Nonpersonal service analysis of Osprey eggs incl PCB congeners

The USGS intends to award a requirement for the analysis of 47 egg samples and 25 plasma samples noncompetitively IAW FAR 13.106-1(b) (2) to Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research of Windsor, ON Canada N9B 3 P4. Ospreys are fish-eating birds at the top of the aquatic food web and have been used to evaluate contaminants in the environment of the Pacific Northwest periodically during the last 15 years. Another series of eggs and blood plasma samples were collected in 2008. These samples were collected at some of the same locations where Ospreys were evaluated in the past. The task is to analyze the eggs and plasma using organochlorine scan, including PCB congeners (not co-planars). Present data on wet weight basis and multiply wet weight residue concentration (only for eggs) by the adjustment factor provided for each egg. This will yield a fresh wet weight concentration. Analyze same samples for total mercury and present data on dry weight and wet weight basis (with wet weight mercury values for eggs also multiplied by adjustment factor provided for each egg). QA/QC will be handled by the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) and spiked samples will be used. CWS QA/QC standards must be met. Government will provide the egg contents and plasma of Ospreys for analysis. Deliverables include hard copy and electronic spreadsheet of residue concentrations, with appropriate QA/QC report, i.e., must meet the standards of the Canadian Wildlife Service. Schedule begins August 15, 2008 through November 1, 2008. Contaminant studies require analytical specification, and when studies continue for multiple years or are regional in scope, there is a need to have consistency in the analytical chemistry so that trends and regional patterns can be detected without concern for inter-laboratory variability. The samples collected in 2008 need to be analyzed under the same conditions and location where Osprey eggs were analyzed in 2007. The eggs and fish samples were collected at the same study site. There is a need to maintain consistency and comparability of analytical results for all specimen samples. Other interested concerns shall submit a capabilities statement to the Contracting office no later than the closing date of this announcement. Point of Contact is J. Stevenson (916) 278-9344 jstevenson@usgs.gov. All submissions must demonstrate the ability to meet all requirements of the Statement of Work above. This is not an RFQ; no written solicitation will be issued.