B08_Attch_1_IDIQ_SOW.pdf

SCOPE OF WORK FOR IMPROVE ION ANALYSIS

CONTENTS

1 Introduction and Background

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Background

2 Objective/Purpose

3 Scope of Work Task 1. Standard Analysis

3.1 Deliverables

3.2 Ion Analysis

3.2.1 Filter Supply and Distribution

3.2.2 Filter Receipt and Sample Storage

3.2.3 Sample Extraction

3.2.4 Sample Analysis

3.2.5 Quality Assurance

3.3 Data Reporting

3.3.1 Data Reduction and Reporting

3.3.2 Quality Assurance Report

3.3.3 Network Documentation

3.3.4 Steering Committee Meetings

4 Contingency of Operations

5 Government Owned Property

6 Transition Phase

7 References

8 Proof of Equivalency

1 Introduction and Background

1.1 Introduction

The National Park Service (NPS) is responsible for the protection and enhancement of air quality related values in the areas it manages by ensuring compliance with directives, regulations, and applicable requirements of the NPS Organic Act of 1916 and the Clean Air Act.

The Organic Act mandates the National Park Service to, "…conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."

The Clean Air Act affords special air quality protections to certain national parks and wilderness areas, designating them as mandatory Class I federal areas, and assigns to the Federal Land Managers (FLMs) of those areas "the affirmative responsibility to protect the air quality related values (including visibility)" of Class I lands. It also established "as a national goal the prevention of any future, and the remedying of any existing, impairment of visibility in mandatory Class I federal areas which impairment results from manmade air pollution." The Clean Air Act established a detailed program that provides guidance to the NPS in meeting these mandates.

On behalf of the NPS, the Air Resources Division (ARD) has an air quality program to help carry out these responsibilities.

The National Park Service administers 48 parks and wilderness areas that are designated Class I, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) administers 21 Class I wilderness areas, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) administers 88 Class I wilderness areas, and there is one international park that is Class I. Of these 158 mandatory Class I Federal areas, visibility is considered an important attribute in all but two USFS wilderness areas.

The Regional Haze Rule (RHR) established the regulatory framework by which the national visibility goal is to be met [United States Environmental Protection Agency, 1999] and requires monitoring representative of the 156 visibility-protected Class I areas. The Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) Program [Joseph et al., 1987; Malm et al., 1994] oversees the RHR monitoring efforts, providing particle sampling and analysis of the major aerosol components. The IMPROVE program establishes current visibility and aerosol conditions in mandatory Class I areas; identifies chemical species and emission sources responsible for existing man-made visibility impairment; documents long-term trends in visibility; and provides regional haze monitoring representing all visibility-protected federal Class I areas, where practical. Because the RHR requires tracking of trends over an extended time period, it is important that IMPROVE measurements produce comparable data over a period of many decades.

The IMPROVE Program is a cooperative measurement effort managed by a Steering Committee that consists of representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the NPS, the USFS, the FWS, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), four organizations representing state air quality organizations (the National Association of Clean Air Agencies, the Western States Air Resources Council, the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management, and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Association), and three Associate Members: the State of Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, Environment Canada, and the South Korea Ministry of Environment.

The National Park Service manages the IMPROVE monitoring efforts on behalf of the Steering Committee. The purpose of this contracting effort is to assist the NPS in these efforts by conducting ion analysis of IMPROVE samples collected on nylon filters, as detailed in the following sections. The contractor shall provide the results of the analyses specified in this solicitation to the IMPROVE Operations Contractor. This solicitation is sponsored by the NPS but covers the monitoring efforts for all mandatory Class I Federal areas, as well as other monitoring using the IMPROVE monitoring protocols (described further below). The successful offeror of this solicitation will work through the NPS on all contractual related matters; other agencies sponsoring IMPROVE and IMPROVE protocol sites will work through the NPS to access the resources available through this contract.

1.2 Background

IMPROVE was established as a national visibility monitoring program in 1985. The IMPROVE network initially was funded by the NPS and consisted of 30 monitoring sites primarily located in national parks, 20 of which began operation in 1987. IMPROVE network operations were fully implemented in March 1988. Beginning in 1998 the EPA provided supplemental support to expand the IMPROVE network in order to provide representative particle speciation monitoring for all 156 visibility-protected Class I areas, as required under the RHR. In a site selection process [Malm et al., 2000; http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve/] which included input from all interested state air quality agencies, the IMPROVE Steering Committee identified locations for 110 monitoring sites that were deemed representative of the regional haze conditions for 155 of the mandatory 156 Class I areas, the Bering Sea Wilderness being the exception.

In addition to the 110 IMPROVE network sites that are used to represent Class I areas, a number of IMPROVE protocol sites are currently in operation that provide expanded spatial coverage in regions outside of Class I areas. Protocol sites are separately sponsored by state, regional, tribal, and national organizations and use the same instrumentation, monitoring, and analysis protocols as IMPROVE. The use of identical samplers and analysis protocols by the same contractors ensures that data generated by IMPROVE and IMPROVE protocol sites can be treated as directly comparable. In total, there are 147 IMPROVE and IMPROVE protocol sites.

These sites are listed in Table 1. There are also 12 sites with collocated modules used for QA purposes (Table 1). Most sites are located in rural areas; however, to better facilitate intercomparison and integration of IMPROVE data with EPA’s Chemical Speciation Network (CSN), six sites are collocated with CSN sites. Data from all IMPROVE sites are available on the Federal Land Manager Environmental Database (FED; http://views.cira.colostate.edu/fed/).

http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve/ http://views.cira.colostate.edu/fed/

Map of 147 IMPROVE and IMPROVE Protocol Sites as of January 2026.

Table 1. List of IMPROVE Monitors.

Site Name Collocated Module ACAD1 Acadia - AGTI1 Agua Tibia - ATLA1 Atlanta - BADL1 Badlands - BALD1 Mount Baldy - BAND1 Bandelier - BIBE1 Big Bend National Park - BIRM1 Birmingham Alabama - BLIS1 D. L. Bliss State Park - BOAP1 Bosque del Apache - BOLA1 Boulder Lake - BOND1 Bondville - BOWA1 Boundary Waters - BRCA1 Bryce Canyon - BRID1 Bridger - BRIG1 Brigantine - BRIS1 Breton National Wildlife Refuge - CABA1 Casco Bay - CABI1 Cabinet Mountains - CACO1 Cape Cod Natl Seashore - CACR1 Caney Creek -

CANY1 Canyonlands - CAPI1 Capitol Reef - CAVE1 Carlsbad Caverns - CEBL1 Cedar Bluff - CHAS1 Chassahowitzka - CHIR1 Chiricahua National Monument - COHU1 Cohutta - CORI1 Columbia River Gorge - CRLA1 Crater Lake - CRMO1 Craters of the Moon - DENA1 Denali - DINO1 Dinosaur National Monument - DOME1 Dome Land - DOSO1 Dolly Sods - EVER1 Everglades C FCPC1 Forest County Potawatomi Community - FLAT1 Flathead - FOPE1 Fort Peck - FRES1 Fresno - FRRE1 Frostburg Reservoir B GICL1 Gila - GLAC1 Glacier - GRBA1 Great Basin - GRCA2 Hance (Grand Canyon) - GRGU1 Great Gulf - GRRI1 Great River Bluffs - GRSA1 Great Sand Dunes - GRSM1 Great Smoky Mountains - GUMO1 Guadalupe Mountains - HACR1 Haleakala Crater - HAVO1 Hawaii Volcanoes - HECA1 Hells Canyon - HEGL1 Hercules-Glades C HOOV1 Hoover - IKBA1 Ike's Backbone - ISLE1 Isle Royale - JARB1 Jarbidge - JARI1 James River - JOSH1 Joshua Tree - KALM1 Kalmiopsis - KPBO1 Kenai Peninsula Borough - LABE1 Lava Beds - LAVO1 Lassen Volcanic - LIGO1 Linville Gorge -

LOND1 Londonderry - LOST1 Lostwood - LTCC1 Lake Tahoe Community College - LYEB1 Lye Brook - MACA1 Mammoth Cave B MAKA2 Makah Indian Reservation - MAPA1 MacDonald Pass - MAVI1 Martha's Vineyard - MELA1 Medicine Lake C MEVE1 Mesa Verde A MING1 Mingo - MOHO1 Mount Hood - MOMO1 Mohawk Mountain - MONT1 Monture - MOOS1 Moosehorn - MORA1 Mount Rainier - MOZI1 Mount Zirkel - NEBR1 Nebraska National Forest - NOAB1 North Absaroka - NOCA1 North Cascades - NOCH1 Northern Cheyenne - NOGA1 Nogales - OKEF1 Okefenokee - OLYM1 Olympic - ORPI1 Organ Pipe - OWVL1 Owens Valley - PACK1 Pack Monadnock Summit - PASA1 Pasayten - PEFO1 Petrified Forest National Park - PENO1 Penobscot - PHOE1 Phoenix - PINN1 Pinnacles - PITT1 Pittsburgh - PMRF1 Proctor Maple Research Facility A PORE1 Point Reyes National Seashore - PRIS1 Presque Isle - PUSO1 Puget Sound - QUCI1 Quaker City - REDW1 Redwood - ROMA1 Cape Romain - ROMO1 Rocky Mountain - SACR1 Salt Creek Wilderness - SAGO1 San Gorgonio - SAGU1 Saguaro -

SAMA1 St. Marks A SAPE1 San Pedro Parks - SAWE1 Saguaro West - SAWT1 Sawtooth National Forest - SENE1 Seney - SEQU1 Sequoia National Park - SHEN1 Shenandoah - SHMI1 Shamrock Mine - SHRO1 Shining Rock - SIME1 Simeonof - SIPS1 Sipsey - SNPA1 Snoqualamie Pass - SOGP1 Southern Great Plains - STAR1 Starkey - STIL1 Stilwell - SULA1 Sula - SWAN1 Swanquarter D SYCA2 Sycamore Canyon - TALL1 Tallgrass - THRO1 Theodore Roosevelt - THSI1 Three Sisters - TONT1 Tonto National Forest - TRCR1 Trapper Creek-Denali - TRIN1 Trinity National Forest - ULBE1 UL Bend - UPBU1 Upper Buffalo - VIIS1 Virgin Islands - VOYA2 Voyageurs - WEMI1 Weminuche - WHIT1 White Mountain - WHPA1 White Pass - WHPE1 Wheeler Peak - WHRI1 White River - WICA1 Wind Cave D WIMO1 Wichita Mountain - YELL2 Yellowstone Lake Maintenance Building - YOSE1 Yosemite A ZICA1 Zion Canyon -

The RHR specifies that IMPROVE aerosol data be used to calculate the metric for tracking progress toward the goal of eliminating man-made visibility impairment for the visibility-protected Class I areas, with the ultimate goal of reaching natural background conditions by 2064. As a result, it is critical that the IMPROVE aerosol monitoring and data processing procedures produce comparable data over a period of many decades so that credible haze trends can be determined.

To collect samples for the speciated particle measurements, IMPROVE employs a 4-channel (labeled A, B, C, and D) particle sampling system. A description of the current IMPROVE sampler and standard operating procedures can be found on the IMPROVE website (http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve/). The PM2.5 (particles <2.5 µm in diameter) samplers operate with a nominal flow rate of 22.8 liters/minute (LPM), while the PM10 sampler (particles <10 µm in diameter) runs at 16.9 LPM. Both collect samples for a 24-hour time interval, midnight to midnight local time, every third day. Channel A (PM2.5), operated with Teflon filters, is used for determining fine mass, elemental composition and optical absorption. Channel B (PM2.5) is operated with a nitric acid denuder and a nylon filter. The nylon filter is analyzed for the anions nitrite, nitrate, sulfate and chloride. Channel C (PM2.5), operated using pre-fired quartz filters, is used to determine elemental and organic carbon using the thermal/optical reflectance technique. Channel D is operated with a Teflon filter and PM10 inlet. The PM10 filters are analyzed for total mass. Laboratory blanks are also utilized for each of the channels, and field blanks are employed to better assess detection limits and potential contaminants in the samples. For further details on all measurements and analysis, see the IMPROVE website, and the pages describing standard operating procedures (SOPs) contained therein (https://vista.cira.colostate.edu/Improve/sops/).

2 Objective/Purpose

The purpose of this contract is for the analysis and reporting of ion masses from IMPROVE nylon filters (module B). The successful bidder will perform analyses on module B filters as detailed in the following sections and will report results on the schedule described. The successful bidder must also conduct an internal quality assurance program and participate in laboratory audits. The successful bidder is expected to use established protocols for analyzing module B IMPROVE filters. The current SOP for IMPROVE filter extraction and ion analysis can be found at: http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/Improve/ion-chromatography-analysis-of-module-b/. As new methods and quality assurance measures evolve, the contractor shall incorporate these updated methods into the IMPROVE routine operations through the modification of SOPs, as approved by the IMPROVE Steering Committee and directed by the Contracting Officer Representative (COR). At the direction of the COR, the contractor also will ensure that all pertinent information developed by the contractor for routine operations are available to other organizations, as needed.

As part of this effort, the successful bidder will work closely with the IMPROVE Operations Contractor, currently the University of California, Davis. The IMPROVE Operations Contractor is responsible for the purchase of module B nylon filters, shipment of exposed and blank nylon filters to the successful bidder of this contract for analysis, and incorporation of the ion data into the larger IMPROVE dataset.

http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve/ http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/Improve/ion-chromatography-analysis-of-module-b/

3 Scope of Work

The period of performance for the IDIQ includes five 1-year ordering periods with an option for an additional six months.

Task 1. Standard Analysis

Proposals should be prepared based on the current network (18,000 filters per year), with costs given on a per filter basis. The exact number of filters to be analyzed annually is subject to change, based on changes to the network configuration. As described in more detail in the following sections (3.1, 3.2, 3.3), all B module nylon filters shall be analyzed for nitrite (NO2-), nitrate (NO3-), sulfate (SO42-) and chloride (Cl-), and concentrations shall be reported to the IMPROVE Operations Contractor for incorporation into the larger IMPROVE dataset.

3.1 Deliverables

Ion mass concentration data for nitrite, nitrate, sulfate and chloride on each filter, to be delivered to the IMPROVE Operations Contractor.

Quality assurance report: a summary report on quality assurance plan and quality control data shall be provided to the COR once per year.

Up to date records on system calibrations and changes to procedures shall be maintained and submitted to the COR upon request.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Ion Analysis shall be maintained and updated on the IMPROVE website as changes occur. The contractor must obtain written approval from the COR before any changes to ion analysis procedures are implemented.

Technical and scientific progress reports presented annually at IMPROVE Steering Committee Meetings.

3.2 Ion Analysis

3.2.1 Filter Supply and Distribution

The IMPROVE Operations Contractor (currently, UC, Davis) is responsible for purchasing the nylon filters and shipping the exposed filters to the successful bidder of this contract. The successful bidder of this contract will work with the IMPROVE Operations Contractor for acceptance testing of the nylon filters during the purchasing process. Batches of exposed nylon filters will be sent to the Ion Analysis Contractor on at least a monthly basis; shipments will include laboratory blanks, field blanks, and quality assurance filters (replicate samples) to be analyzed in addition to the field samples.

3.2.2 Filter Receipt and Sample Storage

The Ion Analysis Contractor will receive approximately 17,300 B module nylon filters each year.

The contractor shall identify each sample using the code provided by the IMPROVE Operations Contractor. Each batch of exposed filters delivered to the contractor shall be analyzed within sixty (60) calendar days from the receipt of each batch. Analyzed samples shall be stored by the Ion Analysis Contractor in a manner that prevents contamination for possible reanalysis for at least six months. After this time, the stored samples may be destroyed, provided that the final dataset has been submitted.

3.2.3 Sample Extraction

The contractor will extract ions from all filters using an SOP for extraction that is shown to be quantitatively reproducible. The existing SOP for ion extraction can be found at:

http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/Improve/ion-chromatography-analysis-of-module-b/. Using current methods, the mean extraction efficiency is greater than 95% for nitrate (NO3-), sulfate (SO42-) and chloride (Cl-); nitrite (NO2-) has a mean extraction efficiency of greater than 92%.

The offeror may propose an alternate extraction procedure; if using an alternate method, the proposed SOP should be submitted as part of the response to this solicitation. Proposed methods should have extraction efficiencies that are equivalent to or better than the current method.

3.2.4 Sample Analysis

The contractor shall analyze the extracted samples for nitrite (NO2-), nitrate (NO3-), sulfate (SO42-) and chloride (Cl-) using standard methods. IMPROVE currently uses ion chromatography (IC) for ion analysis: http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/Improve/ion-chromatography-analysis-of-module-b/. Using the current SOP, the minimum detection limits (MDL) are as follows: nitrite =

0.010 ppm; nitrate = 0.014 ppm; sulfate = 0.012 ppm; chloride = 0.006 ppm. The offeror may propose an alternate analysis procedure; if using an alternate method, the proposed SOP should be submitted as part of the response to this solicitation. Proposals should utilize methods which produce comparable or better MDLs. The offeror also must be able to measure across the range of anticipated concentrations. The upper limit for ionic mass on a filter is expected to be 2,000 µg for each ion; this equates to ambient concentrations of ~60 µg m-3 sampled for 24 hours from the fine (PM2.5) particle inlet.

Ion analyses shall include field samples, laboratory blanks, field blanks, and quality assurance filters. In addition to filter analysis, the contractor shall:

• Characterize the sensitivity, accuracy, and precision of the analytical techniques;

• Perform replicate analyses on the network filters at a rate sufficient to establish measurement precision;

• Routinely analyze laboratory and field blanks; and

• Document any changes to the analytical techniques, equipment, or processing procedures needed to properly interpret and understand the quality of the data delivered.

Proposals should specify the frequency and type of quality control and replicate analyses to be performed.

The contractor shall obtain approval from the COR before any changes to the Standard Operating Procedures are implemented.

3.2.5 Quality Assurance

http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/Improve/ion-chromatography-analysis-of-module-b/

The contractor shall follow, and develop where appropriate, strict quality assurance protocols.

The contractor may be required to contribute to the IMPROVE Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP), as it is updated, specifically as it relates to ion analysis. The current QAPP for the IMPROVE Program is available at: http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/IMPROVE-QAPP-Signed_3_2016_updated.pdf.

As part of quality assurance efforts, the contractor shall:

• Conduct acceptance testing of new filters for filtration characteristics and analytic suitability (especially trace contamination);

• Ensure that written procedures and protocols are followed;

• Certify that the reported data have been collected using the established criteria for accuracy and precision;

• Validate the ion analysis results via formal third party protocols;

• Perform reanalysis of previous samples as needed;

• Maintain records on system calibration and comparison to standards, and document all routine procedures and changes to the procedures;

• Participate in Laboratory Audits, as specified in the IMPROVE QAPP; and

• Assist the IMPROVE Operations Contactor in determining analytical uncertainties and artifacts.

3.3 Data Reporting

3.3.1 Data Reduction and Reporting

The contractor shall be responsible for data reduction. Data reduction is limited to determining ion mass for nitrite (NO2-), nitrate (NO3-), sulfate (SO42-) and chloride (Cl-) on each filter, plus determining accuracy and precision of the analysis procedures. The contractor shall submit the results of the analyses for the samples in each batch within sixty (60) calendar days of the receipt of the filters. Reduced data shall be submitted to the IMPROVE Operations Contractor.

The results shall include the sample identification code and the ion masses in micrograms. The contractor shall include relevant quality assurance data, including comparisons to standards and results of re-analyses, as appropriate.

3.3.2 Quality Assurance Report

The contractor shall provide quality assurance reports covering all aspects of laboratory operations and submit to the COR once per year. Previous reports are available at:

http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/Improve/quality-assurance/. Upon request, the contractor shall provide the detailed quality control test data. Examples of quality control tests might include calibrations against standards, replicate analyses, blank analyses, cross-comparisons of analyzers, and analyses of independent audit samples.

3.3.3 Network Documentation

http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/IMPROVE-QAPP-Signed_3_2016_updated.pdf http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/IMPROVE-QAPP-Signed_3_2016_updated.pdf http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/Improve/quality-assurance/

The contractor shall maintain up-to-date documentation of:

• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for ion analysis;

• Records on system calibrations and changes to procedures; and

• Quality Assurance Reports.

All documentation must be made available upon request from the COR. The contractor shall obtain written approval from the COR before any changes to ion analysis procedures are implemented.

3.3.4 Steering Committee Meetings

The contractor shall attend and provide technical and scientific progress reports at IMPROVE Steering Committee Meetings, held annually.

4 Contingency of Operations

The offeror shall provide in its technical proposal a contingency of operations plan in the event of a catastrophe or catastrophic failures of computer systems, hard drives, etc. This shall include plans to replace key personnel, recovery of data, alternate locations, and methods of contingency data validation and processing.

5 Government Owned Property

There is no government-furnished property related to this contract.

6 Transition Phase

An incumbent contractor is currently providing the services described in this Statement of Work under an IDIQ contract. Upon contract completion or termination, the incumbent contractor shall work to ensure a smooth and coordinated transition to the successful offeror by making staff and resources available to ensure timely transfer of existing inventories to the new contractor. The incumbent contractor shall also make available to the new contractor any data collected through the previous contract which may assist the successful offeror during the transition phase.

7 References

Chen, X., D. Day, B. Schichtel, W. Malm, A.K. Matzoll, J. Mojica, C.E. McDade, E.D. Hardison, D.L.

Hardison, S. Walters, M. Van De Water, and J.L. Collett Jr., Seasonal ambient ammonia and ammonium concentrations in a pilot IMPROVE NHx monitoring network in the western United States, Atmos. Environ., 91, 118-126, 2014.

Joseph, D. B. J. Metza, W. C. Malm, and M. L. Pitchford, A federal program to monitor visibility in class I areas, in Visibility Protection: Research and Policy Aspects; P.J. Bhardwaja, Ed., Air Pollution Control Assoc., Pittsburgh, PA, 1987.

Malm, W. C., J. F. Sisler, D. Huffman, R. A. Eldred, and T. A. Cahill, Spatial & seasonal trends in particle concentration & optical extinction in the U.S., J. Geophys. Res., 99, 1347-1370, 1994.

Malm, W. C., J. F. Sisler, M.L. Pitchford, M. Scruggs, R. Ames, S. Copeland, K.A. Gebhart, and D.E.

Day, IMPROVE (Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments): Spatial and seasonal patterns and temporal variability of haze and its constituents in the United States: Report III, CIRA Report ISSN: 0737-5352-47, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 2000.

United States Environmental Protection Agency, Regional Haze Regulations: [40 CFR Part 51.308-309].

8 Proof of Equivalency

The Offeror shall demonstrate its competency and qualifications for filter handling, extraction, and laboratory analysis for all tasks identified in the SOW. The offeror must demonstrate equivalency (or better) for the MDLs, precision, and extraction efficiencies of the current method; these values are available at:

https://improvevisibility.org/docs/Data/QA_QC/RTI%20QA%20Reports/2024-RTI-QA- Report.pdf. Competency may be demonstrated through the following documentation:

• Accreditation or certification by an appropriate recognized accreditation program; or

• Participation in external round-robin or performance test evaluations; or

• Reports of technical and quality system assessments of the organization conducted by external organizations; or

• Detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs); or

• Descriptions of applicable instrumentation, sampling, equipment, method sensitivities, reporting practices, capacity, experience, staffing (e.g., education, job experience, training), and reference of past performance.