RFQ-DC-15-00182_ANNOUNCEMENT.docx

REQUEST FOR QUOTE # RFQ-DC-15-00182

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR STUDENT SERVICES CONTRACT

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development National Health and Environmental Effects Laboratory

SECTION I - ANNOUNCEMENT

DETAILS OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT

The Office of Research and Development at the EPA supports high-quality research to improve the scientific basis for decisions on national environmental issues and help EPA achieve its environmental goals. Research is conducted in a broad range of environmental areas by scientists in EPA laboratories and at universities across the country.

The Mid-Continent Ecology Division (MED), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL), Office of Research and Development (ORD) at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking an individual, at least 18 years of age who have completed a Master of Science degree in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, molecular biology, environmental science, toxicology, pharmacy, physiology, neuroscience, or related field of study to provide services under a contractual agreement to assist in a project focused on elucidating and describing the biological modes/mechanisms by which chemicals cause adverse effects in fish and wildlife and organizing that information into adverse outcome pathway (AOP) frameworks that can support the use of a wider range of data types as a basis for regulatory decision-making. For more detailed information regarding the Mid-Continent Ecology Division, visit its home page at http://www.epa.gov/med.

The student contractor will conduct experiments aimed at characterizing the effects of chemical contaminants and/or physical stressors at multiple levels of biological organization ranging from molecular and biochemical endpoints to population-level impacts. The student will assist with techniques such as radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunoassay to measure gene and protein expression in biological samples. The student also will be involved in conducting laboratory assays with aquatic organisms, i.e., primarily fish. The student will assist with collection of environmental samples from field locations and subsequent sample extraction, concentration, and processing of samples as needed to support chemical and biological analyses. The student shall maintain careful and accurate records in a laboratory notebook, record results in summary spreadsheets, write-up brief summary reports of sample analyses following provided guidance, and participate in research group meetings. The student will maintain accurate laboratory notebooks, write-up brief summary reports of assay protocols and results, and participate in research group meetings.

Students or recent graduates, who are EPA ORD employees, or the spouse or child of an EPA ORD employee, are not eligible to participate.

This contract is expected to begin approximately July/August 2015. The hourly rate is commensurate with the minimum required level of education and experience, as follows: $28.92 per hour for a student who has completed a master’s degree. The student contractor must be currently enrolled in a degree program at an accredited University/College or a recent graduate within the last 24 months. The student contractor will be paid the basic hourly rate only for the number of hours worked and will not receive overtime pay for any hours worked beyond the 40-hour work week. The student contractor does not accrue leave or holiday benefits and are not paid for any non-work days, regardless of the reason. The student contractor is considered an independent contractor; therefore, Federal, State, Local, Social Security, and Medicare taxes will not be withheld. The student contractor is responsible for reporting income to authorities and paying all taxes.

The student contractor is responsible for all costs of transportation to and from the principal duty station location. EPA does not provide housing, meals or other living expenses while working at the principal duty station. Non-U.S. citizens may be eligible to participate, depending on their immigration status and the applicable regulations of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). All non-US citizens must submit, as part of their proposal package, evidence of their immigration status that allows them to work in the United States. Students should possess a current US Visa and be able to obtain US work authorization in a timely manner if offered a contract. Students without a US Visa are not eligible.

Academic degrees fulfilled outside of the United States must be judged to be equivalent to that achieved in accredited U.S. education programs in order to be acceptable for this contract. More information about the evaluation of foreign education can be found at the U.S. Department of Education's web site at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

If applicable, applicants shall submit all necessary documents to a recognized private U.S. organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials, usually named a credential evaluation service. To be suitable, the foreign credential evaluation must include and describe (i) type of education received by the applicant (i.e., conventional, by mail, or online), (ii) degree of education relative to the U.S. education system, and testify that its comparability recommendations follow the general guidelines of the U.S. National Council for the Evaluation of Foreign Educational Credentials, (iii) the content of the applicant's educational program earned abroad and the standard obtained, (iv) the ranking of the awarding foreign schools’ credit and authenticity in its own country's education system, (v) what the evaluation service did to obtain this information, (vi) the qualifications of the evaluator, and (vii) any indications as to other concerns such as falsification. Foreign credential evaluations that do not include all the above information or indicate there is not enough information on which to make a sound evaluation will not be accepted.

INTERESTED PARTIES MUST COMPLETE SECTION II, “STUDENT PROPOSAL FORM FOR RFQ-DC-15-00182” (See Below). Please provide a one or two page resume or statement of qualifications, the proposal form and attach a copy of all your college/university transcripts (unofficial copies are acceptable, if it is apparent from the transcript copy that is a copy of an official document and that the school is identified), and submit via FedConnect at https://www.fedconnect.net referencing RFQ # RFQ-DC-15-00182 and via e-mail to Cynthia Frate, Contracting Officer, at frate.cynthia@epa.gov. The deadline for submissions is 12:00 PM EST June 29, 2015. Students or recent graduates are responsible for submitting proposals so that they reach the Government by the time specified.

In order to submit a quotation via FedConnect® and perform work under the Student Services Contract to EPA, students or recent graduates must have a checking or savings account at a financial institution that will accept direct deposits of Federal funds for Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) and must register with Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) to obtain a DUNS number, register with the System for Award Management (SAM), and register with FedConnect®. The process to apply via FedConnect is lengthy; please allow for at least ONE WEEK to complete the following registrations:

· To register with D&B and obtain a DUNS number, call D&B at 1-866-705-5711 or contact D&B at http://www.dnb.com/update.

· To register for SAM go to the SAM website found at https://www.sam.gov.

· To register for FedConnect® go to the FedConnect® website found at https://www.fedconnect.net/.

· Please note that FedConnect® is used by multiple federal agencies and therefore assistance with FedConnect® will be provided by Compusearch Software Systems, not the EPA. More information about registration requirements can be found by going to https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/PublicPages/FedConnect_Ready_Set_Go.pdf and downloading the FedConnect Ready, Set, Go! Guide. If you need technical assistance in registering or for any other FedConnect® function, call the FedConnect Help Desk at (800) 899-6665 or email at support@fedconnect.net. There is no charge to register for a DUNS at D&B, SAM, or FedConnect®.

Any application received at the Government office designated after the exact time specified for receipt is “late” and will not be considered unless it is received before award is made, and the Contracting Officer determines that accepting the late application would not unduly delay the acquisition and:

1. It was transmitted electronically and received at the initial point of entry to the Government infrastructure not later than 5:00 p.m., one working day prior to the date established for receipt; or

2. There is acceptable evidence to establish it was received at the Government installation and was under the Government’s control prior to the time set for receipt; or

3. It was the only proposal received.

However, a late modification of an otherwise successful proposal that makes its terms more favorable to the Government will be considered at any time it is received and may be accepted.

If an emergency or unanticipated event interrupts normal Government processes so that proposals cannot be received at the office designated by the exact time specified, and urgent Government requirements preclude amendment of the announcement, the time specified for receipt will be deemed extended to the same time of day specified on the first work day on which normal Government processes resume.

The Government will make contract award based on all evaluation factors (student's knowledge and skills, course work, work or volunteer experience, research laboratory experience and grade point average as it relates to the services described in this Announcement and the Statement of Work). Evaluation factors are listed on Attachment 6. Personal or telephone interviews may be conducted with the most promising candidates. The Government may elect to award contracts to multiple students under this Announcement.

Questions regarding this student contract should be directed to the contract specialist, Cynthia Frate, at frate.cynthia@epa.gov.

SECTION II - Student Proposal Form

STUDENT PROPOSAL FORM RFQ-DC-15-00182

This proposal must be filled out in full to qualify for a Student Service Contract

Full legal name:

Email Address:

Date of Birth:

Place of Birth:

Citizen of the U.S.? YES NO (If not a U.S. Citizen, provide documentary evidence from USCIS)

Mailing address:

Telephone #:

Date of most recent college/university degree: (The student contractor must be currently enrolled in a degree program at an accredited University/College or a recent graduate within the last 24 months.)

Degree: Date:

STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS

1. Total YEARS of college/university study in the required field (s) stated in the announcement:

a) b) c)

[add rows if necessary]

2. Total COURSE HOURS in relevant field of study:

[add rows if necessary]

3. MONTHS of relevant employment or volunteer services: (give name of employer/service organization plus a brief statement of the work performed)

1.

2.

3.

[add rows if necessary]

4. GRADE POINT AVERAGE:

5. REFERENCES (Two references with name, title, telephone number, and email address)

6. Two Recommendation Letter (s) from a academic advisor, major professor, or other professional associate familiar with the applicant’s skills and performance

7. Attach all your College/University TRANSCRIPTS that support the summary information you provided above. Unofficial copies are acceptable, if it is apparent from the transcript copy that it is a copy of an official document and that the school is identified, listing courses taken, grades and overall GPA.

8. Sign the following statement:

I have read and understood the attached terms and conditions of the Request for Quote (RFQ) and if selected I accept the specified hourly rate.

Signature Date