Analysis Of Water Samples

Analysis of Samples (from Grab Water Samples, Passive Water Samples, and Fish Tissue Sample Collection)

SPECIFICATIONS

I. SCOPE OF WORK:

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Bureau of Clean Water, requires a federally and/or state accredited Laboratory/Contractor to conduct analyses of water samples (from grab samples), collected by DEP, using the following EPA methods, or equivalent: EPA Method 1694 (pharmaceuticals, personal care products, hormones), EPA Method 1698 (hormones), EPA Method 1633 (PFAS), PCB congeners by EPA Method 8270, EPA Method 8270 (PAHs), and 6-PPD-Quinone. Analyses of passive water samples are required using the following EPA methods, or equivalent: EPA Method 1694 (pharmaceuticals, personal care products, hormones), EPA Method 1698 (hormones), EPA Method 1633 (PFAS), PCB congeners by EPA Method 8270, and EPA Method 8270 (PAHs). Analyses of fish tissue samples are required using the following EPA methods, or equivalent: EPA Method 1633 (PFAS), EPA Method 8082A (PCBs), EPA Method 8081B (Pesticides), EPA Methods 6020 & 6010 (Metals), and EPA Method 7471 (Mercury). The ability to analyze PFAS in biosolids using EPA Method 1633 is required. Sample collection is tentatively scheduled to begin in March 2026 and continue throughout 2026.

II. CONTRACTOR QUALIFICATIONS:

After bid opening and prior to award, Accredited Laboratory/Contractor shall identify key project personnel and provide documentation of their training and experience. Accredited Laboratory/Contractor shall notify the DEP of any new personnel assigned to the project and provide their credentials to the DEP for DEP approval, prior to commencing work on the project. Accredited Laboratory/Contractor shall provide proof of certification to conduct EPA Method 1694, EPA Method 1698, EPA Method 1633, EPA Method 8270, EPA Method 8082A, EPA Method 8081B, EPA Method 6020, EPA Method 6010, and EPA Method 7471 in the requested matrices and have experience analyzing sample extracts collected by passive samplers (POCIS and SPMD). Accredited Laboratory/Contractor shall provide two to three references for the EPA Methods requested from previous or current clients.

III. CONTRACTOR TESTING/ANALYSIS:

The Accredited Laboratory/Contractor shall conduct analyses from samples collected by DEP staff using the following EPA methods, or equivalent: EPA Method 1694 (pharmaceuticals, personal care products, hormones), EPA Method 1698 (hormones), EPA Method 1633 (PFAS), EPA Method 8270 (PCBs), EPA Method 8270 (PAHs), EPA Method 1668 (PCBs), EPA Method 1699 (Pesticides), EPA Method 6020, EPA Method 6010, EPA Method 7471, and 6-PPD-Quinone. Field blanks for the passive samplers will be included in the analyses. The Accredited Laboratory/Contractor shall be certified to conduct the following EPA methods, or equivalent, for raw surface water: EPA Method 1694 (pharmaceuticals, personal care products, hormones), EPA Method 1698 (hormones), EPA Method 1633 (PFAS), EPA Method 8270 (PCBs), EPA Method 8270 (PAHs). The Accredited Laboratory/Contractor shall be certified to conduct the following EPA methods, or equivalent, for fish tissue samples: EPA Method 1633 (PFAS), EPA Method 8082A (PCBs), EPA Method 8081B (Pesticides), EPA Method 6020 (Metals), EPA Method 6010 (Metals), and EPA Method 7471 (Mercury). The Accredited Laboratory/Contractor shall be certified to conduct the following EPA method, or equivalent, for biosolids: EPA Method 1633 (PFAS). The Accredited Laboratory/Contractor may choose EPA Method 1694 or EPA Method 1698 to conduct analyses for the water hormone samples. If federal and/or state accreditation for hormones by EPA Method 1694 is not held by the Contractor, DEP must review and approve Contractor’s demonstration of capability and method detection limits for hormones by EPA Method 1694 prior to use.

Passive samples are collected by DEP staff using:

A. Passive Samplers - Semi-Permeable Membrane Devices (SPMD) and Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Samplers (POCIS),

1. Volume size, in amber ampules, shall be 1 mL, 2 mL or 5 mL,

2. SPMD samples are preserved in hexane,

3. POCIS samples are preserved in methanol or methylene chloride/methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE).

4. Additional information can be found at https://estlab.com/.

Contractor shall conduct the following analyses:

A. Water Parameters (Grab Water Samples/Passive Samplers) – Hormones using EPA Method 1698 (grabs – ng/L; passive - ng/POCIS) or EPA Method 1694 (grabs – ng/L; passive - ng/POCIS) and to include hormones: 17a-Ethynyl Estradiol, 17a-Estradiol, 17b-Estradiol, Estrone, Estriol, and Equilenin.

B. Water Parameters (Grab Water Samples/Passive Samplers) – Pharmaceuticals using EPA Method 1694 (grabs – ng/L; passive - ng/POCIS) and all pharmaceutical/personal care products analyses under EPA Method 1694.

C. Water Parameters (Grab Water Samples/Passive Samplers) – PFAS using EPA Method 1633 (ng/POCIS) and all PFAS analyses under EPA Method 1633.

D. Water Parameters (Grab Water Samples/Passives Samplers) – PCBs using EPA Method 8270 (grabs - ng/L; passive – ng/SPMD).

E. Water Parameters (Grab Water Samples/Passives Samplers) – PAHs using EPA Method 8270 (grabs - ng/L; passive – ng/SPMD).

G. Water Parameters (Grab Water Samples) – 6-PPD-Quinone (ng/L).

H. Fish Tissue – PFAS using EPA Method 1633 (ng/g).

I. Fish Tissue – PCBs using EPA Method 8082A (ng/g).

J. Fish Tissue – Pesticides using EPA Method 8081B (ng/g).

K. Fish Tissue – Metals using EPA Methods 6020 & 6010 (ng/g).

L. Fish Tissue – Mercury using EPA Method 7471 (ng/g).

M. Biosolids – PFAS using EPA Method 1633 (ng/g).

Field Blanks for Passive Samplers shall be included.

N. Performance reference compound PRC(s) analyses using PCBs or deuterated PAHs (for the SPMD analyses).

Contractor will be able to use EST’s available PRCs:

• Anthracene-d10

• Acenaphthene-d10

• Chrysene-d12

• Fluoranthene-d10

• Fluorene-d10

• Pyrene-d10

• Phenanthrene-d10

• Dibenz[a,h]Anthracene-d14

• PCBs 14, 29 and 50

All analyses shall include all costs associated with conducting the methodology. No additional costs shall be made for analyses not approved by DEP.

Accredited Laboratory/Contractor shall provide the Sample Results to DEP via email in an excel spreadsheet table format. An example is shown in Attachment A – Sample Results.

IV. REPORTS AND DELIVERABLES:

The Contractor shall provide the following documentation:

A. Sample results, in a spreadsheet format, as concentration of chemical in the passive sampler extract (as opposed to water concentration) and other sample concentrations (see Attachment A – Sample Results).

B. Quality assurance results, in a spreadsheet format, including percent recoveries.

C. Invoices using prescribed DEP billing procedures.

V. CONTRACT TERM:

The Contract shall commence, or upon execution, and terminate on December 31, 2026. Further, the parties hereto may agree to renew this Contract up to four (4) additional consecutive annual terms with a final termination date of December 31, 2030, upon the same terms and conditions set forth in the original Contract. In the event of Contract renewal, Contractor shall provide a written notice to the DEP, at least sixty (60) days prior to Contract expiration date, of their intent to renew. Contractor may increase their unit price bid by an amount not to exceed three percent (3%) of the unit price currently in effect.

VI. INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS:

DEP is requesting price bids for the items listed in the Invitation for Bid (IFB) “Specifications” section. Each bidder shall supply a price for all items. Award will be made based on the lowest grand total price.

VII. DELIVERY:

1. Physical delivery location: DEP, Bureau Clean Water, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market Street, 11th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101, ATTN: Eric Carlisle.

2. Please include all costs including shipping/handling within the costs of the line items supplied, i.e. bid prices must be FOB destination. No additional costs will be allowed.

VIII. AGENCY CONTACTS:

1. Technical questions should be directed to Amy Williams, phone: 717-772-4045 email: amywilli@pa.gov. Email communication is preferred.

2. Bidding procedure questions should be directed to Brady Fries, phone: 717-783-8381, email: bfries@pa.gov. Email communication is preferred.

IX. BID SUBMISSIONS:

1. All Bids must be submitted electronically through the Department of General Services’ (DGS) eMarketplace website. The eMarketplace website is located at http://www.emarketplace.state.pa.us. DEP is not responsible for the maintenance of the eMarketplace website.

2. DGS’ Supplier Service Center https://www.dgs.pa.gov/Materials-Services-Procurement/Supplier-Service-Center/Pages/default.aspx is available to assist vendors with registration, bidding, and account management. For questions regarding registration help, send an email to RA-PSC_Supplier_Requests@pa.gov or call (877) 435-7363, choose option 1. For questions regarding bidding help, send an email to srmhelp@pa.gov or call (877) 435-7363, choose option 2.

3. DEP is not responsible for the support or functionality of any Department of General Services website.

X. ESTIMATED QUANTITES:

The quantities contained in the IFB section are estimated only and may increase or decrease dependent upon the needs of DEP. Ancillary items may be added to this acquisition (purchase order) at the discretion of both parties at a mutually agreed upon price. Contractor will be paid at the unit bid price for the quantities supplied.

If new analysis methodologies become available during the Contract term, the DEP and the Contractor shall negotiate, and mutually-agree upon, the unit price per sample for the new sample methodology analysis.

XI. PAYMENT TERMS:

Upon review and approval of final results (example provided in Attachment A – Sample Results) by the DEP, payment shall be made upon receipt of itemized invoice submitted. Reports and deliverables may not be submitted after invoice has been submitted.

XII. AWARD:

Award will be made to the responsible, responsive bidder based on the lowest grand total price in accordance with the Specifications. Bidders shall complete and return all attached forms electronically attached to the IFB file.

XIII. SMALL DIVERSE BUSINESS (SDB) AND VETERAN BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (VBE) PATICIPATION.

The Department’s Bureau of Diversity, Inclusion and Small Business Opportunities (BDISBO) has developed a goal setting policy based upon recommendations from its 2018 Disparity Study. The goal setting policy requires BDISBO and agencies to identify contract-specific participation goals for SDBs (which include Minority Business Enterprises, Women Business Enterprises, LGBT Business Enterprises, Disability-Owned Business Enterprises, and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprises) and VBEs (which include Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprises and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprises). Proposers must either agree to meet the participation goals in full or must request a full or partial Good Faith Efforts waiver from one or both of the participation goals. Failure to meet the participation goals or establish they have made good faith efforts to meet the participation goals will result in rejection of a bid as nonresponsive. The goals that have been established for this Project are set forth below:

SDB – 17%

VBE – 3%

XIV. NEW SDB AND VBE GOAL INFORMATION SESSION.

The Commonwealth has made significant changes to the SDB and VBE requirements, and failure to meet these requirements may result in your bid being deemed nonresponsive. Therefore, the Issuing Office will hold an SDB and VBE Goal Information Session for this IFB which we highly recommend you attend. The purpose of this Session is to provide an overview of the IFB and SDB and VBE Participation submission instructions. Offerors may ask questions during the Session.

The location, date, and time of the SDB and VBE Goal Information Session are as follows:

SDB and VBE Goal Information Session - Fri 2/20/2026 2:00 PM.

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An RSVP to the SDB and VBE Goal Information Session is due via email to Brady Fries bfries@pa.gov Fri 2/20/2026 2:00 PM.