin, Montgomery, Perry, Schuylkill, and Snyder Counties. Locations will be defined in future delivery task orders as permissions for site use are secured.

10. WORK ORDERS AND LOGISTICS:

The USGS will assign a representative (Technical Liaison) for each Task Order who will be the primary contact with the Drilling Contractor. The representative, or their designee, will be onsite during the work. It is anticipated that the Drilling Contractor would identify a representative (such as the Driller) who would be available on site for technical consultations during the work.

The USGS representative will keep a log of the work effort, including dates and times of arrival and departure at the work site and any downtime, and the reasons, during the workday. The log will also indicate the work performed, including feet drilled, water-bearing zones and yields, characteristics of cuttings, and wells installation details. The USGS representative and Drilling Contractor’s representative (such as the Driller) will review the log at the end of each workday for accuracy and completeness.

Attachment A IDIQ Statement of work