**Minimum Requirements for**

***Chemical and Biological* Analytical Services**

**Purpose**

The purpose of the Special Analytical Service contract is to provide
analytical support to the US EPA Office of Superfund Remediation &
Technology Innovation (OSRTI) Analytical Services Branch (ASB). ASB is
procuring technical support and expertise for the laboratory analysis of
environmental samples for the presence, release, and/or detection of
hazardous radiochemicals that may present an imminent and substantial
danger to the public health or welfare, or the environment in support of
emergency responses to possible radiochemical acts of terrorism.

**Scope**

The contractor shall be responsible for the rapid analysis and reporting
of results from environmental samples (e.g. water, soil, air filters,
wipes, vegetation etc.) as needed. The contractor shall perform the
analysis using proven instruments and techniques that shall be detailed
in contractor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). These SOPs must be
based upon relevant Federal Agency Methods/Protocols which may be
specifically specified by the US EPA. The SOPs must be made available to
all staff performing the analysis, and must also be made available to
EPA upon request. The contractor must also make the facilities used for
analysis of samples available for Audit by EPA upon request. Following
sample analysis, the contractor shall perform data reduction and shall
report analytical activities, sample data, and quality control
documentation. The contractor may also be requested to provide
analytical support pertaining to method development and validation for
chemical and biological agents, or technical support for issues related
to these agents

**Requirements**

**Task:** Under this SOW and through written order under this Basic
Ordering Agreement

(BOA), the contractor shall perform testing/analysis for a variety of
chemical and biological agents in various matrices using analyte/matrix
specific protocols for the analysis. Please note that a request for
analysis under this BOA is not limited to any specific analytes and or
methodologies. Specific analyte and or methodology requirements will be
requested in specific task orders and a need arises. However, the
contractor shall certify in writing that the contractor has the current
capabilities to perform the following analysis:

> a\. at least 50% of the organic and inorganic chemical methods (or
> equivalent methods) detailed in Section 5 of the attached document,
> Standard Analytical Methods (SAM), revision 3.1.
>
> b\. at least 25% of the biological pathogen methods (or equivalent
> methods) listed in Section 7 of SAM

c\. at least 25% of the biotoxin methods listed in Section 8 of SAM.

The contractor shall have written Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
for receipt of samples, maintenance of custody, sample identification,
sample storage, waste disposal, sample tracking, and assembly of
completed data. The contractor shall also have a written Laboratory
Quality Assurance document and Laboratory Health and Safety document.

The contractor shall receive and handle samples under strict
chain-of-custody and sample documentation procedures. To assure
traceability of the samples while in their possession, the contractor
shall have a specified procedure for maintaining identification of
samples throughout the laboratory. The contractor shall also have
procedures ensuring that sample custody is maintained and documented. A
document control program shall be employed to assure that all documents
for a specified sample delivery group are accounted for when the project
is completed. Accountable documents shall include, but are not limited
to, logbooks, chain-of-custody records, sample work sheets, bench
sheets, and other documents relating to the sample or sample analysis.

Prior to the shipment of samples, analytical protocol specifications
will be provided to the contractor which contain information on the
chemical and/or biological agent(s), matrices, concentration range
expected, action level, and measurement quality objectives. The
analytical protocol specifications will also contain quality control
requirements for QC samples which may include, but is not limited to,
method blank, duplicate, and matrix spike samples and the associated
frequency and evaluation criteria. Analytical process requirements if
required on field sample preparation and preservation, sample receipt
and inspection, laboratory sample preparation, sample dissolution,
separation, data reduction and reporting, and sample tracking
requirements may also be provided. All samples shall be temporarily
stored by the laboratory pending further analysis and/or receipt of
written order for disposition.

The contractor must be aware of the importance of maintaining integrity
of the data generated under the agreements. These data will be used to
make major decisions regarding public health and environmental welfare.
The contractor shall ensure that all analysis are performed following
all proper Chain-of-Custody requirements, following all relevant health
and safety protocols, quality assurance procedures, waste disposal, and
good laboratory practices not necessarily detailed in this BOA. During
the period of this

BOA, the contractor may be requested to analyze a Performance Evaluation
Sample

(PES), or be requested to participate in a Performance Testing (PT)
program.

The laboratory must posses the necessary analytical equipment and
supporting sample preparation equipment to be able to perform the
necessary chemical and biological analysis.

**Deliverable(s)**: Upon completion of its analysis, the contractor
shall provide the results of its analysis in the form of a report to the
Government personnel specified in the Chain-of-Custody documentation or
written order from an authorized ordering official. All samples analyzed
under this BOA shall be provided in both hard-copy and electronic
format. Electronic format will be specified in each individual task
order. All electronic data submitted by the contractor is required to be
error-free, and in complete agreement with the hard-copy data.
Electronic deliverables for documents and reports shall be delivered in
native file format and in Adobe format on all final documents. The data
package shall have a Cover Page that includes the laboratory name,
laboratory code, BOA number, sample delivery group number, EPA sample
number, lab identification numbers (cross-referenced with the EPA sample
number), and any comments or problems encountered. Results shall be
reported on a form, similar to the Contract Laboratory Program (CLP)
Form 1, that includes the similar information from the Cover Page as
well as matrix analyzed, date received, date analyzed, analyze
concentration units (for chemical and bio-toxin agents), minimum
detectable concentration, qualifiers applied, and any comments. In
addition, all quality control data shall also be reported.

**Method and Time of Delivery**: Upon receipt of any samples, the
contractor shall deliver analysis results in writing via fax or e-mail,
within 12-72 hours or within the time frame specified by the written
order as defined in the task order. Time schedule will be dependent on
the analysis and matrix. Written reports shall be delivered within 5
business days after electronic submission. The government may also
require verbal results for screening and confirmatory analysis. If the
contractor is not able to report the results in the specified time
frame, the contractor shall contact the recipient identified in the task
order, and inform him that the results will be delayed and provide a
probable delivery date.

**Maintain Log Books:** The contractor shall use and maintain bound,
serially numbered laboratory notebooks to record data and observations
made during laboratory analyses and processes, and shall make them
available for review upon request by the Contracting Officer. All
analyses and studies shall be documented to include: 1) identification
of assumptions and clear explanations of their validity and limitations;
2) calculations, supported by sufficient data and explanation to permit
cross-checking; 3) raw data for projects, documented in a manner that
can be easily interpreted by a technical person, to facilitate review
and/or completion by alternate technical persons; and, 4) clearly
presented investigative procedures. The contractor shall also use and
maintain logbooks for all major equipment recording analysis of all
standards and samples.