Request for the Operation of the Clean Air Status and Trends Network (CASTNET) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 12-Acquisition of Commercial Items and FAR Part 15-Contracting by Negotiation, intends to award a sole source one (1) year bridge contract to the current provider, AMEC Environment & Infrastructure, Inc., to provide monitoring services of the Clean Air Status and Trends Network (CASTNET), which has been used to characterize trends in deposition levels and atmospheric concentrations of air pollutants and their precursors. This includes requirements to operate and maintain 90 CASTNET monitoring stations that provide air quality and atmospheric deposition data for 39 states and Ontario, Canada. The contractor will provide all materials, supplies, services and utilities necessary for the operation of these stations, and collect and ship air quality samples to the laboratory. The contractor will also maintain the inventory and tracking system for over 30,000 parts and eq uipment owned by EPA. EPA requires the contractor to electronically obtain air quality and meteorological data from all EPA monitoring stations and submit this data to EPA on a daily basis. On March 2011, EPA's Forum on Environmental Measurements (FEM) issued a policy titled, "Policy to Assure Competency of Laboratories, Field Sampling, and Other Organizations Generating Environmental Measurement Data under Agency-Funded Acquisitions," which can be located at the following link: http://www.epa.gov/fem/pdfs/fem-lab-competency-policy.pdf This policy mandates that any organization generating environmental data under Agency funded acquisitions must submit documentation of their competency, which shall include participation in applicable certification and/or accreditation programs. Laboratory methods (accreditations) that are required under the CASTNET scope of work include all seven (7) of the following: * EPA 300.0 (Modified) Determination of Inorganic Anions By IC * EPA 350.1 (Modified) Determination of Ammonia/Ammonium by AC * EPA 6010B (Modified) Determination of Inorganic Cations by ICP-OES * EPA 150.1 Determination of Hydrogen Ion (pH) * EPA 120.1 Determination of Specific Conductance * EPA QA Guidance 2.12 40 CFR Part 50, App L Determination of PM2.5-PM10 * EPA QA Guidance 2.11 40 CFR Part 50, App J Determination of PM10 Therefore, pursuant to FAR Subpart 6.302-1(a)(2), which implements 41 U.S.C. 254(c)(1), AMEC Environment & Infrastructure, Inc., is the only responsible source and is the only US laboratory that has been certified in all methods required by the CASTNET scope of work. This requirement includes the FAR 52.217-8 Option to Extend Services clause. EPA has only one known source for this procurement that is in the Government's best interest. If there are other potential sources, submit your interest in strict accordance with these instructions below. No solicitation or Request for Proposal (RFP) is available for this procurement. Nevertheless, any company or individual that believes it is capable of meeting the EPA requirements described herein may submit a capabilities statement and evidence of a current accreditations to cover from now through a minimum of January 30, 2016 (estimated end date of bridge contract) but also specify accreditation date beyond this minimum; which, if received within ten (10) calendar days of the date of this announcement, will be considered. Responses to this posting must be submitted via e-mail with an email subject "Capability Statement & Proof of Accreditation for CASTNET" as no phone calls will be accepted. A determination not to compete the described bridge contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Federal Government. Any questions or comments should be directed to the Contracting Officer via e-mail at
[email protected]. Additional Info: For more information about this opportunity, including the statement of work, visit www.FedConnect.net