B08_Attachment_A_Statement_of_Work.docx

IDIQ STATEMENT OF WORK

1. INTRODUCTION:

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) seeks to obtain the services of drilling contractors to use direct-push and auger drilling methods to collect aquifer sediment cores and install monitoring wells in coastal southeastern New England. The work will be part of several studies by the USGS of the hydrogeology and groundwater resources in unconsolidated sandy glacial aquifers and associated alluvium. Because the location, scope, and timing of the studies are uncertain, an Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity 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 several ongoing and planned field investigations to characterize the groundwater resources of in southeastern Massachusetts (Barnstable, Plymouth, and Bristol Counties) and Rhode Island (all mainland counties) and adjacent areas. The collection of aquifer sediment cores and installation of monitoring wells is an important aspect of the investigations. Direct-push and auger drilling are suitable drilling methods for much of this work because the aquifers or parts of aquifers of greatest interest are unconsolidated sandy deposits, depths of investigation are mostly less than 100 feet below land surface (BLS), and minimal use of drilling fluids (potable water) is strongly preferred.

Direct-push drilling is a commonly used drilling method in southern New England. Direct-push drill rods have been advanced to more than 300 feet BLS in the Cape Cod aquifer and subsequently retrieved. In the same aquifer, refusal has occurred at depths less than 100 feet BLS when clay was encountered. On several projects, direct-push drilling has been used by the USGS in one day’s work to collect cores to 80 feet, set a 2-inch monitoring well to 80 feet, and set a second 2-inch monitoring well to 15 feet.

Auger drilling is also commonly used in southern New England. Augers have been advanced to more than 150 feet BLS in the Cape Cod aquifer and subsequently retrieved. Auger drilling has been used by the USGS on Cape Cod to set as many as four 2-inch monitoring wells (depths of 30, 50, 70, and 90 feet) in one day’s work.

3. OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE:

The USGS seeks to obtain direct-push and auger drilling services. The specific drilling services are described in the following sections. The USGS expects to do the work in several separate jobs, each job expected to take from 1 day 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. Prospective vendors will be considered for this IDIQ whether they can provide only one or both methods of drilling (direct push and auger). If a job requires a particular drilling method, this requirement will be stated explicitly in the Task Order for that job. It is anticipated, however, that most jobs will allow the vendor, in consultation with the USGS, to determine which drilling method(s) to use for the job.

4. DRILLING SERVICES:

Direct-push and/or auger drilling methods will be used to collect sediment cores and install monitoring wells. The nature of the work is specified below. Diameters where given are in nominal units according to standard specifications of commonly used direct-push and auger drilling machines. As described in greater detail in the following sections, USGS hydrologists, in consultation with the Driller, will direct on-site drilling activities.

4.1. DIRECT-PUSH DRILLING:

4.1.1. SEDIMENT CORES:

The Driller will use direct-push methods to obtain sediment cores from land surface to a maximum depth of 80 feet below land surface. The core samples will have a minimum diameter of 1 inch, and cored intervals will be 5 feet or longer. The cored sediments will be collected in clear plastic liners that are capped at both ends after collection. The target coring intervals at each site will be specified by the USGS. Cores will be collected until the maximum specified depth is reached or the boring cannot be advanced any deeper because refusal is encountered.

The cores will be given to the USGS as they are collected. The USGS will keep a record of the cored interval in feet below land surface and the feet recovered relative to the cored interval.

4.1.2. MONITORING WELLS:

The Driller will use direct-push methods to advance the drill rods to depths specified by the USGS at each site. The drill rods shall be of sufficient internal diameter to set 2-inch schedule 40 flush-joint PVC casing and screens to maximum depths of 80 feet below land surface. For some jobs, the USGS may, at its discretion, specify 1-inch schedule 40 flush-joint PVC casing and screens; in this case, smaller diameter drill rods can be used.

The USGS may also, at its discretion, provide a custom-made multilevel sampling well (MLS) for installation in the boring. MLS have been set successfully in direct-push borings at more than 20 sites on Cape Cod. Additional details about the MLS are provided in Section 4.6.3.

The drill rods advanced to install monitoring wells will be fitted with a knock-out plug to prevent sediment from entering the drill rods. The use of potable water during drilling will be limited to the volume needed to keep a positive hydraulic head inside the rods. When the rods have been advanced to the target depth for the well, the Driller will measure the total depth to check that the rods are clear to near the bottom of the boring before setting the well. If sediment has entered the rods and could prevent the well or MLS from being set at the target depth, the Driller may, at their discretion, retrieve the rods and drill a new boring or wash out the sediment inside the rods by using a pump, drop line, and potable water.

4.2. AUGER DRILLING:

4.2.1. SEDIMENT CORES:

The Driller will use auger-drilling and split-spoon or equivalent methods to obtain sediment cores from land surface to a maximum depth of 150 feet below land surface. The sediment cores will have a minimum diameter of 1 inch. Cores will be collected at depths specified by the USGS. Target coring intervals will be 18-24 inches long and spaced at 5 feet or greater (in multiples of 5 feet). If sediment enters the augers during the coring process, the Driller can, at their discretion and prior to advancing to the next coring interval, retrieve, clean out, and re-advance the augers or wash the sediments out of the augers by appropriate means. Care must be taken to not wash ahead of the augers and disturb the virgin sediments in the next coring interval.

The cored sediments will be given to the USGS as they are collected. The USGS will keep a record of the cored interval in feet below land surface and the feet recovered relative to the cored interval.

4.2.2. MONITORING WELLS:

The Driller will use auger-drilling methods to advance the augers to depths specified by the USGS. The drill rods shall be of sufficient internal diameter to set 2-inch schedule 40 flush-joint PVC casing and screens to maximum depths of 150 feet below land surface. To minimize disturbance of the formation, 3.25-inch-inside-diameter augers should be used unless the use of larger diameter augers is agreed to in advance by the USGS.

The USGS may also, at its discretion, provide a custom-made multilevel sampling well (MLS) for installation in the boring. MLS have been set successfully in auger borings at more than 20 sites on Cape Cod. Additional details about the MLS are provided in Section 4.6.3.

The augers advanced to install monitoring wells will be fitted with a knock-out plug or basket to prevent sediment from entering the augers. The use of potable water during drilling will be limited to the volume needed to keep a positive hydraulic head inside the augers. When the augers have been advanced to the target depth for the well, the Driller will measure the total depth to check that the augers are clear to near the bottom of the boring before setting the well. If sediment has entered the augers and could prevent the well or MLS from being set at the target depth, the Driller may, at their discretion, retrieve the augers and drill a new boring or wash out the sediment inside the augers by using a pump, drop line, and potable water.

4.3. FINISHING WELLS AT LAND SURFACE:

The Driller will finish borings from which only sediment cores are collected by allowing natural collapse to the water table and backfilling the hole to land surface by using natural or commercial clean sand. The Driller will finish wells at land surface with road boxes set in small (about 1 to 1.5-foot square) concrete pads. In some cases, stick-up protective casing may be used in place of road boxes. The concrete pads should slope away from the protective casing to shed rainwater away from the well.

4.4. SITE MAINTENANCE AND RESTORATION:

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

4.5. DECONTAMINATION OF DRILLING EQUIPMENT:

The driller will, when required because of site-specific conditions, decontaminate drill rods, augers, and coring devices by rinsing the devices with potable water prior to use for the next boring. The Task Order will indicate for each drilling site whether decontamination is needed. The USGS will arrange access to potable if needed for decontamination.

4.6. EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES:

4.6.1. The Driller will provide all equipment and supplies necessary to drill the borings, collect the sediment cores, and install the wells, other than the items noted in Section 4.6.2. These include the drilling rig and all associated drilling rod, augers, coring devices, drilling tools, knock-out plugs, core liners, drilling-water containers, pumps, measuring tapes, hardhats and safety equipment, and miscellaneous spare parts and tools.

4.6.2. The USGS will provide well materials, including PVC casing and screens, MLS, road boxes, concrete, and clean sand to backfill the borings to land surface. The USGS will also arrange access to potable water for limited use as necessary.

4.6.3. An MLS consists of as many as 15 color-coded polyethylene tubes (1/4-inch diameter). The tubes run from land surface, down the inside of a 1-1/4-inch diameter PVC casing, and out holes drilled through the PVC at various depths. The open, down-hole end of each tube is screened with a fine nylon fabric. The sections of PVC are connected onsite by glue couplings. The USGS will construct the MLS in advance and be onsite to set the MLS in the drill rod or augers with the assistance of the Driller.

5. ABANDONED HOLE OR WELL:

A hole or well that is satisfactory and acceptable under these specifications shall be completed to the depth designated by the government representative, unless advancing the drill rods or augers to the desired depth is not possible because of unfavorable geologic conditions, as described in the IDIQ Statement of Work (Section D, Attachment A). 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 of the screen because of breakage or decoupling of the casing or screen. 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 will be allowed to collapse to the water table and will be backfilled from the water table to land surface with clean natural or commercial sand provided at the contractor’s expense. An abandoned well shall be pulled from the ground or filled with bentonite clay or cement from the bottom of the well to the land surface by the contractor at their own 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 Driller will have all necessary licenses, training, and insurance to conduct drilling operations in the potential work area in southern New England. This area is defined in Section 9.

The USGS will obtain permissions from property owners and local officials and regulatory boards, such as Conservation Commissions, as required for work at the sites. The USGS will also obtain DIGSAFE clearance for all work 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. 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 also will not include time spent traveling between the work site and the Driller’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. 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.

Each job for which a Task Order is issued will consist of at least 1 full day 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 Driller 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 Driller 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 in Barnstable (Cape Cod), Bristol, and Plymouth Counties in Massachusetts and the mainland counties of Rhode Island and adjacent areas. Task Orders will include maps and addresses of the specific work sites.

10. WORK ORDERS AND LOGISTICS:

The USGS will assign a representative for each Task Order who will be the primary contact with the Driller. The representative, or their designee, will be onsite 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, core recovered, and wells installed. The USGS representative and Driller will review the log at the end of each workday for accuracy and completeness.

11. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

Period of Performance will be five years.

140G0125Q0018 Attachment A IDIQ Statement of Work