H199--Water Quality Testing Service

This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY.

This SOURCE SOUGHT NOTICE is for the purpose of Market Research. Response to this notice will be used for information and planning purposes. No proposals or quotes are being requested or accepted with this notice. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION FOR PROPOSALS or QUOTES and NO CONTRACT SHALL BE AWARDED FROM THIS NOTICE. This notice shall NOT be construed as solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Responses to this notice is not a request to be added to a prospective bidders list or to receive a copy of the solicitation.

The Network Contracting Office (NCO) 16 is seeking preferably Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses, or Small Businesses (but will accept other than small business for market research purposes), capable of performing water quality testing service for the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VAMC, Jackson, MS.

See Statement of Work for detailed description of services.

The NAICS code is 541620Â Environmental Consulting Services and the Size Standard is $16.5M. Responses must be received by no later than 2:00pm Central Time, Thursday, November 12, 2020. Responses shall be emailed to jennifer.adams7@va.gov . Responses shall include Capabilities Statements, DUNS number, and whether the requirement is on GSA/FSS schedule or Open Market. Facsimile or Telephonic responses will not be accepted.

Note: All interested parties are reminded to be registered, active and verified in the following to be considered for Award.

SAM: https://sam.gov/SAM/

VETBIZ: https://www.vip.vetbiz.va.gov/

Vet 4212 (Veteran owned small Business are reminded of Reporting Requirements) https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/progams/vets4212

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW)

WATER QUALITY TESTING SERVICES

G.V. (SONNY) MONTGOMERY VA MEDICAL CENTER

JACKSON, MS 39216

The contractor shall provide validation testing and report results in the existing Web-based Data Management System in alignment with the requirements of VHA Directive 1061, VHA Directive 1116(2), and AAMI TIR 34: 2014/(R)2017.

Validation Testing

The contractor shall provide quarterly Legionella validation testing in accordance with the Specifications to ensure that the hazards are controlled as identified in the Water Management Program.

The contractor shall provide monthly, quarterly, and annual Sterile Processing Service validation testing in accordance with the Specifications to ensure that the hazards are controlled as identified in the Water Management Program.

Web-based Data Management System

The contractor shall use the existing Web-based Data Management System in accordance with the Specifications to collect, analyze, and store data collected. It will store WMP documents, verification activities, corrective actions, and validation test results in addition to data recorded from Portable Water Analyzer (PWA) systems.

SPECIFICATIONS

1. Validation Testing

The contractor will provide all labor, materials, and equipment necessary to complete environmental Validation Testing of the water systems.

The contractor s laboratory must have a certificate of proficiency from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Environmental Legionella Isolation Techniques Evaluation (ELITE) program. In addition, the laboratory must have environmental microbiology accreditation by a nationally recognized accrediting body, such as EMLAP, NELAP, etc.

Legionella Testing

Legionella environmental testing shall occur at a minimum of once per Federal fiscal year quarter. The laboratory will provide a report indicating the analytical results for each sample submitted. Results will be calculated in terms of colony forming units (CFU/mL). All samples shall be properly preserved and protocol records kept for final QA/QC. Results shall be provided within 10-14 days of sample receipt and shall be immediately uploaded into the web-based data management site and emailed in PDF format to the Contracting Officer Representative (COR).

The contractor shall collect water samples for testing from two (2) buildings (Bldg. 1 Main Hospital; Bldg. 7 Community Living Center). Sample sources are 10 outlets on the hot-water distribution system and 10 outlets on the cold-water distribution system from each building (or a total of 40 samples per quarter and 160 samples per year) and one (1) cooling tower water sample for each quarterly testing cycle. At the time of sampling, the contractor shall test and document the following for each sample: water temperature, level of residual biocide, and pH. The laboratory shall use Legionella 11731 ISO spread plate method for Legionella pneumophila and non-pneumophila species

Measures L. pneumophila serogroup 1, L. pneumophila serogroup 2-14, and non-pneumophila species

Inoculated at the laboratory overnight shipment recommended

Limit of Detection (CFU/ml) = 1*

Reports: 10 days after laboratory receives samples

Sterile Processing Service Testing

The contractor shall collect samples from five (5) critical water sources and seven (7) utility water sources in accordance with approved laboratory procedures. The contractor shall furnish appropriate shipping containers and shipping labels for the transportation of samples to the laboratory. The laboratory will follow strict chain of custody procedures upon the receipt of the samples.

Validation testing shall occur at the frequencies identified in the table below for each test. The laboratory will provide a report indicating the analytical results for each sample submitted. Results shall be provided within 10 days of sample receipt and shall be immediately uploaded into the web-based data management site and emailed in PDF format to the Contracting Officer Representative (COR). Lower limits of detection will align with AAMI TIR 34: 2014/(R)2017 recommended levels of water quality for medical device reprocessing.

Frequency

Test Panels

Monthly

SPS Water Quality Panel-Monthly

Bacteria - Heterotrophic Plate Count (Spread Plate)

Total Organic Carbon (TOC)

pH

Conductivity (for Resistivity)

Color

Turbidity

Quarterly for one year until 4 consecutive quarters within limits, then Annual

SPS Water Quality Panel - Annual

Hardness (Total)

Ionic Contaminants

Chloride

Iron

Copper

Manganese

Varies*

LAL/Endotoxin

* Endotoxin frequency is identified by occasion per AAMI TIR 34: 2014/(R)2017: On installation, modification, or repair of the critical water treatment system or when persistent increased microbial levels are detected by heterotrophic plate count, ATP, or TOC. To simplify, the testing frequency of this parameter will align with the annual testing panel (Quarterly for one year until 4 consecutive quarters within limits, then Annual), but the VA may choose to test less frequently.

Non-Routine Testing

Upon request, retesting after remediation or other non-routine testing will be performed at the request of the Contracting Officer Representative (COR). Should the quantity listed in the price schedule be exceeded, additional funds may be provided to do additional tests.

2. Web-based Data Management System

The web-based data management system shall provide the following functions:

All information stored in the system is available 24/7 via password-protected access

WMP-related reports (including validation testing results, meeting minutes, verification reports, and service provider reports) can be stored and available for immediate access by all users

Customized charts, reports, views, and data entry screens as requested

Management dashboards with industry benchmarking

Send text or email alerts for data that is outside of set parameters

Data collection via tablets and other hand-held devices

Automated data collection via continuous monitoring equipment (equipment not included)

Validation test results immediately uploaded into the phiAnalytics site (if samples are analyzed by Phigenics)

Exportable data to excel and other formats

Qualifications.

The contractor selected to perform this work must be an independent provider of water management services engaged in the development and ongoing management of facility and corporate water management programs. To be deemed independent and thus avoid commercial conflict of interest, neither the prime contractor nor any partners, subcontractors nor subsidiary companies may sell treatment chemicals, disinfection devices, or remediation services. The sale of water testing services and diagnostic equipment related to determining the safety and quality of the water does not void independence.

The laboratory must have a certificate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Environmental Legionella Isolation Techniques Evaluation (ELITE) Program as proficient at performing the culture of Legionella from environmental samples. The laboratory must also have environmental microbiology accreditation by a nationally recognized accrediting body (e.g., EMLAP, NELAP).