Statement of Work.docx

Statement of Work

Procurement Request #: 1T Period of Performance: April 1st – May 30th, 2023.

Title: Coal Composition Data Collection

SECTION 1 – BACKGROUND

U.S. underground coal mines reported 25,171 accidents related to ground control between 2000 and 2019. One hundred fifty-eight of these involved fatalities or resulted in permanent or total disability. Significant contributing factors include the highly variable nature of the host rock, an incomplete understanding of how localized changes in rock properties impact ground stability, and a lack of affordable ground stability monitoring technologies appropriate to an underground setting. Despite significant advancements in mine safety technology and practices in the past 20 years, accidents that result in permanent disabilities and fatalities continue to occur in underground mines. The Unconventional Monitoring and Design for Mine stability in Sedimentary Rock Project aims to improve monitoring and modelling of stability in underground sedimentary (softrock) mines, particularly coal. Improved monitoring and modelling methodologies are intended to better address both localized and global catastrophic failures through improved hazard forecasting.

One way in which the project seeks to meet this objective is its second specific aim, which seeks to explore failure potential of coal through geochemical and geologic analysis of coal and coal measure strata. This specific aim has several subtasks. The proposed work directly addresses subtask 2.1.6:

2.1.6 Correlate geochemical markers, petrographic composition, gas generation, material properties, and failure characteristics.

This task builds upon previous NIOSH research correlating in situ dynamic failure occurrence, as identified by MSHA reportable accidents, with geochemical attributes of the coal seam [Lawson, Weakley and Miller (2015); Berry, Warren and Hanson (2019);Lawson (2019)]. Specifically, this work seeks to provide compositional data from coal sample debris for analysis.

SUBSECTION A – DEFINITIONS

Not applicable

SECTION 2 – PURPOSE

The purpose of the proposed laboratory services is to provide compositional data from 35 coal samples that were tested to mechanical failure at SMRD facilities. Generating this dataset will allow for the correlation of failure characteristics with chemical composition.

SECTION 3 – SCOPE OF WORK

Standard labs will provide chemical analytic data for 35 samples. Tests to be performed are:

· Proximate analysis

· CHNO

· Sulfur forms.

SECTION 4 – TASKS TO BE PERFORMED

1. Proximate analysis Includes percent moisture, ash, gross sulfur, BTU and volatile matter.

2. CHNO

Includes percent carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen.

3. Sulfur forms

Includes percent sulfide sulfur, organic sulfur and sulfate sulfur

Special Considerations:

HHSAR Provision, 352.239-73: Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Notice

(a) Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board Electronic and Information (EIT) Accessibility Standards (36 CFR part 1194), require that when Federal agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology, Federal employees with disabilities have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access and use by Federal employees who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. Section 508 also requires that individuals with disabilities, who are members of the public seeking information or services from a Federal agency, have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to that provided to the public who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency.

(b) Accordingly, any offeror responding to this solicitation must comply with established HHS EIT accessibility standards. Information about Section 508 is available at http://www.hhs.gov/web/508. The complete text of the Section 508 Final Provisions can be accessed at http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/standards.htm.

(c) The Section 508 accessibility standards applicable to this contract are: 1194.

Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility

(a) Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board Electronic and Information (EIT) Accessibility Standards (36 CFR part 1194), require that when Federal agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology, Federal employees with disabilities have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access and use by Federal employees who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. Section 508 also requires that individuals with disabilities, who are members of the public seeking information or services from a Federal agency, have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to that provided to the public who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency.

(b) Accordingly, any offeror responding to this solicitation must comply with established HHS EIT accessibility standards. Information about Section 508 is available at http://www.hhs.gov/web/508. The complete text of the Section 508 Final Provisions can be accessed at http://www.access-aboard.gov/sec508/standards.htm.

(c) The Section 508 accessibility standards applicable to this contract are: 1194.

205 WCAG 2.0 Level A & AA Success Criteria 302 Functional Performance Criteria 502 Inoperability with Assistive Technology 504 Authoring Tools 602 Support Documentation 603 Support Services

In order to facilitate the Government's determination whether proposed EIT supplies meet applicable Section 508 accessibility standards, offerors must submit an HHS Section 508 Product Assessment Template, in accordance with its completion instructions. The purpose of the template is to assist HHS acquisition and program officials in determining whether proposed EIT supplies conform to applicable Section 508 accessibility standards. The template allows offerors or developers to self-evaluate their supplies and documentation detail - whether they conform to a specific Section 508 accessibility standard, and any underway remediation efforts addressing conformance issues. Instructions for preparing the HHS Section 508 Evaluation Template are available under Section 508 policy on the HHS Web site http://hhs.gov/web/508.

In order to facilitate the Government's determination whether proposed EIT services meet applicable Section 508 accessibility standards, offerors must provide enough information to assist the Government in determining that the EIT services conform to Section 508 accessibility standards, including any underway remediation efforts addressing conformance issues.

(d) Respondents to this solicitation must identify any exception to Section 508 requirements. If a offeror claims its supplies or services meet applicable Section 508 accessibility standards, and it is later determined by the Government, i.e., after award of a contract or order, that supplies or services delivered do not conform to the accessibility standards, remediation of the supplies or services to the level of conformance specified in the contract will be the responsibility of the Contractor at its expense.

(e) Electronic content must be accessible to HHS acceptance criteria. Checklist for various formats are available at http://508.hhs.gov/, or from the Section 508 Coordinator listed at https://www.hhs.gov/web/section-508/additional-resources/section-508-contacts/index.html. Materials that are final items for delivery should be accompanied by the appropriate checklist, except upon approval of the Contracting Officer or Representative.

In order to facilitate the Government's determination whether proposed EIT supplies meet applicable Section 508 accessibility standards, offerors must submit an HHS Section 508 Product Assessment Template, in accordance with its completion instructions. The purpose of the template is to assist HHS acquisition and program officials in determining whether proposed EIT supplies conform to applicable Section 508 accessibility standards. The template allows offerors or developers to self-evaluate their supplies and documentation detail - whether they conform to a specific Section 508 accessibility standard, and any underway remediation efforts addressing conformance issues. Instructions for preparing the HHS Section 508 Evaluation Template are available under Section 508 policy on the HHS Web site http://hhs.gov/web/508.

In order to facilitate the Government's determination whether proposed EIT services meet applicable Section /508 accessibility standards, offerors must provide enough information to assist the Government in determining that the EIT services conform to Section 508 accessibility standards, including any underway remediation efforts addressing conformance issues.

(d) Respondents to this solicitation must identify any exception to Section 508 requirements. If a offeror claims its supplies or services meet applicable Section 508 accessibility standards, and it is later determined by the Government, i.e., after award of a contract or order, that supplies or services delivered do not conform to the accessibility standards, remediation of the supplies or services to the level of conformance specified in the contract will be the responsibility of the Contractor at its expense.

December 2022

SECTION 5 – GOVERNMENT FURNISHED MATERIALS

None

SECTION 6 – PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

April 1st 2023 to May 30th 2023

SECTION 7 – DELIVERABLES/REPORTING SCHEDULE

A report detailing the results of analysis for each sample will be provided to SMRD no later than May 30th, 2023.

SECTION 8 – REFERENCE MATERIALS

Not applicable.

SECTION 9 – POINT OF CONTACT INFORMATION

The Point of Contact (POC) for this procurement is: Heather Lawson Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

NIOSH

SMRD, Mail Stop P11 Spokane, Washington

Telephone Number: 509-354-8061.

Fax Number: 509-354-8099 E-mail Address: helawson@cdc.gov

Preferred method of communication: email

SECTION 10 – PAYMENT TERMS

Payment upon acceptance of deliverables, as outlined in Table 1.

SECTION 11 – MINIMUM VENDOR QUALIFICATIONS AND LEVEL OF EFFORT

Capacity, experience and certification to perform the abovementioned tests according to ASTM standards within a timely manner.

SECTION 12 – EVALUATION FACTORS

Evaluation is to be based on the delivery of the completed product as specified in the Statement of Work. Acceptance will not be granted to products that fail to meet usability or security requirements stipulated therein. Evaluation will further take into account the timeliness of the product delivery.