230612_LabSvc_IDIQ_SOW_v2_1.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

GENERAL

This is a “nonpersonal services contract” for an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity of Laboratory Services for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Pacific Coastal & Marine Science Center (PCMSC) in Santa Cruz, California. The USGS is a federal science agency in the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI).

A “nonpersonal services contract” is defined in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 37.101. It is therefore understood and agreed that the contractor and/or the contractor’s employees: (1) shall perform the services specified herein as independent contractors, not as employees of the government; (2) shall be responsible for their own management and administration of the work required and bear sole responsibility for complying with any and all technical, schedule, or financial requirements or constraints attendant to the performance of this contract; (3) shall be free from supervision or control by any government employee with respect to the manner or method of performance of the services specified; but (4) shall, pursuant to the government’s right and obligation to inspect, accept or reject the work, comply with such general direction of the contracting officer, or the duly authorized representative of the contracting officer as is necessary to ensure accomplishment of the contract objectives.

BACKGROUND

The Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center (PCMSC) of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducts field studies to characterize the environment primarily in coastal and marine systems in U.S. states and territories in the Pacific Region. Laboratory Services are needed to prepare (“prep”) and/or characterize environmental samples for PCMSC projects.

4 year ordering period from date of award.

PCMSC Laboratories currently have a backlog of samples needing basic prep and/or characterization. However, year-to-year workflows are variable and subject to programmatic funding levels and priorities. The requirement is for up to 1,600 samples per performance year.

Scope of Work

This Scope of Work describes Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that are required to prepare (‘prep’) unmodified sediment (‘bulk’) for various analyses or to perform routine lab analyses. Lab Services will be requested in batches of up to 50 samples. The PI will specify which prep and/or analyses are required for each batch of samples.

· All samples will be handled in such a way as to prevent contamination of samples during handling and cross-contamination between samples. Clean plastic, stainless steel, aluminum, ceramic, glass, and Teflon sampling tools and containers are acceptable, as is laboratory weighing paper.

· When drying is required, sediment may be oven-dried at 60°C in original containers or in clean ceramic drying dishes. Freeze-drying may be substituted for oven drying.

· All unused sample material will be returned to the PI (in original containers).

Sample prep for Grain Size and Carbon analyses (combined) Bulk sediment will be defrosted and homogenized (stirred). Approximately 20 g of wet bulk sediment will be put into a labeled 2 oz whirl-top plastic bag or similar. The weight does not need to be recorded. Subsamples should be stored frozen.

If only Carbon sample prep is requested, then approximately 1 gram of wet, homogenized bulk sediment will be put into a labeled 2 oz whirl-top plastic bag or similar. The weight does not need to be recorded. Subsamples should be stored frozen.

Sample prep for Elemental analysis (fine-fraction separation) Bulk sediment will be dried at 60 degrees C and disaggregated with a clean mortar and pestle. Disaggregated sediment will be dry-sieved with a 63m-diameter stainless steel sieve. At least 2.0 grams of fine sediment (or other amount specified by the PI) will be packaged in a labeled 2 oz whirl-top plastic bag or plastic vial. Record the sample weight in the Lab Notes. Store subsamples at room temperature.

Sample prep for Stable Isotope analysis Bulk sediment will be dried at 60 degrees C and disaggregated with a clean mortar and pestle. Exclude shells and organic detritus, if present, by passing the disaggregated material through a 500m-diameter stainless steel sieve. Approximately 0.5 gram of dry bulk sediment will be put into a labeled 2 oz whirl-top plastic bag or similar. The weight does not need to be recorded. Store subsamples at room temperature.

Sample prep for Gamma counting (If a preliminary Water Content analysis is required, the PI will specify such. Water Content analysis is a routine lab procedure and SOPs are widely available). Bulk sediment will be dried at 60 degrees C and disaggregated with a clean mortar and pestle. If present, large particles such as rocks, shells, and organic debris will be excluded by passing the material through a 500µm-diameter stainless steel sieve. 10 milliliters (ml) of sediment will be densely packed into tared specialized Gamma vials (provided by the PI) by tapping the base of the vial firmly against the countertop until the vial is filled to the 10 ml mark. The tared weight of the sediment will be determined on an analytical balance with at least 0.000 gram, or three decimal places, resolution. The cap of the filled gamma vial will be sealed with parafilm. The sediment weight and seal date will be written in the Lab Notes and with permanent marker on the gamma vial. Store vials at room temperature.

Grain Size Analysis Sediment grain size analysis (GSA) is a routine lab procedure. Various SOPs are widely available, but to ensure compatibility with USGS data, quantification with a laser particle diffraction counter is required (e.g., Beckman Coulter Life Sciences). GSA will be determined on organic- and salt-free sediment. Removal of organic matter and salt from sediment are routine lab procedures and SOPs are widely available. Bulk organic- and salt-free sediment will be wet-sieved through 2 mm-diameter and 0.063 mm-diameter sieves over a 1-liter container to catch material passing through the sieves. Material retained on the sieves (> 2 mm, >0.063 mm) will be oven-dried and weighed separately to determine percentages of gravel and sand. A 20 ml split of deionized, disaggregated (e.g., Calgon-treated) <0.063 mm material will be oven-dried and weighted to determine percent fines. The >2mm material will be size-fractioned by dry sieving into quarter-phi intervals, which will be weighed and recorded individually. GSA of particles retained on the 0.063 mm sieve and passing through the sieve (<0.063 mm) will be quantified separately using a laser particle diffraction counter. QA/QC: A duplicate of a sample will be analyzed with every 20 GSA samples. Data reporting: 1) Weights of the >2 mm (gravel), >0.063 mm (sand), and <0.063 mm (fine) fractions determined by wet-sieving will be compiled into a table; and 2) Weights of all individual quarter-phi size fractions determined by dry-sieving (> 2 mm) and laser particle diffraction (>0.063 mm, <0.063 mm runs) will be compiled into a table ordered by decreasing phi (increasing size).

Carbon Analysis Carbon analysis consisting of total carbon (TC), total inorganic carbon (TIC) and total organic carbon (TOC) determination is a routine lab procedure. Various SOPs are widely available, but to ensure compatibility with USGS data, quantification of TC and TIC by coulometric titration is required (e.g., UIC, Inc.). TOC will be calculated as the difference between TC and TIC. QA/QC: All samples will be run in duplicate. Data reporting: a table of sample and duplicate values of TC, TIC, and TOC, will be reported.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

The contractor is required to have worked for six months full-time (or the part-time equivalent) in a physical or life science laboratory with Satisfactory or higher performance.

In addition, the contractor must be proficient in:

· handling environmental samples without contamination

· use of a laboratory drying oven or freeze dryer

· the use and care of laboratory sieves

· water content analysis of sediment

· use and care of an analytical balance

· safe handling of hazardous materials (e.g., concentrated acids and bases)

· general lab safety protocols

· laboratory record-keeping

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Lab services are deemed acceptable when they adhere to requirements in the Scope of Work, are performed accurately, and completed samples are delivered in accordance with deadlines.

For Grain Size Analyses and Carbon Analyses, data are acceptable when duplicate (quality assurance) sample results are within 15% of each other unless special circumstances are documented, such as samples that are extremely heterogeneous or samples with a challenging matrix (such as shell hash).

DELIVERABLES

· Labeled splits of each sample for each specified analysis.

· Copies of any log sheets and lab notes for the samples prepped or analyzed.

· Electronic data tables of GSA and Carbon results, when applicable, in Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Google Sheets, Google Docs, or delimited text format.

· Returned of unused material (in original containers, if possible).

TIMELINESS

The PI will provide at least 2 weeks advance notice when lab services will be needed. Deliverables are due within 4 weeks of receipt of samples.

SHIPPING COSTS

Shipping costs will be paid by the USGS.

TRAVEL

No travel is required to perform Lab Services.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

The services requested under this contract are low-risk, non-sensitive.

EVALUATION AND SELECTION CRITERIA

Bids/quotes will be evaluated primarily for technical merit, including the Skills and Knowledge of the Applicant. If the Applicant is an individual, they should submit a Resume or Curriculum Vitae that describes relevant work and/or education experience, and the name and contact information of at least one relevant professional reference. If the Applicant represents a laboratory, it will provide documentation of satisfactory performance of GS and Carbon analysis using the SOPs and QA/QC criteria described in the Scope of Work (e.g., accreditation, in-house Method descriptions, published or unpublished reports utilizing the lab’s data, outside letters of support). Total cost is another evaluation criterion. Awards to may be made to multiple sources.

PAYMENT FOR SERVICES

The Contractor will bill (invoice) the USGS for services by using the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) System (instructions available). All invoices and reimbursement claims must be submitted after the work has been completed, at the acceptance of the deliverables.

MODIFICATIONS

The contract may be modified upon mutual consent of the Contractor and the USGS to add more funds, add more samples, modify the Statement of Work, and/or extend the Period of Performance.