GLIN==> Clarifications - Support to U.S. EPA Great Lakes Fish Monitoring and Surveillance Program

We received two requests for clarification. The responses to these 
questions are being provided to all potential bidders. Each clarification 
is numbered to the appropriate response.

Clarification #1: The solicitation describes what the qualifications 
package should include but is there a standard format that the 
qualifications package should be in? Is there a template or any desires 
for specific file formats?

Response #1: No specific format is desired. Information can be submitted 
via Microsoft Word, Adobe Portable Document Format, etc.

Clarification #2: We would like to request further information on what is 
required to demonstrate whether our laboratory meets the specifications 
for the clean laboratory specifications in the RFP.

Response #2: We are interested in assuring that the Sample Prep Lab does 
not introduce contamination with the target analytes during sample 
homogenization, physical data collection, and aliquotting process. At a 
minimum, interested bidders should describe the cleaning procedures your 
laboratory uses to ensure cross-contamination between samples does not 
occur, and the homogenization equipment itself does not contaminate the 
samples. Ideally, bidders also should be able to submit data demonstrating 
the system in place for homogenization efforts eliminates or minimizes 
introduction of contamination into the process. This can be accomplished 
through submission of results for equipment blanks (e.g., rinsates, a 
clean tissue matrix such as synthetic skin or chicken tissue, etc.) for 
some of the primary analytes of interest (such as mercury, PCB congeners, 
mirex, chlordane, etc.), particularly those that are known to be common 
sources of contamination at low levels.

Just as a reminder, all responses to this solicitation are due on Tuesday, 
August 30, 2011 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Kind regards,
Molly

Molly Middlebrook Amos
Environmental Analyst Leader
CSC

6101 Stevenson Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia 22304
Science and Engineering Mission Support | p: 703.496.7167 | f: 
703.461.8056 | mmiddlebrook at csc.com | www.csc.com

This is a PRIVATE message. If you are not the intended recipient, please 
delete without copying and kindly advise us by e-mail of the mistake in 
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bind CSC to any order or other contract unless pursuant to explicit 
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e-mail for such purpose.



From:
Molly D Middlebrook/USA/CSC
To:
glin-announce at great-lakes.net
Date:
08/16/2011 12:21 PM
Subject:
Support to U.S. EPA Great Lakes Fish Monitoring and Surveillance Program


CSC is operating under contract to U.S. EPA and has been tasked with 
assisting U.S. EPA in implementing the Great Lakes Fish Monitoring and 
Surveillance Program (GLFMSP). As part of its support to U.S. EPA, CSC is 
seeking the services of a laboratory that can receive, store, prepare, 
process, homogenize, and composite fish samples collected from the Great 
Lakes. A statement of work (SOW) that describes the required services is 
attached. Briefly, these activities include:

·       receive fish from field sampling teams and store (frozen) the fish 
appropriately, 
·       inspect the fish for any abnormalities,
·       scan and retrieve (when applicable) coded wire tags from each fish 
(coded wire tag wand will be provided), 
·       remove and maintain fish fin clips and otoliths (when applicable),
·       record physical measurements of each fish,
·       determine the gender, age, and maturation stage (when applicable) 
of each fish, 
·       remove and maintain fish scales of each fish for archival purposes 
(when applicable),
·       generate and tag fish composites with a GLFMSP composite ID (when 
applicable),
·       generate and tag each fish with an individual fish ID (when 
applicable),
·       identify stomach contents (when applicable),
·       composite and homogenize fish samples, 
·       create and prepare mega-composites,
·       aliquot homogenized samples into various containers of appropriate 
size and material for each recipient, 
·       store frozen sample aliquots until the aliquots are scheduled to 
be shipped to designated recipients,
·       ensure the sample homogenization and process for creating aliquots 
does not introduce contamination for the target analytes listed in 
Attachment 1 of the enclosed SOW, and 
·       prepare and provide data reports and deliverables. 

Interested laboratories must be able to perform these activities, as 
described in the attached SOW, demonstrate their proficiency in performing 
these activities, and be willing and able to abide by the requirements of 
this SOW, including the anticipated study schedule. Interested bidders 
must already possess the equipment and materials needed to perform the 
activities in the attached SOW, and must have the standard operating 
procedures (SOPs) and the required analytical instrumentation needed to 
fulfill the objectives. To ensure these criteria are met and to obtain 
additional information necessary for study implementation, interested labs 
must submit a Qualification Package as part of their bid submission. This 
qualification package must include:

1)      Information that demonstrates the laboratory is capable of 
performing the SOW activities without introducing contaminants into fish 
samples (e.g., equipment rinsate blank data for the target analytes of 
interest). Such information should include: (1) historical data that 
demonstrates the effectiveness of its proposed contamination monitoring 
approach, (2) a brief description or summary of the historical data and 
the contamination control and monitoring approach used to generate this 
data. If the bidder anticipates modifying the procedures used to generate 
the historical data in order to meet the GLFMSP objectives described in 
this SOW, the bidder also must describe these anticipated modifications.
2)      SOPs the laboratory will use to implement the SOW activities. In 
lieu of submitting detailed SOPs for each of these activities during the 
bidding process, the laboratory may submit a summary of their proposed 
approach to implementing these activities. Such a summary must include a 
description of their proposed approach and order for performing the sample 
processing activities prior to sample homogenization and creating aliquots 
which are listed in Section 3.1 of the attached SOW.

If summary information is provided in lieu of SOPs during the bidding 
process, the awarded laboratory must submit complete, detailed SOPs for 
all SOW activities prior to commencing work under this SOW.

Bids must be submitted on the enclosed Bid Response Sheets (Attachment B) 
and must be accompanied by the qualification package described above.

Enclosed, you will find a bid solicitation package comprised of:
·       Attachment A, Bid Sheet Instructions
·       Attachment B, Bid Response Sheet for Great Lakes Fish Monitoring 
and Surveillance Program Fish Homogenization Services
·       Attachment C, Statement of Work for Great Lakes Fish Monitoring 
and Surveillance Program Fish Homogenization Services
Please review the solicitation package documents at your earliest 
convenience and follow the instructions in Attachment A when completing 
the bid sheets. Bidders may submit questions to Molly Middlebrook Amos 
(mmiddlebrook at csc.com), via e-mail no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Time 
Tuesday, August 23, 2011.  CSC will compile all bidder questions, respond 
to the questions, and provide all questions with responses to each and 
every bidder by Thursday, August 25, 2011 via e-mail. 
CSC will award the contract on the basis of “best value” to U.S. EPA, not 
simply based on lowest price.  If you are interested in bidding on this 
project, your signed Bid Response Sheets and Lab Qualification Package 
must be received electronically no later than the close of business (COB) 
on August 30, 2011.

CSC anticipates that a purchase order for this project will be awarded on 
or about October 17, 2011.  CSC will task the laboratory to perform 
specific activities under this SOW through written authorization. The 
Sample Prep Lab may not proceed with activities specified in this SOW 
until receipt of written authorization to begin the work to be performed 
has been received. 

If you have any comments or questions regarding this solicitation or the 
study, please contact Molly Middlebrook Amos at (703) 496-7167or 
mmiddlebrook at csc.com.

Sincerely,

Molly Middlebrook Amos
Environmental Analyst Leader
CSC

6101 Stevenson Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia 22304
Science and Engineering Mission Support | p: 703.496.7167 | f: 
703.461.8056 | mmiddlebrook at csc.com | www.csc.com

Enclosures

Attachment A: Bid Sheet Instructions
Attachment B: Bid Response Sheet
Attachment C: Statement of Work

[attachment "GLFMSP_Homogenization_Solicitation_2011.pdf" deleted by Molly 
D Middlebrook/USA/CSC] [attachment "GLFMSP Bid Sheet_081611.xls" deleted 
by Molly D Middlebrook/USA/CSC] 

This is a PRIVATE message. If you are not the intended recipient, please 
delete without copying and kindly advise us by e-mail of the mistake in 
delivery. 
NOTE: Regardless of content, this e-mail shall not operate to bind CSC to 
any order or other contract unless pursuant to explicit written agreement 
or government initiative expressly permitting the use of e-mail for such 
purpose.



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