FY25 SOW Legionella Testing.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

I. INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE OF WORK

This service contract (base year with 4 option years) is to provide all labor, tools, material, and special equipment necessary for a Laboratory Services Contractor to gather water samples, transportation, testing and analysis of water samples for domestic water analysis and Legionella Bacteria taken from West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System, 7305 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL.

II. REQUIREMENTS

A. The following general areas have been identified for environmental samples, with related analysis, and written reports delivered to VAMC within 14 calendar days from the date the samples were taken.

1. Water samples (250 mil liters) per sample for Legionella Bacteria testing, One Hundred and Forty-Four (144 tests) will be gathered quarterly, each sample will show documentation for water temperature, level of residual biocide, and pH with related analysis, and written reports delivered to VAMC within 14 calendar days from the date the samples were taken.

a) Main Building, sixty-six samples (22 distal hot water & 44 distal cold water).

b) Community Living Center (CLC) Building, Thirty-two samples (13 distal hot water & 19 distal cold water).

c) Fisher House, Twenty samples (10 distal hot water & 10 distal cold water).

d) Building # 16, Six samples (2 distal hot water & 4 distal cold water).

e) Domiciliary, Twenty samples (10 distal hot water & 10 distal cold water).

f) Re-test of treated/ remediated areas One hundred (100) samples per year Note: Some re-testing for healthcare associated legionella disease (HCA LD) samples will require 1000 mil liters water samples. Exact sample points will be identified by the COR and shall be noted on the written report.

2. Test domestic water samples for residual Chlorine at 2 locations, quarterly Military Trail Backflow and Blue Heron Backflow

3. Test domestic water samples for analysis at 2 locations, quarterly Military Trail Backflow and Blue Heron Backflow

a) Drinking water method code analysis 524.2

b) 1, 2-Dibrome-3-chloropropane (DBCP) 1, 2-Dibromoethane (EDB)

c) UV254 (pH analysis required)

d) Mono-Chloramine by 4500-CI F

e) Alkalinity

f) Color (Color 7.5)

g) Specific Conductance analysis

h) Hardness: Calcium, Magnesium, Total

i) Total Coliform analysis (E-coli)

j) Heterotrophic plate count (HPC) analysis

k) Fluoride analysis

l) ICP Total Recoverable Metals Analysis Manganese

m) pH

3. Test domestic water samples in three (3) locations Quarterly for the following:

Trihalomethane (THM) Haloacetic Acic (HAA5) Coliform/E-Coli Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) Non-tuberculosis mycobacterium (NTM) Lead Copper Results from these three (3) samples will be submitted to the COR in a FDOH approved format.

B. Samples are to be collected, transported, and processed by a testing laboratory with extensive experience in microbial testing of potable water - not less than 5 years of previous experience and have a CDC Elite rating certificate.

1. Requirements, for environmental testing laboratory include:

2. Laboratory shall meet all appropriate requirements for Environmental Legionella Isolation Techniques Evaluation (Elite) and state-certified competency of microbial testing of potable water.

3. Laboratory shall be proficient at performing the culture of Legionella species from environmental samples. NOTE: Rapid testing methods, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) are not acceptable for the detection of Legionella in environmental water samples.

Samples from Acute Care facilities and Community Living Center (CLC) shall be cultured for Legionella pneumophila.

4. Laboratory shall be capable of concentrating the water samples prior to plating the samples on selective media to increase the sensitivity of the assay A limit of detection of ten colony forming units per milliliter is recommended for the culture of Legionella from water samples.

5. There is a possibility that the facility will need molecular characterization of environmental Legionella isolates, therefore laboratory shall be able to temporarily store the isolates appropriately. This will be at extra cost and included as an “add” line item cost in the proposal.

C. Location of water samples (distal water sites) in the water distribution system.

1. Distal water sites are the points in the water distribution system where the end user (e.g., patient) comes in contact with the water (e.g., faucets and showers).

D. Distal water sites are sampled any time environmental sampling is needed in the course of implementing the facility Legionella evaluation plan (e.g., for routine environmental surveillance, or for monitoring of an Action Plan mitigation effort).

E. Sample not less than One Hundred and Twenty-Four (124 tests) distal water sites with an additional One Hundred (100) distal water sites during the year if needed for re-testing at the facility.

i) If environmental testing is initiated due to a suspected HCA LD case, samples from distal sites in the immediate vicinity of the case should be included in the samples collected.

ii) Sampling includes sites from high risk areas (e.g., hematology-oncology, medical-surgical units).

iii) Collecting samples from distal sites.

a. Options for sample collection methods include collecting a volume of water at each distal site.

F. Considerations include whether the samples are for routine environmental screening or for a case investigation, ability to collect the samples, and the transport of the samples to the testing laboratory G. NOTE: Optimal sensitivity is desirable in the context of a case investigation. Therefore, consideration needs to be given to collecting both water and swab samples from the water outlets in the immediate environment of a suspected case.

i) The testing laboratory shall provide written report of findings within 14 calendar days after samples are taken. Reports shall be delivered to the COR.

ii) In addition to the lab report, the contractor shall also provide the results in an Excel spreadsheet provided by the VA that can be directly uploaded to the Water Safety Management Database.

H. All work shall be in accordance with all applicable codes, and requirements – including but not limited to: VHA Directive 1061, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and other related codes / standards.

III. DELIVERY

A) Performance of services shall be rendered as identified in Section II above. Scheduling of services shall be coordinated with VAMC’s COR (Plumbing Shop Supervisor, telephone 561-422-6655). Contractor shall report to the Plumbing Shop Supervisor prior to commencing work.

i) Work shall be executed between the hours of 800a to 300p, Monday through Friday.

ii) Government holidays shall be NO workdays for the contractor.

iii) VAMC will not provide tools, equipment, or labor.

iv) VAMC will NOT receive, unload, load, or transport contractor materials.

v) ALL work shall be coordinated with VAMC’s COR, and contractor will be escorted by VAMC designated representative.

vi) Workers are subject to all the rules of the VA Medical Center.

vii) Contractor parking is in lots 18, 19, & 23 only.

viii) NO deliveries accepted on Saturdays, Sundays and Government Holidays.

B) Receiving dock open from 730a to 300p Monday thru Friday.

IV PROGRESS AND COMPLIANCE

A) Contractor shall perform services on this order only to the extent indicated on this agreement. No additional services will be made without the approval of the Contracting Officer.

B) Contractor shall provide service tickets, at the time that services are rendered, for all services performed. These services tickets shall be signed by a Plumbing Shop employee in order to confirm services were rendered.