--Analytical Laboratory Services Supporting the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring

Special Notice Analytical Laboratory Services Supporting the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation, Cycle 3 (UCMR 3) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Water, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW), Technical Support Center will require contract laboratory support for analytical services in conjunction with the implementation of the third cycle of the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation (UCMR 3). The EPA has the responsibility to investigate contaminant occurrence in order to characterize drinking water threats. EPA relies on independent research efforts, but also is heavily engaged in conducting drinking water occurrence studies like the UCMR 3 to obtain new data. The UCMR 3 was proposed March 3, 2011 and is expected to be promulgated as a final regulatory action in early 2012. To get more information on UCMR 3, go to: http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/ucmr/ucmr3. As a means to reduce the UCMR 3 compliance burden on small public water systems (those serving less than 10,000 individuals), EPA selects a representative sample of small systems that must comply with the UCMR 3 monitoring requirements. EPA pays the analytical costs for the water samples collected at these small water systems. The anticipated future procurement will specifically serve as the means for conducting these sample analyses. Any offering laboratory interested in providing chemical contaminant analytical monitoring services under the future anticipated procurement must seek and receive EPA approval for the EPA methods identified for UCMR 3 chemical contaminants by May 31, 2012. For EPA Method 522, EPA will only collect enough sample volume from small systems to process the 100 mL sample size, so laboratories are advised to follow ?Option 1? when applying for Method 522. To learn more about the UCMR 3 Laboratory Approval Program, go to: http://water.epa.gov/lawsr egs/rulesregs/sdwa/ucmr/ucmr3/laboratories.cfm Proficiency Testing is an integral part of the UCMR3 Laboratory Approval Program. A lab must pass a PT study for each method for which it seeks to gain UCMR 3 approval. The anticipated schedule is as follows:PT# Deadline for application submission Deadline for completed application* Date PT shipped PT Results Submission DeadlinePT1 11/7/2011 12/5/2011 1/9/12 1/23/12PT2 1/23/2012 2/21/12 3/5/12 3/19/12PT3 3/12/2012 4/9/12 5/7/12 5/21/12PT4 6/25/2012 7/23/12 8/20/12 9/4/12PT5 9/24/2012 10/22/12 11/19/12 12/3/12 * "Deadline for completed application." An application is considered complete when there are no additional questions or clarifications needed in the review of each method application. Laboratories will be notified when an application is complete and the laboratory is considered "PT Ready". This schedule is dependent upon several factors and is subject to change. A PT study may be cancelled if there are none or an insufficient number of laboratories considered "PT Ready" on the deadline for completed applications. Upon successful completion of one PT study per method, laboratories will be notified in writing of EPA approval on a method-by-method basis. Please note that UCMR 3 monitoring is expected to begin in January 2013.