B08.02 Solicitation Attachment C - Sample Task Oder PWS_Genetics IDIQ.pdf

SAMPLE TASK ORDER

Performance Work Statement

Emerging Contaminant Testing and Environmental Genetic and Genomic Testing

Introduction

The project work statement describes the type of research required to meet the needs of the US Army Corps of

Engineers (USACE), Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Environmental Processes Branch (EP-P) utilizes in execution of its mission.

Task 1 –Emerging Contaminant Testing

Overview

The contractor shall provide research efforts to determine toxicity of emerging contaminants of concern in aquatic species. Specific efforts include conducting toxicological exposures of test subjects to environmentally relevant concentrations of chemicals, mixture of chemicals, or water samples from contaminated sites. Data from such research shall then be used to determine hazard and/or risk of these contaminants with a focus on how molecular level impacts are linked to the individual or population. Phenotypic observations are made on individual test subjects and related to genotypic changes. The following techniques are critical in performing the specified research: collection of samples from test subjects such as plants, animals, or environmental matrices (e.g. water);

nucleic acid isolation and purification; aquatic organism husbandry; and basic laboratory maintenance such as cleaning and stocking supplies.

Subtasks

Subtask 1.1. Animal husbandry and exposures. Duties shall include feeding of test organisms, daily water quality control checks, breeding of fish, cleaning of tanks or other exposure vessels, and rearing of aquatic organisms in accordance with ERDC Institute for Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) guidelines. Prepare test solutions and media in order to conduct exposures; setup, maintain, and breakdown experiments; record experimental endpoints and impacts of the test solution(s) on the individual and quality assurance/quality control data and general lab support such as cleaning, stocking and organizing equipment and supplies, and performing sample receipt and processing.

Subtask 1.2. Sample collection and preparation. Dissect anesthetized test subjects in accordance with approved

ERDC Institute for Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) guidelines and collect tissues, blood or other desired biological samples utilizing proper sample preservation for later study endpoints such as genetic and/or genomic analyses, body burden analyses, and/or biochemical analyses.

Task 1 Deliverables. Monthly reports shall summarize progress of Task 1. A final report and research notes for

Task 1 shall be made available. Laboratory notebooks should be up to date and available for review.

Task 1 Travel. Travel shall not be required for Task 1.

Task 1 Requirements. Individual with a BS Degree in the areas of biology, environmental science, molecular biology or related field with at least three years of experience in scientific research using animals to determine toxicity of stressors and/or chemicals.

Task 2 –Environmental Genetic and Genomic Testing

Overview

The contractor shall provide research efforts to determine possible alterations in genes or genomes of natural/environmental matrices (e.g., soil, water, sediment, animal traces, and animal or plant tissues. Field collection of samples shall be required. Phenotypic along with general observations shall also be conducted during field collections. Specific efforts include isolation of nucleic acid from environmental samples and analyses of nucleic acid. Basic laboratory maintenance such as cleaning and stocking supplies and performing sample receipt and processing shall be required.

Subtasks

Subtask 2.1. Field collection of environmental/natural samples. Duties shall include proper handling, storage, shipment, receipt, and processing of field collected samples. If required, dissect anesthetized test subjects in accordance with approved ERDC Institute for Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) guidelines and collect tissues, blood or other desired biological samples utilizing proper sample preservation for later study endpoints such as genetic and/or genomic analyses, body burden analyses, and/or biochemical analyses. The contractor shall record both phenotypic (observable changes due to environment or stressor) changes and general (e.g., temperature, weather conditions, etc.) observations during sampling.

Subtask 2.2. Sample preparation and analyses. Duties shall include nucleic acid isolation from environmental samples/matrices (e.g., soil, water, sediment, animal traces, and animal or plant tissues) using current, peer-reviewed methods. Nucleic acid shall be analyzed using PCR, real-time PCR, and/or DNA sequencing to include both Sanger and high-throughput sequencing.

Task 2 Deliverables. Monthly reports shall summarize progress of Task 2. A final report and research notes for

Task 2 shall be made available. Laboratory notebooks should be up to date and available for review.

Task 2 Travel. Travel shall include up to 2 CONUS trips for field collection/sampling. These trips are dependent of stakeholder input and are not currently known.

Task 2 Requirements. Individual with a BS Degree in the areas of biology, environmental science, molecular biology, genetics or related field with at least three years of experience in scientific research using animals or plants to determine toxicity of stressors and/or chemicals and three years of experience in working with nucleic acids.

Medical Monitoring for Task 1 and Task 2. This work shall require medical monitoring (2 times per year) as follows in connection with the above work:

- SMA 21 screen and evaluation

- CBC with Differential screen and evaluation

- Auditory evaluation

- Complete ophthalmologic exam

Training for Task 1 and Task 2. Training is required by the Department of Defense, the Army, and the ERDC for contractors to be onsite and will be provided.

Period of Performance for Task 1 and Task 2. The Period of Performance for Task 1 and Task 2 is one year from award.

Place of Performance for Task 1 and Task 2. ERDC (EL) 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS 39180.

SECURITY

a. General security requirements and guidance: The security requirements described below apply to all contract personnel (including employees of the prime Contractor (“Contractor”) and all subcontractor employees) supporting the performance requirements of this contract. The Contractor is responsible for compliance with these security requirements. Questions regarding security matters shall be addressed to the designated Government representative (e.g., Contracting Officer Representative (COR), Requiring Activity (RA) representative, or

Contracting Officer (if a COR or other RA representative is not appointed)). Contract personnel are critical to the overall security and safety of US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) installations, facilities and activities, and security awareness training contributes to those efforts. The Department of Defense (DoD) and Army security training requirements specified below, if applicable, are performance requirements; all applicable contract personnel shall complete initial training within 30 days of contract award or the date new contract personnel begin performance on the contract. Within five business days from the completion of training, the Contractor shall provide written documentation (e.g., email or memorandum) to the Government representative. The documentation shall include the names of contract personnel trained and which training they completed; the Contractor shall maintain training records as part of their contract files and be prepared to provide copies of training certificates to the

Government representative. Contractor personnel and vehicles are subject to search when entering federal installations. Additionally, all contract personnel shall comply with Force Protection Condition (FPCON) measures, Random Antiterrorism Measures (commonly referred to as “RAMs”), and Health Protection Condition (HPCON) measures. The Contractor is responsible for meeting performance requirements during elevated FPCON and/or

HPCON levels in accordance with applicable RA plans and procedures --this includes identifying mission essential and non-mission essential personnel. In addition to the changes otherwise authorized by the changes clause of this contract, should the FPCON or HPCON levels at any individual facility or installation change, the Government may implement security changes that affect contract personnel. The Contractor shall ensure all contract personnel are aware of their security responsibilities, including any site-specific requirements identified in local policies or procedures.

b. Antiterrorism (AT) Level I training: All contract personnel requiring routine access to Army installations, facilities, and controlled access areas, or requiring network access shall complete initial and annual refresher AT

Level I awareness training. Online AT Level I awareness training is available at https://jko.jten.mil/ (website subject to change).

c. Physical security and access control requirements: All contract personnel requiring physical access to a federal installation or facility shall comply with the access control procedures of that location. Contract personnel requiring unescorted access to meet contract performance requirements on a DoD installation in the US shall be vetted by the installation/facility Provost Marshal/Directorate of Emergency Services/Security Office using the

National Crime Information Center-Interstate Identification Index (commonly referred to as “NCIC-III”) and

Terrorist Screening Database (commonly referred to as “TSDB”). Contract personnel shall comply with all personal identity verification requirements specified in installation/facility policies and procedures. Contract personnel who do not meet requirements for unescorted access to USACE facilities shall coordinate escorted access with the

Government representative, as needed. Contract personnel who receive keys, access cards, or lock combinations that provide access to government-owned property shall comply with key and lock control procedures of the RA.

d. Contract personnel requiring a common access card (CAC): Contract personnel will be issued a common access card (CAC) only if duties involve one of the following: (1) both physical access to a DoD facility and access to DoD information systems or networks; (2) remote access to a DoD information system or network using DoD-approved remote access procedures; or (3) physical access to multiple DoD facilities or multiple non-DoD federally controlled facilities on behalf of the DoD on a recurring basis for a period of 6 months or more. Before CAC issuance, contract personnel must have, at a minimum, a favorably adjudicated Tier 1 investigation or an equivalent or higher investigation in accordance with applicable Army regulations and Homeland Security Presidential

Directive-12 (HSPD-12). At the discretion of the RA, an initial CAC may be issued based on a favorable review of a fingerprint check and a successfully scheduled Tier 1 investigation with the National Background Investigations

Bureau. The RA provides contract personnel with additional information and forms to initiate the CAC issuance process, and/or to initiate background investigations, when required. Contract personnel shall complete these processes within established timelines to avoid delays.

e. Suspicious Activity Reporting training (e.g. iWATCH, CorpsWatch, or See Something, Say Something):

All contract personnel shall receive initial and annual refresher training from the RA representative on the local suspicious activity reporting program. This locally developed training provides contract personnel with general information on suspicious behavior, and guidance on reporting suspicious activity to the project manager, security representative or law enforcement entity.

f. Contract personnel requiring access to Government information systems: All contract personnel with access to a government information system (including USACE business systems and CAC-enabled websites) shall comply with applicable DoD and Army regulations, and shall use the organization's UserID-Password

Administration and Security System (U-PASS) at commencement of services to request network user accounts.

Contract personnel shall complete DoD Information Assurance Awareness training prior to accessing information systems, and annually thereafter.

g. Training requirements for the protection of sensitive information: All contract personnel with access to critical information (as identified in the RA's OPSEC Program) shall complete initial and annual refresher OPSEC

Level I Awareness training, which is available at the following websites: https://www.iad.gov/ioss/, or http://www.cdse.edu/catalog/operations-security.html (websites subject to change). All contract personnel with access to Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) shall complete initial and annual refresher CUI training in accordance with applicable Army policy.

h. Escorting in classified and/or sensitive areas: In accordance with applicable regulations, all contract personnel who do not possess the appropriate security clearance or access privileges will be escorted in areas where they may be exposed to classified information or operations, sensitive information or activities, or restricted areas.

i. Pre-screen candidates using E-Verify Program: Contractors shall comply with the requirements set forth in

FAR clause 52.222-54 Employment Eligibility Verification and FAR Subpart 22.18 in using the E-Verify Program at (https://www.e-verify.gov/) (website subject to change) to meet the contract employment eligibility requirements.

Contractors are encouraged to cooperate with Federal and State agencies responsible for enforcing labor requirements to include eligibility for employment under United States immigration laws in accordance with FAR

22.102-1(i). An initial list of verified/eligible candidates shall be provided to the COR no later than three business days after the initial contract award. When contracts are with individuals, the individuals will be required to complete a Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, and submit it to the Contracting Officer to become part of the official contract file.

Performance Requirement Summary (PRS)

Task 1

Objective:

Emerging Contaminant Testing

Subtask 1.1. Animal husbandry and exposures.

Subtask 1.2. Sample collection and preparation.

Deliverables:

1. Monthly project report detailing status of experimental preparation, experimental conditions, marker design, instrumentation, data analysis, data reduction, and problems encountered.

2. Submission of a brief (<5 pages) technical report summarizing the results of research and associated spreadsheets at the completion of Task 1.

Standard:

A one to two-page status report detailing experimental preparation, experimental conditions, marker design, instrumentation, data analysis, data reduction, and problems encountered shall be generated monthly (due on 10th calendar day). Technical report due at the end of Task 1.

AQL:

All data provided will be defensible for peer review and indicate a successful experiment. Delays will be reported as soon as possible. Approval by the technical POC or COR is needed for delayed reports.

Task 2

Objective:

Environmental Genetic and Genomic Testing

Subtask 2.1. Field collection of environmental/natural samples

Subtask 2.2. Sample preparation and analyses

Deliverables:

1. Monthly project report detailing status of experimental preparation, experimental conditions, marker design, instrumentation, data analysis, data reduction, and problems encountered.

2. Submission of a brief (<5 pages) technical report summarizing the results of research and associated spreadsheets at the completion of Task 2.

Standards:

A one to two-page status report detailing experimental preparation, experimental conditions, marker design, instrumentation, data analysis, data reduction, and problems encountered shall be generated monthly (due on 10th calendar day). Technical report due at the end of Task 2.

AQL:

All data provided will be defensible for peer review and indicate a successful experiment. Delays will be reported as soon as possible. Approval by the technical POC or COR is needed for delayed reports.

SAMPLE TASK ORDER END

THE GOVERNMENT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO AWARD THE SAMPLE TASK ORDER AS THE

FIRST TASK ORDER, TASK ORDER 0001, AGAINST THIS IDIQ. THIS IS NOT A GUARANTEE THE

SAMPLE TASK ORDER WILL BE AWARDED.