Land Use Study

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: SOURCES SOUGHT

SYNOPSIS
This SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the U.S. Government, nor will the U.S. Government pay for information solicited. The information from this notice will help the Government plan its acquisition strategy. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. NO SOLICITATION EXISTS AT THIS TIME.

BACKGROUND
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) seeks to conduct a study related to the proximity of community buildings to the fence line of facilities handling flammable, explosive or toxic chemicals. The need for this study has arisen from several CSB investigations in which communities were significantly impacted by accidents at local chemical facilities. For example, in April 2013, an ammonium nitrate explosion at a fertilizer warehouse in West, Texas, resulted in significant damage to the buildings and facilities up to half a mile from the facility. In 2009 in Corpus Christi, Texas, at least 4,000 pounds of hydrofluoric acid (HF) likely escaped from a refinery unit into the atmosphere and left the facility.

The proposed study should focus on the four (4) main topic areas described below. All analysis should incorporate a multi-disciplinary approach within the fields of chemistry, chemical engineering, risk communication, urban planning, community relations, toxicology, blast modeling, environmental and safety regulations and policy, land use and zoning laws, and other relevant areas.

  • Review and evaluate how the proximity of facilities handling hazardous chemicals can pose a risk to communities across U.S. as a result of fires, explosions and chemical releases resulting in health or environmental effects. Particular consideration will be given to public consequences of such events from the proximity of facilities to community buildings, residences, schools and health-care facilities, and other non-industrial buildings.

  • Identify approach(es) that could be used to determine appropriate distances between communities and hazardous facilities, accounting for chemical toxicity, flammability, and explosion potential and blast overpressure. Establish criteria for selecting facilities to be evaluated in this study based on chemical storage and proximity to populated areas. At a minimum, the list should include chemicals covered under the EPA Risk Management Program and also fertilizer-grade ammonium nitrate. As examples, examine the proximity of ammonium nitrate storage facilities, refineries with hydrogen fluoride alkylation units, and other high hazard facilities to communities.

  • Review current regulations, including state and local ordinances and recommended practices related to land use and development in close proximity to existing chemical facilities, as well as the siting of new chemical facilities and determine whether existing requirements and practices are adequate in their degree of alignment with the technical analysis from Tasks 1 and 2. The review should include current federal and international regulations, and examples of existing state and local regulatory and non-regulatory practices that control the types of buildings and facilities that can be built in proximity to chemical facilities.

  • Identify the appropriate regulatory bodies and make regulatory policy recommendations or other recommendations as appropriate based on findings from the analysis from the tasks described above.

The contractor would be expected to furnish all necessary personnel, materials, equipment, services, travel, facilities and all other related expenses to conduct the study.

All responding business firms are requested to identity their firm's size and type of business to the anticipated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code. The NAICS code is anticipated to be 541720, Research and Development in Social Sciences and Humanities. Small business size standard is $20.5 million.
Upon review of the draft statement of work (SOW), please provide a response to the following questions.

1. Company name, address, email address, telephone number, DUNS number, and GSA schedules held (if applicable)
2. Socio-economic business status (large business or type of small business)
3. Technical expertise and approach relevant to the requirement, including:
   a. Documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability
   b. Anticipated subcontracting or teaming required to complete requirement
   c. Brief overview of proposed methodology to complete requirement
4. Corporate experience relevant to the requirement
5. Relevant past performance, including;
   a. Contract name
   b. Contracting Agency or Department
   c. Yearly contract value (in USD)
   d. Period of performance
   e. Description of work and how it relates to the requirements
6. Industry price/rate structure for this type of requirement (i.e. hourly, per survey question, fixed price, etc.)
7. Time frame industry would require in order to perform the survey
8. Any recommendations or ambiguities related to the requirement

Respondents are requested to limit submissions to ten (10) pages.

Interested firms responding to this market survey are requested to provide a capability statement demonstrating their experience, skills and capability to fulfill the Government's requirements. Please specify one primary and one alternate point of contact (POC) within the firm, including names, position titles, telephone numbers and email addresses. All work must be completed in the Contractor's facilities. Capability statements are requested to include a list of three (3) customers (Government or non-Government) within the past five (5) years highlighting similar work in nature, scope, complexity and difficulty and a brief description of the scope of the work.

A determination by the Government to proceed with the acquisition as a small business set-aside is within the discretion of the Government. If statements are not received from at least three (3) responsible small businesses, or upon an assessment of those submitted, the Government may proceed with a full and open competition. Not responding to this sources sought notice does not preclude participation in any future solicitation.

No proprietary, classified, confidential or sensitive information should be included in a response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resulting solicitation.

Please submit all electronic responses of capability statements to amy.mccormick@csb.gov by Friday, June 19, 2015 at 5:00 PM ET. Hard copy submissions are not desired or requested. No telephone responses will be accepted. No feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions.

Response Date:  Friday, June 19, 2015, 5:00 PM ET

Contracting Office Address:
   U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB)
   2175 K St, NW, Suite 650
   Washington, DC 20037

Place of Performance: Contractor Facility