ITO SOW v3 ID04200073 09 30 2020.pdf

General Services Administration Federal Acquisition Services

Assisted Acquisition Services Division Southeast Sunbelt Region

Task ID: ID04200073 Requirements IDIQ Contract:

Date: October 05, 2020 v03

GSA Senior Contracting Officer:

Joshua Adams Phone: 478-342-1087

Email: joshua.adams@gsa.gov Client Organization:

US Environmental Protection Agency 109 T.W. Alexander Drive Durham, NC 27709

Primary Client Representative:

Carolyn Blake

Phone: (919) 541-5256 Email: blake.carolyn@epa.gov

Project Name:

Benefits Methods Development and Other Relevant Analyses for the Evaluation of Air Pollution Control Policies

Period of Performance:

Base: 15 Dec 2020 – 14 Dec 2021 Option I: 15 Dec 2021 – 14 Dec 2022 Option II: 15 Dec 2022 – 14 Dec 2023

Contract Funding

Firm Fixed Price Severable Labor Hour Non-Severable Time and Material

Hybrid (Time & Material, and Cost Reimbursable No Fee) Fully Funded

Performance-based Incrementally Funded Vehicle: Open Market Funding provided for each Task Order

PART I – THE SCHEDULE

A. SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM

A.1 SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM

Reference SF1449 through GSA business systems portal, ITSS (https://portal.fas.gsa.gov).

END OF SECTION A

https://portal.fas.gsa.gov/

B. SERVICES AND PRICES

B.1 SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED

The contractor shall provide their total proposed amounts in Blocks 23 and 24 of the SF1449 cover page through the GSA business systems portal, ITSS (https://portal.fas.gsa.gov) for all Task Items/Contract Line Item Numbers (CLINs). Separate CLINs are provided for a one year base period of performance and two (2 each) one year optional period of performance.

This will be a Requirements contract. The designated Government activity for this requirement is US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation (OAR), Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS). Orders may only be placed through the designated activity, and placed by GSA FAS.

The Contract Task Item/CLIN Structure is as follows:

Base Period 0001 / T&M Labor 0002/ T&M Material 0003/ Cost Reimbursable- No Fee, Travel

Option Year 1 1001 / T&M Labor 1002/ T&M Material 1003/ Cost Reimbursable- No Fee, Travel

Option Year 2 2001 / T&M Labor 2002/ T&M Material 2003/ Cost Reimbursable- No Fee, Travel

END OF SECTION B

C. DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATION/STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 BACKGROUND

This effort will be performed within the context of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and related environmental statutes; the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA); the Unfunded Mandates and Regulatory Reform Act (UMRA); the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) as amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA), including the Congressional Review Authority and its amendments to the Regulatory Flexibility Act; relevant Executive Orders (EOs); and international agreements and protocols.

C.2 SCOPE OF EFFORT

In terms of the CAA, the effort includes the development of methods and analyses in support of regulatory and policy development, or proposed congressional legislation. These may include National Ambient Air Quality Standards, New Source Performance Standards, standards for air toxics, National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants, Volatile Organic Compound rules, New Source Review, Risk and Technology Review, Regional Haze, Federal Operating Permit and Implementation Plan Rules, components of reports to Congress, and other regulatory standards to control air pollution (i.e., mobile source programs, regional body policy actions, and cross-media programs).

In terms of international agreements and protocols, the effort includes the development of methods and analysis in support of national and urban-scale air quality management. These may include health benefits assessment, laboratory analysis methodology, policy analysis, as well as support for international cooperation and communication product development.

The Contractor shall submit for review, and obtain prior approval from the EPA Project Officer (PO)/Task Order Manager (TOCOR) to use or disseminate, any and all manuals, technical documents, outreach materials (including all training and workshop materials), and models (including computer models) that are developed or modified under this contract.

C.2.1 PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS / GENERAL APPROACH

The following task statements are meant to be descriptive (general), not specific. The specific work shall be in accordance with and within the scope of this Statement of Work and Task Orders placed against this Requirement’s type contract.

C.2.1.1 TASK – Review Data Inputs and Technical Support Documents

The Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) gathers data to support the selection and evaluation of regulatory alternatives for the control of air pollutants, both domestically and internationally. As directed by the individual TOs, the Contractor shall review data inputs and related technical support documents for completeness, accuracy, reliability, and applicability to the national- and urban-level cost, economic, benefits, and risk analyses performed under this contract. Data inputs and technical support documents include, but are not limited to, industry characterizations and engineering profiles, documents involving regulatory scope, model entities or actual affected facilities, regulatory options and alternatives, emissions control and administrative costs, exposure analyses, risk assessments, emissions inventories, air quality modeling results, and related data and reports.

In reporting its review to the EPA, the Contractor shall address the following:

a. the completeness, accuracy, and reliability of the data;

b. whether the form or substance of the data implies problems or issues that need to be resolved prior to the start of a cost, economic, benefits, risk, or innovative regulatory strategy analysis; and

c. what the substance of the data implies with regard to the level of effort necessary to complete any of the analyses mentioned in item 1)b.

As part of this review, the Contractor shall also identify and/or review the key analysis parameters and assumptions that include, but are not limited to, definition of base year, period of analysis, effective date of regulation, and affected facilities and/or entities; inputs used to develop current and future year emissions inventories and air quality results; inputs to develop current and future year emissions control and administrative costs; and inputs to develop benefits, risk, and economic analyses.

C.2.1.2 TASK – Develop Methods and Databases for Benefits and Risk Analyses

The Contractor shall develop scientifically defensible methods for calculating the benefits and risks to society that result from regulatory actions. These methods may include, but are not limited to, estimation of ambient pollution levels, estimation of health or environmental risks associated with potential exposure to air pollutants, estimating population and ecological exposures to pollution, population health impacts of exposure to pollution, population welfare impacts from pollution-related environmental damages, impacts on natural and managed ecosystems, and valuation of health, welfare, and ecological impacts. These methods could include those necessary to model health impacts and risks at the sub-group and representative individual-level in addition to population-level risk modeling

To provide credible benefits and risk analyses, the OAQPS must stay abreast of the latest tools, techniques, and methods available to perform such analyses. The Contractor shall review or develop and report benefits and risk analysis tools, techniques, and methods that can be applied to defined analysis problems. The Contractor shall demonstrate that each benefit and/or risk analysis tool, technique, or method is consistent with sound scientific practice. The Contractor shall determine whether each tool, technique, or method is clearly applicable to the broad range of problems defined in a task order. The Contractor shall provide the EPA with a complete report documenting the basis for and use of each tool, technique, and method. The Contractor shall also provide materials documenting the tools, techniques, or methods in a format suitable for a peer review, as determined by the TOCOR or PO..

C.2.1.3 TASK – Conduct Benefits Analyses

In support of air pollution strategies, regulatory development, and/or standards reviews, the Contractor shall analyze the human health, welfare, and ecological benefits of changes in emissions or air quality. In the initial phase of conducting a benefits analysis, the Contractor shall submit a benefits analysis plan to the EPA, which provides a clear statement of the analysis methodology, data inputs, tools, assumptions, and uncertainties. A detailed benefits analysis plan shall indicate the questions the analysis will address, the theoretical basis and principal literature references for the analysis, assumptions proposed for the analysis, the data and estimation procedures proposed to implement the analysis, the tools to be used, the expected outputs, the anticipated schedule of the analysis, and a brief description of any potential alternative analysis approaches. In addition, for benefits analysis plans, the Contractor shall also address how to estimate benefits to certain populations, such as: children, minority and low-income populations, and/or tribal communities. The Contractor shall also provide a list of reference materials, or copies as requested by the EPA, of technical documents, manuals, data sources, and other documentation used to develop the analysis plan, and shall clearly indicate where proprietary data or tools have been employed. The benefits analysis plan must be approved by the EPA before the benefits analysis is performed by the Contractor.

Upon approval of any benefits analysis plan, the Contractor shall identify, quantify, value, and report on the benefits (or disbenefits) expected to result from regulatory actions (or in the case of deregulation, "foregone benefits"). Benefits shall be expressed in qualitative terms such as the potential change in effect of health, welfare, and ecosystem endpoints; quantified terms such as the calculated change in incidence of key endpoints; and monetary terms by applying economic values to quantified results. All regulatory alternatives identified by the EPA shall be analyzed.

The Contractor shall work to achieve the following analytical and procedural objectives for benefits analyses:

• Conduct a risk assessment to identify the benefits to society that result from pollutant reductions, including, but not limited to, human health benefits, ecosystem benefits, use or recreation benefits, aesthetic benefits, materials damage benefits, silvicultural benefits, and agricultural benefits.

• Provide a qualitative description of identified benefits in terms of the quantity/magnitude of reductions, location, and the associated risk due to exposure.

• Quantify the change in effects and assign monetary value to the extent possible to the identified benefits using economic valuation techniques that have either been clearly established in the academic or scientific literature or by EPA policy, or that have been developed under this contract and approved by the EPA. To value the identified benefits, the Contractor may be required to quantify the benefits in terms of changes in emissions, mortality and morbidity, the number of lost work days, activity participation and site visitation, color, odor, and visibility, crop yields, frequency of maintenance and repair activities, or other quantifiable terms.

• Summarize the number and economic value of estimated health impacts so that these values may be included in Computable General Equilibrium modeling.

• Describe and quantify, where possible, all uncertainties associated with the analysis.

Provide sensitivity analyses of key parameters that can impact the results and conclusions of the analysis.

C.2.1.4 TASK – Conduct and Support Risk Analyses

In support of air pollution strategies, regulatory development, and/or standards reviews, the Contractor shall analyze the human health, welfare, and ecological risks associated with changes in emissions or air quality. In the initial phase of conducting a risk analysis, the Contractor shall submit a risk analysis scoping plan to the EPA, which provides a clear statement of the analysis methodology, assumptions, and uncertainties. A detailed risk analysis scoping plan shall indicate the questions the analysis will address, the theoretical basis and principal literature references for the analysis, assumptions proposed for the analysis, the data and estimation procedures proposed to implement the analysis, the tools to be used, the expected outputs, the anticipated schedule of the analysis, and a brief description of any potential alternative analysis approaches. The scoping plan shall also describe the nature of the risk metrics to be generated (e.g., scenario-based risk metrics versus population-representative metrics and central-tendency versus a focus on higher-end risks). The scoping plan shall also describe the degree to which uncertainty and variability will be characterized in the analysis (including the World Health Organization four-tiered analysis framework where possible). The Contractor shall provide a list of reference materials, or copies as requested by the EPA, of technical documents, manuals, data sources, and other documentation used to develop the analysis plan. The risk analysis scoping plan must be approved by the EPA before the risk analysis is performed by the Contractor.

Upon approval of any risk analysis scoping plan, the Contractor shall estimate the risks associated with any air quality scenarios identified in the scoping plan. Depending on the data, methods and resources available (as well as consideration for the type of policy-related questions framed for the analysis), and as directed by EPA, the Contractor shall express risks in deterministic or probabilistic terms (or a combination thereof). All regulatory alternatives identified by the EPA shall be analyzed. The Contractor shall work to achieve the following analytical and procedural objectives for risk analyses:

• conduct risk assessments following any existing EPA risk assessment guidelines that are relevant to the specific assessment;

• reflect consideration for risk assessments (and their methodologies) conducted by other US agencies and key high-profile entities that address similar risk scenarios (so the EPA analysis reflects consideration for the latest methods and approaches);

• characterize risk in accordance with EPA’s “Risk Characterization Handbook” (https://www.epa.gov/risk/risk-characterization-handbook) and any existing Agency guidance on risk characterization;

• characterize the degree to which key sources of variability associated with the scenario being modeled have been reflected in the risk model and resulting implications for overall confidence in the risk estimates generated; and

• describe and quantify where possible, all uncertainties associated with

• the analysis. Provide sensitivity analyses of key parameters that can impact

• the results and conclusions of the analysis.

Upon EPA direction, the Contractor shall provide support to the EPA on risk analyses conducted in-house. This support shall include, but not be limited to:

• developing input databases needed to support risk assessments completed by EPA in-house (e.g., development of datasets characterizing measured chemical concentrations in key media defined spatially);

• reviewing existing literature to characterize key exposure and/or risk modeling inputs such as exposure factors (e.g., intake rates by different SES-differentiated groups, including critical attributes associated with those exposure factors); and

• developing sub-models required as part of overall risk model based on input from EPA risk team and consideration for literature and latest methods (e.g., model for predicting Pb dust buildup indoors given ambient Pb levels).

C.2.1.5 TASK – Prepare Profiles of Affected Entities

The Contractor shall prepare an economic profile of industry sectors, entities, and populations potentially subject to regulatory action. This work may include reviewing lists of potentially affected facilities to determine if they quality as small businesses as defined by the Small Business Administration (SBA) as well as developing profiles of industry categories affected by regulations. In determining if potentially affected facilities are small businesses as defined by SBA the contractor shall identify the parent company the facility and gather information on the sales or revenues of a facility as well as the number of employees. In completing this work the contractor shall document the source of this information and provide the requisite data to inform an analysis as required under the SBREFA.

The profile of an industry sector shall contain economic and financial assessment information pertinent to understanding the dynamics of an industry. The information collected may include, but is not limited to, data on directly and indirectly affected products, product market characteristics such as the nature of competition and international trade, prices of inputs and outputs, income and price elasticities, industry characteristics such as location, production/sales levels, employment, level and type of industry integration, substitutes, industry and company financial data including income (revenue and profitability data), company balance sheet data, and government agency expenditure data (when relevant). The profile shall contain baseline projections of growth and change in production, and the number of entities in affected industries.

Information on populations potentially affected by a regulatory action shall contain the requisite data to inform an analysis to comply with the requirements of EOs 12898 (environmental justice), 13045 (children’s health), and others that may be relevant. In developing these profiles or analyses the contractor shall follow the latest EPA guidance on the topic, if available.

C.2.1.6 TASK – Develop Analysis Methods and Conduct Economic Analyses

In support of air pollution strategies, regulatory development, and/or standards reviews, the Contractor shall analyze the cost and economic impacts of a policy. In the initial phase of conducting an economic analysis, the Contractor shall submit to the EPA a detailed methodology or analysis plan. The analysis plan shall indicate the questions the economic analysis will address, the theoretical basis for the analysis, assumptions proposed for the analysis, the data and estimation procedures proposed to implement the analysis, the tools or models to be used, the expected outputs, the anticipated schedule of the analysis, and a brief description of any alternative analysis approaches. The Contractor shall also provide a list of reference materials, or copies as requested by the EPA, of technical documents, manuals, data sources, and other documentation used to develop the analysis plan. Where appropriate, the analysis plan also shall include a detailed description of the approaches to address relevant legislation and Executive Orders including, but not limited to, RFA, SBREFA, and UMRA; and E.Os. 12898 (environmental justice), 12866 (regulatory planning and review), 13045 (children's health), 13211 (energy impacts), and others that may be relevant. The analysis plan must be approved by the EPA before the analysis is performed by the contractor.

In conducting an economic analysis, the Contractor shall work to achieve the following analytical and procedural objectives:

• Analyze potential changes in market prices and quantities for goods and services directly and indirectly affected by the regulatory program and/or action.

• Analyze industry- and national-level impacts that include, but are not limited to, changes in capacity utilization and/or growth projections, process and/or facility closures, process substitution, energy usage, worker dislocation, international trade, and profitability.

• Quantify and compare the distributional impact on different entities or populations by economic, financial, or physical characteristics. This includes, but is not limited to, small entities, low-income and/or high-minority populations, and governmental (State, Tribal, county, city) and non-profit entities.

• Address the potential for regional and/or community impacts for those regulatory alternatives that may have significant economic impacts as a result of a regional or local concentration of affected entities/populations.

• Estimate the social costs of the regulatory program and/or action and their distribution across stakeholders and address the socioeconomic effects of the regulatory actions.

In assisting the EPA in meeting these objectives, under the direction of the EPA the contractor shall develop partial and/or general equilibrium models, collect data, prepare data, and program and validate models.

In working with the EPA to develop an analysis plan to address the objectives of an analysis it may be necessary to review tools, techniques, and methods from the literature. The Contractor shall review, develop, and report upon cost and economic analysis tools, techniques, and methods that can be applied to defined analysis problems, such as impacts on the general equilibrium of the economy, long-term economic growth predictions, or alternative views of microeconomic impacts on affected sectors of the economy. In preparing reports the Contractor shall provide sufficient detail for the EPA to understand the content of literature reviewed, including references.

C.2.1.7 TASK – Develop Control Strategies and Conduct Emissions Inventory, Air Quality, and Control Cost Analyses

The Contractor shall provide technical support for the review, development, and analysis of alternative approaches for control of pollutants. These analyses shall (1) estimate current and/or future years baseline emissions and air quality levels accounting for the effects of other proposed or promulgated pollution control programs (e.g., motor vehicle standards, acid rain program); (2) identify control strategies necessary to achieve targeted levels for air toxics, criteria pollutants, and visibility impairment; and (3) evaluate post-regulatory impacts. Impacts to be estimated include costs, air pollutant emissions, and air quality concentrations. The control strategies to be developed and analyzed may include economic incentive programs and other non-traditional innovative control strategies.

C.2.1.8 TASK – Conduct Surveys and Focus Group Sessions

The Contractor shall plan, conduct, and evaluate surveys and/or focus group sessions to provide additional data or methods to evaluate the impacts of air pollution on specific benefits, cost or economic analysis issues as identified by the EPA. In planning a survey or focus group session, the Contractor shall consider characteristics of respondents that are required to obtain sufficient data for analysis, such as location of respondents, demographic and ecologic parameters of respondents, economic variables, and air pollution parameters. The survey instrument or focus group discussion issues shall be reviewed by the EPA and revised based on EPA comments.

External reviewers of the survey instrument or focus group discussion issues may also be required. Upon approval of the survey instrument or focus group issues, the Contractor shall administer the survey or conduct focus group sessions according to the approved plan. The Contractor shall record all responses, itemize responses in a database, and analyze the results of the survey or focus group sessions through statistical procedures or by other approved methods.

The Contractor shall submit to the EPA a report that documents the plan and methodology, the survey or focus group instrument, the data collected, and results of the analysis.

C.2.1.9 TASK – Revise Analyses and Related Documentation

As a regulatory action moves toward proposal or promulgation, or as international programs advance, there may be frequent and sometimes complex changes called for in analyses and reports prepared by the Contractor. The Contractor shall update and revise analyses and reports prepared under this contract to respond to:

• new analysis inputs;

• the considerations and findings, of internal EPA reviews and external peer reviews;

• work groups for rulemaking, policies, and guidance;

• the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC);

• the Science Advisory Board (SAB);

• Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) work groups;

• requests made during interagency review, Assistant Administrator clearance, Administrator clearance, and the Office of Management and Budget review;

• requests made during interagency review;

• requests made as a result of Congressional review;

• changes in EPA policy;

• public comments; and

• any others that may be necessary

C.2.1.10 TASK – Prepare Docket Materials and Reference Documents

The Contractor shall also assemble, organize, itemize, reproduce, and submit to EPA all background reports, correspondence, records of telephone conversations, raw data, calculations, computer printouts, memos, models, public documents and other reference materials that were used in preparation and support of work performed by the Contractor. Following guidance provided by the EPA Air Docket Office, the Contractor shall assemble such material, or copies thereof, for incorporation into the public docket, and prepare a draft docket index. The EPA may request the list and copies of corresponding docket material at any time.

C.2.1.11 TASK – Technical and Administrative Support for Workshops, Seminars, Training Classes, Meetings, Public Hearings, and Peer Review Panels

The Contractor shall provide technical and administrative support for EPA-sponsored workshops, seminars, training classes, technical meetings, and public hearings related to the areas covered in this Statement of Work. Administrative support shall include development and distribution of meeting and presentation materials, facilitation, logistical support (i.e., securing meeting space, or arranging accommodations for attendees), registration and check-in of participants, and preparation of meeting summaries, public hearing transcripts and videography.

Support may also include travel costs for speakers and expert consultants.

The Contractor shall attend work group, CASAC, FACA, and SAB meetings, as well as public hearings, international program meetings, site visits, and other related meetings where benefits, cost, and/or economic impact analysis work is presented or discussed with parties outside the project team. The Contractor shall make and submit to the EPA a record of proceedings relevant to the analyses at meetings the Contractor attends.

As part of the technical development of methodologies and/or analyses completed under this Statement of Work, the Contractor shall attend, participate in, and make presentations at workshops, seminars, training classes and conferences. The Contractor shall develop and prepare presentation materials, make presentations of newly developed methods and analyses, and incorporate EPA-approved comments from workshop, seminar, training class and conference attendees to revise analyses.

The Contractor shall convene support panels to conduct peer review of analysis methods that may be used by OAQPS. Such peer review may include, but is not limited to, internal EPA review, informal review by experts external to EPA, formal reviews by experts external to EPA, submission of articles to peer reviewed journals, and presentations at meetings of professional scientific organizations.

In the event of peer review, the Contractor shall select panel reviewers and shall appoint the officials that will exercise control over the panel meeting. The Contractor shall not perform peer review of any documents for which the contractor or its subcontractors were involved in the preparation.

C.2.1.12 TASK – Support for Responses to Public Comments

The Contractor shall review, index, organize, and summarize public comments received by EPA in response to regulatory notices. The Contractor shall provide technical support in the development of draft responses to comments on regulatory notices, and provide technical analysis as needed to develop such responses.

C.2.1.13 TASK – Conduct Training on Models or Methods and Provide Support for Modeling and Software Development

The Contractor shall provide support for training courses on relevant models or methodologies addressing the specific areas covered in this Statement of Work. Support shall include instructional and logistical support and the development and distribution of instructional and presentation materials. Support may also include travel costs for speakers and expert consultants.

The Contractor shall develop and/or enhance computer models utilized by EPA to identify, quantify, and/or value the specific areas covered under this Statement of work for review and approval by EPA. The Contractor shall assure that any new or major modification to an existing model is tested, quality assured according to EPA policy, and meets the intended purpose of the model. The Contractor shall deliver and demonstrate how to use such models upon request by EPA. The models may be developed with new code using a computer programming language, or as a user file(s) for common application software, such as Microsoft Excel, dBase, or SAS. The computer models shall be fully tested, debugged, and documented. Any source code, software or models developed or enhanced under this contract shall be, in its entirety, the property of the EPA (and the EPA may choose to make the software or model publicly available), unless specifically stated otherwise through contract modification. Upon EPA’s request, the Contractor shall provide source backup with no proprietary coding, a source code manual, a user's manual, and complete programming instructions for any software developed or enhanced under this contract. In the case of models developed as companions to common application software, the Contractor shall provide a comprehensive user's manual for the model and a complete model development report.

C.3 DATA DELIVERABLES

C.3.1 SUBMISSION OF DATA DELIVERABLES

The contractor shall provide the data deliverables discussed herein in a contractor provided format ensuring information contained therein completely covers the requirements of the deliverable.

The Government will have five business days to review the deliverable for content. If the deliverable is unacceptable, the Government will return it to the contractor within two business days and the contractor shall provide a revised report within two business days that is acceptable to the Government.

Unless otherwise advised by the Contracting Officer, all deliverables shall be uploaded to ITSS (https://portal.fas.gsa.gov/) via a Post Award Collaboration.

The contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer and COR when the contractor determines that tasks will not be completed on time.

C.3.2 MONTHLY PERFORMANCE REPORT

The contractor will prepare a Monthly Performance Report providing at a minimum the following, in relation to the previous month: travel locations, job description, total man hours estimated, actual man hours, cost estimates, revised work plans, revised cost estimates and actual cost. The report shall also include notification of the 75% limitation of funds. This report shall be developed on a per order basis and be consolidated into one report. The Monthly Performance Report is due by the fifth of each month.

C.3.3 MEETING AGENDA/PRESENTATION MATERIAL AND MINUTES/ACTION

ITEMS

The contractor shall provide meeting agendas/presentation material as requested by the COR within two business days of the meeting date. Subsequently as requested by the COR, the contractor shall provide meeting minutes/action items within five business days after meeting.

END OF SECTION C

D. PACKAGING & MARKING

D.1 Reserved

END OF SECTION D

E. INSPECTION & ACCEPTANCE

E.1. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

Inspection and acceptance will occur in accordance with FAR 52-212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items, along with FAR 52.246-6. In the absence of other agreements negotiated with respect to time provided for Government review, deliverables will be inspected and the contractor notified of the findings within seven calendar days of normally scheduled review. If the deliverables are not acceptable, the COR will notify the contractor immediately.

Acceptance of invoices shall constitute acceptance of performance.

Performance by the contractor to correct defects found by the Government as a result of quality assurance surveillance and/or by the contractor as a result of quality control shall be at the contractor’s own expense without additional reimbursement by the Government. Unless otherwise negotiated, the contractor shall correct or replace all non-conforming services or deliverables not later than seven calendar days after notification of non-conformance.

E.2 Quality Assurance

Quality assurance activities shall be conducted to assure environmental data generated, processed or used to support any exposure and risk assessment shall be of known quality and shall achieve prescribed data quality objectives. Furthermore, the data shall be adequate and sufficient for their intended use. The Contractor shall be in compliance with the requirements of CIO 2105.0, Policy and Program Requirements for the Mandatory Agency Wide Quality System and the American National Standard-Specifications and Guidelines for Environmental Data Collection and Environmental Technology Programs (ANSI/ASQC-E4-2014). Consistent with these requirements, the Contractor shall develop a Quality Management Plan and a Quality Assurance Project Plan.

E.2.1 Quality Management Plan (QMP). The Contractor shall establish a quality assurance (QA) program with the objective of facilitating suitable risk and exposure assessment modeling, analyses, and model modifications with a stated level of confidence. The program shall incorporate the organizational and management structure, staffing, procedures, quality control (QC) procedures, and necessary corrective actions, plus all the documentation of procedures and QC results required during the collection and use of existing (secondary) data, as well as the storage and retrieval of data used for decision making.

The Contractor shall submit a draft QMP in Microsoft Word format, divided by sections as part of their proposal. The Contractor shall incorporate the fundamental principles of a quality system for environmental measures, and the generation and management of environmental data. EPA Requirements for Quality Management Plans (EPA QA/R-2) can be found at https://www.epa.gov/quality/epa-qar-2-epa-requirements-quality-management-plans.

It is important to note that ANSI/ASQC E4-2014 (3.14) defines outsourcing as an arrangement where an external organization (3.01) performs part of an organizations function or process (3.12). Since external organizations are “outside the scope of the management system (3.04),” The offeror’s QMP cannot cover subcontractor Quality Management Systems (QMS) because each of the subcontractors is their own external organization having their own management system. Also, CIO 2105-P-01-0 Section 3.3.5 contains the following: Describe and discuss the organization's process for ensuring that all appropriate extramural agreements, including grants, cooperative agreements, and contracted and subcontracted activities, involving or affecting environmental programs shall:

• contain appropriate QA and QC requirements in all applicable documents;

• receive the same review and approval for changes as for the original documents;

• address satisfactorily all QA and QC requirements in applicable responses to

• solicitations and include QA as an integral criterion in the evaluation criteria;

• provide objective evidence of quality furnished by suppliers and subcontractors for applicable items and services, including source selection, source inspections, supplier audits, and examination of deliverables; and

• provide evidence of the suppliers capability to satisfy EPA QA and QC requirements as defined in the extramural agreement or applicable regulation (e.g., 40 CFR 30, 40 CFR

31, 48 CFR 46).

Describe how procurement documents or financial assistance agreements shall require suppliers (i.e., contractors, subcontractors, or financial assistance recipients) to have a quality system consistent with EPA requirements. This requirement applies only to those suppliers who provide services or items that directly affect the quality of results or products from environmental programs.

Upon award, the EPA will provide comments to the submitted QMP in writing or directly on a digital file. The Contractor shall revise the QMP and resubmit it to the EPA for approval within 20 calendar days. The revised QMP will be the official QMP under the contract.

E.2.2 Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPP). The Contractor shall develop a QAPP to provide a plan for obtaining, using, storing, and retrieving the type and quality of environmental data needed for EPA’s risk and exposure assessment modeling, analyses and model modification activities. The QAPP should document how QA/QC activities are applied to environmental data operations to assure that the results obtained are of the type and quality needed and expected.

• Upon contract award, the EPA will provide comments to the submitted draft QAPP in writing or directly on a digital file. The Contractor shall revise the QAPP and resubmit to the EPA for approval within 20 calendar days. The revised QAPP will be the official QAPP for the contract.

https://www.epa.gov/quality/epa-qar-2-epa-requirements-quality-management-plans https://www.epa.gov/quality/epa-qar-2-epa-requirements-quality-management-plans

• After award, the Contractor(s) shall submit Task Order QAPPs, as required, in Microsoft Word format, divided by sections to cover the Task. The QAPPs shall describe the policies, organization, objectives, functional guidelines, and specific quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) activities designed to achieve the data quality requirements of the Task. The QAPP shall provide a level of detail and organization that is consistent with EPA QA/R5, EPA Requirements for Quality Assurance Project Plans. Specific QA/QC-related tasks to be addressed by each QAPP shall be listed in task-specific SOWs. These are not necessarily inclusive; the Contractor shall include any other tasks or implementable measures that are not mentioned but are necessary to optimize the quality or assess the uncertainty of the data that is produced.

• EPA QA/R-5, EPA Requirements for Quality Assurance Project Plans can be found at https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-06/documents/r5-final_0.pdf

• Guidance for Quality Assurance Project Plans for Modeling EPA QA/G-5M can be found at https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-06/documents/g5m-final.pdf

• Incorporation of SOPs – When addressing the Group B (Measurement and Data

Acquisition) elements in TO QAPPs, detailed copies of quality assurance methods and/or standard operating procedures (SOPs) can be either included directly in the discussion, provided as attachments to the QAPP, or, if easily obtained and readily available to all project participants [e.g., American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) methods], cited within the discussion and included in the reference list. Detailed copies of the methods and/or SOPs must accompany the QAPP either in the text or as attachments.

• All SOPs referenced in each activity performed by the Contractor shall be submitted as part of the applicable QAPP. The SOPs shall be written to be consistent with EPA QA/G-6 titled Guidance for Preparing Standard Operating procedures (SOPs).

• EPA QA/G-6 can be found at https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015- 06/documents/g6-final.pdf

• QAPP Amendments – During the term of the contract, the Contractor shall revise and maintain on file, with all previous revisions, an amended QAPP within 30 days of the following circumstances:

o The Agency modifies the contract.

o The Agency notifies the Contractor of deficiencies in the QAPP document resulting from the Agency's review of the Contractor's performance.

o The Contractor identifies deficiencies resulting from their internal review of the

QAPP document.

o The Contractor's organization, personnel, facility, equipment, policies, or procedures change.

o The Contractor identifies deficiencies resulting from the internal review of their organization personnel, facility, equipment, policies or procedures.

• Document Control - When the QAPP is amended, all changes shall be clearly marked with a bar in the margin indicating where the change is found in the document, or by highlighting the change by underlining, bold printing, or using a different print font. The amended section pages shall have the date on which the changes were implemented. Any changes in the QAPP shall be submitted to the EPA Project Officer for approval before implementation.

o QAPP Archival The Contractor shall maintain a master QAPP which incorporates the original QAPP and all subsequent amendments. The Contractor shall provide a copy of the master QAPP and any of its attachments to the designated recipients within 14 days of a request.

E.3 GOVERNMENT SURVEILLANCE

The Government shall monitor the contractor’s performance under this contract using the quality assurance criteria specified in the Services Summary, herein, and the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP).

The contractor shall cooperate with inspectors and auditors and provide any requested information relating to the operations covered by the contract. The contractor shall allow inspectors and auditors to periodically access work areas and provide access to any files required in relation to this contract. The contractor shall correct discrepancies and/or violations noted during safety/security/fire/performance inspections and prepare a written response providing information on actions taken to correct discrepancies and/or violations. The contractor shall provide this response to the COR within the time frame specified by the inspecting agency.

When an observation indicates defective performance, the COR will require the contractor’s representative at the site to initial the observation documentation. The contractor’s representative initialing the observation documentation does not constitute concurrence with the observation, only acknowledgment.

The contractor shall notify the COR, within one business day, of complaints in writing received by the contractor on services/supplies covered by or received under this contract. These complaints could include, but are not limited to, those received from customers receiving deliveries, commercial shippers, and discrepancies in Shipment Reports (Standard Form 361).

The contractor is responsible for researching and submitting proposed answers to all deficiencies to the COR within five calendar days of the compliant notification. All complaints shall be resolved to COR’s satisfaction within seven calendar days of compliant notification.

The COR will document all defects using a “Task Discrepancy Report (TDR)”. The COR will verbally notify GSA of the defect and will submit a copy of the TDR as an Action Memo in ITSS to the GSA CO. The COR will ensure the TDR is completed in its entirety and coordinated through the CO. The contractor will also be furnished a copy of the TDR. The contractor shall furnish their response to the TDR. The contractor’s response will address the accuracy and validity of the defect, planned corrective action, and actions to prevent recurrence. The TDR information will be included when assessing the contractor’s overall performance (i.e., past performance assessments, exercise of options, etc.).

Government surveillance of tasks may occur at any time during the performance period.

E.3.1 QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN

A Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) is developed to evaluate contractor actions while implementing this Performance Work Statement (PWS). It is designed to provide an effective surveillance method of monitoring contractor performance for each listed objective on the Services Summary. The QASP provides a systematic method to evaluate the services the contractor is required to furnish on a quarterly basis.

E.3.2 SERVICES SUMMARY

SOW Section

Ref.

Performance Indicator

Assigned Quality Level Method of Surveillance

Section C.3 and all applicable subsections

Ensure delivery of all CDRLs by the contractor adhere to the quality requirements and within the timeframe identified or ahead of schedule

Quality CDRLs are delivered as identified within the specified timeframe 98% of the time.

100% Inspections

C.3 and all applicable subsections

Ensure completed task orders are invoiced and submitted to the Government in a timely manner.

Invoices are received by the Government from the contractor within 60 calendar days of completion of task order.

Inspection

Section I and all applicable subsections

Compliance with Small Business Subcontracting Requirements

Contractor meets or exceeds small business requirements

Inspection through Electronic

Subcontracting Reporting

System (eSRS)

E.4 PAST PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

The Government will provide and record Past Performance Information for acquisitions over $250,000 utilizing the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS). The CPARS process allows contractors to view and comment on the Government’s evaluation of the contractor’s performance before it is finalized. Once the contractor’s past performance evaluation is finalized in CPARS, it will be transmitted into the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS).

Contractors are required to register in CPARS, so they may review and comment on past performance reports submitted through CPARS. Go to the following website to register in CPARS: https://www.cpars.gov/.

END OF SECTION E

https://www.cpars.gov/

F. DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

F.1 LISTING OF CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FAR 52.252-2)

(FEB 1998)

This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at the address below:

FAR website: http://farsite.hill.af.mil/vmfara.htm DFARS website: http://farsite.hill.af.mil/vmdfara.htm GSAM website: http://farsite.hill.af.mil/vmgsara.htm

I. FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (48 CFR CHAPTER 1)

CLAUSE NO. DATE TITLE

52.242-15 AUG 1989 Stop Work Order

F.2 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

This contract shall be effective as of contract award. One one-year base period and two one-year option periods are included. See cover page of this document for actual Periods of Performance dates.

F.3 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

Work will be performed primarily at the contractor’s facility. Travel may be required to various locations during performance.

END OF SECTION F

http://farsite.hill.af.mil/vmfara.htm http://farsite.hill.af.mil/vmdfara.htm http://farsite.hill.af.mil/vmgsara.htm

G. CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

G.1 CONTRACTING OFFICER RESPONSIBILITIES

The Contracting Officer (CO) is the sole and exclusive Government official with actual authority to take actions that bind the Government under this contract.

The right to issue contract modifications, change terms and conditions, and terminate the contract is reserved solely for the Contracting Officer.

G.2 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) is responsible for monitoring the contractor’s progress in fulfilling the technical requirements in the contract. The COR ensures that all required documentation and data are submitted in accordance with the PWS requirements.

Should the contractor fail to fulfill the contractual requirements, the COR must inform the contractor of such failure. The COR will inform the Contracting Officer of any technical or contractual problems or delays. The COR maintains administration records, approves invoices, and performs final inspection and acceptance of work performed under this contract.

The COR has no actual, apparent or implied authority to bind the Government. The COR may not grant the contractor permission to deviate from the requirements stated in the contract, nor direct the contractor to perform any work outside the scope of the contract. Changes in the contract requirements, price, or terms and conditions will only be made by the CO via properly executed modifications to the contract. The Contracting Officer will appoint a COR and issue a COR Designation Letter stating the authority of the COR. The contractor will receive a copy of the COR designation Letter.

The services to be performed by the contractor during the period of this contract shall at all times and in all places be subject to review by the Contracting Officer or authorized representative(s).

G.3. CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION

The contractor shall establish processes and assign appropriate resources to effectively administer the contract. The contractor shall respond to Government requests for contractual actions within two business day. The contractor shall designate and maintain a single point of contact between the Government and contractor personnel assigned to support the contract.

G.4 INVOICE REQUIREMENTS

The invoice shall include charges authorized by the COR and Contracting Officer which are within scope of this contract (e.g., travel, materials) and reflect the details specified below.

G.4.1 PAYMENT INFORMATION

Invoices shall be submitted to GSA ASSIST (ITSS) and the Central Invoice System (CIS) web-based Order Processing System (https://portal.fas.gsa.gov/).