NAICS Code: 541710 THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION 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 SOLICITATION. QUOTES ARE BEING REQUESTED, AND A WRITTEN SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED. The solicitation number is RFQ-RT-02-00525, and the solicitation is being issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 01-08. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541710 which has a small business size standard of 500 employees. It is anticipated that the contract will be awarded as a result of small business set-aside. The purpose of this notice is to inform all interested parties that the Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC intends to award a Firm-fixed-price purchase order as a result of this solicitation. Award will be made to a single contractor for all analyses. The period of performance will be from date of award to 30 September 2005. This procurement is for the taxonomic analysis for a minimum of 50 samples (maximum 250 samples) of benthic biota collected from estuarine or near-coastal areas in the Gulf of Mexico primarily from Pensacola area. Some samples may come from estuaries from the Central Gulf Region (MS/LA line to Panama City FL. The samples submitted will be from samples collected between October 2002 and December 2004. The minimum number of samples (50) will be submitted by the end of October 2003. Additional samples will be at the option of the government. The 0.04 m2 benthic samples shall be pre-sieved (wet) through a 0.5 mm mesh sieve and preserved in Rose-Bengal formalin. The contractor shall be responsible for species enumeration and taxonomic identification. The contractor shall be required to submit a copy of their Quality Assurance/Quality Control protocols including methods for sorting, counting, and taxonomic identification to the EPA Project Officer. In addition to taxonomic analyses, a minimum of 15 selected samples (identified at submission, before taxonomic analysis begins) shall be submitted for biomass measurement (Ash Free Dry Weight) of major taxonomic groups (i.e., gastropods, bivalves, echinoderms, Annelids), or by species. The contractor shall also perform sorting of the animals by species (after taxonomic enumeration and identification) for return to the EPA laboratory for elemental analyses, (contractor will provide containers for sorting). Results shall be reported in an electronic format no less than nine months after submission of the samples. A copy of the cover letter which accompanies the results shall be sent to the EPA Contracting Officer. The contractor shall also provide a hard-copy output of data files (i.e., spreadsheets) for the purpose of quality assurance to the Project Officer. A written report detailing the methods used and the results of QA measures shall be provided by the contractor. The contractor shall transfer copies of all technical, fiscal, and programmatic files regarding this contract to the Project Officer. These files shall be boxed in accordance with Federal Record Keeping Standards in boxes required by the Records Center and labeled as " COMMUNITY COMPOSITION ANALYSIS, Contractor Name / Contract Number" and contain an internal and external packing slip that identifies the specific contents of each box. The external packing slip shall be affixed to the exterior of the box. The report for each type of biota shall include the following information: the total number of taxa for each sample, the total number of individuals of each taxa for each sample, and biomass of major groups or species if requested. The contractor shall provide EPA with a cost estimate on a per sample basis for each of the contract line items found below and based on the number of samples projected for each line item. Costs for the retention of samples at the contractors facility for two years following final report submission shall be included. ITEM 1) The contractor shall perform benthic macroinvertebrate analyses on a minimum of 50 (maximum 250) samples. Each sample shall be pre-sieved through a 0.5 mm mesh sieve to separate all fauna of interest from sample debris, such as sediment, detritus and shells or exoskeletons. All fauna retained on the 0.5 mm sieve shall be sorted, identified, enumerated and included as macrofauna by the contractor. The taxonomic identity, abundance, and other information described in the Scope of Work shall be calculated for each sample and included in the report. Contractor's cost estimate should reflect the cost for the minimum of 50 and a cost estimate for the additional optional samples of 200. ITEM 2) Biomass by group - In addition to taxonomic analysis, a minimum of 15 samples shall be submitted for biomass measurement of either major groups (i.e., gastropods, bivalves, echinoderms, Annelids). Biomass will be measured as Ash Free Dry Weight, based on difference in dry weight after drying at 60 to 70 C and weight of residues after burning samples in a muffle furnace (approximately 500 C). Weight shall be reported to the nearest milligram. ITEM 3) Biomass by species)- As part of the minimum of 15 samples to be submitted for biomass measurement for item 2, some samples may be submitted for biomass measurement by species. Biomass shall be measured as Ash Free Dry Weight, based on difference in dry weight after drying at 60 to70 C and weight of residues after burning sample in a muffle furnace (approximately 500 C). Weight shall be reported to the nearest milligram. ITEM 4) Sorting by species - In addition to taxonomic analysis, a minimum of 5 samples shall be submitted for sorting and return to this laboratory. Benthic organisms sorted by species shall be placed in containers identifying species and sample origin. Sorted samples shall be returned to this laboratory for subsequent elemental analysis. The following FAR provisions apply to this solicitation: 52-212-1, Instructions to Offers/Commercial Items; 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Items. Evaluation criteria to be included in paragraph (a) of provision 52.212-2 are as follows: (i) TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES CRITERIA - 1) Provide a copy of QA/QC protocols including methods for splitting, counting, and taxonomic identification; 2) Demonstrate previous experience conducting taxonomic analysis of the three biota types indigenous to the northern Gulf of Mexico; 3) Brief explanation of methods used for taxonomy with references; 4) Ability to meet the deadlines for the project; 5) Plan to submit a final report (electronic format) as required; and 6) Plan to store raw data for 2 years following analysis; (ii) PAST PERFORMANCE - Provide at least 3 references for previous related projects conducted in the last 3 years. Include project description, contact person and telephone number. Past performance will be evaluated on quality of product or service, timeliness of performance, ability to adhere to deadlines, and overall customer satisfaction. and (iii) PRICE. Technical capability and past performance when combined are significantly more important than price. Award will be made to the offeror whose offer represents the best value to the Government, price and other factors considered. Offerors must satisfactorily meet all of the technical requirements to be considered "technically acceptable." All offerors are to include with their response a completed copy of provision 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items. The following FAR clauses apply to this acquisition: 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items, 52.246-11, Higher Level Contract Quality Requirement, 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders--Commercial Items and the following additional FAR clauses which are cited in clauses 52.212-5: 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities; 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity, 52.222-35, Affirmative Action for Special Disabled and Vietnam Era Veterans; 52.222-36 Affirmative Action for Handicapped Workers; 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era; 52.222-41, Service Contract Act of 1965, As Amended. Any applicable wage determination(s)(if required) will be made a part of the resultant purchase order. Technical questions are to be forwarded via email no later 08 October 2002 to the Contract Specialist at the following email address:
[email protected]. In addition to this Request for Quotation, offerors should review the Statement of Work and other information posted with this Request for Quotation on EPA's web site at http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd. Arrow down to the REQUEST FOR QUOTATION section and click on the solicitation. Arrow down below that section to COMMERCIAL BUY CLAUSES AND FORMS which are provided for your convenience. Please submit two copies of the technical proposal and two copies of the price proposal to Joy Kimble, Contract Specialist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, RTP-POD, D143-01, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. Courier Delivery Address is: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, RTP-POD, D143-01, 4930 Old Page Road, Attn: Joy Kimble, E105-02, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. All offers are due by 15 October 2002, 4:00 p.m. ET. No telephonic or faxed requests or offers will be honored.