NAICS Code: 541380 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to award a sole source purchase order to Research Triangle Institute (RTI), 3040 Corwallis Road- Building 6, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 to perform quantitative elemental content analysis by Inductively Coupled Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) on samples as described below. This will include analysis of groups of 5-10 (ICP-AES) elements and 6-10 (ICP-MS) elements characteristic of a single source emission PM, or multi element analysis of suites of elements to provide characterization of ambient PM samples with many component sources. Elemental concentrations of interest in the samples will generally be in the microgram to sub-microgram per g range. The turn around time will be 6 weeks for a batch of 26-100 samples. This purchase allows for the determination of elemental content of particulate matter (PM)- derived samples produced by and for the Pulmonary Toxicology Branch's PM research program. Samples will include bulk PM, PM on filters, PM extracts, and biological samples. Samples will be submitted in batches >25 samples/batch on an infrequent and random schedule based on program needs by the Project Officer/Agency throughout the entire Period of Performance. RTI has performed elemental metal analyses for the Human Studies Division/NHEERL on filters from the ambient air and their Concentrated Ambient Particle System (CAPS), an experimental system used to expose human volunteers to concentrated ambient particles. A similar CAPS system is used by the Experimental Toxicology Division/NHEERL to expose laboratory rats to concentrated ambient particle matter. This collaborative research program compares and analyzes the health effects data from both humans and rats. The rat data is extrapolated to humans and used in mathematical modeling and lung dosimetry research. The data generated in both divisions is part of the EPA's high priority PM program and is used in peer reviewed papers and publications. It has been shown that data collected in different laboratories can yield different results. In addition, the possibility of inconsistent results would result in negative peer reviews. Since the data is used in EPA's regulatory process, it is subjected to intense scrutiny by the Federal Government, the scientific community and the public. Data quality and consistency is imperative. Since the past and current HSD filters have and are being analyzed by the proposed vendor, the filters from the rat exposures must be analyzed by the same vendor to eliminate unknown variables that can occur and to eliminate potential problems in the peer review process. No other vendor is acceptable. The intended procurement vehicle is a firm-fixed price purchase order. The resulting purchase order will be written with "not to exceed" amounts including a base year [249 samples-(172 ICP-MS, 77 ICP-AES); 139 optional quantities (98 ICP-MS, 41 ICP-AES)] plus four ordering periods [324 samples each period (224 ICP-MS, 100 ICP-AES)]. The contractor will be entitled to submit an invoice and receive partial payment of the purchase order amount upon completion of any order and approval of the project officer. The period of performance for this requirement is expected to be from the date of award through April 30, 2003. All interested parties must respond within 15 days of the date of this announcement. Interested parties shall: 1) include information on the proposed services which clearly supports the requirements outlined above; 2) provide itemized pricing that is sufficient to make a determination that competition is feasible. The intent of this synopsis is to determine if any source(s) exist, and therefore, no Request for Quote (RFQ) is available. Consequently, any response failing to provide the aforementioned data but instead choosing to merely submit a routine letter requesting a copy of the RFQ willbe ignored. No telephonic responses will be honored. Submit response to U.S. EPA, RTP Procurement Operations Division (E105-02), Attn: Robin Harris, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. Email address:
[email protected]. Any challenge must be received by 3:00 PM on July 5, 2002. If no affirmative responses are received by the deadline to determine whether a qualified source is more advantageous to the Government, an order will be placed with RTI.