Description
The National Risk Management Laboratory (NRMRL), located in Cincinnati, Ohio, intends to negotiate with a small business, on a competitive basis, for a project entitled "Testing Nickel Emissions from Metal finishing Sources." The objective of this project is to develop data to check the validity of AP42 estimations of total nickel air emissions that are used in the MFFRST model, compare total nickel emissions using EPA method 29 and modified method 306A (Described in Appendix A), and evaluate the factors that affect nickel emissions such as surface tension, current density or loading, and type of bath. The AP42 regulations account for such factors as cathode efficiency, plating bath concentration, current density, and other factors. The contractor shall be familiar with the AP42 regulations and how they apply to non chromium electroplating. The contractor must be familiar with EPA Method 29 sampling protocol and Method 306A sampling protocol. Based on experience, the contractor shall develop a testing protocol for the stated objective. This protocol includes: bath temperature, tank size and shape, current density, bath concentration, type of parts and other factors. The testing must be conducted at a minimum of 85% of the individual tanks production capacity. Based on the facility chosen, the contractor may need to construct a temporary hood for the Method 29 and 306A testing. Specifically, the contractor shall: 1. Obtain access to a facility or facilities that are willing to work with EPA on nickel emission testing. The facility must have electroless nickel plating, rack and barrel nickel plating with both air and pump agitation or mixing, and nickel barrel plating. Plating facilities must be approved by the EPA Technical Project Manager. 2. Devise a system (flexible duct and plastic partitions) to feed outside air into the plating area to obtain "clean" background air (outdoor ambient levels of nickel) for the Method 29 sampling protocol. This may not be necessary if background air is determined to be clean based on plant data/ worker exposure levels and is approved by the EPA Project Officer. 3. Obtain three data points using Method 29 sampling protocol for nickel emissions in each of the following conditions. (A&B)Electroless Nickel (boron or phosphorus, air (A) and pump (B) agitation with a simple mesh pad to control splashing into the ventilation system, (C&D)Watts nickel bath, rack plating with pump mixing, without wetting agents (C)(higher surface tension) and mesh pad and (D) with wetting agents (lower surface tension) and mesh pad. (E&F)Watts nickel bath, barrel plating with pump mixing, without wetting agents (E)(higher surface tension) and mesh pad and (F) with wetting agents (lower surface tension) and mesh pad. (G) Sulfamate nickel bath, rack plating with pump mixing (no air agitation), with wetting agents (low surface tension) and with mesh pad. (H & I) Woods Strike with (H) and without (I) wetting agents with mesh pad. Conditions for the testing shall be consistent in terms of bath conditions and plating production. Dummy parts can be used to achieve a minimum of 85% of tank production capacity and run at that capacity for the entire duration of the emission testing. If actual parts are used the plating can be stopped briefly for part change out. 4. Obtain three data points using Method 306A sampling protocol for nickel emissions by replicating the conditions of A,B,C,D and G in requirement 3 above. 5. Allow for testing of 9 additional nickel tank sources. 6. Assess the impact of using wetting agents on the Woods Strike Bath with visual quality checks and adhesion testing of final product. 7. Compare the actual emissions with the theoretical emissions predicted by the AP42. 8. The contractor shall comply with all QA requirements. This plan shall include monitoring nickel in the background air and for the Methods 29 & 306A sampling. The solicitation will be issued as a 100% small business set-aside. EPA anticipates the award of a firm-fixed-price contract by February 5, 2005. Solicitation No. PR-CI-05-10017 is expected to be issued around November 10, 2004 and close 30 days thereafter. It will be available on the Internet at www.epa.gov/oam/cinn_cmd. Interested parties are expected to download the solicitation and subsequent amendments from the web site. Hard copies will not be distributed. It is the responsibility of potential offerors to frequently check the site for amendments. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which will be considered by EPA. Contract award will be made in accordance with FAR Part 15, Contracting by Negotiation. The applicable NAICS code is 541710.