R -- Modification to Increase Scope of Work under Contract 68-C-02-088

The U.S. EPA, National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Mercury Technology Services under the authority of FAR Part 6.302-1 for a modification under existing Contract 68-C-02-088 to conduct the final phase of a three phase study to determine the mercury content of the U.S. petroleum supply. Under the contract, the contractor is required to perform the following tasks: (1) Produce a Quality Assurance Project Plan, (2) Obtain crude oil samples and supporting information needed to perform statistical analysis, (3) Construct a sampling plan that will provide a statistically acceptable mean and standard deviation of the mercury concentation in the U.S. oil supply, (4) Analyze samples, (5) Distribute samples as required and maintain chain of custody records, (6) Schedule sampling to occur such that aging does not become a factor and identify samples for which mercury speciation is required, (7) Receive, assemble and statistically analyze the data to determine the mean, standard deviation, and confidence level, and (8) provide monthly reports and a final report or peer-reviewed journal article. Under the proposed modification, the contractor shall obtain and analyze an additional 215 samples. This notice is not a request for competitive proposals. EPA source research indicates Mercury Technology Services is uniquely qualified to meet this requirement. The work to be performed requires: extensive contacts throughout the petroleum industry; in-depth knowledge of the pollutant chemistries of the gas and oil industry with an emphasis on the chemistry of mercury; the ability to model the fate of various mercury speicies in the gas and oil processing industries; and in-depth knowledge of mercury cleanup and mercury control technologies available to the gas and oil industries. Mercury Technology Services conducted the first two phases of the study and is thoroughly familiar with the project. Its personnel are the only ones known with the required combination of knowledge, experience, abilities, and established relationships needed to complete the final phase of this study. However, any firm believing itself capable of meeting EPA requirements may submit technical documentation to establish the potential of complying with the statement of work. Such documentation must be submitted to the POC within 15 days of electronic posting of this notice. A determination not to compete the proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement or to proceed on a sole source basis for the proposed contract modification. This acquisition is being processed under FAR Part 15, Contracting By Negotiation. The applicable NAICS code is 541620. The anticipated effctive date for the modification is 3/1/05. See Numbered Note 26.