Lab Support SOW.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

Operations & Maintenance of existing NextGen Pavement Laboratory and future Operations & Maintenance of the new Advanced Pavement Materials

Research Laboratory when completed

INTRODUCTION

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) conducts airport pavement research at two facilities:

1) The National Airport Pavement Test Facility (NAPTF) and 2) The National Airport Pavement Materials Research Center (NAPMRC). Additional research is conducted on samples from in service airport pavement projects. In conjunction with the two research facilities, the FAA owns and operates a pavement materials and geotechnical laboratory (lab) known as the NextGen Pavement Materials Laboratory to perform tests in support of the construction and research taking place. The laboratory exists to support construction of test pavements and to develop new tests that better meet the requirements of airport pavement. It is the goal of the lab to be a leader in the conduct and development of pavement materials tests specific to airport pavements.

The FAA anticipates the completion of the new Advanced Pavement Materials Research Laboratory in 2021. This lab will bring new capacity and capabilities for testing of pavement materials. This lab will include equipment for testing of asphalt binder properties.

The lab support is divided into the following functional areas:

1. Operation of NextGen Pavement Materials Laboratory and Advanced Pavement

Materials Research Laboratory

2. Pavement Material Property Testing

3. Laboratory Data Management

4. Laboratory Health and Safety

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The selected Offeror, hereinafter referred to as the “Contractor”, must supply properly trained personnel, including a Materials Laboratory Manager and three Civil Engineering Laboratory Technicians, capable of properly running tests according to recognized standards such as American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), American Concrete Institute (ACI) and other recognized standards or test standards in development. The Materials Laboratory Manager must have a background in civil engineering materials science, a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, perform the following job duties, and meet the following knowledge requirements:

EQUIPMENT

The Contractor will be responsible for proper care, maintenance and calibration of all lab equipment and supplies to maintain compliance with the lab accreditation agencies. The

Contractor will purchase equipment, materials and supplies necessary to perform laboratory tests in support of the NAPTF, NAPMRC and other projects. These purchases will be cost reimbursable under CLIN 3. Purchases of supplies or equipment greater than $5,000.00 must be coordinated with and approved by the FAA task order manager prior to purchasing. Below is a summary of the yearly expenditures, excluding labor, expected for the laboratory equipment and subscriptions.

Details Value Category AASHTO Proficiency Sample Program Renewal $1,750.00 Accreditation AASHTO Re:source Accreditation $1,650.00 Accreditation CCRL or AMRL Onsite Inspection $6,200.00 Accreditation CCRL Proficiency Sample Program Renewal $1,350.00 Accreditation Testing Consumables $7,000.00 Consumable Testing Equipment $17,000.00 Equipment APA Service/Calibration/Maintenance $6,000.00 Maintenance Balances Calibration and Certification $450.00 Maintenance Barnstead/Thermolyne oven maintenance $1,200.00 Maintenance Gauge Block Set and Dials Calibration $700.00 Maintenance IPC Calibrations and Maintenance (UTM-25, UTM-16, Fatigue Beam, Shear box) $9,000.00 Maintenance MTS Calibrations and Maintenance $14,000.00 Maintenance Parts Washer Service $600.00 Maintenance Pine Gyratory, Master Loader, Compression Machine Calibration $3,300.00 Maintenance Testquip Calibration and Maintenance $2,350.00 Maintenance Add-on Subscription Standard $200.00 Subscription IHS Subscription $5,800.00 Subscription

OPERATION AND TESTING

The Contractor must operate, maintain, and manage the FAA’s NextGen Pavement Materials Lab and future Advanced Pavement Materials Research Laboratory, conduct tests on airport pavement materials to support the development of specifications and standards governing the design and construction of airport pavements. When required, the Contractor will be asked to work beyond, or outside the typical working schedule. A typical working schedule is defined as 7:00 am- 6:00 pm weekdays. Any modified schedules will be executed at the direction of the Government and be approved by the Contracting Officer prior.

FUNCTIONAL AREAS

1. Operation of NextGen Pavement Materials Testing Laboratory

The Contractor must provide labor and materials to operate, maintain, and manage the FAA’s NextGen Pavement Materials Laboratory and future Advanced Pavement Materials Research Laboratory in support of the NAPTF and NAPMRC and all other FAA pavement research. The primary goal of the lab is to support the NAPTF and NAPMRC with an accredited laboratory capable of performing the necessary tests to further airport pavement research.

The Contractor will be required to submit a task plan specific to the operation and management of the FAA’s NextGen Pavement Materials Laboratory and future Advanced Pavement Materials Research Laboratory and to the development of a plan to maintain the current AASHTO Accreditation Program (AAP) - which includes AASHTO resource and CCRL on-site assessments and quality management system evaluations.

The Contractor must submit and maintain a testing schedule. The schedule will be used to identify bottlenecks and reduce conflicts between testing for various projects. This schedule will be used in regular meetings to update the FAA on the progress of testing.

The Contractor will prepare, operate, and manage the lab to maintain annual accreditation under the AAP accreditation system for tests applicable to pavement construction and pavement research. The accreditation will include participation in proficiency sample testing programs and the required on site laboratory assessments by AASHTO and CCRL inspection systems (See attachment A for a list of requirements for obtaining and maintaining accreditation and a description of the process). Should any of the accreditation requirements listed in attachment A be changed or updated by the respective accrediting agency, those changes will be incorporated into this contract. It is the Materials Laboratory Manager’s responsibility to stay informed to accreditation requirement changes. The FAA reserves the right to add or detract tests from the current list of accredited tests (see attachment B for current list of accredited tests).

The Contractor will establish regular monthly meetings with the FAA COR. These meetings will include when necessary FAA Project Managers that have testing performed by the laboratory. Topics for discussion include, but are not limited to, the current inventory of testing samples, schedule of testing, equipment status, lab accreditation status, data management and distribution, current lab budget and projected expenditures and any other topic pertaining to operation of the laboratory.

2. Pavement Material Properties Testing

The Contractor must test pavement materials specifically for characterization or acceptance before, during and after construction. Testing of pavement materials for construction acceptance must take precedence over research testing during times of construction at NAPTF or NAPMRC. The Contractor must provide all necessary pavement material property testing for research and construction purposes. All samples are to be taken from material delivered to the jobsite, from in situ test items, or from the source material as required. The Contractor will be responsible for properly collecting, storing, maintaining and shipping samples according to established ASTM or AASHTO procedures as required for testing.

The Contractor will provide laboratory testing of pavement materials as the type of construction dictates and as directed by the FAA. This will include but not be limited to:

characterization tests and laboratory based construction acceptance tests on existing and proposed subgrade soils, aggregate sub-base and base course materials, asphalt and concrete.

Testing that the FAA lab is not capable of performing will be arranged by the Contractor and be provided by an accredited laboratory capable of performing the necessary tests in a timely manner to support construction or the research at the time. This may include ASTM D6938 Standard Test Method for In-Place Density and Water Content of Soil and Soil-Aggregate by Nuclear Methods. The cost and accredited laboratory must be approved by the FAA COR prior to performance of any testing. These items will be reimbursable under CLIN 3: Cost Reimbursable expenses of materials and equipment.

2.a. Development of Airport Specific Pavement Materials Test Standards

The contractor will establish a partnership with one or more SME’s with recognized expertise in pavement materials, both asphaltic concrete and Portland cement concrete. This partnership will be tasked with assisting the FAA in development and refining of criterion for pavement materials performance based tests. The SME’s may provide in kind services of testing within their laboratories in development of performance based criterion or new test methods. The FAA will provide materials for testing from pavement research projects at NAPTF, NAPMRC, airport construction sites, and ACRP projects whenever possible.

The use of SME’s for development of airport pavement specific test methods or performance based criterion must be coordinated with the FAA COR prior to the start of development. This coordination shall be in the form of a proposal including costs.

For approved projects, the SME’s and Lab Operation & Maintenance Contractor team will present progress on the development of draft test specifications including the acceptance criterion for pavement materials to the FAA on a quarterly basis. Progress reporting will be in the form of a presentation and summary report of work to date and costs incurred. Final report will include a draft specification and presentation materials. This work will be reimbursable under CLIN 4 Labor Hour/Time and Materials.

3. Laboratory Data Reporting and Management

The Materials Laboratory Manager will be responsible for data management and access.

Data will be made accessible to the FAA and the researchers. The management of laboratory data and test results will be an integral part of the overall management of the FAA’s pavement materials laboratories. This must include having a system for organizing and storing data, retrieval of data by FAA and other stakeholders, and archiving and maintaining data. Management of all data must be centralized and accessible to the FAA at all times. The Contractor will provide a detailed Laboratory Data Management Plan and User’s Guide for approval by the FAA for laboratory data management and a user guide detailing how the data is organized, stored and retrieved.

Raw test data will be made immediately available to the FAA upon completion of the individual test(s) in both electronic and hard copies.

Test reports must be submitted in conformance with the reporting requirements of the specific test standard according to the agency publishing the standard. The FAA or the Principal Investigator requesting the test may require additional reporting requirements.

Final test reports with results and analyses must be submitted within 15 days of completion of the laboratory tests. The Contractor must submit the results in finished, professional, formatted documents. The documents must identify the test standard followed, deviations from the test standard, and description of the tests performed, photographs as necessary and reports of significant findings. The Contractor must provide both hardcopy reports and electronic copy in a Microsoft Office format or PDF format as requested.

4. Laboratory Health and Safety Manual

The Materials Laboratory Manager and technicians will produce a Laboratory Health and Safety (H&S) Manual to ensure protection of lab employees as well as safe operation of equipment and handling of materials. The manager will be tasked with producing and maintaining the Laboratory H&S Manual as a living document. The manual will be continuously reviewed and updated as lab procedures and equipment changes are made.

The document should be modelled after existing laboratory manuals from other recognized research labs involved in transportation materials testing (e.g. universities, FHWA, State DOT’s, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, etc.). The Laboratory H&S Manual will be coordinated with FAA safety officials for input and review on an annual basis or as requested by the FAA. The Laboratory H&S Manual will include Job Hazard Analyses for specific test procedures performed and equipment operated in the lab.

Review of the Laboratory H&S Manual will be required as part of the operation of the lab. Any person working in the laboratory will be briefed on the Laboratory H&S Manual procedures. A copy of the Laboratory H&S Manual must be available at all times for employees to review. Any safety deficiencies or incidents must be reported immediately to the FAA COR and followed up in the monthly meeting with resolution or plan for resolution.

LABOR REQUIREMENTS

Laboratory Manager Essential Job Duties:

1. Provide technical assistance to FAA on airport pavement materials laboratory testing.

2. Maintain accreditation based on AASHTO R18 criteria including AASHTO Materials

Reference Laboratory (AMRL)/Cement & Concrete Reference Laboratory (CCRL) requirements.

3. Development of laboratory standard operating procedures and ensure laboratory safety.

4. Directly responsible for managing budget, personnel, and equipment.

5. Ensure tests are performed and reported in compliance with ASTM, ACI, AASHTO and other applicable standards and requirements.

6. Work with lab staff to ensure optimum lab operation and efficiency.

7. Maintain a clean and safe work environment.

*Key Personnel: Laboratory Manager Knowledge Requirements:

1. Six years of full-time professional civil engineering experience in civil engineering materials testing of asphalt, concrete, aggregate, and soils including experience testing with servo-hydraulic testing equipment.

Possession of a current certificate of registration in active status as a professional engineer in any State of the United States in civil engineering discipline. Must be maintained during employment as the Materials Laboratory Manager. A copy of the candidate’s current certificate must accompany the resume upon offer.

Civil Engineering Laboratory Technicians must also meet the following minimum requirements:

1. Civil Engineering Laboratory Technician 1 – This candidate must have a two-year associate degree in an engineering field from an accredited college or a minimum of four years of experience in civil engineering materials testing and knowledge of laboratory certification protocols.

2. Civil Engineering Laboratory Technician 2 – This candidate must have a two-year associate degree or better in an engineering field from an accredited college or a minimum of six years of experience in civil engineering materials testing and with technician certifications from industry recognized agencies in one or more of; soils, asphalt and/or concrete. All technician certifications must be from programs that require both a written test and a performance examination to demonstrate ability to perform all tests required. Must possess knowledge of laboratory certification protocols.

3. Civil Engineering Laboratory Technician 3 - This candidate must have a two-year associates degree in an engineering field from an accredited college, or a Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited college, or a minimum of six years of experience in civil engineering materials testing and knowledge of laboratory certification protocols. In addition, this candidate must possess a minimum of three certifications from industry recognized agencies in testing protocols related to concrete, asphalt and/or soils, or a minimum of NICET technician certification in construction materials testing. All technician certifications must be from programs that require both a written test, and a performance examination to demonstrate ability to perform all tests required.

Minimum certification required for Civil Engineering Laboratory Technicians: Not all civil engineering laboratory technicians need to hold all certifications listed below, but all certifications must be met by at least one of the technicians. All certifications must be current and maintained as current throughout the performance of the contract. Copies of certifications must be kept on-site.

1. ACI Aggregate Testing Technician, Level 1

2. ACI Concrete Laboratory Testing Technician, Level 1

3. ACI Concrete Strength Testing Technician

4. ACI Aggregate Base Testing Technician

5. ACI Concrete Field Testing Technician, Grade 1

6. NICET Construction Materials Testing – Asphalt, Level 1

7. NICET Construction Materials Testing – Concrete, Level 1

8. NICET Construction Materials Testing – Soils, Level 2

9. NJSAT HMA Construction Technologist

10. NJSAT HMA Plant Technologist, Level 1

11. NJSAT HMA Plant Technologist, Level 2

12. Asphalt Institute Basic Binder Technician Training

13. Asphalt Institute Asphalt Mix Design

14. Asphalt Institute Principles of Quality HMA Pavement Construction

Attachment A

REFERENCES for Attachment A:

www.aashtoresource.org www.ccrl.us

Obtaining AASHTO Accreditation

Ensure that FAA’s NextGen Pavement Materials Laboratory’s practices and quality management system (QMS) meet the requirements of the AASHTO Accreditation Procedure Manual, AASHTO R 18, and any other ASTM quality system specifications that you may need to comply with such as C1077, D3666, D3740, and E329.

Schedule an on-site assessment with AASHTO re:source for hot mix asphalt or soil testing accreditation. For concrete or aggregate testing accreditation, please contact CCRL for the on-site assessment.

Enroll in the appropriate AASHTO re:source or CCRL proficiency sample programs. Enrollment in AASHTO re:source-supplied samples will be done automatically once we receive your request for accreditation. Please contact CCRL for enrollment in their program.

Complete your Annual Review form online. You can only view this documentation when logged into AASHTO re:source website. The documentation provides AASHTO re:source with the organizational structure, along with other basic laboratory and personnel information.

Resolve the nonconformities noted in your on-site assessment within 90 days of the issuance of the report. Please log in to our website and click “View My Accreditation Events” to submit responses.

Maintaining AASHTO Accreditation

Receive regularly scheduled on-site assessments by AASHTO re: source and/or CCRL.

Actively participate in the applicable proficiency sample programs provided by AASHTO re:

source and/or CCRL.

Follow all AAP Procedures for completion of corrective actions by the specified deadlines.

Laboratory Assessment Program

The AASHTO re: source Laboratory Assessment Program (LAP) provides on-site assessments of laboratories that perform testing of materials used for construction and the preservation of roads, bridges, and vertical infrastructure. Participating laboratories include state DOT’s and other government laboratories, universities, research facilities, material producers, and commercial testing laboratories.

AASHTO re:source’s rigorous on-site assessments are a critical step in obtaining and maintaining accreditation through AASHTO.

Benefits

By receiving an AASHTO re: source on-site assessment, your laboratory is able to demonstrate conformance to specific national and international standards experience a thorough examination of technician competency get expert advice and first-hand feedback on laboratory best practices seek AASHTO accreditation

Scope of On-Site Assessments

During on-site assessments, our expertly trained assessors observe a demonstration of each standard test method or practice by the laboratory’s technical staff, and the apparatus associated with each test is evaluated. We currently offer assessments for AASHTO, ASTM, and ISSA standards, as well as some state methods. A full list of standards offered by LAP may be found on the Tests and Fees page (see AASHTO re:Source website). The assessment may also include a thorough review of the laboratory’s quality management system for conformance to AASHTO R 18 and other quality system standards (D3470, D3666, C1077, E329), including internal policies and procedures, records of technician training and competency evaluations, equipment calibration, standardization and check records, as well as internal audits.

For laboratories that require an assessment in concrete, cement, or pozzolan, slag cement, or mortar, these on-site assessments are conducted by the Cement and Concrete Reference Laboratory (CCRL).

Laboratories who obtain an assessment through CCRL are also eligible for participation in the AASHTO Accreditation.

On-Site Assessment Process

Laboratories must submit an Assessment Request in order for our staff to schedule an on-site assessment at your facility. You will be notified of the specific on-site assessment date approximately 4- 6 weeks in advance. View the estimated schedule to determine when we will be visiting your area as part of our normal tour schedule. If you would like to have an assessment at a time other than that shown on the schedule, additional travel costs for an out-of-sequence assessment may apply. Regular assessment fees are calculated based on the requested scope of testing.

Before the Assessment

For Laboratories Seeking Accreditation Only

Once your assessment has been scheduled, you may be asked to submit pre-assessment documentation through our online system. You may be asked to provide:

Personnel qualifications and certifications held by your technicians

A list of field and laboratory technicians at your facility An organizational chart A copy of your laboratory’s quality system policies and procedures that demonstrate conformance to AASHTO R 18 (new laboratories only).

For All Laboratories

Your assessor will be in contact with you 2-4 weeks before the scheduled start date of your on-site assessment. The assessor will be able to answer any technical or logistical questions that you have about the assessment process. The assessor will also send you an official agenda for the assessment that will provide you with additional information on what to expect while the assessor is visiting your facility.

Laboratories should be familiar with the specific requirements for each requested test or procedure. Current versions of each applicable test method should be available at the testing laboratory for review by the Assessor.

Review Assessment Preparation Lists that are available on our website. These lists describe the steps that laboratories should take to prepare for each test, such as sample preparation and testing guidance.

During the On-Site Assessment

A typical assessment begins with an opening meeting, where the assessor reviews the scope and schedule of the assessment with laboratory personnel.

The laboratory’s technical personnel demonstrate each test method while being closely observed by the Assessor. The testing is performed on samples of construction materials that are provided by the laboratory.

The apparatus associated with each test method is also examined for conformance to AASHTO and/or ASTM requirements. Our assessors are equipped with specialized equipment for this purpose, such as standard masses, and digital calipers, and thermometers.

If the laboratory is seeking or wishes to maintain accreditation through AASHTO, a thorough review of the laboratory’s quality management system for conformance to AASHTO R 18 will occur. Our assessors will conduct interviews with key personnel, review equipment records, training and competency evaluation records, test reports, internal audits, and other critical documents as part of this process.

At the conclusion of the assessment, the Assessor will conduct a closing meeting with laboratory staff. A preliminary report of the findings uncovered during the assessment is provided. The findings are discussed and questions are answered by the assessor to ensure that each finding is thoroughly understood by laboratory staff.

After the Assessment

Upon return to the AASHTO re: source office, the official final report is issued and then distributed to the testing laboratory within 30 days of the closing meeting.

If participating in the AASHTO Accreditation Program, laboratories are required to resolve nonconformities noted in the on-site assessment within 90 days of the issuance of the report.

CCRL Laboratory Inspection Program

Laboratory Inspection Process

The program provides a laboratory with a comprehensive account of how its procedures, practices, equipment and facilities compare with ASTM standards requirements. The CCRL laboratory inspector checks critical equipment dimensions and operating characteristics; watches a technician demonstrate test procedures; and reviews the quality system when covered by appropriate ASTM standards. The goal is to provide a consistent and fair evaluation so that the laboratory and its clients may have confidence that testing is of high quality and that ASTM standards are being used correctly.

The sponsors have stipulated that CCRL shall not act as a referee in disputes concerning the quality of materials, the suitability of testing apparatus, or the ability of a laboratory to perform testing work in a satisfactory manner. Because of these prohibitions, all of the services rendered are advisory in nature and laboratories are not rated, certified or accredited by CCRL. However, because of the reputation of CCRL the programs are often used by others in providing accreditation.

CCRL Proficiency Sample Program (PSP)

Proficiency Sample Program Overview

CCRL Proficiency Sample Programs also support accreditation programs conducted by others.

Participation in proficiency sample programs also permits laboratories to check consistency of their testing. Results from such programs can be used to evaluate quality of testing between laboratories, and to help identify problems with equipment or procedures. Laboratories are required by ASTM C1222 and C1077 to participate in a proficiency sample program. The Proficiency Sample Programs were developed as a means for a laboratory to monitor the quality of its testing between CCRL on-site assessments. The programs are overseen by ASTM Committees C-1 on Cement and C-9 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates. Responsibility for the assignment of fees is assumed by the committees, and their payment is made to ASTM. The Proficiency Sample Programs are based on the two-sample system described in papers by Youden [1], and by Crandall and Blaine [2] in the 1959 Proceedings of the American Society for Testing and Materials.

All programs are conducted in a similar manner. At intervals of either 6 or 12 months, quantities of two slightly different lots of a material (cements, pozzolans, concrete aggregates, masonry sand, and masonry units) are procured from commercial sources. This material is then homogenized using well defined procedures and divided into individual test samples at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Special instructions, and all necessary reporting forms, are furnished with each set of samples. The test procedures to be performed are taken from current ASTM specifications. The specified tests are performed and the results reported to the CCRL for review and evaluation. Test results reported by an individual laboratory are treated confidentially as to source. Approximately six weeks after the samples are distributed, all participants receive a preliminary report which shows tentative average values and standard deviations for each determination, based on a limited number of returned results.

Within two months, a detailed final report is distributed. This report contains average values, standard deviations based on all applicable data, and scatter diagrams. In addition, precision values and other statistical information are produced for use by ASTM committees and other interested organizations.

Scatter diagrams are prepared for each test performed by the laboratories. For each pair of samples, the test results of the odd-numbered sample are plotted on the X (horizontal) axis, and the results of the even-numbered sample are plotted on the Y (vertical) axis. A substantial variation of its test values from the center of the diagram is generally of concern to a laboratory. A continuing trend of large variations indicates a need for some corrective action, either in apparatus or technique. To focus attention on significant deviations from the average, each laboratory is given a rating on each determination using a rating scale based on the standard deviation. The ratings have no significance beyond indicating the difference between the individual laboratory result and the average for a particular test. To help give meaning to the ratings obtained by an individual laboratory over a given period of time, performance charts were developed. These charts, which are distributed annually to laboratories, visually show a participant's deviation from the average value on the ten most recent sample pairs, thereby providing a means of monitoring the general tendencies and bias of a laboratory's test results. This information gives some indication of a laboratory's overall proficiency for given tests.

Attachment B

FAA NextGen Pavement Materials Laboratory

National Airport Pavement Test Facility

William J. Hughes Technical Center

Building 296, ANG-E-262

Atlantic City International Airport, New Jersey 08405

Quality Management System - accredited since 7/1/2013

R18, C1077 (Aggregate), C1077 (Concrete), D3666 (Asphalt Mixture)

Asphalt Mixture - accredited since 7/1/2013

D2041, D2726, D3203, D4867, D5444, D6307, D6752, D6925, D6926, D6927, D6931

Soil - accredited since 7/1/2013

D421, D422, D698, D854, D1556, D1557, D1883, D2216, D2937, D4318

Aggregate - accredited since 7/1/2013

C29, C40, C70, C117, C127, C128, C136, C566, C702, C1252, D2419, D4791, D75

Concrete - accredited since 7/1/2013

C31, C39, C78, C138, C143, C172, C173, C174, C192, C231, C496, C511, C617 (7000 psi and below), C1064, C1231 (7000 psi and below)

* This information is only valid as of 2/18/2020. Please visit http://www.aashtoresource.org for current accreditation status.