USFS Region 1 Beal Selenium Attenuation Study

(i)This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in subpart 12.6 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

(ii)This solicitation is issued as a Request for Quotation.

(iii)The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2023-05, 08/15/2023.

(iv)This procurement is set aside for Small Business. The NAICS code is 562910 and the Small Business Size Standard is $25 Million.

The purpose of this requirement is to assess the suitability of saturated rock backfill within the Main Beal pit for in-situ biological attenuation of selenium.

The proposed investigation will provide essential information on the applicability and optimization of a semi-passive approach to selenium management utilizing the saturated rock backfill at the Main Beal Pit. The rates of biological selenium reduction and attenuation will be determined using waste rock and water samples. If laboratory scale studies demonstrate that amendments support efficient selenium attenuation, this data could provide the basis for future work toward a full-scale semi-passive system.

Through completion of the following tasks, the contractor will evaluate the microbial community present within the saturated pit backfill to understand the extent and rate of existing selenium attenuation. The existing site water quality data base will be reviewed followed by development of a sampling and analysis plan (SAP). The SAP will guide site sample collection of water quality samples and microbial samples from site surface water and groundwater for organisms capable of selenium reduction within the backfilled pit. The contractor will conduct 500 feet of exploratory drilling for water quality monitoring and microbial community sampling within the pit and will obtain material samples for testing. Testing will be designed to understand the existing and potential rate and extent of selenium attenuation by existing microbial communities with the objective of identifying optimal dosage of supplements suitable for long term semi‐passive in situ treatment.