Description
The Okanogan & Wenatchee National Forests has a requirement to acquire the services of a site operator at the Little Buck Mountain IMPROVE Air Quality Monitoring Site. The site operator must travel to the site weekly on Tuesday, regardless of weather, by whatever means is necessary, to change the filter samples from each of the four modules in the air quality sampling system. The site operator must collect the filter samples in a way to insure they do not become contaminated and package them for mailing to the University of California at Davis (UC Davis). At the time this is done, the operator must do an inspection of the equipment to insure everything is functional and there are no problems evident that would compromise the quality of the data that is collected. The site operator must coordinate and communicate with the Crocker Nuclear Lab at UC Davis to trouble shoot any potential problems and to perform maintenance on the equipment if needed. The operator also must maintain a digital camera site at the same location and coordinate that work with Air Resource Specialists in Ft. Collins, CO, and periodically forwards a computer disk with archived digital camera data. This task also involves periodic maintenance on the camera and associated power supply. The site operator shall provide their own transportation and cell phone or other communication device for use at the site while performing services, tools and incidentals necessary to do the maintenance. The Government will furnish the air filters, digital camera film, and mailing packages with prepaid postage. It is the Governments intent to award a single source three year contract, in one year increments, for these services using Simplified Acquisition Procedures to Ron Mackie, 2 Mundinger Lane, Omak, WA, 98841. Mr. Mackie is the incumbent contractor. Mr. Mackie has been very reliable and able under sometimes very trying circumstances to travel to the site without fail. Mr. Mackie has excellent attention to detail and his performance has been outstanding with no site operator caused data loss. Mr. Mackie has access to several modes of transportation to get to the site in inclement weather. The first contract year would be awarded with the renewal of the contract for each succeeding year will be based on: (1) satisfactory performance, (2) determination that the price is still the best value to the Governemnt and (3) availability of funding. No solicitation will be issued. All interested offerors may provide information which will permit evaluation of your capabilities to perform this service. The point of contact and contracting office is shown elsewhere in this announcement. Location and Accessibility. The monitoring site is located west of the top of the ski lift on the Loup Loup Ski Hill. The Loup Loup Ski Area is located 15 miles west of Okanogan, WA, on State Highway 20. Access to the monitoring site will require some means of reaching the top of the mountain. There is approximately one and one-half miles of 70 percent slope at the top that makes it very difficult to access the site. During the summer months access may be made by 4 wheel drive or ATV on a very rough service road, this road is not maintained by the Government. During winter months some other means of access will be required such as the use of snowshoes, snowmobile, ski lift pass, etc. The winter time access cannot conflict with the special use permit for this area and that may mean no snowmobile use on this area when the ski hill is open. If snowmobile use is allowed, care and concern for the trail will be required. Travel access to the site must be done with the least minimum impact to prevent erosion problems. There will be times of the year, for example spring thaw, that the only access may be by foot due to ground conditions.