Industrial Hygienists consulting services

The Auraria Higher Education Center (AHEC) in conjunction with the Colorado Office of the State Architect issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Industrial Hygienists consulting services to provide comprehensive asbestos-containing materials (ACM) and lead-containing materials assessment and monitoring across the Denver County and Denver City jurisdictions. The scope of work includes survey, bulk sampling, inspection, investigation, and report preparation for hazardous materials; hazard assessment and response action recommendations; planning of scope, timing, phasing, and remediation methods for abatement projects; project oversight and monitoring; and comprehensive reporting on abatement activities and air monitoring results. Prospective firms must have been in business for at least three years performing asbestos and lead survey, design, air testing, and monitoring services and must meet strict staffing requirements including one Project Manager with three years of experience, three Field Technicians certified as Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Asbestos Air Monitoring Specialists, three Field Technicians certified as CDPHE Asbestos and Lead Building Inspectors, and one CDPHE-certified Asbestos and Lead Project Designer. Technical proposals were evaluated on firm experience (25 percent), key personnel experience (20 percent), project organization and technical approach (20 percent), experience with higher education and K-12 clients (15 percent), scheduling ability and personnel availability (10 percent), and office location within 125 miles of Denver (5 percent). The RFQ was posted on April 7, 2015, with written questions due by April 21, 2015, and proposals due by May 7, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. local time at the AHEC Administration Building in Denver, Colorado, with oral interviews anticipated for the week of May 25, 2015. Up to three firms were expected to be selected, and submissions required six hard copies plus one electronic copy.

The RFQ mandated that selected firms utilize an independent laboratory with NVLAP and AIHA accreditation to avoid conflicts of interest with abatement contractors, and all firms were required to disclose any asbestos enforcement cases during the evaluation process. The procurement documents did not specify any disadvantaged enterprise set-asides, incumbent vendors, or current contractors, nor did they identify a specific budget range or award value for the engagement. The geographic preference for firms located within 125 miles of Denver indicated AHEC's prioritization of local proximity, though this criterion represented only five percent of the overall evaluation score.