EVER_Seawater_Analysis_SOW.pdf

Statement of Work - Everglades National Park Laboratory Services for Florida Bay Seawater Chemical Analysis

Background

Water quality monitoring of marine water of Florida Bay is necessary to understand the condition and status of bay organic and inorganic nutrients. In the aftermath of an extensive 2015 seagrass die-off, an extreme phytoplankton algal bloom occurred throughout the central basins of Florida Bay. Following that, Hurricane Irma arrived in 2017 and caused a large amount of mangrove damage and mortality that is potentially releasing nutrients from the decaying mangroves. Algal blooms are associated with excess nutrients present in the water column. Bloom conditions are expected for several years due to excess free carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous in the coastal aquatic system.

NPS staff of the Florida Bay Interagency Science Center have designed a monitoring protocol of representative sites to retrieve water samples for nutrient analysis on a bimonthly to quarterly basis to assess the condition of Florida Bay waters over the next years. Analytical services of Florida Bay water samples are needed for the determination of chemical concentration of seawater constituents including forms of nitrogen, phosphorous, carbon, and silica at appropriate accuracy and detection levels. Servicing laboratory shall have environmental testing laboratory certification (and be in good standing) to the most recent standards of the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference (NELAC) Institute.

Work Required

Analysis of standard seawater nutrients including up to eight primary analytes in batches of 58 samples but may be increased to 80 samples on a bimonthly basis will be required (exact number and schedule dependent upon weather conditions enabling collection of all samples as a batch).

Each sample will be measured for the analytes nitrite (NO2

-), nitrate (NO3 -), total ammonia nitrogen

(NH3/NH4

+), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorous (TP), total organic carbon (TOC), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), and dissolved silicate (Si) in Table 1. Analysis of trace metal other seawater constituent may be needed intermittently. The offeror shall provide a list of their methods of analysis, cost per sampling unit, and method detection limit capabilities that shall be employed for the analytes included in Table 1.

Table 1. List of Analytes and number of samples analyzed per bimonthly sampling

Analyte Samples/ Batch Dissolved Silicate 58 Dissolved Inorganic Nutrient Nitrite (NO2 - ) 58 Dissolved Inorganic Nutrient Nitrate (NO3 - ) 58 Dissolved Inorganic Nutrient Ammonium (NH4+ ) 58 Total Phosphorus (TP) 58 Total Nitrogen (TN) 58 Total Organic Carbon (TOC) 58 Soluble reactive Phosphorus (SRP) 58 Possible additional elemental analysis 58

Table 2. Minimum detection limits shall meet or exceed

Personnel of Everglades National Park shall collect, package, and deliver samples to the analytical laboratory. Water samples shall be kept cold and processed for analysis by the laboratory within 12 hours of receipt. Quality assurance and reporting of results shall be completed within 45 days of receipt of samples. A verified electronic report of the results shall be provided by the laboratory to include a spreadsheet file of the data outputs in parts per million (ppm), and micro moles (µM) of all analytes for each sample.

The National Park Service will deliver samples in a manner described by the recipient laboratory to preserve the condition of the seawater similar to that at the time and point of collection. The laboratory shall likewise handle all samples in a manner that allows reporting results of the analytes in the chemical form and at the levels originally collected. Reports of results shall be submitted to the contracting officer representative (COR) at the Florida Bay Interagency Science Center, Everglades National Park following completion of the analysis and quality control review of each set of samples no later than 45 days after receipt of samples.

Data outputs will be reviewed and accepted as complete and valid by the COR prior to payment for services through the IPP system. The work is to begin in calendar year 2024, with yearly options to continue for up to five (5) years. The schedule of services will be bimonthly analyses of 58 to 80 water samples. Changes to bimonthly service may occur due to large scale meteorological or ecological events, which may require off-schedule sampling. Services shall be rendered upon receipt of a set of samples with prior coordination for delivery by the COR and the laboratory representative. Beginning in August 2024, one service every sixty to ninety days (depending upon weather conditions and other factors that affect the collection of samples from Florida Bay) and shall continue for twelve months. The contract can be renewed for four additional years upon favorable review of services annually, and contingent upon funding and the needs and priorities of Everglades National Park (see Table 3 for projected analytical needs).

SW FW SW FW SW FW SW FW

N+N 0.130 0.124 0.960 0.960 0.00182 0.00173 0.01344 0.01344

NO2-N 0.013 0.015 0.160 0.160 0.00018 0.00022 0.00224 0.00224

NH4-N 0.179 0.196 1.000 1.000 0.00251 0.00275 0.01400 0.01400

SRP 0.046 0.062 0.400 0.400 0.00141 0.00192 0.01240 0.01240

TP Low Curve 0.028 0.031 0.100 0.100 0.00086 0.00096 0.00310 0.00310

TP High Curve 0.151 0.099 1.250 1.250 0.00468 0.00308 0.03875 0.03875

TP-persulfate Low Curve

TP-persulfate High Curve

Si 0.157 0.147 1.00 1.00 0.0044 0.0041 0.0280 0.0280

TOC

TN

Chl-a**

3.46 17.86 0.05 0.25

0.10 0.10 0.03

10.40 41.67 0.12 0.50

ANALYSIS MDL (µmoles/L) PQL (µmoles/L) MDL (ppm) PQL (ppm)

0.048 0.250 0.00148 0.00775

0.293 1.250 0.00907 0.03875

Table 3. Schedule of sample analysis (assuming August 2024 start)

Year Month Samples Analytes 2024 August 58 8 2024 October 58 8 2024 December 58 8 2025 February 58 8 2025 April 58 8 2025 June 58 8

Everglades National Park (Florida Bay Interagency Science Center) Points of Contact will be given upon award.

It is crucial that the Testing Lab must be within 60 miles (driving distance of the park) so that samples remain accurate within the reporting timeframe. Results are to be provided to the park within 48 hours. Some nutrient samples are required to be frozen and some refrigerated. Shipping poses a problem for this requirement as the NPS would need to package (acquire dry ice) and get to a shipping facility that handles dry ice. Shipping delays and sample expiration before it is received at a lab for processing are major issues that can occur if the lab were located further. A lab closer in proximity would not require the use of dangerous chemicals and acids for nutrient preservation that would possibly contaminate the samples as the NPS will deliver them without the use of dry ice or other dangerous preservation chemicals.

The Florida Bay Interagency Science Center seeks a qualified laboratory for chemical analysis of natural (Florida Bay) seawater for nutrient forms of nitrogen, phosphorous and carbon. Some factors to be considered in evaluating the laboratories include:

• Quality laboratory certification by independent audit (e.g., NELAC Institute)

• Instrumentation and standard methods to measure a broad range of levels of nutrients from extremely low (oligotrophic water) to exceptionally high (eutrophic water-phytoplankton bloom conditions)

• Ability to process the necessary numbers (~60) of samples in a timely (day of receipt) manner.

• Proximity to Everglades due to the risk of contamination and chemical changes that may occur with increased handling and shipping to greater distances.

• Laboratory capabilities to analyze to levels (detection limits) that allow comparative evaluation with other studies and previous laboratory results of Florida Bay seawater.

• Documented consistency and accuracy of results

Location of NPS Site:

98630 Overseas Hwy Key Largo FL 33037