Description
This is a NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only acknowledgment and a written solicitation will not be issued. This contract is being procured on a sole source basis due to the fact that GE Betz Inc. is the only service provider of Legionella-Testing services and an CDC Elite Testing Lab (Environmental Legionella Isolation Techniques Evaluation) Program. No other known company provides the service. This acquisition is being procured on an unusual and compelling basis as a result of this being the analysis and water testing service for bio-hazards to include but not limited to Legionella in the water for the Cincinnati VAMC, which is required by the Safe Drinking Water Act. The contract duration is upon completion as stated in the statement of work. This requirement is unrestricted-insufficient small business for commercial items under the North Atlantic Industrial Classification System (NAICS) 325998. Statement of Work Water Testing for Sinks, Showers and Ice Machines 1. Scope of Work: a. The Contractor shall provide all labor, material and equipment required to provide water testing services for the Cincinnati VAMC. To include 20 water samples (10 hot and 10 cold) for each of the following buildings building #1 (main hospital), building #2 (CLC), building #16 (Fisher House) and building #64 (Fort Thomas Division). These services are to collect and test domestic water supplied areas (sinks, showers & ice machine) that possibly could be a source of retaining fungi, protozoa and bacteria such as Legionella spp., Pseudomonas spp., non-tuberculosis mycobacteria and Escherichia coli. Test to be required are: Total heterotrophic aerobic bacteria (THAB), Non-pneumophila Legionella species, Legionella pneumophila (serogroup 1 and 2-14). Tests are to be performed during the 4th quarter of FY14. b. The contractor shall provide 3 Legionella testing services - a measurement of viable Legionella (live or dead) within 2-4 days of sample; an ISO 1173 spread plate and a PCR method. All tests will be performed by a CDC Elite Testing Lab (Environmental Legionella Isolation Techniques Evaluation (ELITE) Program. All samples are to be inoculated at the time the sample is taken, to prevent bacteria growth. The limit of detection for testing is to be CFU/ml. c. The Contractor will also collect the Chlorine levels and PH levels along with the temperature of both the Hot and Cold water samples. d. CHAIN OF CUSTODY RECORDS (COC): Chain of Custody Records will be provided upon request to use in order to document sample collection, identification, location, conditions, and sample traceability. e. SAMPLE COLLECTION: 1. Collect each water sample in a clean, unused, Dip Slide bottle. 2. It is recommended by the Cincinnati VA Facility to use dip slide format which means that the sample is inoculated immediately in the field water sample. This eliminates inaccuracies due to bacterial growth or decline in water samples during transport to the laboratory. 3. Cooling tower, decorative fountain, AHU, and closed loop samples require same dip slide test for Legionella analysis. 4. A minimum of twenty potable water samples (10 Hot & 10 Cold) must be taken for an Overall Building Risk Assessment. 5. Using a waterproof marker, label each bottle with a unique sample number corresponding to the sample site listed on the COC record. 6. The Chlorine, PH levels and water Temperatures will be logged and documented. Document will be associated in the final report. f. SAMPLE ANALYSIS - TURNAROUND TIMES: 1. Standard Legionella Culture Analysis - Laboratory results shall be made available within 10 to 14 business days of receipt with preliminary results in two to four days. 2. RUSH Legionella Culture Analysis - Laboratory results shall be made available within 7-10 business days of receipt. 3. EMERGENCY Legionella Culture Analysis - Laboratory results shall be made available in 3-4 days involving weekend processing & reporting. Please call the lab to schedule. 4. Note that Rush & Emergency test results shall be released in 3 days (72 hours) after sample receipt for samples confirmed to contain viable Legionella at levels associated with a high risk for Legionnaires disease. Samples containing lower levels require 4 days (96 hours) after sample receipt before results shall be released. g. SAMPLE SHIPPING: 1. Place the COC Record in a zip-top bag to protect against water damage and include this in the package with samples. 2. Securely tighten bottle caps to prevent leaking and potential cross-contamination. Electrical tape can be wrapped around bottle caps to prevent leaks. 3. Ship sample overnight the day they are collected; deliveries by noon the following day. 4. Rush & Emergency samples must be shipped overnight to lab for morning delivery. 5. If samples are collected on Friday and cannot be delivered to the laboratory that day, refrigerate the samples and ship overnight on Monday. Check the box on the bottom of the Chain of Custody Record noting these events. This surpassing CDC guidelines for the collection and shipping of Legionella samples for culture analysis. A report must be done for samples arriving at the laboratory after 72 hours of collection without refrigeration.