THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE FOR THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD (USCG) RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER (RDC) IN NEW LONDON, CT. This Request For Information (RFI) is part of a market research effort to assess scientific and technical capabilities that will best address the USCG's need. The USCG RDC is chartered to conduct research, development, testing and evaluation activities. USCG has worked jointly with the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Environmental Technology Verification program (ETV) to develop a strict protocol for testing full-scale Ballast Water Treatment (BWT) systems at shoreside testing facilities. While it is possible to conduct rigorous tests of the BWT system's biological efficacy under controlled conditions of shore-based testing, these tests cannot mimic the actual conditions of routine BWT system operation aboard a vessel. Therefore, the USCG intends to require shipboard testing of BWT systems as part of evaluations for approval. The USCG RDC needs to identify testing entities capable of performing shipboard tests of full scale (BWT) systems and vessel owners with vessels that routinely take on ballast in fresh water and have, or will have, installed BWT equipment sufficient to treat all of the ballast water discharged by the vessel. The USCG RDC intends to conduct research to validate and refine a standardized protocol for rigorous shipboard testing of the capabilities of full-scale BWT systems installed aboard vessels. The protocol will address biological efficacy, engineering aspects, and operating requirements and concerns. In an effort to advance the development of BWT systems, the USCG has implemented the Shipboard Technology Evaluation Program (STEP) which provides an incentive to vessel owners and operators to install and operate experimental or prototype treatment systems with demonstrated potential for effective removal or destruction of organisms in ballast water. For the purposes of STEP, "experimental or prototype" refers to systems that have not been approved by the USCG. Information regarding STEP is available at http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg522/cg5224/step.asp. STEP documentation provides recommendations for developing shipboard test plans to aid manufacturers and testers. Under STEP, USCG reviews manufacturers' previous testing results and their plans for future shipboard testing aboard a specific vessel. After review of the prior test results indicating the BWT system's efficacy, and if the proposed shipboard test plan is rigorous, the vessel/BWT system can be accepted into STEP. For the purposes of the planned research to validate and refine shipboard testing protocols, the participating vessel owners may wish to participate in STEP. Regardless, test protocols must be acceptable to the USCG under the review procedures of STEP. The RDC seeks information from testing entities and vessels operating ballast water treatment systems in fresh water. The RDC is collaborating with USCG Environmental Standards Division (CG-5224) and the Maritime Administration (MARAD) to develop and verify a protocol for testing the efficacy and operating characteristics of BWT systems installed aboard vessels. The RDC needs to assess interest in participation in this research effort, determine schedule availability, and understand the potential costs that will be incurred to conduct this testing. No decisions regarding selection of entities to participate in the tests have been made. In the future, it is the RDC's intention to conduct several tests and refine testing protocols subject to schedule and cost constraints. Industry responses to this RFI may formulate the basis for a future solicitation. The shipboard test protocol will draw heavily on the shore-based "ETV protocol" and the testing recommendations in STEP and may be modified based on results of the tests undertaken in this effort. Interested parties can review the shore-based test protocol at the ETV website ( http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/std/etv/vt-wqp.html#bwtt ). STEP requirements and information can be found at http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg522/cg5224/step.asp. To participate in this study, testing entity shall be required to have the following capabilities and resources: 1) The facilities and equipment for conducting biological analyses to determine concentrations of living organisms in three size-classes ( less than 10 microns, between 10 and 50 microns, greater than 50 microns) at the levels of the proposed USCG discharge standard (specific taxa less than 10 microns - 250 Colony Forming Units/100 milliliters; between 10 and 50 microns - 10 organisms/milliliter; greater than 50 microns - 10 organisms/cubic meter); 2) a mix of personnel available for engineering support and for conducting biological analyses according to standard protocols; 3) the ability to write and follow a rigorous quality assurance plan that maximizes the production of credible results; 4) the capability to implement a vessel-specific test plan in accordance with the protocol being developed; 5) the ability to conduct tests, record and analyze data, and generate a report of the results; 6) the ability to interact with the developer of the protocol as a technical expert; and 7) all applicable permits in place for disposing of treated or augmented water. To participate in this study, the vessel shall be required to have the following capabilities and resources: 1) Commercially operate and ballast/deballast in fresh water; 2) have installed or be capable of purchasing/installing (with minimal modification to the vessel), and the capability to operate, a full-scale BWT system capable of working in fresh water; 3) have or be willing to install a sampling port within vessel's ballast water discharge piping; 4) have or be capable of installing a mechanism for disposal of waste sample water; 5) provide access for test team to the vessel, its ballast water piping, and other areas as needed; 6) be available for tests of BWT system a minimum of four times over the course of a 12 month period; and 7) sufficient trained personnel to operate a BWT system and provide assistance during tests. The USCG encourages responses from partnerships between testing entities and vessel owners/operators. However, Independent responses from testing entities or vessel owners/operators are also appreciated. The testing entity shall be required to implement a vessel/system-specific test plan (and provide a quality assurance performance plan) in accordance with protocols for evaluating BWT systems; conduct the tests; record and analyze the data; and generate a final report on the practicability of the test protocol and the performance of the system. The testing entity shall coordinate with the vessel operator regarding schedules and ports of call for the tests. The testing entity shall provide detailed recommendations for revisions of the primary shipboard test protocol. The vessel shall be required to operate the existing or newly installed BWT system during all normal ballasting operations and document/log times of operation, volume treated, power required, supplies used, ease of operation, problems encountered, and problem resolution. The vessel shall coordinate with the testing entity regarding schedules and ports of call for tests. When responding to this market research, if applicable, please describe your partnership by identifying both the testing entity and the vessel to be used. I. Please address all the testing entity requirements listed above when providing the following information: (A) A description of your facility including location; engineering and biological analytic capabilities; and ability to perform biological analyses at locations remote from primary facility; (B) A rough order of magnitude cost estimate for conducting four biological efficacy test procedures for one BWT system installed aboard a commercial vessel 1) Provide estimated costs as labor and facility costs; and 2) Recognize that tests may not all take place at the same port (C) Schedule availability for calendar years 2011 - 2013. Document when entity will be ready to conduct tests, an approximate timeline for each test, and what must be completed before you can meet the schedule and/or test requirements addressed above. Provide the amount of lead-time you require for test scheduling. If the testing entity does not currently meet the requirements of the protocol, what is required to become ready in terms of both technical modifications and estimated cost and time? What equipment and instrumentation will you need to acquire before you will be able to conduct the tests? (D) Provide evidence of security or other access documents (i.e., Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)) that could be required to gain access to marine facilities and restricted areas of a commercial vessel; (E) Copy of the testing entity's quality assurance plan; (F) Provide security or other access requirements necessary for a USCG or other Government representative or Government contractor to review the testing entity's facility as a follow-up to this RFI and for observation of the facility setup and conduct of the tests; (G) Provide a list of personnel available for this type of testing. Include position title and years of professional experience; (H) With regard to the NAICS 541712, please identify if you are a Small or Large Business; and (I) Provide a direct point of contact with name, phone number, and email address. II. When responding to this market research, please address all the vessel owner/operator requirements listed above with regard to the following: A) Vessel identification (name, USCG/IMO number, flag, etc); B) A description of the vessel including class; normal routes and areas of operation; ballast arrangements and flow rates; number and sizes of ballast tanks; engineering and crewing levels; C) A rough order of magnitude cost estimate for conducting four biological efficacy test procedures for the installed BWT system and maintaining records of use; D) Schedule availability for calendar years 2011 - 2013. Document when vessel will be ready to conduct tests, an approximate schedule, and what must be completed before the vessel can meet the schedule and/or test requirements addressed above. (This should include BWT system installation time/schedule, if applicable). Provide the amount of lead-time you require for test scheduling. What equipment and instrumentation will you need to acquire before you will be able to use the BWT system, record data, and conduct the tests? E) Any security or other access requirements necessary for a USCG or other Government representative or Government contractor to review the vessel as a follow-up to this RFI and for observation of the BWT system installation, sampling setup, and conduct of the tests; and F) Please provide a direct point of contact with name, phone number, and email address for further discussions. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this RFI are not offers and will not be accepted by the U.S. Government to form a binding contract. This RFI is issued for information and planning purposes only. The Government will not award a contract on the basis of this RFI or to otherwise pay for information received in response to this RFI. Responses to this market survey shall be sent to
[email protected]. PHONE CALLS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED, VOICE MAIL MESSAGES LEFT WILL NOT BE RETURNED AND EMAILS WILL NOT BE RESPONDED TO (EXCEPT FOR ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT). The deadline for final responses to the RFI is 1 March 2011. Only electronic responses will be accepted.