Water Quality Analytical Services

Added: Feb 13, 2018 4:23 pm

The Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District Office, is issuing this special notice to inform industry of the intent to solicit and negotiate solely with the Institute for Environmental Health (IEH), Seattle, WA for nutrient (phosphorus and nitrogen) and all associated anion, cation, metals, and chlorophyll analysis on water samples collected in the watersheds of Libby Dam, Albeni Falls Dam, Chief Joseph Dam, Howard Hanson Dam and Mud Mountain Dam.

A determination not to compete this proposed contract has been made IAW FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), Soliciting from a Single Source. For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available. This procurement is being conducted under Simplified Acquisition Procedures, only one source is reasonably available. This notice of intent is not a formal solicitation or request for competitive proposals. No solicitation document is available and telephone requests will not be honored. No award will be made on the basis of quotations or offers received in response to this notice.

Interested parties may identify their interest and capabilities no later than 9:00 AM Pacific Time on February 20, 2018. E-mailed statements are acceptable, but the senders bear full responsibility to ensure complete transmission and timely receipt. All inquiries and concerns must be addressed, in writing, to this e-mail: Gregory.Cook@usace.army.mil. Any response to this notice must show clear, compelling and convincing evidence that competition will be advantageous to the Government. The intent of this synopsis is for informational purposes only. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement for future requirements. A determination by the Government not to compete this action based on this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.

Justification:
(a) Extremely low concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen exist at all reservoirs and rivers, mandating that the water quality laboratory use ultra-clean analytical techniques and that the laboratory provide ultra-low reporting limits for phosphorus and nitrogen. Laboratory analytical procedures must follow U.S. EPA approved methods to meet the low reporting limits and enable direct comparison of analytical results. Consequently, the water quality laboratory must be accredited by the Washington State Department of Ecology for the following analytical methods and meet or exceed the following reporting limits:

 Total Phosphorus (SM18 4500PF) 0.002 mg/L
 Soluble Reactive Phosphorus (SM18 4500PF) 0.001 mg/L
 Total Nitrogen (SM20 4500NC) 0.050 mg/L
 Nitrate+Nitrite Nitrogen (SM18 4500NO3F) 0.010 mg/L
 Ammonia (SM18 4500NH3H) 0.005 mg/L

The methods and reporting limits shown above must be achieved by the water quality laboratory or else the samples will not be accurate and valid, thereby compromising the data for all water quality projects conducted by the Seattle District.

(b) Seattle District Water Management conducts water quality sampling at Libby Dam, Montana, and Albeni Falls Dam, Idaho during the same sampling trip. Seattle District Water Management requires lab analysis for water quality samples to meet the EPA's holding time criteria of 48 hours as outlined in 40 CFR Ch. I Required Containers, Preservation Techniques, and Holding Times. For soluble reactive phosphorus, samples must be filtered and analyzed by the lab within 48 hours of collection. Sampling conducted at Libby Dam and Albeni Falls Dam are conducted during the same sampling period. Since there is no shipping facility open in Libby, Montana, on the same day after samples have been collected, and the sample holding time is 48 hours, the samples must be hand delivered to a lab within the King County metro area in order to meet EPA holding times.

A typical sampling schedule at Libby Dam and Albeni Falls Dam is shown below:

Day 1
Travel from Seattle, Washington to Libby, Montana

Day 2
0700 Depart Libby, Montana
0800 Arrive Libby Dam
0900 Leave Dock
0900 - 1700 Sampling Lake Koocanusa **(1st sample collected at about 1100 - holding time starts)
1700 - 1730 Unload sampling gear from boat
1730 - 1800 Collect tailwater sample
1800 - 1930 Drive to Sandpoint, Idaho

Day 3
0700 Depart Sandpoint, Idaho
0730 Load boat with sampling gear
0830-1430 Sampling Lake Pend Oreille
1430-1530 Drive to Albeni Falls Dam
1530-1600 Sample Albeni Falls Forebay
1600-1630 Unload sampling gear from boat
1630-2130 Drive to Seattle, Washington

Day 4
0800 Deliver samples to lab.

The timeline above breaks down the average time it takes to obtain and submit samples from the specified locations, leaving approximately 3 hours, or less, remaining to deliver Lake Koocanusa phosphorus samples to the lab to be filtered and analyzed to meet the 48 hour hold time.