SOLICITATION NOTICE
B -- Special Studies and Analysis - Not R&D
- Notice Date
- 9/26/2002
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Interior, MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE, Procurement Operations Branch, 381 ELDEN ST, MS2510, HERNDON, VA 20170
- ZIP Code
- 20170
- Solicitation Number
- 1435-01-02-RP-70000
- Point of Contact
- Michael W. Hargrove, CONTRACT SPECIALIST, FAX 703-787-1022
- Description
- PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE NOTICE CAREFULLY. THE MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE HEREBY SOLICITS CAPABILITY STATEMENTS from organizations interested in the STUDY OF BARITE SOLUBILITY AND THE RELEASE OF TRACE COMPONENTS TO THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT. Barite, an ore that is used during the drilling of wells, consists primarily of barium sulfate. However, various trace metals including mercury, cadmium, and other trace elements are contained in the barite ore. Currently, the Environmental Protection Agency regulates the concentrations of mercury and cadmium in barite to less than 1 part per million and 3 parts per million, respectively. Although barite is a relatively insoluble substance, there is some concern that at the conditions on the seafloor, some of the barite could dissolve, releasing the trace elements. These elements could then potentially be available to organisms to bioaccumulate or as toxins. The degree to which barite dissolves, depends on both the solubility and the rate at which it dissolves. If the barite dissolves too slowly, it could be buried under recently deposited sediments before release of any trace metals. Alternately, during early diagenesis, conditions may change resulting in the dissolution of barite. The availability of the trace metals for bioaccumulation or as toxins also depends on the chemical form of the element. Presently, it is assumed that in barite, trace elements are present as either sulfides or sulfates. A direct determination of the chemical forms of trace elements in barite has not been made or is not available in the literature. Once the barite has been ingested by an organism, the conditions within the gut may also release trace elements from the barite. Some studies have been conducted to evaluate the release of metals under acidic conditions, such as within a digestive tract, but most of this information is not in readily accessible literature. THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS STUDY ARE TO: (1) determine the solubility of barite under the environmental conditions found at the sea floor; (2) determine the amount of trace metals that are released, in particular mercury and cadmium; (3) determine the rate at which the barite dissolves; (4) determine the trace metal species within the barite structure; and (5) evaluate the effects of acidic environments on the solubility of barite and subsequent release of trace metals. The Period of Performance of this study shall be eighteen (18) months. Cost of this study is estimated to be between $175,000 and $225,000. THIS STUDY CONSISTS OF FIVE (5) MAIN TASKS: (1) Laboratory experiments should be conducted to determine the solubility of barite in the marine environment such as is found at the water sediment interface in the Gulf of Mexico. The barite should be from the same source as that used by the oil and gas industry for drilling mud. Standard practices for evaluating the solubility should be used; (2) The release of trace metals as the barite ore dissolves under conditions found at the water sediment interface in the Gulf of Mexico should be evaluated. The trace metals of interest are mercury, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, and zinc; (3) The rate of the dissolution of barite under the conditions found at the water sediment interface in the Gulf of Mexico should be evaluated. Standard methods for the evaluation of dissolution rates should be used; (4) the species of each trace metal in Task 2 within the barite structure should be determined. Standard methods for making this evaluation should be used. (5) The effects of acidic media such as is found in digestive systems should be evaluated by the use of acidic extraction techniques. HOW TO RESPOND: In order to compete for this contract, interested parties must demonstrate that they are qualified to perform work by providing Capabilities Statements, not later than 5:00 p.m., October 24, 2002, Detailing: (1) Your key personnel, scientific and technical, (those who would have the primary responsibility for performing and/or managing the project) with their qualifications and specific expertise and experience. Particularly relevant is their expertise in the field of analytical chemistry; (2) Your organization's experience with this type of work and a description of your facilities; and (3) Specific references (including project identifier/contract number and description, period of performance, dollar amount, client name, and current telephone number) for work of this nature that your personnel or organization is currently performing or has completed within the last three years. Also, please include any negative references and your rebuttal explaining your side of the story. ALL REFERENCES WILL BE CHECKED TO VALIDATE THE INFORMATION PROVIDED. OFFERORS SHALL SUBMIT AN ORIGINAL AND TWO (2) COPIES OF THE CAPABILITIES STATEMENT TO MICHAEL W. HARGROVE, Contracting Officer, Minerals Management Service, Procurement Operations Branch, 381 Elden St., MS 2510, Herndon VA 20170-4817. Five (5) additional copies shall be submitted to Ms. Connie Landry, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, MS 5431, New Orleans LA 70123-2394. It is the responsibility of the Offeror to ensure that the Capabilities Statements are received by the dates and time set forth above. Timeliness of receipt of submissions will be determined by the time received in the Procurement Operations Branch, Herndon VA. YOUR CAPABILITIES STATEMENT WILL BE EVALUATED BASED ON: (1) Past Performance which includes: adherence to schedules and budgets, effectiveness of cost control, the acceptability of previous products delivered, effectiveness of program management, and the Offeror's willingness to cooperate with the customer in both routine matters and when confronted by unexpected difficulties. (2) The degree of comparability of past projects to the current project, including number, complexity, and size; (3) The experience and expertise of all scientific and technical Key Personnel. Evaluation factors include the length and quality of experience for each person assigned to perform specific tasks, their experience and expertise in the fields applicable to the performance of this study. (4) Your Project Manager's demonstrated ability and experience with managing a research project and ability to control costs and to keep project performance and document preparation on schedule. The Principal Investigator may serve as Project Manager. Following Step (1) which is the review and evaluation of all Capabilities Statements, only those determined from the evaluation factors described above to be most qualified to successfully perform the effort will be invited to Step (2) and provided a detailed Request for Proposal. All offerors will be contacted after Step (1) by telephone. Offerors are strongly discouraged to use the telephone numbers submitted below to receive answers to their questions but written, E-mail or faxed inquires are strongly encouraged. Please submit questions to Michael.Hargrove@mms.gov and Mary.Boatman@mms.gov. All inquiries MUST include RFP Number 1435-01-02-RP-70000, as well as your full name, organization name, address, phone and FAX numbers. If deemed necessary to call for information, please contact Michael W. Hargrove or Mary C. Boatman, Ph.D., between the hours of 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., EST, Monday-Friday at 703-787-1367 or 504-736-2781, respectively, or via Facsimile on 703-787-1022.
- Record
- SN00176487-W 20020928/020926213705 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |