ITB_13764_Environmental_Chem_Testing_Specs.pdf

TDH Specifications Page 1

Testing of Environmental Chemistry Samples Specifications

ITB 34301-13764

This is a multi-year contract to provide testing for contaminants in environmental chemistry samples including water, solids, and biota. The service shall provide testing for samples not performed in-house as well as provide a backup in the event of instrument failure or other emergencies.

Definitions:

a. American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA): A nonprofit, non-governmental, public service, membership society that offers programs for the accreditation of laboratories, inspection bodies, proficiency testing providers, reference material producers and product certification bodies.

b. Biota Samples: samples collected from living organisms, e.g. fish and vegetation.

c. Carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD5): is a measurement of the oxygen consumed by microorganisms decomposing organic carbon compounds in a water sample over five days, excluding oxygen used to break down ammonia.

d. Collection Consumables: various containers used to collect samples for testing.

e. Color: a measure of the yellowness of water.

f. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR): The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is a codification of the general and permanent rules published by the departments and agencies of the U.S.

Federal Government.

g. Dissolved oxygen: the concentration of free oxygen (O₂) molecules not bonded to other elements in water

h. Electronic Data Deliverable (EDD): An electronic, tabular format for sharing and manipulating data.

i. Energy Surcharge: an additional fee the supplier adds to cover increased operational costs related to energy or fuel.

j. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): a federal agency responsible for protecting human health and the environment.

k. Five-Day Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5): a measurement of the organic pollutant concentration in a water sample, specifically the amount of oxygen bacteria consume to break down organic matter over five days at 20°C.

l. Groundwater: water held underground in the cracks and pores of soil, sand, and rock.

m. Hexavalent chromium: any chemical compound that contains the element chromium in the +6 oxidation state (thus hexavalent).

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n. Holding time: The time, prescribed by an analytical method, which must not be exceeded to ensure an accurate and quantitative measurement of a chemical analyte.

o. International Organization for Standardization (ISO): The International Organization for

Standardization (ISO) is an international nongovernmental organization made up of national standards bodies. The ISO develops and publishes a wide range of proprietary, industrial, and commercial standards and is comprised of representatives from various national standards organizations.

p. Inorganic: A chemical compound that generally does not have carbon-hydrogen bonds.

q. ISO 17025: The standard and guidelines for testing laboratories to demonstrate technical competency.

r. Level 4 Data Package: Electronic report that contains sample results and qualifiers, chain of custody, all quality control results, and instrument raw data.

s. Methylene Blue Active Substances (MBAS): anionic surfactants including soaps and detergents

t. Mixed waste: waste containing both hazardous and radioactive components.

u. National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Committee (NELAC): The NELAC Institute (TNI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to foster the generation of environmental data of known and documented quality through an open, inclusive, and transparent process that is responsive to the needs of the community

v. Nitrate: a naturally occurring compound of nitrogen and oxygen (NO3) found in soil, water, and air, essential for plants and animals.

w. Nitrite: a naturally occurring compound of nitrogen and oxygen (NO2) found in soil, water, and air, essential for plants and animals.

x. Non-potable water: water that is not of drinking water quality; non-potable water may be natural waters or wastewaters.

y. Organic: A chemical compound that contains carbon hydrogen bonds.

z. Orthophosphate: a specific type of phosphate consisting of a single phosphate unit (PO₄³⁻)

aa. pH: A measure of how acidic or basic a substance or solution is.

bb. Sample Disposal Charge: the amount the supplier charges to dispose of the sample.

cc. Sediment: loose particulate matter, ranging from clay to boulders, that is eroded and transported by water.

dd. Shipping Charges: the fees for transporting a package from its origin to its destination, determined by factors like package dimensions, weight, and the service speed chosen.

ee. Solids: samples containing soil, sediment, rocks, or powders

ff. Sulfite: a sulfur and oxygen-based ion with the structure SO₃²⁻

gg. Surface water: any body of water located on Earth's surface, including rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and reservoirs, as well as oceans and estuaries.

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hh. Test Cost: the amount the supplier charges to perform a test.

ii. Total Residual Chlorine: the sum of all active chlorine forms remaining in a water sample after disinfection.

jj. Transport Container: Ice chests or Coolers used to transport multiple samples while maintaining the contents in a temperature range of two (2) to six (6) degrees Celsius.

kk. Turbidity: a measure of water cloudiness caused by suspended particles like soil, algae, or organic matter.

ll. Wastewater: any water that has been used and discharged by homes, businesses, industries, and agricultural operations.

Minimal Requirements:

a. The supplier shall operate during normal business days, Monday through Friday, 8:00am- 4:30pm within their time zone, excluding holidays.

b. The supplier shall use only approved EPA methodology for all requested test parameters.

c. The supplier shall perform all testing before the expiration of each test’s analytical holding time.

i. Analytical holding times may be obtained from EPA 40 CFR Part 136 and EPA

SW846

d. Testing:

1. The supplier shall be able to perform inorganic and organic testing on:

i. Groundwater,

ii. Surface water,

iii. Wastewater,

iv. Mixed waste,

v. Solids, and

vi. Biota Samples.

2. The Supplier shall provide same day pickup service for the following tests:

i. BOD5

ii. CBOD5

iii. Color

iv. Dissolved oxygen

v. Hexavalent Chromium

vi. MBAS

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vii. Nitrate

viii. Nitrite

ix. Orthophosphate

x. pH

xi. Sulfite

xii. Total residual

xiii. Chlorine

xiv. Turbidity.

e. Quality Assurance:

1. The supplier shall maintain a current certification for environmental chemistry testing by ISO 17025 standards (2017).

2. The supplier shall maintain a current certification for environmental chemistry testing by TNI requirements (NELAC 2016).

3. Upon completion, the supplier shall provide a copy of all proficiency test results, by email to:

Emily Knecht Emily.Knecht@tn.gov

f. Turnaround Time:

1. The expected turnaround time for all testing shall be twenty (20) business days from receipt of the sample(s).

g. Reporting:

1. The supplier shall send analytical reports by email to the State Environmental laboratory and shall also provide access to the reports online.

i. Contacts for email are as follows:

Emily Knecht – emily.knecht@tn.gov.

Craig Edwards - Craig.Edwards@tn.gov.

Patrick Leathers – Patrick.Leathers@tn.gov.

2. The supplier shall provide a Level 4 data package on samples tested.

3. The supplier shall be able to provide Electronic Data Deliverables (EDDs).

h. Shipping and Supplies:

1. The supplier shall provide sampling supplies (sample containers and coolers) upon request and at no additional charge.

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i. The supplier shall ship the supplies, so the State Environmental laboratory receives them within five business days of the request.

ii. Deliveries will be received between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM Monday through Friday, excluding State and Federal holidays.

2. Transport containers must be picked up from the laboratory loading dock.

i. Containers may contain tests, samples and sampling sets.

3. Samples to be shipped in containers appropriate to the tests required. and to the

Supplier provided location.

4. Samples to be packed in coolers/ice chests such that when opened by the supplier they are ranging between two (2) to six (6) degrees Celsius.

i. If samples are received outside the two (2) to six (6) degrees Celsius temperature range, the supplier shall notify the Lab within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt.

Emily Knecht, Quality Assurance Manager, emily.knecht@tn.gov

Patrick Leathers, Laboratory Manager, patrick.leathers@tn.gov

i. Invoicing:

1. Final cost per test shall include:

a. Test cost

b. Collection consumables

c. Sample disposal charge

d. Energy surcharge

e. Shipping charges

2. The supplier shall provide a detailed invoice each calendar month of all testing charges matching the description on the contract as well as include the chain of custody (COC) for each sample set in the invoice.

3. Invoices shall reflect:

i. Final cost per test.

ii. Matching contract line-item description.

iii. Quantity of each test performed.

4. A minimum invoice charge should not be assessed.

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6. The supplier shall offer an online portal to access a copy of each invoice, statement, and analytical report.

7. The supplier shall send invoices and associated COCs to:

Goods Procurement (AJT)

710 James Robertson Parkway, 6th floor Nashville, TN 37243 GPP.Health@tn.gov