SPECIAL NOTICE
R -- ANALYTICAL SUPPORT SERVICES
- Notice Date
- 9/2/2008
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 541620
— Environmental Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Acquisition Management, RTP Procurement Operations Division, E105-02, 4930 Old Page Road, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27703
- ZIP Code
- 27703
- Solicitation Number
- EPD04006
- Response Due
- 9/17/2008
- Archive Date
- 10/2/2008
- Point of Contact
- Karen A Watson,, Phone: 919 541-3114, Joy Kimble,, Phone: 919-541-2897
- E-Mail Address
-
watson.karen@epa.gov, kimble.joy@epa.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to modify an existing contract (EPD04006) with Industrial Economics, Incorporated (IEc), Cambridge, Ma., which was awarded on a competitive basis. This level of effort, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract is in its final option period which expires September 30, 2008. The modification will extend the current period of performance through March 31, 2009 for an estimated increase in level of effort of 5,250 hours. IEc has provided support to the Office of Air and Radiation (OAR), including the Immediate Office of the Assistant Administrator (IO) and the Office of Policy Analysis and Review (OPAR), responding to short-term analytical and logistical needs and to longer-term analyses and assessment needs. Short term analyses, conducted within a week to several months, are regularly needed to examine existing and prospective legislation, regulations, treaties, and other policy instruments as they relate to the energy, economic and environmental effects of air and radiation protection programs. Logistical support is also needed in developing tools, materials, and forums to communicate the potential effects of changes in government policy and to facilitate communication and potential resolution of issues identified by competing stakeholders. These analyses, communication, and consultation efforts are often conducted in response to inquiries from Congress, the Executive Branch, industry and the public, and are often performed within discrete windows of time during rule-making or legislative processes. As the policy landscape is continually evolving, OAR/IO’s and OAR/OPAR’s specific short-term analytical and logistical needs are difficult to forecast, but often emerge out of existing policy debates and build upon past analyses. Over the longer term, OAR is responsible for a number of multi-year or periodic assessments requiring multi-disciplinary expertise and cross-disciplinary integration applied in the context of policy and program assessment, as well as logistical needs related to on-going stakeholder consultation and advisory processes. These longer-term analyses and consultative processes also serve the needs of the Agency, Congress, and other decision makers charged with evaluating national and international air and radiation related policies and programs. One example of a longer term analytical need is the periodic assessment of the costs and benefits of the Clean Air Act and its amendments and associated regulations mandated by Section 812 of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. Currently, IEc is assisting EPA with the second prospective 812 study, which began in 2003 and has been the subject of ongoing consultation with the EPA’s Scientific Advisory Board’s Advisory Council on Clean Air Compliance Analysis (referred to as the 812 Council). The periodic meetings of the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council is an example of on-going logistical support needed. In helping to meet these short-term and long-term analytical needs, IEc has provided OAR (IO and OPAR) with expertise related to economic analysis. IEc economic analysis has supported the ongoing second prospective 812 study; the development of policies related to carbon capture and storage; the assessment of the impacts of climate change and climate change policies; and rulemaking on flexible permitting, air toxics control standards, and revisions of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particulate matter and lead. IEc has also provided logistical support for consultations related to environmental justice and air toxics control. IEc’s economic analysis is central to the on-going 812 study and to addressing many of the short-term policy-related analysis needs of OAR (IO and OPAR). Without economic analysis expertise at its disposal, OAR will not have the ability to effectively respond to and shape policy developments and to maintain continuity and efficient progress with respect to longer term responsibilities. Thus, IEc’s continuing work on this project is critical to the Agency’s mission. It is essential to have access to analytical and logistical support, including economic analysis expertise, to be able to respond to the analytical and logistical needs of the administration transition. OAR must also continue to make progress on the longer-term assessments, such as the Congressionally-mandated second prospective 812 study in a cost-effective manner. Interruption or delay of services would cause harm to the Government by not providing timely technical support. The need for analysis or support for a consultative process tends to arise quickly and must be addressed within a short window of time before the opportunity to affect policy development has passed. Some of these short term needs arise from the rule-making process which is often dictated by statutory or court ordered deadlines. To provide timely technical support, the contractor must have prior working knowledge of the policy issues facing OAR and the appropriate methodologies to use in evaluating their environmental and economic impacts as most issues emerge out of existing policy debates and build upon past analyses. The incumbent contractor has the knowledge and "know-how" to continue working with the on-going work without extensive transition, training, and start-up period. It is not practicable for the Government to substitute a replacement contractor during the extended period due to the limited time work is needed and the Government's need to meet Agency requirements in a timely manner. The work to be completed during this time period requires the same expertise and qualifications as is currently required to perform the work assignments under the contract. Therefore, based on IEc's unique knowledge and experience, it is believed that IEc is the only contractor that has the ability to continue the critical analytical and logistical support to EPA within the necessary time frame for these activities that require quick responses. It is, therefore, in the Agency’s best interest to obtain the services of IEc on a sole source basis by extending the current period of performance of this contract for a period of 6 months with an estimated increase in level of effort of 5,250 hours. The place of performance is at the contractor's site. Interested parties who believe they can provide the required services are invited to submit, in writing, a response demonstrating an ability to immediately assume the on-going projects without disruption to the current operations and demonstrating a cost benefit to the Government in view of the short period of performance. Any written response must be received no later than 15 days after publication of this synopsis. In order to be considered responsive, the correspondence must be accompanied by a written narrative statement of capability, including detailed technical information sufficient to permit agency analysis in order to determine a bonafide capability to meet the Government's needs. Responses without the required documentation will be considered non-responsive. This is NOT a formal notice of solicitation. Telephone and FAX requests will not be honored. Updated status to this synopsis may be viewed at http:www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 541620, which has a small business size standard of $6.5M. Submit your response no later than 17 September 2008, noon. EST to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, RTP-POD, 109 T.W. Alexander Dr., Attn: Joy Kimble, E105-02, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. Courier Delivery Address is: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, RTP-POD, 4930 Page Road, Attn: Joy Kimble, E105-02, Research Triangle Park, NC 27703.
- Web Link
-
FedBizOpps Complete View
(https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=ab167613a477c04e6654603c043a66d0&tab=core&_cview=1)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Contractor's facility, United States
- Record
- SN01656980-W 20080904/080902220741-ab167613a477c04e6654603c043a66d0 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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