Sol_P15PS00877.pdf

COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION

(I) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial services prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

(II) This solicitation is issued as a request for quotation (RFP), P14PS01348.

(III) The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-74.

(IV) This solicitation is being issued as unrestrictive. The associated NAICS code is 541380.

The small business size standard is $15,000,000.

(V) This combined solicitation/synopsis is for purchase of the following commercial services:

The purpose of this solicitation is to obtain services to operate and maintain the IMPROVE Operations Filter Analysis. An Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract will be awarded.

(VI) Description of requirements is as follows:

The purpose of this contract is to (1) assist NPS in operating, maintaining and reconfiguring (where required) the IMPROVE particle monitoring network, which consists of 110 IMPROVE sites and 53 IMPROVE protocol sites; (2) analyze all exposed fine (PM2.5) and total (PM10) Teflon filters for mass concentrations; and (3) analyze PM2.5 Teflon filters for elemental concentrations of select elements (Table 1) and optical asorption; (4) coordinate analysis of nylon and quartz filters for ion and carbonaceous material, respectively; (5) establish and conduct an internal quality assurance program; (6) participate in laboratory and field audits. NPS owns all of the equipment on the sites. NPS only monitors NPS sites, other sites are monitored by other site personnel.

(VII) Place of performance shall be designated within each subsequent Task Order

(VIII) Period of performance shall be August 1, 2015 through July 31, 2020.

(IX) FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial Items (Apr 2014), applies to this acquisition. In addition to written pricing, offers are instructed to provide a technical proposal, key personnel information and past performance.

(X) FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation – Commercial Items (Jan 1999), applies to this acquisition.

Paragraph (a) is hereby completed as follows: Technical Approach (50%); Qualification of Management and Personnel to be Assigned (25%); Respondent’s Experience in Similar Projects within the past three years (15%); and Past Performance 10%). Weighting of each criterion is shown in parentheses. Failure to address any of the requested information may result in lower evaluation and award will be made to the firm offering the best value to the Government.

(XI) The offeror must submit a completed copy of the provision at FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial Items (Nov 2013), with its proposal.

(XII) The clause at FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items (Sep 2013), applies to this acquisition.

(XIII) The clause at FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders – Commercial Items (Jan 2014) applies to this acquisition.

(XIV) The Government intends to award an IDIQ contract that includes the option for task orders to be issued on a firm-fixed-price, labor hour or commodity/supply basis.

(XV) Any questions regarding this solicitation should be directed to Jaime Mijares, 303-969- 2755, Jaime_Mijares@nps.gov

P15PS00877

SOLICITATION, OFFER AND AWARD

4. TYPE OF SOLICITATION2. CONTRACT NUMBER 3. SOLICITATION NUMBER

7. ISSUED BY CODE 8. ADDRESS OFFER TO (If other than Item 7)

ORDER UNDER DPAS (15 CFR 700)

6. REQUISITION/PURCHASE NUMBER

NOTE: In sealed bid solicitations "offer" and "offeror" mean "bid" and "bidder".

NEGOTIATED (RFP)

SEALED BID (IFB)

5. DATE ISSUED

1. THIS CONTRACT IS A RATED RATING PAGE OF PAGES

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C. E-MAIL ADDRESS

EXT.NUMBERAREA CODE

B. TELEPHONE (NO COLLECT CALLS)A. NAME

10. FOR

INFORMATION

CALL:

CAUTION: LATE Submissions, Modifications, and Withdrawals: See Section L, Provision No. 52.214-7 or 52.215-1. All offers are subject to all terms and conditions contained in this solicitation.

(Date)(Hour) local timeuntildepository located in copies for furnishing the supplies or services in the Schedule will be received at the place specified in Item 8, or if hand carried, in the

SOLICITATION

9. Sealed offers in original and

PART IV - REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

OTHER STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS

EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

INSTRS., CONDS., AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND

LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

CONTRACT CLAUSES

PART III - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACH.

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CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

PACKAGING AND MARKING

DESCRIPTION/SPECS./WORK STATEMENT

SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM

PART II - CONTRACT CLAUSESPART I - THE SCHEDULE

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SEC. DESCRIPTION PAGE(S) (X) DESCRIPTION SEC. (X)

11. TABLE OF CONTENTS

18. OFFER DATE17. SIGNATURE

SUCH ADDRESS IN SCHEDULE.

IS DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE - ENTER

15C. CHECK IF REMITTANCE ADDRESS

EXT.NUMBERAREA CODE

15B. TELEPHONE NUMBER

(Type or print)AND

ADDRESS

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OFFEROR

CODE FACILITY

16. NAME AND TITLE OF PERSON AUTHORIZED TO SIGN OFFER15A. NAME

DATEAMENDMENT NO.DATEAMENDMENT NO.

and related documents numbered and dated):

amendments to the SOLICITATION for offerors

(The offeror acknowledges receipt of

14. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF AMENDMENTS

CALENDAR DAYS (%)30 CALENDAR DAYS (%)20 CALENDAR DAYS (%)10 CALENDAR DAYS (%)

(See Section I, Clause No. 52.232.8)

13. DISCOUNT FOR PROMPT PAYMENT

designated point(s), within the time specified in the schedule.

by the offeror) from the date for receipt of offers specified above, to furnish any or all items upon which prices are offered at the price set opposite each item, delivered at the

12. In compliance with the above, the undersigned agrees, if this offer is accepted within ______________ calendar days (60 calendar days unless a different period is inserted

NOTE: Item 12 does not apply if the solicitation includes the provisions at 52.214-16, Minimum Bid Acceptance Period.

OFFER (Must be fully completed by offeror)

IMPORTANT - Award will be made on this Form, or on Standard Form 26, or by other authorized official written notice.

28. AWARD DATE

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

27. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

25. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY

26. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

CODE 24. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 7)

ITEM

(4 copies unless otherwise specified)

23. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN

41 U.S.C. 253 (c) ( 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c) (

22. AUTHORITY FOR USING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION:

21. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION20. AMOUNT19. ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS NUMBERED

AWARD (To be completed by government)

CODE

05/04/2015 X

PWA

NPS, WASO - WCP Contracting P.O.Box 25287 MS WCP Denver CO 80225

National Park Service Attn: Jaime Mijares 12795 West Alameda Pkwy Lakewood, CO80225-5287

1500 ET 06/04/2015

Jaime Mijares 303 Jaime_Mijares@nps.gov

969-2755

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PAGE(S)

Marian Gordon

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

Previous edition is unusable

STANDARD FORM 33 (Rev. 9-97)

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.214(c)

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ITEM NO. SUPPLIES/SERVICES QUANTITY UNIT UNIT PRICE AMOUNT

NAME OF OFFEROR OR CONTRACTOR

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CONTINUATION SHEET

REFERENCE NO. OF DOCUMENT BEING CONTINUED PAGE OF

P15PS00877

(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F)

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for a five year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity

(IDIQ) contract for the IMPROVE Operations Filter

Analysis. Task Orders against the IDIQ will be firm fixed price.

Delivery: 07/31/2020

Delivery Location Code: 0009831684

NPS, NRSS, Air Resources Div.

12795 W. Alameda Parkway

Lakewood CO 80228 US

FOB: Destination

Period of Performance: 08/01/2015 to 07/31/2020

00010 This is a request for proposal. Please find the attached Request for Proposal with full instructions and statement of work.

Questions and RFP response:

Jaime Mijares

Jaime_Mijares@nps.gov

303-969-2755

OPTIONAL FORM 336 (4-86)

Sponsored by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.110

NSN 7540-01-152-8067

Combined Synopsis/ Solicitation

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ANALYSIS

SECTION B – SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS: SCHEDULE OF

ITEMS

B.1 ORDER TYPE

The contractor shall perform the effort required by this Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract and associated Task Orders on a Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP). The Task Orders (s) shall be performed in accordance with all Sections of this IDIQ

The labor mix and level of effort specified in the contractor’s quote and incorporated into this IDIQ and Task Order(s) are for estimation purposes. The contractor may increase or decrease, with prior written approval of the Contracting Officer (CO), the number of hours by labor category, within each labor CLIN as needed to effectively manage the project, provided the total funded labor cost and total hours are not exceeded. Any additional labor categories or increases to total hours or increases to ceilings required during performance must be added to Task Order(s) by modification.

B.3 PRICE TABLE

The contractor shall provide pricing in accordance with attachments: 1. Network Operations Price Sheet 2. Filter Cost Price Sheet 3. Optional Tasks Price Sheet. At award, the price sheets proposed shall be treated as fixed for each period of performance over the term of the IDIQ.

Attachment 2 (See Section J) includes the mock task order for pricing. Please include this with your price proposal.

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

C. Statement of Work

C.1 Introduction and Background

C.1.1 Introduction The National Park Service (NPS) is responsible for the protection and enhancement of air quality related resources in the areas it manages by ensuring compliance with directives, regulations, and applicable requirements of the NPS Organic Act of 1916 and the Clean Air Act. The Organic Act mandates the National Park Service to:

"...conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."

B.2 SERVICES AND PRICES

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The Clean Air Act affords special air quality protections to certain national parks and wilderness areas, designating them as mandatory class I federal areas, and assigns to the Federal Land Managers (FLMs) of those areas "the affirmative responsibility to protect the air quality related values (including visibility)" of class I lands. It also established "as a national goal the prevention of any future, and the remedying of any existing, impairment of visibility in mandatory class I federal areas which impairment results from manmade air pollution." The Clean Air Act established a detailed program that provides guidance to the NPS in meeting these mandates.

On behalf of the NPS, the Air Resources Division (ARD) has an air quality program to carry out these responsibilities; this involves a wide range of activities, including air quality monitoring and modeling, technical review of Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit applications, coordination with states and other federal agencies, analyses of air quality related values inventories and effects, and special studies focused on source apportionment, ecological impacts and visibility perception.

The National Park Service administers 48 parks and wilderness areas that are designated class I, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) administers 21 class I wilderness areas, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) administers 88 class I wilderness areas and there is one international park that is class I. Of these 158 mandatory class I Federal areas, visibility is considered an important attribute in all but two USFS wilderness areas. Visibility-protected class I areas are to be protected from air pollution impacts on visibility.

The Regional Haze Rule (RHR) establishes the regulatory framework by which the national visibility goal is to be met [United States Environmental Protection Agency, 1999] and requires monitoring representative of the 156 visibility-protected class I areas. The monitoring guidance, used to support the RHR, specifies particle sampling and analysis of the major aerosol components using methods patterned after those utilized since 1987 by the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) program [Joseph et al., 1987; Malm et al., 1994]. The IMPROVE program is a cooperative measurement effort managed by a Steering Committee that consists of representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the NPS, the USFS, the FWS, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), four organizations representing state air quality organizations (the National Association of Clean Air Agencies, the Western States Air Resources Council, the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management, and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Association), and three Associate Members: the State of Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, Environment Canada, and the South Korea Ministry of Environment. The IMPROVE program is designed to establish current visibility and aerosol conditions in mandatory class I areas; to identify chemical species and emission sources responsible for existing man-made visibility impairment; to document long-term trends for assessing progress toward the national visibility goal; and with the enactment of the RHR, to provide regional haze monitoring representing all visibility-protected federal class I areas where practical. The IMPROVE program oversees the RHR monitoring efforts.

The National Park Service manages the IMPROVE monitoring efforts on behalf of the Steering Committee. This solicitation is sponsored by the NPS, but covers the monitoring efforts for all mandatory class I Federal areas, as well as other monitoring using the IMPROVE monitoring

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protocols (described further below). The successful offeror of this solicitation will work through the NPS on all contractual related matters.

C.1.2 Background IMPROVE was established as a national visibility monitoring program in 1985. The IMPROVE network initially was funded by the NPS and consisted of 30 monitoring sites primarily located in national parks, 20 of which began operation in 1987. IMPROVE network operations were fully implemented in March 1988. Beginning in 1998 the EPA provided supplemental support to IMPROVE to expand the network in order to provide representative particle speciation monitoring for all 156 visibility-protected class I areas, as required under the RHR. In a site selection process which included input from all interested state air quality agencies, the IMPROVE Steering Committee identified locations for 110 monitoring sites that were deemed representative of the regional haze conditions for 155 of the mandatory 156 class I areas (all except the Bering Sea Wilderness). Additional information about the site selection process is available elsewhere [Malm et al., 2000; http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve/].

In addition to the 110 IMPROVE network sites that are used to represent class I areas, a number of IMPROVE protocol sites are currently in operation, mostly in rural locations, that provide expanded spatial coverage in regions outside of class I areas. Protocol sites are separately sponsored by state, regional, tribal, and national organizations and use the same instrumentation, monitoring, and analysis protocols as IMPROVE. The use of identical samplers and analysis protocols by the same Contractor ensures that data generated by IMPROVE and IMPROVE protocol sites can be treated as directly comparable. In total, there are 166 IMPROVE and IMPROVE protocol sites. Three of these sites are not funded as part of this contract and so should not be included in proposals; rather, technical and cost proposals should be prepared for 163 sites (110 IMPROVE and 53 IMPROVE Protocol sites). Sites are listed in Exhibit J.1 and their locations are shown in Figure 1. Of the 163 sites, three of the sites are for Carbon analysis only, and one site (Phoenix) has two samplers, such that there are a total of 164 samplers. Most sites are located in rural areas; however, for the purpose of comparing differences in aerosol composition between rural and urban areas, there are currently four urban sites in Fresno, CA, Seattle, WA, Phoenix, AZ, and Washington, DC. Likewise, to better facilitate intercomparison and integration of IMPROVE data with EPA’s Chemical Speciation Network (CSN), six sites are collocated with CSN sites, three of which are Carbon only (see Exhibit J.1). Data from all IMPROVE sites are available on the Federal Land Manager Environmental Database (http://views.cira.colostate.edu/fed/).

The RHR specifies that IMPROVE aerosol data be used to calculate the metric for tracking progress toward the goal of eliminating man-made visibility impairment for the visibility-protected class I areas, with the ultimate goal of reaching natural background conditions by 2064.

As a result it is especially important to ensure that the IMPROVE aerosol monitoring and data processing procedures produce comparable data over a period of many decades so that credible haze trends can be determined.

To collect samples for the speciated particle measurements, the NPS currently employs a 4-channel (labeled A, B, C, and D) IMPROVE particle sampling system. A description of the current IMPROVE sampler and standard operating procedures can be found on the IMPROVE http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve/ http://views.cira.colostate.edu/fed/

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website (http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve/). The PM2.5 (particles <2.5 m in diameter) samplers operate with a nominal flow rate of 22.8 liters/minute (LPM), while the PM10 sampler (particles <10 m in diameter) runs at 16.9 LPM. Both collect samples for a 24-hour time interval, midnight to midnight local time, every third day. Channel A (PM2.5), operated with Teflon filters, is used for determining fine mass, elemental composition, and optical absorption.

Elements to be determined from the analysis are given in Table 1, along with measurement detection limits and precision. Channel B (PM2.5) is operated with a nitric acid denuder and a nylon filter collection substrate. The nylon filter is analyzed for the anions nitrate, nitrite, sulfate and chloride. Channel C (PM2.5), operated using pre-fired quartz filters, is used to determine elemental and organic carbon using the thermal/optical reflectance technique. A complete description of this technique can be found in Chow et al. (1993). Channel D is operated with a Teflon substrate and PM10 inlet. The PM10 filters are analyzed for total mass. Laboratory blanks are also utilized for each of the channels, and field blanks are employed to better assess detection limits and potential contaminants in the samples. For further details on all measurements and analysis, see the IMPROVE website, and the pages describing standard operating procedures contained therein http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve/Publications/IMPROVE_SOPs.htm).

C.2 Objective/Purpose

The purpose of this contract is to (1) assist NPS in operating, maintaining and reconfiguring (where required) the IMPROVE particle monitoring network, which consists of 110 IMPROVE sites and 53 IMPROVE protocol sites; (2) analyze all exposed fine (PM2.5) and total (PM10) Teflon filters for mass concentrations; and (3) analyze PM2.5 Teflon filters for elemental concentrations of select elements (Table 1) and optical absorption; (4) coordinate analysis of nylon and quartz filters for ion and carbonaceous material, respectively1; (5) establish and conduct an internal quality assurance program; (6) participate in laboratory and field audits. NPS owns all of the equipment on the sites. NPS only monitors NPS sites, other sites are monitored by other site personnel.

1 The two Contractors for ion and carbonaceous materials are currently Research Triangle Institute (Research Triangle Park, NC) and Desert Research Institute (Reno, Nevada), respectively.

http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve/ http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve/Publications/IMPROVE_SOPs.htm

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Figure 1. Map of IMPROVE sites associated with this contract. Sites are shown as IMPROVE and IMPROVE Protocol sites. A list of the sites is given in Exhibit J.1

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ANALYSIS

The successful bidder is expected to employ established protocols in operating the IMPROVE network.

See the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the monitoring program at the IMPROVE website. As new methods are developed and enhanced quality control measures are defined, through activities funded separately from this contract, the Contractor shall incorporate these new methods into the IMPROVE routine operations through the modification of SOPs, as directed by the Contracting Officer Representative (COR). At the direction of the COR, the Contractor also will ensure that all pertinent information (e.g., data, metadata, laboratory and field logs, etc) developed by the Contractor for routine operations are available to other organizations as needed for their activities.

C.3 Scope of Work

C.3.1 Network Operations The current network of 163 sites (164 samplers; 3 sites are carbon only) is the default configuration for which technical proposals should be written. In addition to the standard samplers, several sites have collocated quality assurance (QA) modules (see Exhibit J.1) which are used to better assess data quality.

These QA modules, which replicate the measurements of the IMPROVE samplers, are to be run in a manner identical to that of the IMPROVE samplers.

C.3.1.1 Coordinate operations of all IMPROVE and IMPROVE Protocol particle samplers and QA modules The Contractor shall oversee and carry out all activities needed to ensure the effective collection of samples using the IMPROVE particle samplers and QA modules. Each site’s host agency is generally responsible for providing a site operator to conduct routine operation of the IMPROVE sampler. The Contractor's responsibilities shall include, but not necessarily be limited to:

Train agency personnel to support routine site operations;

Communicate with site personnel, send clean filter media for all IMPROVE sampler channels, and receive exposed filter media for PM10 and fine mass, elemental, ion, and carbon concentrations, air flow information and other relevant observations. The Contractor is responsible for all shipping costs to/from the field sites;

Provide routine preventative service of instruments on a schedule of once every two years at all monitoring sites. This includes field site visits to conduct internal quality assurance audits. Air flow checks shall be performed by at least two independent techniques. Maintenance procedures are listed in the aforementioned SOPs. The proposal should provide a proposed schedule for routine servicing;

Maintain procedures (e.g., timely repair of equipment [Optional Task, see section C.4.2], NPS notification of site operator problems, etc.) to help ensure that the Regional Haze Rule data completeness criteria are met for all monitoring sites (see page 2-8 of Tracking Progress Under the Regional Haze Rule: Guidance Document, http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t1/memoranda/rh_tpurhr_gd.pdf); and

Provide a Safety Plan for Contractor personnel visiting the sites for calibration and maintenance.

The Contractor shall also provide guidance on safety for agency personnel responsible for http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t1/memoranda/rh_tpurhr_gd.pdf

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routine operation of the instruments during training. A brief (<2 pages) summary of the Safety Plan, which encompasses both of these activities, should be included in the proposal.

C.3.1.2 Purchase of Filters For this contract, the successful bidder is responsible for purchasing the Teflon and nylon filters. The successful bidder is also responsible for acceptance testing of Teflon filters and coordination with the Ion Analysis Contractor for acceptance testing of nylon filters. The pre-fired quartz filters are received from the carbonaceous aerosol Contractor. The Contractor will purchase a sufficient number of filters for filter acceptance testing, network-wide sample collection, laboratory blanks, field blanks, and all other quality assurance methods. For the current network configuration, for one year of network operation, including filters to be used for QA, this equates to approximately 23,000 filters each for Channels A, B, and D.

C.3.1.3 Coordination of Filters for Ion and Carbon Analysis The successful bidder of this contract will be responsible for procuring the Teflon filters (see C.3.1.2) for Channels A and D, loading them into the filter cassettes for shipment to the field, receiving the sampled filters from the field, and carrying out the associated analysis (see C.3.2). Determination of ion and carbon mass are carried out under separate contracts. The successful bidder of this contract shall also purchase the nylon filters (see C.3.1.2), load them into the filter cassettes for shipment to the field, receive the sampled filters from the field, and ship the sampled filters to the Ion Contractor for analysis on at least a monthly basis. The Contractor also will receive the blank, pre-fired quartz filters from the Carbon Contractor, prepare filter cassettes with quartz filters for shipment to the field, ship filter cassettes to the field, receive the sampled filters from the field, and ship the sampled filters to the Carbon Contractor for analysis on at least a monthly basis. In addition to the filters used for sampling, field blanks shall be shipped to and from the field for analysis for all channels (module A: ~40 per month; module B: ~40 per month; module C: ~30 per month; module D: ~20 per month). Shipping costs for all steps, except shipment of the new quartz filters from the Carbon Contractor, are paid by the successful bidder of this contract. For the quartz filters, the Contractor shall store exposed filters under refrigeration and ship the exposed filters using temperature controlled (cooled) shipping containers to the Carbon Contractor for analysis after receipt from the field on at least a monthly basis.

C.3.1.4 Filter Storage All samples from Teflon filters are to be stored for the length of the contract. All samples shall be stored and archived in a way that will not allow contamination of filter media at detectable levels.

Detectable levels are defined to be consistent with the sensitivity of the proposed analytical technique.

The COR may direct the Contractor to conduct additional analysis, or to make the stored filters available to another laboratory to conduct additional analysis. At the end of the contract the Contractor will work with the COR to transfer the filters to an alternate archive. No filters are to be discarded without written approval from the COR.

C.3.1.5 Quality Assurance The Contractor shall follow, and develop where appropriate, strict quality assurance protocols. The Quality Assurance Project Plan for IMPROVE is available on the IMPROVE website; this document is being updated at the time of this solicitation. At a minimum, the Contractor shall:

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Follow the established objective criteria, and where not available develop objective criteria, to be applied to all quality control measures and routine data;

Receive and log returned samples (specific parameters to be logged shall be noted in the proposal);

Systematically catalog and track all samples;

Note any abnormalities observed by the operator and correct problems if any are present;

Carry out acceptance testing for filter characteristics and analytic suitability (especially trace contamination, mass loss/gain; see C.3.1.2);

Validate the results of gravimetric, elemental and optical absorption analysis via formal third party protocols and routine reanalysis of previous samples;

Carry out precision and bias analyses on collected samples;

Document all routine procedures and changes to the procedures; and

Provide a summary report on quality control data twice per year to the COR and QA Manager at

EPA.

Laboratory and Field Audits The Contractor shall participate in laboratory and field audits on sample collection and all analytical techniques (gravimetric, elemental, and optical absorption), such as the annual audits conducted by the EPA’s quality assurance laboratory in Montgomery, AL.

C.3.1.6 Data Reduction and Database Management The Contractor shall be responsible for data reduction and analysis, which includes, but is not limited to:

Reduce all available gravimetric, elemental, ion and carbonaceous mass data to ng/m3 corrected for sample volume, artifacts, and other pertinent factors;

Submit the data to the NPS FED (http://views.cira.colostate.edu/fed/) and EPA AQS (http://www.epa.gov/ttn/airs/airsaqs/detaildata/) databases on a quarterly basis; data should be submitted within 6 months of filter collection.

Archive all IMPROVE data for the duration of the contract;

Provide metadata associated with all field, laboratory and data processing procedures; all metadata necessary to properly interpret the delivered routine data must accompany the measurement data, including those by the Ion and Carbon Analysis Contractors;

Maintain the total temporal record for all species at all monitoring sites past and present and relevant metadata, including but not limited to chain of custody for filters, analysis spectra and flow rate data; the proposal should contain a detailed list of database systems used to track and maintain this information; and

Provide data flags for all measurements, with descriptions of potential problems where appropriate.

http://views.cira.colostate.edu/fed/ http://www.epa.gov/ttn/airs/airsaqs/detaildata/

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C.3.1.7 Network Documentation The Contractor shall maintain up-to-date records/documentation of:

System configuration of the monitoring network;

Computer software/software version utilized in data editing and reduction;

Detailed inventory of all government owned property associated with the IMPROVE program that includes the locations, serial numbers and conditions of all samplers and other government owned property;

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all IMPROVE field, laboratory and data processing tasks, as well as ion and carbon analysis (provided by the Contractors carrying out the ion and carbon analysis); and

Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) as required by the U.S. EPA for all monitoring programs they fund (to be reviewed annually and updated as necessary).

All documentation must be made available upon request from the COR. The Contractor shall obtain written approval from the COR before any changes to the system configuration occurs.

C.3.1.8 Steering Committee Meetings The Contractor shall attend and provide technical and scientific progress reports at IMPROVE Steering Committee Meetings, held annually.

C.3.2 Filter Analysis C.3.2.1 Gravimetric Analysis The Contractor shall perform gravimetric analysis on the Teflon filters for the PM2.5 and PM10 samples.

The desired minimum detectable limit for sample mass deposited on the filter is 10 g or less. The anticipated upper limit for aerosol mass on the filter is 10,000 g; this equates to ambient concentrations of ~400 g m-3, sampled for 24 hours from the total (PM10) aerosol module. All gravimetric measurements shall be made in a temperature and relative humidity (RH) controlled environment. A mean temperature between 20 and 23 degrees Celsius and a mean RH between 30% and 40% should be maintained; temperature and RH should be monitored to ensure a stable measurement environment. The Contractor's responsibilities shall include, but not necessarily be limited to:

Pre-weigh Teflon filters prior to sending to sites; including field blanks;

Post-weigh Teflon filters upon receipt, including field blanks, and determine gravimetric mass from PM2.5 and PM10 Teflon filters to a precision of ± 3µg;

Perform routine measurements of laboratory blanks to assess short-term (<1 day) and long-term stability and performance of the instruments;

Perform routine measurements using one or more certified calibration standards;

Perform sufficient replicate weight analysis to determine measurement precision;

Report metadata related to the laboratory procedures and equipment.

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NRSS: IMPROVE OPERATIONS FILTER

ANALYSIS

C.3.2.2 Elemental Analysis The Contractor shall perform non-destructive elemental analysis of filters by any of several equivalent techniques. Elemental mass shall be reported for fine mode Teflon filter samples for all of the elements listed in Table 1. Special consideration will be given to sensitivity levels of the following elements: Na, Mg, Al, Si, Cl, K, Ca, V, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Pb. In addition to reporting elemental mass for each species, the Contractor shall:

Characterize the sensitivity, accuracy, and precision of the analytical techniques;

Perform replicate analyses on the network filters at a rate sufficient to establish measurement precision;

Routinely analyze laboratory and field blanks;

Document any changes to the analytical techniques or equipment;

Apply and document matrix corrections for all particle size and loading effects; and

Archive and make available all metadata associated with the laboratory, field and data processing procedures needed to properly interpret and understand the quality of the delivered analytical data.

The method currently used to determine elemental composition is X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF). Other, equivalent techniques may also be proposed. Technical proposals should address the suitability of the proposed analytical approach to determine masses for all elements listed in Table 1. Sensitivities also shall be indicated for each of the elements in Table 1. Quantitative and operational definitions shall be provided for the following quantities: accuracy, precision, and minimum detectable limit.

Because a primary goal of the IMPROVE network is to generate data that are suitable for long-term trends assessment, a proposal utilizing techniques other than XRF must address the issue of equivalence of data that would be generated by the proposed analytical systems to the data from the current analytical systems; NPS may require a demonstration of equivalence (i.e., results agreeing within specified uncertainties) on up to 50 actual IMPROVE network filter samples (reimbursed by NPS at posted commercial rates). The current analytical system’s precision and minimum detection limits (MDL) are given in Table 1. In the table, the analytical MDL is based on three times the standard deviation of 100 analyses of a single field blank filter. The analytical precision estimates are based on the root mean square sum of the standard deviations from 10 analyses of 18 different samples. Of the 18 samples used for the precision estimates, 16 were PM2.5 samples from the IMPROVE network and 2 were multi-element calibration reference filters. For each sample, an element was only included in the precision estimate if the mean loading on the sample was greater than three times the detection limit, except for Zr, where the criterion was lowered to greater than the detection limit due to very low sampled masses.

Table 1. Detection limits and precision for elements to be analyzed based on the current IMPROVE analytical method of XRF. Precision is based on sample loadings >3 × MDL, except for Zr, which is only >MDL.

Document No.

P15PS00877

Document Title

NRSS: IMPROVE OPERATIONS FILTER

ANALYSIS

Element (Symbol)

Atomic Number

Minimum Detection Limit (μg/cm2)

Re-analysis Precision

Sodium (Na) 11 0.04 5%

Magnesium (Mg) 12 0.05 16%

Aluminum (Al) 13 0.02 3%

Silicon (Si) 14 0.008 2%

Phosphorous (P) 15 0.002 21%

Sulfur (S) 16 0.0006 2%

Chlorine (Cl) 17 0.002 14%

Potassium (K) 19 0.001 1%

Calcium (Ca) 20 0.003 3%

Titanium (Ti) 22 0.002 6%

Vanadium (V) 23 0.001 13%

Chromium (Cr) 24 0.002 12%

Manganese (Mn) 25 0.004 8%

Iron (Fe) 26 0.001 2%

Nickel (Ni) 28 0.001 12%

Copper (Cu) 29 0.002 10%

Zinc (Zn) 30 0.002 5%

Arsenic (As) 33 0.002 3%

Selenium (Se) 34 0.003 8%

Bromine (Br) 35 0.002 15%

Rubidium (Rb) 37 0.004 8%

Strontium (Sr) 38 0.003 15%

Zirconium (Zr) 40 0.02 12%

Lead (Pb) 82 0.008 24%

Document No.

P15PS00877

Document Title

NRSS: IMPROVE OPERATIONS FILTER

ANALYSIS

C.3.2.3 Optical Absorption Measurements The Contractor shall perform optical absorption measurements on Teflon filters. The current method to determine optical absorption from filter substrates is the Hybrid Integrating Plate/Sphere (HIPS). Other, equivalent techniques may also be proposed. The filter absorption data are not used in the RHR metrics;

as such, strict equivalence is not required. However, for proposals utilizing techniques other than HIPS, analyses must be conducted to quantify any biases compared to the current analytical system.

The Contractor's responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to, calculation of absorption coefficients of the collected samples. For the current system, the minimum detectable limit is 0.34 x 10-

6 m-1 and the precision of the measurement is 0.15 x 10-6m-1. MDL and precision estimates should be included for all proposed systems.

C.4 Optional Tasks

There will be changes to the contract during its five-year term to keep pace with and respond to emerging air pollution issues, as well as logistical and financial challenges associated with the monitoring program. For example, the total number of IMPROVE sites has changed over time, with sites being added, removed and/or relocated. Although such changes typically occur each year, the number and type of changes to the network varies. As such, tasks related to reconfiguration of the network are included here as Optional Tasks. Similarly, the NPS often carries out Special Studies, which may include a short term IMPROVE sampler and associated analysis; such analysis is considered separate from the routine monitoring network, and as such is included as an Optional Task. The following tasks may be needed at any time during the period of performance of the contract and will be issued as individual task orders. The task orders may include any combination of the tasks below at various levels of effort. For each of the Optional Tasks, technical proposals should provide a description of how each task will be carried out.

C.4.1 Establishment of New Monitoring Site The Contractor may be asked to install a new or existing IMPROVE sampler at a new site. The Contractor must consider siting criteria and SOPs for IMPROVE, as described on the IMPROVE webpage (http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve/Publications/IMPROVE_SOPs.htm), and will be responsible for the following tasks for each additional site identified by the COR:

Assist in selection of appropriate monitoring sites;

Purchase, if necessary, and install necessary sampling structure for instrument installation;

Purchase, if necessary, and install monitoring instruments and maintain them in operable condition; and

Train agency personnel responsible for routine operation of instruments;

Some number of spare IMPROVE samplers are available in the contract-maintained inventory which can be used for new sites so long as a sufficient number are available to quickly respond to replacement

Document No.

P15PS00877

Document Title

NRSS: IMPROVE OPERATIONS FILTER

ANALYSIS

and repair needs. The Contractor will inform the COR when the number of spare samplers is below the value they deem sufficient to maintain the network so that additional samplers may be procured.

C.4.2 Repair or Replacement of site due to malfunction, safety concerns, failure or catastrophic loss.

The Contractor may be asked to repair or replace an IMPROVE sampler which has been damaged or destroyed. The Contractor must consider SOPs for IMPROVE, as described on the IMPROVE webpage (http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve/Publications/IMPROVE_SOPs.htm), and would be responsible for the following tasks for each site identified by the COR:

When practical, repair components of damaged IMPROVE samplers and/or sampling structures;

As necessary, purchase and install necessary sampling structure for instrument installation; and

As necessary, purchase and install monitoring instruments and maintain them in operable condition.

C.4.3 Decommissioning of Current Monitoring Stations The Contractor may be asked to decommission one or more sites, as directed by the COR. The Contractor would be responsible for the following tasks at any site that is designated by the COR to be decommissioned:

Arrange for a final calibration and document the condition of the site and equipment;

Arrange for the removal of the IMPROVE sampling equipment, to be maintained as spare equipment or parts for possible use elsewhere;

Arrange for the removal of site documentation (field logs); and

As necessary, arrange for the removal of the site sampling structure.

C.4.4 Purchase samplers, associated equipment, spare parts.

The Contractor may be asked to purchase or develop samplers or associated equipment/parts. Efficient operation of the network requires that an adequate supply of backup modules and all associated equipment be kept on hand. The Contractor shall inform the COR about the need for purchase of equipment and supplies that fall outside of the base Network Operations and Filter Analysis contract.

C.4.5 Site operators.

Most sites are operated and maintained by agency personnel. Some sites may not have that provision.

In such situations the COR may task the Contractor to obtain the services of an on-site operator. Please provide information on overhead associated with hiring or contracting for a site operator that would typically visit the site one day per week.

C.4.6 Additional Analyses In the past, several analysis methods not included in this solicitation were employed to measure additional species, such as measurement of sulfur dioxide and hydrogen. In addition, current methods

Document No.

P15PS00877

Document Title

NRSS: IMPROVE OPERATIONS FILTER

ANALYSIS

may be expanded in the future. Such efforts may include FTIR analysis of aerosol samples to determine functional groups and estimate total particulate carbon. Alternatively, the Contractor may be asked to extend optical absorption measurements from filter substrates (currently HIPS) to include measurements at multiple-wavelengths, encompassing the near-infrared to ultraviolet. Analytical methods such as these, as well as others not explicitly noted here, may be implemented in future monitoring. Please provide information regarding measurement capabilities for (1) hydrogen in fine particles from Teflon filters; (2) FTIR analysis of filter samples; and (3) multi-wavelength optical absorption measurements.

C.4.7 Special Studies The Contractor may be asked to participate in Special Studies, providing support for the deployment of samplers, coordination of filters with other NPS Contractors, and providing gravimetric and elemental analysis.

C.4.8 IMPROVE Calendar The Contractor may be asked to publish an IMPROVE calendar, to be distributed to staff from Cooperators of the IMPROVE program. The 12 month calendar should include technical information about the IMPROVE program and highlight results from data collected in the program.

C.4.9 Change in Site Maintenance Schedule The Contractor may be asked to increase the frequency of site visits for routine maintenance and calibration.

C.4.10 Changes to Network Operations Over the course of the contract, unforeseen changes to the operation of the network may be required.

The Contractor may be asked to adapt the network in ways which are not listed explicitly in this solicitation, but which are required for efficient and effective network operations.

C.5 Incorporation of the Technical Proposal and Proposal Length

(a) The detailed technical content of the Contractor’s proposal is an important factor in the selection of the Contractor for award of this contract. It is agreed, therefore, that in performance of this contract, the Contractor shall not change or otherwise deviate from the content of the technical proposal without prior written approval of the Contracting Officer. If it is necessary for the Contractor to change the performance, design, configuration, or other items specified in the technical proposal, in order to comply with the requirements of the Statement of Work, contract clauses, or special contract requirements, the contract shall be modified at the discretion of the Government to reflect the changes at no increase in contract cost/price or extension of the delivery schedule or shall be negotiated if warranted.

(b) The Government, upon award of this contract, shall have full rights of ownership in the technical proposal and the data contained therein.

(c) The technical proposal package should not exceed 100 pages in length.

Document No.

P15PS00877

Document Title

NRSS: IMPROVE OPERATIONS FILTER

ANALYSIS

C.6 Contingency of Operations

The offeror shall provide in its technical proposal a contingency of operations plan in the event of catastrophic failures of computer systems, disk drives, etc. This shall include plans to replace key personnel, recovery of data, alternate locations, and methods of contingency data validation and processing.

C.7 Government Owned Property

All particle samplers are government-owned property. In total, there 228 IMPROVE samplers. This total includes all samplers that are in the field, samplers that are used for testing, and spare samplers used for replacements when repairs are needed.

C.8 Transition Phase

An incumbent contractor is currently providing the services described in this Statement of Work under an IDIQ contract. Upon contract completion or termination, the incumbent contractor shall work to ensure a smooth and coordinated transition to the successful offeror by making staff and resources available to ensure timely transfer of existing inventories to the new contractor. The incumbent contractor shall also make available to the new contractor any data collected through the previous contract which may assist the successful offeror during the transition phase.

C.9 Period of Performance

The period of performance for this single award IDIQ is one base year period and four (4) one-year option periods effective from time of award of the contract.

The individual Task Orders will have their own separate Period of Performance timeframes and will be established at the time of award of the specific Task Order.

C.10 Place of Performance

Based upon issuance of written Task Order(s) by the Contracting Officer (CO), Contractor will assist NPS in operating, maintaining and reconfiguring (where required) the IMPROVE particle monitoring network, which consists of 110 IMPROVE sites and 53 IMPROVE protocol sites at various NPS locations throughout the United States. All Contractor personnel assigned and billed to the Task Order(s) shall be subject to the Personnel Security Requirements, Personnel Qualification Requirements, and Conflict of Interest/Procurement Integrity Requirements set forth in the resulting Task Order(s)

Document No.

P15PS00877

Document Title

NRSS: IMPROVE OPERATIONS FILTER

ANALYSIS

REFERENCES

Chow, J. C., J. G. Watson, L. C. Pritchett, W. R. Pierson, C. A. Frazier, and R. G. Purcell, 1993. The DRI thermal/optical reflectance carbon analysis system: description, evaluation, and applications in U.S.

air quality studies, Atmospheric Environment, 27(N8): 1185-1201, June 1993.

United States Environmental Protection Agency, Regional Haze Regulations: [40 CFR Part 51.308-309].

Joseph, D. B. J. Metza, W. C. Malm, and M. L. Pitchford, A federal program to monitor visibility in class I areas, in Visibility Protection: Research and Policy Aspects; P.J. Bhardwaja, Ed., Air Pollution Control Assoc., Pittsburgh, PA, 1987.

Malm, W. C., J. F. Sisler, D. Huffman, R. A. Eldred, and T. A. Cahill, Spatial & seasonal trends in particle concentration & optical extinction in the U.S., J. Geophys. Res., 99, 1347-1370, 1994.

Malm, W. C., J. F. Sisler, M.L. Pitchford, M. Scruggs, R. Ames, S. Copeland, K.A. Gebhart, and D.E.

Day, IMPROVE (Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments): Spatial and seasonal patterns and temporal variability of haze and its constituents in the United States: Report III, CIRA Report ISSN: 0737-5352-47, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 2000.

SECTION E – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

52.246-4 -- Inspection of Services -- Fixed-Price.

As prescribed in 46.304, insert the following clause:

Inspection of Services -- Fixed-Price (Aug. 1996)

(a) Definition: “Services,” as used in this clause, includes services performed, workmanship, and material furnished or utilized in the performance of services.

(b) The Contractor shall provide and maintain an inspection system acceptable to the Government covering the services under this contract. Complete records of all inspection work performed by the Contractor shall be maintained and made available to the Government during contract performance and for as long afterwards as the contract requires.

(c) The Government has the right to inspect and test all services called for by the contract, to the extent practicable at all times and places during the term of the contract. The Government shall perform inspections and tests in a manner that will not unduly delay the work.

(d)…