MAS - Great Lakes Environmental Center, Inc. - GS10F015AA

Great Lakes Environmental Center, Inc. GS-10F-015AA GAS Federal Supply Schedule

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

Federal Acquisition Service

Authorized Federal Supply Schedule FSS Price List

On-line access to contract ordering information, terms and conditions, up-to-date pricing, and the option to create an electronic delivery order are available through GSA Advantage!®, a menu-driven database system. The INTERNET address GSA Advantage!® is: GSAAdvantage.gov.

For more information on ordering go to the following website: https://www.gsa.gov/schedules

Multiple Award Schedule

FSC Group: Professional Services FSC Class: F999

Contract number: GS-10F-015AA

Contract period: October 22, 2022 – October 21, 2027

Price List Current as of Modification # PO-0027 effective October 22, 2022

Business size: Small Business

Great Lakes Environmental Center, Inc.

739 Hastings Street Traverse City, MI 49686 Phone: 231-941-2230 Fax: 231-941-2240 Website: www.glec.com

Program Manager:

Tyler Linton, Ph. D Tel: 715-803-6869 Email: tlinton@glec.com Alternate Point of Contact:

Bill Arnold Tel: 231-525-0527 Email: barnold@glec.com Contract Administration:

Amelia Howard Tel: 231-525-0505 Email: ahoward@glec.com

CUSTOMER INFORMATION

1a. Table of awarded special item number(s) with appropriate cross-reference to item descriptions and awarded price(s).

541620

Environmental Consulting Services

OLM

OLM Order-Level Materials (OLM)

1b. Identification of the lowest priced model number and lowest unit price for that model for each special item number awarded in the contract. This price is the Government price based on a unit of one, exclusive of any quantity/dollar volume, prompt payment, or any other concession affecting price. Those contracts that have unit prices based on the geographic location of the customer, should show the range of the lowest price, and cite the areas to which the prices apply. See price list below.

1c. If the Contractor is proposing hourly rates, a description of all corresponding commercial job titles, experience, functional responsibility and education for those types of employees or subcontractors who will perform services shall be provided. If hourly rates are not applicable, indicate “Not applicable” for this item. See labor category descriptions below.

2. Maximum order: $1,000,000.00

3. Minimum order: $100.00

4. Geographic coverage (delivery area). Domestic only

5. Point(s) of production (city, county, and State or foreign country). Same as Company Address

6. Discount from list prices or statement of net price. Government Net Prices (discounts already deducted.) See Attachment

7. Quantity discounts. 1% discount off of task orders exceeding $150,000.

8. Prompt payment terms. 1% 10 days; Net 30 days. Information for Ordering Offices: Prompt payment terms cannot be negotiated out of the contractual agreement in exchange for other concessions.

9. Foreign items (list items by country of origin). None

10a. Time of delivery. (Contractor insert number of days.) Specified on the Task Order

10d. Urgent Requirements: Contact Contractor

11. F.O.B. point(s): Destination

12a. Ordering address(es): Same as Contractor

12b. Ordering procedures: See Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 8.405-3.

13. Payment address(es). Same as company address

14. Warranty provision. Contractor’s Standard Commercial Warranty

15. Export packing charges, if applicable. Not Applicable

16. Terms and conditions of rental, maintenance, and repair (if applicable). Not Applicable

17. Terms and conditions of installation (if applicable). Not Applicable

18a. Terms and conditions of repair parts indicating date of parts price lists and any discounts from list prices (if applicable). Not Applicable

18b. Terms and conditions for any other services (if applicable). Not Applicable

19. List of service and distribution points (if applicable). Not Applicable

20. List of participating dealers (if applicable). Not Applicable

21. Preventive maintenance (if applicable). Not Applicable

22a. Special attributes such as environmental attributes (e.g., recycled content, energy efficiency, and/or reduced pollutants). Not Applicable

22b If applicable, indicate that Section 508 compliance information is available on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) supplies and services and show where full details can be found (e.g. contractor’s website or other location.) The ICT standards can be found at: www.Section508.gov/. Not Applicable

23. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number. FKCKEGWMK8K7

24. Notification regarding registration in System for Award Management (SAM) database. Great Lakes Environmental Center, Inc. is registered and active in SAM

AWARDED LABOR CATEGORIES FINAL PRICING

SERVICES PROPOSED

LABOR CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS AND QUALIFICATION EQUIVALENCIES

Program Manager/P-4 Role and Responsibilities: Plans, conducts, and supervises projects and contracts of major significance, uniqueness, or complexity. Applies advanced knowledge and the ability to create and apply new and unique methods and procedures to solve problems. Supervises project personnel and provides technical advice and counsel to other professionals. Designs, manages, and approves project budgets and expenditures. Principal point of contact to clients and subcontractors.

Qualifications: Ph.D. degree or equivalent with 10 years minimum experience.

Technical Program Manager/P-4 Role and Responsibilities: Planning and oversight of complex projects with specific scope and timeframes. Responsible for designing, monitoring and maintaining project budgets and milestones. Provides technical and operations supervision and guidance to project teams. Reports to the Program Manager level. Functions as alternate principal point of contact to clients and subcontractors.

Qualifications: Ph.D. or equivalent with 10 years minimum experience.

Quality Assurance Officer /P-3 Roles and Responsibilities: Responsible for implementing and maintaining Quality Control and Quality Assurance systems and procedures; including approval of Quality Assurance Project Plans, training documentation, Standard Operating Procedures; and conducts laboratory and data audits.

Qualifications: M.S. degree or equivalent with 5 years minimum experience.

Environmental Chemist III/P-4 Roles and Responsibilities: Responsible for designing and managing complex water quality and environmental assessment investigations. Coordinates all environmental and analytical chemistry projects and oversees chemistry, nutrient, and microbiology laboratory operations. Applies advanced knowledge to develop and validate innovative and unique laboratory methods and solutions. Responsible for laboratory quality assurance and quality control.

Responsible for managing project budgets and milestones, communicating with clients, and providing technical and managerial leadership to project teams.

Qualifications: Ph.D. degree or equivalent with 10 years minimum experience.

Environmental Chemist II/P-4 Roles and Responsibilities: Responsible for conducting environmental chemistry investigations concerned with water and sediment quality, fish tissues, and ecological health. Applies proficiency and advanced knowledge in chemistry and analytical tools to design studies, solve problems, develop procedures, and prepare reports/analyses. Responsible for staff oversight and managing project budgets and milestones.

Qualifications: M.S. degree or equivalent with 6 years minimum experience.

Environmental Chemist I/P-3 Roles and Responsibilities: Supports laboratory operations by conducting routine tests, data input, and analyses under moderate supervision. Applies proficient knowledge in chemistry and analytical tools to contribute to laboratory efficiency and quality control.

Qualifications: B.S. degree or equivalent with 2 years minimum experience.

Environmental Scientist-Biologist IV/P-3 Roles and Responsibilities: Responsible for planning, designing, and managing projects involving water/sediment quality assessments, ecological/biological assessments and surveys, and related biological investigations. Principal investigator applying advanced knowledge to solve problems and develop unique solutions. Responsible for managing project budgets and milestones, communicating with clients, and providing technical and managerial leadership to laboratory and field project teams.

Qualifications: Ph.D. degree or equivalent with 10 years minimum experience.

Environmental Scientist-Biologist III/P-3 Roles and Responsibilities: Responsible for conducting laboratory and field projects involving water/sediment quality assessments, ecological/biological assessments and surveys, and related investigations. Operates with minimal supervision and applies proficiency and advanced knowledge in science and field methods to design studies, solve problems, develop procedures, and prepare reports/analyses. Responsible for staff oversight and managing project budgets and milestones.

Qualifications: M.S. degree or equivalent with 10 years minimum experience

Environmental Scientist-Biologist II/P-2 Roles and Responsibilities: Responsible for field implementation of projects involving water/sediment quality assessments, ecological/biological assessments and surveys, and related biological investigations. Responsible for managing project budgets and milestones, communicating with clients, and providing technical and managerial leadership to laboratory and field project teams.

Qualifications: B.S. degree or equivalent with 5 years minimum experience.

Environmental Scientist-Biologist I/P-1 Roles and Responsibilities: Supports a broad range field and laboratory operations by conducting routine tasks under moderate supervision. Applies proficient knowledge in respective discipline to contribute to quality control and operational efficiencies.

Qualifications: B.S. degree or equivalent, entry level position.

Aquatic Toxicologist III/P-4/P-3 Role and Responsibilities: Responsible for the design and management of investigations concerned with aquatic toxicology and ecotoxicology, including bioaccumulation and biouptake studies. Principal investigator is responsible for applying advanced knowledge in developing innovative concepts and problem-solving approaches. Responsible for laboratory quality assurance and quality control. Responsible for delivering project results, managing project budgets and milestones, and providing technical and managerial leadership to laboratory and field project teams.

Qualifications: Ph.D. degree or equivalent with 10 years minimum experience.

Aquatic Toxicologist II/P-3 Role and Responsibilities: Responsible for the design and management of investigations concerned with aquatic toxicology and ecotoxicology, including bioaccumulation and bio-uptake studies. Responsible for conducting laboratory and field projects concerned with aquatic toxicology and ecotoxicology and related investigations.

Operates with minimal supervision and applies proficiency and advanced knowledge to design studies, solve problems, develop procedures, and prepare reports/analyses. Responsible for staff oversight and managing project budgets and milestones.

Qualifications: M.S. degree or equivalent with 6 years minimum experience.

Aquatic Toxicologist I/Biologist Role and Responsibilities: Responsible for the conduct of surface water and whole sediment toxicity testing, toxicity identification evaluations, and preparation of associated laboratory quality assurance documentation. Responsible for delivering project results, managing project budgets and milestones, and providing technical and managerial leadership to laboratory project teams.

Qualifications: B.S. degree or equivalent with 3 years minimum experience.

Benthic Taxonomist II/P-3 Roles and Responsibilities: Principal investigator and technical lead for biological studies concerned with identifying and quantifying aquatic invertebrates. Applies advanced knowledge in benthic taxonomy to design and manage projects. Oversees budgets, project milestones, and laboratory staff.

Qualifications: M.S. degree or equivalent with 6 years minimum experience.

Benthic Taxonomist I/P-2 Roles and Responsibilities: Performs biological studies concerned with identifying and quantifying aquatic invertebrates. Applies proficient knowledge in benthic taxonomy under moderate supervision.

Qualifications: B.S. degree or equivalent with 2 years minimum experience.

Administrative Support / Clerical Roles and Responsibilities: Provides lead administrative support for project management. Applies experience in respective administrative discipline to oversee tasks, improve quality and procedures. Supervises clerical staff.

Qualifications: High school education or equivalent (GED). Associates degree or college level training preferred but not required, with 6 years minimum experience.

Clerical II /Clerical Roles and Responsibilities: Assists technical staff with the production of documents meeting specific formatting and editorial guidelines. Requires office and word processing skills. Supports clerical, administrative tasks, external communications, and client project work under moderate supervision.

Qualifications: High school education or equivalent (GED) with five years minimum experience.

Clerical I/Clerical Roles and Responsibilities: Assists technical staff with the production of documents meeting specific formatting and editorial guidelines. Requires basic office and word processing skills. Performs routine clerical and administrative tasks under close supervision.

Qualifications: High school education or equivalent (GED) with two years minimum experience.

Qualification Equivalencies Following are GLEC’s qualification guidelines for educational and experience equivalencies referenced previously. GLEC reserves the right to modify these guidelines in order to meet specific labor requirements.

Ph.D. equivalency – Minimum of B.S. Degree plus any combination of additional years of experience and graduate level study in field of expertise totaling four years; or a Master’s Degree plus two years of additional experience or graduate level study. Must have demonstrated ability to design and manage complex projects. Peer reviewed-level publication and presentation experience required.

Master’s Degree equivalency – Minimum of a B.S. Degree plus any combination of additional years of experience and graduate level study in field of expertise totaling two years. Must have demonstrated ability to design and manage complex projects.

Bachelor’s Degree equivalency – Minimum of an Associate’s Degree or full-time college study plus four years of experience.

High School equivalency – Minimum of a General Equivalency Diploma (GED).

SERVICE CONTRACT LABOR STANDARDS (SCLS) MATRIX

The Service Contract Labor Standards, formerly the Service Contract Act (SCA), apply to this contract and it includes SCLS applicable labor categories. Labor categories and fixed price services marked with a (**) in this pricelist are based on the U.S. Department of Labor Wage Determination Number(s) identified in the SCLS/SCA matrix. The prices awarded are in line with the geographic scope of the contract (i.e., nationwide).

ABOUT GREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER, INC.

Great Lakes Environmental Center, Inc. (GLEC) is a small business with approximately 60 employees headquartered in Traverse City, Michigan. We have an additional office and laboratory in Columbus, Ohio and field offices in Farmington Hills, Michigan; Lansing, Michigan and Eau Claire and River Falls, Wisconsin.

GLEC has performed services relevant to GSA MAS Large Category: Professional Services; SIN: 541620 (Environmental Consulting Services) and is an established national leader in applied environmental sciences, research and development, and compliance assistance.

The federal government is GLEC’s largest customer. Since 1996, GLEC has managed 30 federal and state prime contracts including 18 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) contracts with the Office of Water valued at over $255 million for contracts with EPA’s Standards and Health Protection Division, Health and Ecological Criteria Division, Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water, Office of Wastewater Management, Assessment and Watershed Protection Division and the EPA laboratory in Duluth, Minnesota. These procurements range in size from $800,000 (U.S. Department of Agriculture) to $35 million (USEPA Office of Water), and duration ranging from 3 to 7 years. This work covered more than 1,200 federal and state work assignments.

GLEC has diverse capabilities focused on environmental problem solving and compliance assistance in the areas of aquatic/sediment toxicology, biological monitoring and assessment, bioconcentration/bioaccumulation, ecological risk assessment, environmental chemistry, water quality modeling, GIS, non-point source pollution evaluation, and regulatory services. GLEC’s biological and ecological risk assessment capabilities are delivered through a combination of laboratory services, field services, and data analysis. GLEC associate’s hold academic degrees in many fields, including biology, chemistry, aquatic toxicology, engineering, entomology, fisheries biology, environmental sciences, geology, statistics, economics, and business. The average individual experience level is 15 years with some senior researchers having over 35 years’ experience. Almost half of our associates hold post-graduate degrees and are widely published in their respective fields.

GLEC’S RESOURCES

GLEC’s facilities, laboratories, and field equipment represent over $7,000,000 of capital investment. GLEC provides a wide range of field and laboratory services related to the biological, chemical, and toxicological evaluation of wadeable streams, large rivers, lakes, wetlands, and coastal areas. In addition, we have significant experience and capabilities in ambient and site-specific water quality criteria development, water quality standards program management, and logistical support.

Our field biologists are experienced in conducting fish, macroinvertebrate, and habitat evaluations of wadeable streams, large rivers, lakes, wetlands, and coastal areas. Our field investigations of fish and aquatic plant populations and benthic community structure (in particular, macroinvertebrate and diatom/soft algae identification) complement our laboratory toxicity testing capabilities by allowing us to assess receiving stream impacts by measuring fish population and benthic macroinvertebrate and periphyton community health. All field-related activities are supported by in-house taxonomic specialists.

To support this work, GLEC owns and operates an extensive inventory of specialized field sampling equipment to conduct sediment, surface water, and biological sampling including:

· a 26-foot long sediment coring boat,

· ARGO amphibious wetland coring unit

· vibracore sediment coring

· drivecore sediment sampling systems

· three electrofishing boats,

· four Great Lakes Capable Research Vessels,

· eight, 12- to 18-foot long Jon boats and inflatable boats,

· six field vehicles

· customized sampling vans

Additionally, GLEC maintains a large inventory of specialized field sampling equipment, including: a wide variety of water sampling devices for aquatic systems of all types, a M9 HydroSurveyor bathymetry unit, a complete array of electro-fishing equipment, seines, fyke nets, plankton nets, GPS survey equipment, current meters and a wide variety of sediment core and grab samplers.

GLEC’s aquatic toxicology laboratory services located in Traverse City, Michigan and Columbus, Ohio are typically used to support aquatic toxicity testing for National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and related testing (i.e., ambient and site-specific water quality criteria development), as well as testing of contaminated sediments and surface water in support of ecological risk assessments, including for sensitive and rare or previously untested aquatic species. Routine toxicity tests include:

· Acute and chronic whole sediment toxicity testing using Hyalella azteca and Chironomus dilutus

· Lumbriculus variegates bioaccumulation testing with whole sediment sample.

· Acute and chronic water toxicity testing using Ceriodaphnia dubia, Daphnia magna, Americamysis bahia, fathead minnows, and rainbow trout (tests with other freshwater and marine species available upon request)

· Evaluation of sediment attenuation/bioavailability

· Toxicity identification and reduction evaluations (TI/REs)

· Diatom and soft algae, macroinvertebrate, and fish population assessment and identification

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES OFFERED BY GREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER, INC. FOR SIN 541620 GLEC maintains the technical know-how, field equipment, and laboratory facilities to assess the environmental health of aquatic and terrestrial resources. Principal areas of expertise in environmental assessment are:

· Water Quality Assessment - GLEC is a recognized leader in field and laboratory-based water quality assessment work for both industry and regulatory agencies. GLEC scientists utilize aquatic toxicity, chemistry, and microbiology labs along with a full complement of survey and monitoring equipment to analyze surface and ground water systems, as well as effluent and stormwater discharges and their receiving waters.

· Sediment Quality Assessment - Sediment quality assessments determine sediment conditions in whole effluents, receiving streams, and impacted sites through integrated studies of benthic community structure, tissue and sediment chemistry, and sediment toxicity. GLEC has the equipment and professional staff needed to perform intensive field and laboratory investigations of whole sediment, sediment elutriate, sediment porewater and single compound samples.

· Environmental/Ecological Assessments - The integrated team approach at GLEC allows delivery of a full spectrum of environmental/ecological assessments for compliance or study purposes including:

· Ecological Risk Assessments – Specializing in site-specific ERAs integrating environmental toxicology/ chemistry, and aquatic/terrestrial ecology

· Environmental Evaluations

· Environmental Assessments

· Environmental Impact Statements

· Biological Evaluations for Section 7 Endangered Species Act Consultations

· Biological Surveys

· Non-Point Source Pollution Assessments

· Bioaccumulation/Bioconcentration - GLEC has the experience and resources to conduct laboratory and on-site field bioaccumulation/bioconcentration studies. Mobile laboratories are used to expose fish to site waters, while bioconcentration studies of specific chemicals are conducted in our labs. GLEC has special expertise in sample media characteristics as a determinant of site-specific bioaccumulation factors.

· Chemical Fate and Transport Modeling - GLEC’s approach to assessing the sources, transport and fate of chemicals in aquatic ecosystems is based upon integrating research, data collection and modeling. GLEC has developed both simple and complex models used to address water quality problems in the Great Lakes, their embayments and tributaries, and other freshwater resources. We are nationally recognized for our expertise in modeling the transport, transformation and fate of high-priority chemicals including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins/furans (PCDDs/PCDFs).

· Regulatory Compliance - For over 30 years, federal and state governments, commercial enterprises, and utilities have relied on the unique capabilities derived from GLEC’s experience counseling both the regulatory and regulated community; an experience that allows GLEC to offer compliance solutions with superior results at rational costs to all parties. Along with active regulatory compliance, GLEC assists clients with ongoing environmental management of facilities and property through integrated science and engineering.

· NPDES Permitting - GLEC’s leading edge capabilities in aquatic toxicity guarantee clients receive rapid, accurate and cost –effective results to control costs associated with compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits.

· NEPA Compliance - GLEC’s project portfolio includes successful consultations for both industrial and government agencies seeking permit compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. NEPA studies include site characterization, definition of impacts, and analysis of alternatives.

· RCRA Compliance - GLEC scientists have helped numerous industrial clients meet regulatory requirements mandated by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) through site investigations, surface and ground water monitoring, and laboratory analyses of contaminated sediments and water.

· Federal Compliance and Regulatory Support - GLEC has extensive experience offering both compliance and regulatory support associated with the Clean Water Act (CWA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), and Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Examples are 316(b) compliance support for power companies through fisheries and water quality research and assisting USEPA with developing ambient 304(a) water quality criteria for priority pollutants and contaminants of emerging concern (e.g., polyfluoroalkyl substances such as PFOS and PFOA), performing and preparing biological evaluations on 304(a) water quality criteria for ESA Section 7 consultations, as well as monitoring unregulated contaminants for possible future regulation under the SDWA.

· FERC permitting - GLEC’s fisheries biologists, monitoring systems and field capabilities combine to assist hydro facility owners with Federal Energy Regulation Commission (FERC) schedule E compliance.

· Toxicity Identification/Reduction Evaluations (TI/REs) - When effluent toxicity levels consistently exceed permitted limits, the USEPA and states require that effluent toxicity be reduced to acceptable levels which requires a toxicity identification/reduction evaluation (TI/RE). GLEC has conducted dozens of TI/REs for industrial and government clients in support of USEPA’s NPDES program.

· Whole Effluent Toxicity Testing (WET) - WET testing is one of the primary components of USEPA's integrated approach to toxics control, and a critical element in industrial and municipal NPDES permits. GLEC serves numerous WET clients, and is one of the few national laboratories still practicing WET since program inception in the early 1980’s.

· Environmental Engineering - GLEC conducts engineering studies for a wide range of environmental applications, including regulatory and cost-benefit analysis, technical guidance for standards development and implementation, total maximum daily load (TMDL), and mixing zone and waste-load allocation (WLA) studies. Our experience working with both regulatory agencies and major dischargers enables GLEC to solve problems using a broad array of technical and non-technical approaches.

GLEC’S TECHNICAL SERVICES

Technical services offered by GLEC include special consultative expertise, technical capabilities in environmental engineering and data/knowledge management, and support services. Technical services are employed when client needs extend beyond basic services or standard testing protocols. Our staff is particularly experienced at solving the more difficult and technically challenging problems relating to pollutant characterization, transport and transformation, food web transfer, ecosystem effects, and environmental test protocol development, refinement, and validation.

· Site-specific Water Quality Criteria Development - Water quality-based effluent limitations are derived from aquatic life criteria, which can be adjusted to account for site-specific conditions. GLEC has been successful in developing alternative effluent limitations using a variety of approaches:

· Determination of mixing zones

· Water Effect Ratio Testing and Calculation

· Recalculation Procedure

· Adjustments to Residue-Based Limits through Site Assessments

· Biological Translator

· Chemical Translator

· Hydrogeological and Groundwater Quality Evaluations - GLEC has extensive experience in evaluating soil and groundwater quality impacts from a wide variety of industrial operations, including automotive, aircraft, electronics, chemical manufacture, fuel storage and refining, power plants, metal coating operations and unregulated and permitted landfills. Evaluations have been conducted under state and federal regulatory jurisdictions including facilities subject to Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action and RCRA Permit required groundwater monitoring programs. In conjunction with hydrogeological evaluations, we analyze groundwater quality data in conjunction with applicable regulatory thresholds, evaluate the rate and direction of groundwater flow, evaluate natural attenuation mechanisms, conduct predictive modeling, and evaluate potential groundwater quality impacts on area wetlands, streams, and lakes (mixing zone evaluations).

· Biological Evaluations for Endangered Species Act Section 7 Consultations – GLEC is one of a limited number of firms to have developed and prepared biological evaluations in support of Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7 consultations on the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s National 304(a) ambient water quality criteria for the protection of aquatic life, including expert knowledge and experience with all existing quantitative/statistical approaches for predicting toxicity of priority pollutants to sensitive (and surrogate) aquatic species.

· Water Quality Modeling - GLEC is experienced in the development and application of mathematical models for many water quality applications involving hydrodynamic and sediment transport, eutrophication, partitioning, air/water exchange, transformation, and bioaccumulation processes.

· Laboratory Methods Development/Refinement/Validation - GLEC has worked with government and industrial clients to develop, refine, and validate new laboratory methodologies for toxicological, nutrient chemistry, analytical organic chemistry, and endocrine disruptor testing methods. Our project experience includes the compilation and review of available methodologies; determination of methods suitability; modifying, testing, refining, laboratory validating and field validating methods; and the application of the methods to collect data.

· Statistics/Biostatistics/Spatial Statistics - GLEC specialists apply rigorous statistical methods to toxicity assays and environmental surveys. We provide a broad range of statistical services including:

· Design and analysis of laboratory toxicity assays (probit, logistic, and nonlinear regression, survival analysis, ANOVA, mixed-effects models...)

· Design and analysis of environmental surveys

· Estimates of adequate sample sizes (power analyses)

· Geographic Information Systems (GIS) – GLEC’s GIS practice provides a wide range of services to support federal, state and commercial geospatial projects. Our experienced specialists employ the latest GIS and graphics applications to conduct analysis, mapping, and display of human impacts on the natural environment. GLEC GIS Specialists provide advanced services in spatial data science, cartography, geostatistical analysis, water quality and watershed modeling, mobile field data collection, ESRI StoryMap development, habitat and species distribution mapping, and utility network mapping.

· Program Management - GLEC has strong capabilities—unique for a small business—in managing large multi- task contracts and complex project teams. We are adept at developing and managing custom databases and sampling/testing program logistics. Our proven internal quality control/assurance plans, communications protocols, cost controls, and hands-on management approach guarantee that our clients receive high value deliverables at or exceeding project time requirements.

Laboratory Services GLEC toxicology, environmental chemistry, molecular ecology, and taxonomy laboratories occupy over 7,500 ft2 of space between its two separate laboratories located in Traverse City, Michigan and Columbus, Ohio. Our Traverse City laboratory is NELAP accredited for both nutrient chemistry and whole sediment toxicity testing through the New Hampshire Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program. Our Columbus, Ohio laboratory is NELAP accredited for whole sediment and whole effluent toxicity testing through the same program. A full list of accredited tests is provided at www.glec.com. GLEC NELAP fields of accreditation include:

· 10-day Hyalella azteca;

· 10-day Chironomus dilutus;

· 28-day Hyalella azteca;

· 20-day Chironomus dilutus;

· Lumbriculus variegatus bioaccumulation; and,

· a wide variety of nutrient testing parameters including chlorophyll-a, phosphorus, and nitrogen compounds.

The aquatic toxicology laboratories at GLEC are fully equipped to perform static and flow-through toxicity evaluations, bioassays, and biomonitoring of complex effluents, stormwater, groundwater, whole sediment, sediment elutriate, sediment porewater and single compounds using a variety of vertebrate and invertebrate test species. We have extensive experience conducting acute and chronic toxicity tests with warm- and cold-water fish species, invertebrates, and algae.

· Common test organisms are cultured in-house to guarantee quality control. Our staff are experienced in conducting acute and chronic toxicity tests with Ceriodaphnia dubia, Daphnia magna, Daphnia pulex, Americamysis bahia, Hyallela azteca, Lumbriculus variegatus, Chironomus dilutus, Chironomus riparius, fathead minnows and rainbow trout.

· Expertise in developing and conducting Toxicity Identification and Reduction Evaluation (TI/RE) procedures for controlling toxics.

· NPDES permit support and testing services-competitive fee schedules for acute, chronic and other test regimens, such as water effect ratio testing and calculation for site-specific aquatic life criteria development (e.g., copper).

GLEC has the experienced staff, equipment, and resources necessary to conduct environmental chemistry evaluations, either in support of other programs or as stand-alone projects. GLEC has completed numerous integrated surveys of large and small water bodies involving the collection and chemical analysis of water and effluent samples, biological tissues, and sediment samples for both organic and inorganic constituents, including extensive experience with sampling fish tissue for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). GLEC’s chemistry lab is equipped to conduct low-level nutrient chemistry and a wide array of organic chemistry analyses. Detailed Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) procedures are applied at GLEC along with routine use of best laboratory practices. All laboratory practices follow written Standard Operating Procedures.

GLEC operates a molecular ecology laboratory at our Traverse City, Michigan location. The laboratory was established in 2021 to conduct assays for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. It was built as a Biosafety Laboratory Level 2 (BSL2) to support this work, allowing us to process untreated wastewater samples. We also conduct PCR-based variant testing for SARS-CoV-2. Our staff has performed organic extractions and column kit extractions for a variety of applications with RNA and DNA. GLEC also has the capacity to conduct molecular source tracking (MST) on surface water samples to determine the source of fecal contamination for a variety of animal and human targets. GLEC researchers are experienced in executing gene expression experiments as well as developing, validating, and optimizing assays. With GLEC’s extensive field sampling experience and equipment, GLEC molecular ecology staff can also provide proper sample collection, preservation, and storage for a wide range of experimental designs.

GLEC has the professional staff and laboratory resources to sample, enumerate and identify, and photograph periphyton, phytoplankton, zooplankton, macroinvertebrates, and fish. GLEC staff have been collecting and identifying aquatic organisms for over 25 years. GLEC taxonomists have processed over 6,000 benthic macroinvertebrate samples and are certified by the Society for Freshwater Sciences. GLEC fish taxonomists are specialists in identifying North American freshwater fish species. GLEC’s principal algal taxonomist holds a doctorate in algal ecology and has over 20 years of algal identification experience. Our Traverse City, MI laboratory has a full complement of precision analysis equipment supported by a comprehensive taxonomic library and reference specimens and images

Significant Achievements GLEC has contributed to advancing the field of environmental science through a number of significant achievements. Examples of recent GLEC accomplishments that have contributed to environmental science and aided in establishing accurate determinations of environmental impacts include the development of:

· Field and laboratory methods for identifying, accessing and surveying freshwater resources for USEPA’s National Aquatic Resource Surveys.

· Toxicity identification and reduction evaluation (TI/RE) procedures to assist in the implementation of the USEPA's Water Quality Based approach to control toxics through NPDES permits.

· Whole sediment and sediment elutriate toxicity test protocols to evaluate the acute and chronic toxicity of in situ toxics, and to allow for assessments of the contribution of in situ toxics towards water quality degradation using an array of vertebrate and invertebrate test species.

· Laboratory-based programs to assess the environmental fate and effects (toxicity and bioconcentration) of consumer products from use through simulated municipal wastewater treatment.

· Development assistance, assessment and validation programs for the USEPA-conceived aquatic toxicity testing methodologies with fathead minnows and Ceriodaphnia dubia.

· Field validation and round-robin studies for the USEPA's draft protocol for assessing bioconcentratable contaminants in effluents, surface waters, tissues, and sediments.

· Unique capabilities to perform environmental programs as required for Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) relicensing of hydropower facilities and other field-oriented environmental assessments.

· Advanced modeling approaches to support USEPA’s Development of ambient water quality criteria (AWQC), including Biotic Ligand Model and bioaccumulation prediction methodologies.

· Case study evaluation of USEPA’s 2013 Revised Deletion Process of the Recalculation Procedure to derive site-specific criteria for ammonia in freshwater – based on the presence and absence of freshwater unionid mussels.

· Development of the approach and risk assessment framework used to gain concurrence from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service on the effects determinations made in the biological evaluation (BE) prepared in support of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2013 Vessel General Permit (VGP) and small Vessel General Permit (sVGP).

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