Description
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking a contractor to continue the operating of the Clean Air Status and Trends Network (CASTNet) which is an existing network of air monitoring stations that collect data for determining the deposition of dry acid precipitation. Currently, CASTNet consists of approximately 82 monitoring stations operating across the U.S. with EPA sponsoring 54 of the stations. The remaining 28 stations are operated by the National Park Service (NPS). The contractor will be required to operate and maintain the fifty-four (54) EPA sponsored sites, as well as two (2) EPA sponsored sites which are collocated in areas covered by the NPS. The contractor shall be responsible for all aspects of operation and maintenance of the network including arranging for site use and providing operators to service samplers, sample analyses, and data transmission for these 56 sites. For the twenty-eight (28) NPS sponsored sites, the Contractor will only be required to analyze samples and manage collected data. The Contractor shall also be required to expand the network by adding new sites. It is estimated that 15 additional sites will be added to the network over the next five years. The current network operation involves collection of samples by drawing air through a filter pack, the use of continuous ozone monitors, and an array of meteorological equipment. Each site is characterized by land use, leaf area, and other vegetation factors. The contractor will procure, test, prepare, package, track, and ship sampling media to each site. The contractor will also be responsible for receiving, storing, extracting, chemically analyzing, and archiving samples. Quality control procedures shall be applied by the contractor to field, laboratory, and data collection operations as confirmed by the contractor's quality control program. Data from field sampling, operator's observations, calibrations, and quality assurance checks is to be collected, validated, analyzed/interpreted, stored, summarized, and delivered by the contractor in a report to EPA. Network documentation related to procurement, testing, site selection, installation, initiation, field operations, sample analysis, data management, quality assurance, training, and any other documentation of existing activities must be prepared, maintained, and updated by the contractor as necessary. Expansion of the network will involve site selection, assurances that site selection requirements are met, and establishing new CASTNet monitoring stations in remote areas of the U.S. It is anticipated that the issuance of RFP No. PR-NC-03-10014 for this effort will take place between mid to late December 2002 and early to mid January 2003 as full and open competition. NAICS 541620 applies ; size standard is $6 million in average annual sales over the last three years. The resulting contract is expected to have a twelve (12) month base period of performance with four (4) 12 month optional periods of performance. For each twelve (12) month period of performance, there will be a base program consisting of the operation and maintenance of the currently operational sites sponsored by EPA. In addition to this base program, there will be Options A and B to address network expansion requirements. Option A will cover the addition of a site to the network without any assistance from state of local agencies/institutions in the selected site area. Option B will cover the addition of a site to the network with assistance from state or local agencies/institutions in the selected site area. EPA anticipates the award of a single contract consisting of: i) a cost plus fixed fee completion component covering the base program as well as Options A and B; ii) a fixed price component to cover sample analyses requirements; and iii) a cost plus fixed fee level of effort component to address non-routine activities or special studies associated with CASTNet. This requirement is a follow-on to contract number 68D98112 with Environmental Science and Engineering, Inc. which will expire on July 29, 2003. The solicitation and amendments will be available via the Internet World Wide Web at http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd. If you obtain a copy of the solicitation via Internet, it will be your responsibility to frequently check the same site where the solicitation is posted for any amendments. Firms who do not have the capability to obtain the solicitation from the Internet, may submit a written request for a diskette with the solicitation in WordPerfect format from the contact point at the address above; however, only those firms who do NOT have the capability to obtain the solicitation from the Internet should request diskettes. Diskettes will not be sent to those firms who have Internet access. If you request a diskette of the solicitation, you will receive amendments by mail, unless you notify us otherwise. Telephone and fax requests will not be honored. Only one copy shall be sent to a corporate entity, regardless of the number of requests from one or more different geographic locations. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the Agency.