Attachment_J.5_Mock_Task_Order_IMPROVE_Operations_and_Analysis.docx

Attachment J.5 Mock Task Order

MOCK TASK ORDER

Title: IMPROVE Operations and Filter Analysis

BACKGROUND

The National Park Service (NPS) conducts a variety of air quality monitoring to better understand the condition of air resources in the national parks. One of the key air resources of the national parks is visibility. In its essence, visibility is the ability to see through the atmosphere to view the scenery. Visibility is affected by the scattering and absorption of light by gases and particles in the atmosphere. The objective of this work is for Operations of the IMPROVE Network, the primary visibility monitoring program for NPS, and to carry out gravimetric, elemental and optical absorption analysis on the collected filters. The current base operation is a network of 163 sites, with 164 monitors (Phoenix has two collocated monitors). The mock task order outlined here includes operation of the network, the associated filter analysis, and data analysis and database management. In addition, the NPS requests that costs for several of the Optional Tasks outlined in the IMPROVE Operations and Filter Analysis Contract be determined; these are listed as tasks 3-7 below.

TASKS

1) Network Operations (Task C.3.1). The Contractor shall assist NPS in operating and maintaining the IMPROVE particle monitoring network, which consists of 110 IMPROVE sites and 53 IMPROVE protocol sites. This task includes, but is not limited to: training agency personnel to support routine site operations; communicating with site personnel; coordinating shipments of all IMPROVE filters; providing routine preventative service of instruments; maintaining equipment; purchasing Teflon and nylon filters; coordinating analysis of selected filters for ion and carbonaceous material with the appropriate contractors; conducting an internal quality assurance program; participating in laboratory and field audits; storing Teflon filters for the duration of the contract; reducing the IMPROVE data and submitting to the appropriate databases; maintaining current documentation for the network; participating in the IMPROVE Steering Committee Meeting; and archiving all IMPROVE data for the duration of the contract. As noted in the SOW, the number of IMPROVE sites often changes each year. In providing costs for this task, please provide information regarding how changes to the network would impact costs for Base Network Operations. Include incremental changes to cost on a per site basis, for up to 20 additional, or 20 fewer, sites. Note that filter analysis is listed in Task 2, and changes to filter analysis costs should not be included here.

2) Filter Analysis (Task C.3.2). The Contractor shall analyze all fine (PM2.5) and total (PM10) Teflon filters for mass concentrations, analyze all fine Teflon filters for elemental concentrations of the species listed in the RFP, and conduct optical absorption on the Teflon filters. Costs should be given on a cost per filter basis, assuming ~23,000 filters per year.

3) Establishment of a New Monitoring Site (Optional Task C.4.1). The Contractor shall establish a new IMPROVE Monitoring Site. Assume the new site is located in the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

4) Repair or Replacement of site (Optional Task C.4.2). The Contractor shall replace an IMPROVE sampler that has been damaged beyond repair. Assume the sampling structure does not need to be repaired/replaced and that a spare sampler is available. Assume the sampler is located in Crater Lake National Park.

5) Decommissioning of Current Monitoring Station (Optional Task C.4.3). The Contractor shall decommission an IMPROVE monitoring site. Assume the sampler is located in Acadia National Park.

6) Hydrogen Analysis. The Contractor shall analyze all fine (PM2.5) Teflon filters from the IMPROVE network for hydrogen concentration (Optional Task C.4.6 Additional Analyses).

7) Change in Site Maintenance Schedule (Optional Task C.4.9). The Contractor shall perform site maintenance on all sites on an annual basis, rather than once every two years. Provide an estimate for the additional cost of increasing site maintenance (site maintenance on a schedule of once every two years is already included in the base operations).

DELIVERABLES

Quality assurance report: a summary report on quality control data shall be provided to the COR twice per year.

Database and transfers: data from the network should be maintained in an SQL Database. ASCII files of valid data should be transferred to the IMPROVE/FED and the EPA AQS databases, or other database as directed by the COR, on a quarterly basis.

Security and disaster plans: complete plans for retention of data and recovery from unexpected events shall be submitted with any proposal.

Safety plan: a brief summary of a safety plan (<2 pages) for Contractor personnel visiting sites and guidance on safety for agency personnel responsible for routine operation of the instrumentation shall be submitted with any proposal.

System configuration: a description of the network, including all site locations, shall be submitted to the COR upon request.

Analysis software: code associated with data editing and reduction shall be submitted to the COR upon request.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Current SOPs for Network Operation and Analysis shall be maintained and updated on the IMPROVE website.

Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP). The QAPP shall be updated and provided upon request, as required by EPA.

Desired Delivery Schedule All of the Tasks listed (1-7), and the associated deliverables, shall be completed during the first year of the contract. The Contractor is responsible for coordinating all tasks to ensure the work is completed in a timely and efficient manner. The Contractor is responsible for notifying the appropriate park personnel of pending trips to parks at least two weeks in advance.

Pricing Attached are the cost sheets for the Mock Task Order. This will be treated as a firm fixed price mock task order, in accordance with the IDIQ.