Statement of Work

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Water Resources Mission Area (WMA), through the

National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL), conducts various types of scientific projects and has an obligation to provide low level tritium analysis of environmental samples. The samples to be analyzed for USGS projects are aqueous samples collected from ground water monitoring wells and surface-water sites. The Contractor must provide analytical services, supplies and deliverables for Low-Level Tritium analyses of environmental samples collected for USGS projects. The analytical results from these samples will be used by the USGS in support of scientific and regulatory investigations and monitoring of project sites located throughout the

United States. The purpose of this contract is to obtain services as described in this Performance

Work Statement (PWS) for:

(1) analysis of Low-Level Tritium of aqueous samples collected from e.g., ground water monitoring wells and surface-water sites.

(2) establish requirements to meet USGS data-quality objectives.

(3) documentation, data, metadata, and technical support for data users. The contract will specify the analytical services with analytes, methods, schedules, and metrics to be used to evaluate successful performance.

2.0 SCOPE OF WORK

The Contractor must provide all supervision, labor, materials, equipment, and facilities in accordance with the terms, conditions, and specifications set forth herein that are required for the chemical analyses. SUBCONTRACTING OF ANALYTICAL WORK MUST NOT BE

ALLOWED UNDER THIS CONTRACT.

All required instruments and/or equipment, must be purchased, set-up, verified and approved for performance for the requested analyses, and on-line prior to award of contract or prior to the analysis of environmental samples from the USGS under this contract. If the Government determines at any time during the contract performance that property or services must be provided, such Government furnished property or services must be provided and documented by issuance of a contract modification.

The Offeror is to comply with the 40 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) requirements and the

USGS Interpreting and Reporting Radiological Water Quality Data TM5-B6_508.pdf (usgs.gov) including the Multi–Agency Radiological Laboratory Analytical Protocols Manual. (MARLAP -

-http://www.USEPA.gov/radiation/marlap/manual.html),

3.0 PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES AND REQUIREMENTS

Provided herein are the performance objectives and requirements for the contract. The

Contractor must be evaluated for these performance requirements as described in Section 5.0

“Performance Assessment Plan”. Some of the performance requirements are considered as

“major” performance requirements and are identified in this section by bold text and are listed in

Attachment A - Table 1—Performance Standards and Assessment Methods for the Major

Performance Requirements.

3.1 Performance Objective: Sample Security, Identification and Processing Order

3.1.1 General Security: The Contractor must, if required, provide chain-of-custody for samples submitted by the USGS. Upon request, the Contractor shall submit to the Government a Standard

Operating Procedure that details the Contractor’s chain-of-custody procedure. The Contractor must establish a system of security and safeguarding that must prevent analytical data, which will be government property, from being released to unauthorized persons.

3.1.2 Data, both preliminary and final, must be reported only to the Contracting Officer’s

Representative (COR).

3.1.3 Samples – Identification and Processing Order

3.1.3.1 Samples for Tritium analysis, obtained by the USGS for study, will be shipped directly by USGS field personnel to the Contractor’s laboratory where the analyses are to be performed. Coolers must be disposed of unless they arrive with prepaid shipping labels for return. Sample delivery will be variable throughout the year, and will be the highest during the summer months. Sample load will also vary from year to year. Each sample will be accompanied by an Analytical Services Request (ASR) Form (Appendix 1). This form will identify the Contract Identification Number (CIN) associated with the analyses to be performed on the sample. A list of these CINs will be supplied to the Contractor upon award of the contract.

3.1.3.2 Each sample must have a Julian date (date sample received at contract lab)

NWQL login identification number assigned to it by the Contractor. This number must be retained and used on all records pertaining to the sample. This will not prevent the

Contractor from assigning their own accession or laboratory number to the samples.

3.1.3.3 Assignment of NWQL login numbers must be as follows:

3.1.3.3.1 The year 2026, followed by the Julian date that the sample is received at the contract lab (e.g., May 1st would be 121), followed by the sequence in which the sample is logged starting with 9601. Therefore, a sample received May 1, 2025 would have a log-in number of 20251219601. The series 9601 through 9699 are to be used exclusively by the Contractor for tritium samples.

3.1.3.3.2 The log-in number must be put on each appropriate bottle and in the space provided on the ASR (upper left hand).

3.1.3.3.3 Samples may be received Monday through Friday (Federal Holidays excepted).

3.1.3.3.4 The Contractor must check the Analytical Services Request (ASR) Form against the information on the bottles (station ID number and name, date and time of collection.)

3.1.3.3.5 The Contractor must check the analyses requested on the ASR Form against the type of sample received and notify the USGS COR, or designee, of discrepancies or damaged bottles.

3.1.3.3.6 If there are discrepancies with the samples, the Contractor must notify the

COR or other designee at the NWQL. The specific problems with the sample must be indicated on the transmittal sheet. The COR will research the problem and contact district personnel if needed and respond directly to the Contractor.

3.1.3.3.7 Samples received Monday through Friday can be batched for analysis.

However, project batches (samples submitted together from one project or scientist) must not be split.

3.1.3.3.8 The day after sample receipt, the Contract Program Manager must e-mail the COR, and any designated personnel at the NWQL, scanned copies of the ASRs of the samples received. The only exception is at the end of a NWQL Water Year (cut-off date is usually the 1st or 2nd Friday in September). The final sample log-in electronic file must be sent to the COR, and any designated personnel at the NWQL, by the end of that business day (Friday). The date will be supplied to the Contractor each year.

3.1.3.3.9 The turn-around time clock will start on the date the ASR forms and samples arrive at the contract laboratory. Delivery of analytical results must be within

45 calendar days for Low-Level Tritium and 35 calendar days for Tritium.

3.1.3.4 The COR, or any designee, must be contacted if any analyses not listed in the contract are requested. These samples must not be logged in until instructed in writing by the COR.

3.1.3.5 Samples sent to the Contractor’s lab must be analyzed in order of receipt (i.e., first in, first out) unless alternate instructions (as so designated by the COR) are received by phone and/or in writing from the COR. The COR must be notified of any samples from chemically unusual environments that would require additional time.

3.1.3.6 The Contractor shall be accountable for all samples delivered to it’s laboratory.

3.1.3.7 During the login process, the Contractor must check the condition of the shipment and compare the ASR forms against the samples. If samples are missing, damaged or incomplete or if there are discrepancies between sample bottles and entries on the ASRs, the COR or designee must be notified immediately.

3.1.3.8 Residual sample remaining after analysis is to be retained by the Contractor for a period of 90 days following delivery and USGS acceptance of analytical results. Disposal of these samples is to be at Contractor’s expense.

3.2 Performance Objective: Sample Preparation

3.2.1 Aqueous samples for low level tritium shall be submitted unfiltered with no preservation.

3.2.2 Sample preparation must be performed as outlined in the Contractor’s proposal and approved by the USGS.

3.3 Performance Objective: Sample Analysis

3.3.1 Copies of all methods to be used for the analyses listed in the contract are to be included with the Contractor’s proposal. Any relevant references are also to be furnished. If the

Contractor is NOT going to use published methods for the analyses listed in the contract, appropriate documentation for the prove-out of the methods must be provided. The USGS will evaluate the documentation. These methods must not be used until USGS approval is received. No deviations from these methods must be allowed without the written approval of the CO and COR. A full description of any proposed changes must be sent to the CO and

COR in writing for approval prior to any change.

3.3.2 Copies of any methods used in the analysis of USGS samples may, through the COR, be made available to the scientists in the USGS Water Science Centers (WSCs). These methods may be included in USGS method manuals or USGS publications. Any Contractor proprietary information must be addressed before the award of the contract.

3.3.3 Tritium Analysis

3.3.3.1 Low-level Tritium - Samples are to be analyzed using electrolytic enrichment and gas counting to reach minimum detectable concentration of 0.3 pCi/L at the 95% confidence level.

3.3.3.2 Tritium - Some samples may require the 10 pCi/L Minimum Detection

Concentration. These are to be analyzed by gas counting with no electrolytic enrichment.

3.3.3.3 Reporting - Results shall be reported in pCi/L

3.3.3.4 All samples results are to be decay corrected to the collection date. The date will be provided on the ASR form.

3.3.3.5 Spreadsheets - A spreadsheet with all the data points listed above for all samples received, along with batch QC, must be furnished by the Contractor. See section 3.5 for additional information.

3.4 Performance Objective: Contract Quality Assurance/Quality Control Requirements

3.4.1 Performance Testing Studies: the Contractor shall participate in external performance testing studies. The results of the Contractor’s participation shall be furnished to the COR when received by the Contractor. The Contractor shall participate in the International Atomic Energy

(IAE) tritium comparison study when available. Any costs associated to attend this study are the responsibility of the contractor.

3.4.2 Internal Quality Control (QC)

3.4.2.1 The Contractor shall maintain a quality system for the laboratory. The Contractor shall supply the COR with a copy of its quality assurance and quality control procedures. The Contractor shall not deviate from the stated quality control procedures without approval from the COR and CO.

3.4.2.2 The Contractor shall obtain and maintain a set of radioisotope standards that are traceable to National Institute Standards and Technology (NIST). These standards are to be used to daily calibrate instrumentation and prepare internal quality control standards.

3.4.2.3 The Contractor shall analyze a blank sample, a laboratory control sample, and a replicate sample with every analytical batch. These QC results are to be reported with the sample results. Analysis of these QC samples shall be at no cost to the

Government.

3.4.2.4 The blank shall be less than the sample specific Critical level (ssLc). The LCS—at the upper end, the result – 2x the Combined Standard Uncertainty (CSU) shall be

</= the known value. The recovery shall not be less than 80% at the lower end.

3.4.2.5 The Contractor shall inform the COR verbally immediately upon discovery that any performance requirement is not being met. The Contractor shall follow the verbal notification with a written explanation and corrective action plan within 10 days after discovery.

3.4.3 External Quality Assurance

3.4.3.1 Technical liaison, inspection, and evaluation of the analytical services and deliverables will be managed under the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory.

3.4.3.2 Approximately five percent of samples delivered to the Contractor may be USGS quality assurance samples. These may include blanks, standards (spiked samples) – or duplicate samples.

3.4.3.3 The results of the analyses of the standards and replicate samples will be closely monitored by the USGS and used by the COR to judge overall performance by the

Contractor.

3.4.3.4 When unacceptable data are reported to the USGS, the Contractor must be notified, in writing, to halt the flow of samples through the part of the system that yielded the erroneous values. The Contractor must then determine the cause of the unacceptable data.

3.4.3.5 Further analyses, after the Contractor’s receipt of a notice from USGS to halt further testing for quality assurances purposes, must be resumed by the Contractor only with written approval of the Contracting Officer. Samples analyzed after the last acceptable sample and before the shutdown must be re-analyzed at no additional cost to the USGS.

3.4.3.6 The USGS may request reruns on as much as 5% of the yearly sample total. These reruns must be performed at no cost to the USGS. If the rerun requests exceed 5% of the yearly sample load, the Contractor must not charge for the rerun if the new value is outside of the 1-sigma combined standard uncertainty of the first value.

The USGS will pay for the rerun if the rerun value lies within the 1-sigma combined standard uncertainty of the first value. If the two values do not check and a third analysis required to determine the true value, the Contractor must not charge for this third analysis.

3.4.3.7 From time-to-time during the performance of the contract, the USGS may visit the

Contractor’s facility at the discretion of the Government. The COR will give advance notice to the Contractor of at least one month prior to the on-site audit. However, advance notice is not required.

3.5 Performance Objective: Reporting Results, Data Storage and Data Handling

3.5.1 The analytical data shall be reported electronically to the USGS in written tabular form and concurrently in electronic format. The format for the electronic data deliverable (EDD) will be furnished at the time of award.

3.5.2 The written tabular form of analytical results shall be typed and the values verified for accuracy and signed by the analyst and the verifier or shall be a facsimile copy of such a report. The report shall show 1) USGS log-in number, 2) contract laboratory identifying number, 3) USGS supplied lab code, 4) date of analysis, 5) analytical result, 6) 1-sigma combined standard uncertainty (with the uncertainty for electrolytic enrichment included), and 7) the sample specific critical level (ssLc). The Contractor shall include the proposed report format in the proposal. The Contractor shall refer to Volume III Section 20 and

Attachment 20A of the Multi-Agency Radiological Laboratory Analytical Protocols

Manual (MARLAP) for equations and explanations of these required data items.

3.5.3 Reports and EDDs of analytical results must be sent by email to the COR. If the quality of the results are found to be unacceptable, the problem will be communicated by the COR immediately upon recognition.

3.5.4 The Contractor shall properly store and archive appropriate copies of all analytical results and associated QC and raw-data results for USGS analyses for the life of the contract. This information shall be sufficient to allow for re-creation of analytical results if necessary.

Prior to completion of the contract, the Contractor shall request from the USGS instructions as to the disposal of these records. Any records requested by the USGS shall be sent at

Contractor expense to the address given by the COR. Records not requested by the USGS shall be destroyed by the Contractor upon instructions from USGS after completion of the contract.

3.5.5 Results of all internal QC samples are to be reported with the field sample results. The

Contractor shall report the blank, LCS result, and duplicate results with each batch of sample results. A summary of any QA/QC problems encountered and solutions implemented during batch analysis shall be included with the results.

3.5.6 The COR and other representatives from the USGS may meet with the Contractor and appropriate staff of the Contractor’s Lab annually, or sooner if needed to review status of samples, and to resolve questions about sample results and administration of contract activities. An on-site audit may be conducted at this time.

3.6 Performance Objective: Provide Analytical Results of Environmental Sample

Analyses and Data Deliverables within Specified Time Schedules

3.6.1 The Contractor shall complete the requested analyses and required data deliverables specified in Section 3.5 within 45 calendar days (not including Federal holidays) after receipt of samples for Line Item 1.

3.6.2 The Contractor shall complete the requested analyses and required data deliverables specified in Section 3.5 within 35 calendar days (not including Federal holidays) after receipt of samples for Line Item 2.

3.6.3 The Contractor shall deliver to the COR the required data deliverables within the turn-around-time stated. Data deliverables that are delivered late to the USGS will be documented in the annual performance assessment report (see Section 5.5).

3.6.3.1. These expected turnaround times assume normal flow/processing in the lab. At the discretion of the COR, the Contractor may request, in writing, and possibly obtain a waiver for altering reporting times for unforeseen conditions in the laboratory such as equipment failure, laboratory down time, power outages, etc.

3.6.3.2 If the Contractor knows in advance that the requested TAT and delivery requirements will not be completed within specified time schedules for individual

Sample Delivery Groups (SDGs), the Contractor must formally notify the COR by email of anticipated delays in the delivery of the data deliverables.

3.6.4 For some USGS projects, preliminary (before final review by the Contractor) results may be requested by the COR to be provided by email. There must be no additional cost to the

Government for these reports.

3.6.5 Sample materials not consumed by analysis must be retained by the contract lab for 90 days. Disposal of all remaining sample materials must be at the Contractor’s expense.

3.7 Performance Objective: QA/QC Acceptance Criteria

3.7.1 A 1-sigma combined standard uncertainty and a sample specific critical level shall be reported for every tritium result. Equations for these meta-data shall be found in the MARLAP.

3.7.2 Reporting precision shall be 0.3 pCi/L.

3.7.3 The following QA acceptance criteria shall be used to monitor precision. For replicate samples:

X1 – X2 < 2 * (1 2 + 2

2)1/2, where X1 and X2 are the analyte concentration values for samples 1 and 2, and 1 and 2 are the respective measurement uncertainties of the measured values.

3.7.3.1 Corrective action shall be implemented by the Contractor when:

X1 – X2 > 3 *(1 2 + 2

2)1/2