Questions_and_answers_for_W9128F19Q0022.docx

Questions and answers for W9128F19Q0022 LABORATORY ANALYSIS TO SUPPORT WATER QUALITY MONITORING BY THE OMAHA DISTRICT

1. Section 5.2.2 lists Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, and Nebraska as project states.

a. Does the lab only need to hold Primary NELAP certification in their home state? Example: Primary NELAP is held in Florida or Does the Laboratory need to hold NELAP certification in each state listed?

Answer: No, because NELAP is a national accreditation program it is acceptable for the laboratory to hold certification in its home state.

b. Does the lab need to seek reciprocity for NELAP states listed in section 5.2.2 if they do not hold the certification at the time of award?

Answer: The laboratory must have current NELAP certification from any state at the time of the bid.

2. The SDWA and individual states may not offer certification for all of the parameters listed in the RFP:

a. For which parameters does the laboratory need to hold State Drinking Water Certification (SDWA)?

Answer: The laboratory needs to hold State Drinking Water Certification for all parameters in which certification is available. The applicable parameter list included with the certification should be submitted with the bid.

b. For which states does the laboratory need to hold Drinking water certification?

Answer: Any state certification is acceptable.

3. Will the prospective bidder be precluded from bidding if they do not hold the requisite certifications at the time of their proposal submittal?

Answer: Laboratory NELAP and SDWA certification will weigh heavily on the evaluation of the laboratory. While the laboratory can submit a bid it will be excluded if it does not have the required certification.

4. Can USACE elaborate on the need for the ELISA Immunoassay methodology for Atrazine and Metolachlor? Are alternate standard EPA SW 846 or CWA methods acceptable?

Answer: As mentioned in the solicitation, most analysis is open to alternative applicable EPA approved methodology. Methods identified in the solicitation are the preferred alternatives. However, ELISA immunoassay analysis for Atrazine and Metolachlor are required for compatibility with interagency agreements for which the data is collected for. ELISA methodology is also preferred in order to maintain data continuity and comparability.

5. Can USACE provide clarification or a reference method for Imazapyr “EEA South Bend Method L304”? Are alternate standard EPA SW 846 or CWA methods available or acceptable for thisd compound?

Answer: EEA South Bend Method L304 is the current methodology used by the current laboratory to analyze for Imazapyr. As mentioned in the solicitation, this method is preferred but alternate applicable EPA accepted methods are also acceptable.

6. Can USACE provide guidance on how they would require the contractor to calculate or derive “THM Formation Potential Dissolved”? Would this be initial THM minus final THM from a treated and untreated source?

Answer: Dissolved THM formation potential will be derived from a sample that is filtered in the field while total THM formation potential will be derived from an unfiltered sample. Methods used to determine THM formation, in short, involves dosing samples with chlorine under specified conditions of pH, temperature, incubation time, darkness, and residual-free chlorine, and then analyzing the resulting trihalomethanes.

7. Can bidders “No Bid” line items and still be deemed responsive?

Answer: Failure to provide a bid for a particular line item or parameter will be deemed as an inability to perform the analysis or work.

8. What percentage of Elutriates will be received as prepared and what percentage of Elutriates will be prepared by the lab?

Answer: All elutriates will be prepared by the laboratory.

9. Who is the incumbent on this contract? What is the previous/current contract/task order numbers?

Answer: W9128F-14-A-0009 was awarded to Midwest Laboratories

10. Can USACE provide a summary of the results of the Sources Sought notice “W9128F-19-S-M006 Laboratory Analysis to Support Water Quality Monitoring by the Omaha District” Answer: The market research results will not be shared. The results, however, were reviewed by the USACE Omaha District Deputy for Small Business and the area Small Business Administration (SBA) PCR and approved by both individuals setting this aside as an unrestricted requirement.