V220T.12 - V3262203 Sole Source Justification 8-7-26.pdf

V220T.12 (01/19)

Procurement Request No. V3262203

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

VOLPE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS CENTER (VOLPE CENTER)

V326

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

A. Description of Supplies/Services.

The Ft. Dupont Parade Ground was originally part of land deeded in 1675 that included estates, farmland, and vineyards.

The Subject Property was developed into a parade ground around 1906 as Fort DuPont was being constructed. The Commanding Officer’s Quarters was constructed on the Subject Property in 1910. In 1946, Fort DuPont was deactivated and the land was given to the State of Delaware, which converted it to the Governor Bacon Health Center. Operations at the health center slowed and parts of the campus were converted into a state park in 1992. The FDRPC purchased the land in 2016 for redevelopment. While the surrounding site has undergone changes since the fort’s construction, the Subject Property has remained largely unchanged. The Parade Ground is still an open grass field, and the Commanding Officer’s Quarters still stands. The Parade Ground has since been used as temporary, infrequent parking but it is mostly used as open green space. The Commanding Officer’s Quarters is currently being used as administrative office space for FDRPC.

Soil and groundwater contamination is known to be present at other operating units at the Fort DuPont site which requires delineation, remediation, and groundwater use restrictions. Contaminants of concern from releases at nearby OUs include metals, petroleum constituents, PAHs, PCBs, and pesticides.

The Volpe Center is tasked with assisting the EPA Targeted Brownfields Assessment (TBA) team in collecting and analyzing soil and groundwater samples to determine the presence or absence of site contamination and if present, to identify contaminated areas to help to minimize risk to people and the environment The purpose of this procurement is to purchase analytical laboratory services from Alpha Analytical (owned by Pace Analytical) to analyze these samples collected. The estimated amount is $77,455.50 and it is anticipated that a firm fixed price purchase order will be awarded.

Laboratories typically have set turnaround times for analysis, so we anticipate having sample results within these turnaround times after samples are submitted to the laboratory.

B. Market Research. Market research conducted by Michelle Heimgartner and Jacob Klaybor in June 2026 shows only two labs are approved to work under the Volpe generic Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) that is approved by EPA Region 3 (Mid-Atlantic). One of those labs is Alpha Analytical (who was purchased by Pace Analytical), and the other is EMSL. EMSL cannot complete this requirement as they do not provide the full suite of analysis needed. Therefore, only Alpha Analytical is capable of completing the required work in compliance with the EPA approved QAPP.

C. Supporting Rationale.

(1) Sole Source: Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

i. Only two labs are approved to work under the Volpe generic Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) approved by EPA Region 3 (Mid-Atlantic). One of those labs is Alpha Analytical, the other (EMSL) does not provide the full suite of analysis needed. Therefore, only Alpha Analytical is capable of completing the required work in compliance with the EPA approved QAPP. Alpha Analytical offers courier services and/or shipping services and is state and EPA certified in all of the analysis that we require.

ii. Alpha Analytical is the only laboratory approved in the QAPP that can analyze the full suite of contaminants that we are requesting in our PR.

iii. The QAPP document took many months and over $100,000 in labor was spent to complete this document for the EPA TBA Program. The EPA does not have the time or funding to request Volpe to complete an addendum to this document in order to get an additional laboratory approved when a quality, local laboratory already meets all of their requirements and is approved. The Ft. Dupont site in Delaware City, DE is a very important project in the state and once the assessment is completed the site is planned for redevelopment.

V220T.12 (01/19)

(2) Brand Name: A specific brand that is available from multiple vendors. N/A

(3) Unusual and Compelling Urgency. N/A

D. Required Signatures.

PR Technical Initiator Date PR Technical Initiator’s Supervisor Date

Contracting Officer Date Chief, Contracts Branch (or designee) Date (Signature required for procurements over $25,000)

MICHELLE

MORRIS

HEIMGARTNER

Digitally signed by MICHELLE

MORRIS HEIMGARTNER

Date: 2026.08.10 09:44:22 -04'00'

JULIE

BORGESI

Digitally signed by JULIE

BORGESI

Date: 2026.08.11 09:02:36 -04'00'