SOW_IMPROVE_Operations_and_Filter_Analysis_RFP_2025_1.pdf

DESCRIPTIONS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR IMPROVE

OPERATIONS AND FILTER ANALYSIS

CONTENTS

1 Introduction and Background

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Background

2 Objective/Purpose

3 Scope of Work

3.1 TASKS

3.1.1 Network Operations (Task 3.3) and Filter Analysis (Task 3.4)

3.2 DELIVERABLES

3.3 Network Operations

3.3.1 Coordinate operations of all IMPROVE and IMPROVE Protocol particle samplers and QA modules

3.3.2 Purchase of Filters

3.3.3 Coordination of Filters for Ion and Carbon Analysis

3.3.4 Filter Storage

3.3.5 Quality Assurance

3.3.6 Data Reduction and Database Management

3.3.7 Network Documentation

3.3.8 Steering Committee Meetings

3.4 Filter Analysis

3.4.1 Gravimetric Analysis

3.4.2 Elemental Analysis

3.4.3 Optical Absorption Measurements

4 Site Tasks

4.1 Establishment of New Monitoring Site

4.2 Repair or Replacement of site due to malfunction, safety concerns or loss

4.3 Decommissioning Current Monitoring Stations

4.4 Purchase samplers, associated equipment, spare parts

4.5 Site operators

4.6 Additional Analyses

4.7 Option for Special Studies

4.8 IMPROVE Outreach

4.9 Change in Site Maintenance Schedule

4.10 Development of Measurement Methods

4.11 Operation of alternate configuration sites

4.12 Changes to Network Operations

5 Government Owned Property

6 Transition Phase

REFERENCES

1 Introduction and Background

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."

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 protocols (described further below). The successful offeror of this solicitation will work through the NPS on all contractual related matters; other agencies sponsoring IMPROVE monitors will work through the NPS to access the resources available through this contract.

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 (the Bering Sea Wilderness is the exception). 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 federal 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 159 IMPROVE and IMPROVE protocol sites. Two of these sites (Lake Tahoe Community College and Baengnyeong Island, South Korea) 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 157 sites (110 IMPROVE and 47 IMPROVE Protocol sites). These sites are listed in Exhibit J.1. Of the 157 sites, one of the sites is for Carbon analysis only (Detroit), and one site (Phoenix) has two samplers, such that there are a total of 158 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 several urban sites (see Exhibit J.1). Likewise, to better facilitate intercomparison and integration of IMPROVE data with EPA’s Chemical Speciation Network http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve/

(CSN), six sites are collocated with CSN sites. Data from all IMPROVE sites are available on the Federal Land Manager Environmental Database (FED; http://views.cira.colostate.edu/fed/).

Map of 157 IMPROVE and IMPROVE Protocol Sites as of December 2019.

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 endpoint (formerly 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 website (http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve/). The PM2.5 (particles <2.5 µm in diameter) samplers operate with a nominal flow rate of 22.8 liters/minute (LPM), while the PM10 sampler (particles <10 µm 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 http://views.cira.colostate.edu/fed/ http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve/ 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, including recent upgrades, is available in Chow et al. (1993; 2007;

2015). 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/sops/).

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 47 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, respectively0F

1; (5) establish and conduct an internal quality assurance program; (6) participate in laboratory and field audits; and (7) provide a final, integrated dataset (including ion and carbon data, as well as associated metadata).

The contractor 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 (http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/Improve/particulate-monitoring-network/). 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.

3 Scope of Work

3.1 TASKS

3.1.1 Network Operations (Task 3.3) and Filter Analysis (Task 3.4).

This Contract is broken up into a Base Year (August 1, 2026 – July 31, 2027) and Four Option Years (August 1, 2027 – July 30, 2031).

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/sops/ http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/Improve/particulate-monitoring-network/

The Contractor shall assist NPS in operating and maintaining the IMPROVE particle monitoring network, as described in detail in Section 3.3 below. 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 a rigorous 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 described in detail in Section 3.4, the Contractor also 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 Table 1, and conduct optical absorption on the Teflon filters. For the one in three day sampling of the IMPROVE Network, and accounting for QA modules and additional QA filters, this amounts to 20,000 filters analyzed annually for each of these analyses.

3.2 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.

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 Operations and Analysis shall be maintained and updated on the IMPROVE website.

3.3 Network Operations

The current network of 155 sites is the default configuration. In addition to the standard samplers, several sites have collocated quality assurance (QA) modules 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.

3.3.1 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 shelter or stand for the IMPROVE sampler, which includes providing necessary power (two 20-Amp circuits) for the IMPROVE samplers;

• Maintaining the IMPROVE shelter in working condition, as outlined in the IMPROVE Standard Operating Procedures 126 (http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/Improve/particulate-monitoring-network/);

• Providing a site operator to conduct routine operation of the IMPROVE sampler, which consists of changing IMPROVE filters once per week (typically Tuesdays) and shipping the exposed filters to the IMPROVE Operations Contractor (at the expense of the IMPROVE Operations Contractor);

• Providing a site operator who will serve as a point of contact for the IMPROVE Operations Contractor and network auditors; and

• Basic troubleshooting of the samplers, as needed, with support from the IMPROVE Operations Contractor.

The Contractor's responsibilities shall include:

• Train agency personnel to support routine site operations;

• Provide internet connections at all sites to allow for communication with IMPROVE controllers;

• 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;

• Provide technical support to site operators, as needed;

• Maintain procedures (e.g., timely repair of equipment, 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://vista.cira.colostate.edu/Improve/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/RHRTrackingProgress.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 routine operation of the instruments during training. A brief http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/Improve/particulate-monitoring-network/ http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/Improve/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/RHRTrackingProgress.pdf http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/Improve/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/RHRTrackingProgress.pdf

(<2 pages) summary of the Safety Plan, which encompasses both of these activities, should be included in the proposal.

3.3.2 Purchase of Filters

The contractor is responsible for purchasing the Teflon and nylon filters. The contractor 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 20,000 filters each for Channels A, B, and D.

3.3.3 Coordination of Filters for Ion and Carbon Analysis

The contractor will be responsible for procuring the Teflon filters (see 3.3.2) 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 3.4). Determination of ion and carbon mass are carried out under separate contracts. The contractor shall also purchase the nylon filters (see 3.3.2), 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 contractor. 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.

3.3.4 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.

3.3.5 Quality Assurance

The Contractor shall follow, and develop where appropriate, strict quality assurance protocols, which are consistent with the Quality Assurance Project Plan for IMPROVE

(http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMPROVE-QAPP- Signed_3_2016.pdf). At a minimum, the Contractor shall:

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

• 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 (3.3.2;

especially trace contamination, mass loss/gain);

• 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, which will be made publicly available on the IMPROVE website. An example of a QA report can be found at: http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IMPROVE_QAReport_11.15.2019.pdf

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.

In addition, an independent IMPROVE auditor (funded separately from this contract) will provide results from technical systems audits for approximately 20 sites per year. The IMPROVE Operations Contractor should work with the IMPROVE auditor, the COR, the site operators and the appropriate federal land manager to address problems identified during the audits.

3.3.6 Data Reduction and Database Management

The Contractor shall be responsible for data reduction and analysis, which includes:

• 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 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;

http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMPROVE-QAPP-Signed_3_2016.pdf http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMPROVE-QAPP-Signed_3_2016.pdf http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IMPROVE_QAReport_11.15.2019.pdf http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IMPROVE_QAReport_11.15.2019.pdf http://views.cira.colostate.edu/fed/

• 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 chain of custody for filters, analysis spectra and flow rate data; and

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

3.3.7 Network Documentation

The Contractor shall maintain up-to-date documentation of:

• System configuration of the monitoring network;

• Analysis software and code utilized in data editing and reduction;

• Database software for archiving data;

• 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; and

• Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) as required by the U.S. EPA for all EPA monitoring programs (to be updated periodically, as required by EPA).

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.

3.3.8 Steering Committee Meetings

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

3.4 Filter Analysis

3.4.1 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 µg or less. The anticipated upper limit for aerosol mass on the filter is 10,000 µg; this equates to ambient concentrations of ~400 µg 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:

• 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.

3.4.2 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.

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%

3.4.3 Optical Absorption Measurements

The Contractor shall perform optical absorption measurements on the PM2.5 Teflon filters.

The current method to determine optical absorption is the Hybrid Integrating Plate/Sphere (HIPS; White et al., 2016). Other, equivalent techniques may also be proposed. If an alternate technique is proposed, the proposal must address the issue of equivalence of data that would be generated by the proposed analytical systems to the data from HIPS.

The Contractor's responsibilities shall include 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 10-6 m-1. MDL and precision estimates should be included for all proposed systems.

4 Site Tasks

There may be changes to the contract during its 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. Other optional tasks are also included here. The following tasks may be needed at any time during the period of performance of the contract and will be issued as individual exercise of pre-priced options. The option exercise may include any combination of the tasks below at various levels of effort. Pricing for each of the Optional Tasks will be dependent on the level of effort required, and as such a summary of labor rates for relevant personnel should be provided with the proposal.

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/sops/), 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 and repair needs. The Contractor will inform the COR when the number of spare samplers is below the number deemed sufficient to maintain the network so that additional samplers may be procured.

4.2 Repair or Replacement of site due to malfunction, safety concerns or 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/sops/), 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.

4.3 Decommissioning 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.

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.

4.5 Site operators.

Most sites are operated and maintained by state and federal 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.

4.6 Additional Analyses

Methods not included in this solicitation may be requested to measure additional species, including species measured in the past as part of the IMPROVE Network, or measurements of new species. Such efforts may include, but are not limited to, FTIR analysis of aerosol samples to determine functional groups and estimate total particulate carbon, or measurements of total carbon using alternate methods. 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 additional aerosol and gas phase phases species and properties relevant to the IMPROVE Program.

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 additional filter analysis. The Contractor may also be asked to deploy additional measurement techniques relevant to the IMPROVE Program, including, but not limited to, particle and/or particle mass sensors, meteorological measurements, and light scattering and absorption measurements. As part of these efforts, the Contractor may be asked to conduct daily analysis.

4.8 IMPROVE Outreach

The Contractor may be asked to oversee outreach activities related to the IMPROVE Program.

These activities may include communication and recognition of site operators and program partners, as well as outreach activities intended for the general public. The Contractor may be asked to develop and distribute materials, as outlined by the COR.

4.9 Change in Site Maintenance Schedule

The Contractor may be asked to increase the frequency of site visits for routine maintenance and calibration.

4.10 Development of Measurement Methods

The Contractor may be asked to develop methods to enhance current IMPROVE measurements or to allow for cost savings measures. Specifications for new methods will be provided by the COR. For purposes of this proposal, the proposer should outline a “Reduced Cost” IMPROVE site that would (1) include fewer measurements than a typical IMPROVE site (as described above); and (2) still collect sufficient data to allow for calculation of visibility conditions. Cost savings estimates should be included only as they relate to this contract (i.e. cost savings estimates for carbon analysis and ion analysis do not need to be included in the proposal).

4.11 Operation of alternate configuration sites

The Contractor may asked to operate sites that differ from those described above. These may include expanded monitoring or reduced cost sites.

4.12 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.

5 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.

6 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.

REFERENCES

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Chow, J.C., Watson, J.G., Chen, L.W.A., Chang, M.C.O., Robinson, N.F., Trimble, D., Kohl, S., 2007. The IMPROVE-A temperature protocol for thermal/optical carbon analysis: maintaining consistency with a long-term database. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association 57, 1014-1023.

Chow, J.C., Wang, X.L., Sumlin, B.J., Gronstal, S.B., Chen, L.W.A., Trimble, D.L., Kohl, S.D., Mayorga, S.R., Riggio, G., Hurbain, P.R., Johnson, M., Zimmermann, R., Watson, J.G., 2015.

Optical Calibration and Equivalence of a Multiwavelength Thermal/Optical Carbon Analyzer.

Aerosol and Air Quality Research 15, 1145-1159.

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.

White, W.H., Trzepla, K., Hyslop, N.P., Schichtel, B.A., 2016. A critical review of filter transmittance measurements for aerosol light absorption, and de novo calibration for a decade of monitoring on PTFE membranes. Aerosol Science and Technology 50, 984-1002.