E11PS00712 - Special Announcement Text: The National Park Service, Hawaii Volcanoes National, intends to award on a sole source basis with the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii, Inc., dba RCUH, for the procurement to conduct chemical analysis of water quality samples. Water quality sampling is conducted at all Pacific Island Network parks (HAVO, PUHO, KAHO, PUHE, ALKA, HALE, KALA, NPSA, WAPA, and AMME). The PACN is utilizing the facility to conduct laboratory analysis for a full set of water quality samples to be analyzed for the three given parameters: total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorous (TP), and nitrate (NO3). In accordance with FAR 6.302 and 5.2, this notice advertises the government's intent to award a non-competitive contract for one base year at a firm-fixed price. This notice of intent is not a request for Expressions of Interest, Proposals or Quotations. A determination by the Park Service not to open this requirement to competition is solely within the discretion of the Park Service in consideration of what is in the best interest of the Government. The NAICS Code is 541380. This announcement is for informational purposes only. Comments and questions regarding this announcement may be directed to Claudette M. Moreno, Contracting Specialist, at
[email protected]. All comments received by May 6, 2011 will be considered. JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION for SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITIONS OVER $3,000 AND UP TO $100,000 (See FAR 13.106-1)1. Nature and/or description of the item/service being procured and its intended use (include the anticipated cost):_____________________________________________________________________________________The Natural Resource Challenge (NRC), initiated in 1999 under the auspices of the Omnibus Act (1998), is an action plan for preserving natural resources throughout the National Park Service (NPS). To meet the goals of the NRC, the NPS established 32 Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) networks, including 270 National Parks, to better economize their funding. Each network is comprised of NPS units that share geographical and natural resource characteristics, allowing these parks to share financial resources and expertise. Because program funding is limited and not everything within park ecosystems can be monitored, monitoring programs were built around measuring critical parameters (Vital Signs) within each network in order to gauge ecosystem health. The information gained by monitoring will be used for natural resource management decision-making.As defined by the NPS, Vital Signs are a subset of physical, chemical, and biological elements and processes of park ecosystems that are selected to represent the overall health or condition of park resources, known or hypothesized effects of stressors, or elements that have important human values. This subset of monitored resources and processes is part of the total suite of natural resources that park managers are directed to preserve "unimpaired for future generations" (National Park Service Organic Act of 1916), including water, air, geological resources, plants and animals, and the various ecological, biological, and physical processes that act on those resources." Major challenges addressed in the NRC pertinent to aquatic environments include native and endangered species, non-native species, environmental stewardship, and water quality. Pursuant to accomplishing the above mentioned goals, the Pacific Island Inventory and Monitoring Network (PACN) is implementing its water quality monitoring program. Water quality sampling is conducted at all PACN parks (HAVO, PUHO, KAHO, PUHE, ALKA, HALE, KALA, NPSA, WAPA, and AMME). The PACN is seeking approval to extend a service contract to procure laboratory analyses in the amount not to exceed $33,833 for the full set of water quality samples to be analyzed for the three given parameters: total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorous (TP), and nitrate (NO3).Currently, samples are being collected, filtered, frozen, and stored awaiting lab analysis which is being done by the University of Hawaii at Hilo Marine Analytical Laboratory. This sampling will continue with no identified termination date. Samples are collected on a quarterly basis and it is best to get the samples analyzed as quickly as possible. Sampling effort is expected to be approximately 471 triplicate samples per year totaling approximately 354 water samples per quarter. Each sampling effort requires a least 1 blank and 2 standards per 25 samples, bringing the total laboratory sample numbers to 1471 per year. Sampling occurs monthly across the Pacific, so samples are sent in batch as monthly sampling occurs. Parameters to be analyzed include total phosphorous, total nitrogen, and nitrate content of all water samples provided. This laboratory analysis acquisition will specifically benefit NPS natural resource programs and national initiatives including the Inventory and Monitoring Program, in addition to enabling parks within the PACN to monitor compliance with national, state, territorial, and commonwealth clean water regulations. 2. Sole Source Justification rationale (Check one and explain below): ___X__ Only one responsible source. ______ Urgent and compelling circumstances exist. Include critical delivery or performance dates, and when you became aware of the requirement. Provide a specific statement of the impact on Government operations, financial or otherwise, if the required delivery or performance dates are not met. ______ Other _____________________________________________________ Explain: While there are many laboratories that conduct a variety of water chemistry analysis, the University of Hawaii at Hilo Analytical Laboratory is the only viable Water Chemistry Analytical Laboratory for this contracting effort. According to the standard water chemistry analysis protocols utilized in the Pacific Island Network's Water Quality Monitoring Protocol, water samples have a maximum holding time of 48 hours from collection to laboratory analysis. This follows standard NEMI (National Environmental Methods Index) analysis protocols for Nitrate, Total Nitrogen, and Total Phosphate measurements. The University of Hawaii Analytical Laboratory is uniquely geographically located within minutes of the Hilo International Airport on the Big Island of Hawaii (Hawaii, Hawaii). This geography is crucial to the success of this water chemistry analysis contract. PACN (Pacific Islands Network) I&M (Inventory and Monitoring) staff are based in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, utilizing the services of the Hilo International Airport for travel. As such, the Hilo International Airport is the terminating terminal for water sampling activities conducted within the PACN National Parks, which include parks in Guam, Saipan, American Samoa, and Hawaii. As it takes approximately 1 full day to collect all water samples, that leaves only 24 hours to get the samples from the field to the laboratory. Express Packages from American Samoa, Guam, and Saipan are not guaranteed 24 hour delivery. This means that the only viable option is for technicians to carry samples with them when returning from the field, to Hilo. Return travel from these remote places takes approximately 16- hours, leaving only about 8 hours to get the samples to the lab and get them processed in the best of circumstances. The unique location of the University of Hawaii Analytical Laboratory relative to the Hilo International Airport, ideally situates this laboratory to receive samples with enough time to process them before reaching the 48 hour maximum. No other qualified laboratories are viable options for sample processing, making the University of Hawaii Analytical Laboratory the sole source capable of carrying out this contract in a viable way. 3. Market Research. Please explain the results or why one was not performed. State whether any other offers were received or anyone expressed interest:No additional market research was conducted prior to this extension request because the University of Hawaii-Hilo Analytical Lab is the only reasonable and responsible entity with which to contract. Their prices have not changed and when initially researched were among the cheapest in the nation.4. If this is a determination for sole source, the Contracting Officer certifies:a. Only one source is available, or urgent and compelling circumstances exist. b. The anticipated price will be determined fair and reasonable using the price analysis techniques described in FAR Part 13.106-3(a). /s/ Tahzay Jones, I & M Acting Program Manager Hawaii Volcanoes National ParkProject Officer /s/ Laurie K. Mahalla, Contracting OfficerPWR - Pacific West Honolulu Office Contracting Officer Over $25,000:/s/ Leo Guillory, Delegated Assistant Bureau Competition Advocate PWR - Golden Gate National Recreation Area Assistant Bureau Competition Advocate v9-22-2009