NR-ARD-271 IMPROVE ION ANALYSIS RFP

This government solicitation, Standard Form 1449, is for a Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) contract, specifically for an 'IMPROVE Ion Analysis Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ)' service. The acquisition is set aside for WOSBs and has a NAICS code of 541380 with a size standard of $19 million. The contract will be a single-award, firm-fixed-price type, with one base year and five one-year ordering periods. The period of performance is from August 1, 2026, to July 31, 2031, with a delivery date of June 30, 2031. The issuing office is NPS, NCR - Regional Contracting Acquisition Management Division, and the contracting officer is Christina Gingras. This document outlines the terms, conditions, and requirements for potential contractors to submit offers for air quality special studies and analysis.

The U.S. Department of Interior National Park Service (NPS) has issued Solicitation 140P2126Q0009 – Attachment 3, a Past Performance Questionnaire for an IMPROVE Ion Analysis Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. This document outlines the process for evaluating offeror past performance, a critical source selection factor. It includes two forms: a Performance Rating Form and a Supplemental Comment Form. Offerors are responsible for submitting completed questionnaires, though the Government may verify information with references. The questionnaire defines rating standards (Outstanding, Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory, Other) and evaluates performance across technical approach, understanding of requirements, resource utilization, timeliness, quality/customer satisfaction, business behavior, communication, and cost control. It also asks if the evaluator would do business with the contractor again. The information collected is considered Source Selection Sensitive and cannot be used by the contractor for promotional purposes.

The document outlines Factor 5: Small Business Participation, detailing how offerors will be evaluated on their commitment to utilizing U.S. small businesses in federal acquisitions. This applies to both small and other than small businesses. Small business offerors certified in SAM.gov automatically receive maximum credit. For all other offerors, evaluation criteria include the identification and participation extent of small socio-economic and Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise subcontractors, adherence to or exceeding DOI subcontracting goals (e.g., 45.87% for Small Business, 5% for SDB), demonstration of substantive commitment through binding agreements like joint ventures, clarity on the type and variety of work small firms will perform, detailed supporting documentation for proposed participation, and compliance with FAR 52.219-8. The government's objective is to determine the best value in terms of small business participation.

This document is a Standard Form 1449,

The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking a contractor for ion analysis of IMPROVE (Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments) nylon filters, specifically module B. This effort supports the Regional Haze Rule, which mandates monitoring to protect air quality and visibility in Class I federal areas. The contractor will analyze approximately 18,000 filters annually for nitrite, nitrate, sulfate, and chloride using established protocols, including ion chromatography. Key responsibilities involve filter receipt, sample storage, extraction, analysis, and comprehensive data reporting with rigorous quality assurance. The contractor must maintain up-to-date documentation, participate in Steering Committee meetings, and demonstrate competency in filter handling, extraction, and laboratory analysis with equivalent or better detection limits, precision, and extraction efficiencies than current methods. The contract has five 1-year ordering periods with an option for an additional six months.

This government file details the cost and labor breakdown for "Task 1: Standard Analysis" under "3.3 Network Operations" for a New IDIQ contract, spanning five ordering periods from 2026-2027 to 2030-2031, with an optional six-month extension. The total estimated cost for the life of the contract is $240,000, with an annual cost of $40,000 for standard analysis, assuming 17,300 filters. Each ordering period outlines identical costs and labor requirements for various deliverables, including Sample Extraction, Sample Analysis, Filter Supply and Distribution, Filter Receipt and Sample Storage, Quality Assurance, Data Reduction and Reporting, Quality Assurance Report, Network Documentation, and Steering Committee Meetings. The cost allocation for each ordering period includes $5,000 for travel and $35,000 for other direct costs such as lab supplies and instrument service contracts, with no capital or subcontracting costs. Direct labor is listed with hours but no rates or costs, indicating that these are incorporated into the overall task cost. Minimum qualifications for personnel (Principal Investigator, Scientist, Data Analyst, Lab Technician) are also specified.

This Task Order Statement of Work outlines the requirements for a contractor to perform routine anion analysis on IMPROVE Module B nylon filters. This program supports the National Park Service's Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) program, which assesses visibility and regional haze trends. The contractor will be responsible for filter receipt, custody, storage, sample extraction, and analysis of specific inorganic ions (nitrite, nitrate, sulfate, and chloride). The work also includes strict quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) practices, data reduction and reporting, and maintenance of comprehensive documentation and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The period of performance is 12 months, with an estimated annual workload of approximately 17,300 filters. Deliverables include ion analysis results within 60 days of filter receipt, an annual QA report, and participation in the IMPROVE Steering Committee Meeting.

This document outlines the costs and deliverables for Network Operations, specifically focusing on "Standard Analysis" for an New IDIQ Ordering Period 1 (2026-2027), assuming 17,300 filters. The total task cost for Standard Analysis is $40,000, with a per-filter cost of $2.31. Key cost components include direct labor for various roles (Principal Investigator, Scientist, Data Analyst, Lab Technician), travel expenses (airfare, ground transportation, lodging, meals) with a NTE of $5,000, and other direct costs (lab supplies, instrument service contract) with a NTE of $35,000. Capital and subcontracting costs are not specified as separate line items for this task. The document details deliverables across several tasks: Sample Extraction, Filter Supply and Distribution, Filter Receipt and Sample Storage, Sample Analysis, Quality Assurance, Data Reduction and Reporting, Quality Assurance Report, Network Documentation, and Steering Committee Meetings, each with associated hours and costs or Not-to-Exceed (NTE) amounts. The total cost for the Standard Analysis task is confirmed at $40,000. This detailed breakdown is typical of government RFPs for services, providing transparency and accountability for proposed work.

The Small Business Subcontracting Plan outlines requirements for large business offerors to promote subcontracting opportunities for small businesses, including veteran-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, HUBZone, small disadvantaged, and women-owned concerns. This plan, applicable to specific contracts exceeding $700,000 ($1,500,000 for construction), mandates the submission of dollar and percentage goals for subcontracting, specifying that zero dollars is unacceptable. It details methods for determining goals, identifying potential subcontractors, and allocating indirect costs. The plan designates a Subcontracting Program Administrator responsible for developing policies, maintaining source lists, and monitoring performance. It also requires outreach efforts, internal guidance for purchasing personnel, flow-down clauses for subcontractors, timely reporting via the Electronic Subcontracting Reporting System (eSRS), and meticulous recordkeeping. Prime contractors must commit to utilizing small business subcontractors as proposed, promptly notify the Contracting Officer of any deviations, and adhere to payment regulations. The document emphasizes good faith efforts to achieve subcontracting goals, with provisions for liquidated damages if not met. Required signatures from the contractor, Contracting Officer, Small Business Specialist, and SBA Procurement Center Representative confirm acceptance and commitment to the plan's objectives.