U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Contracts Management Division (MD-33), Attention: OARSC, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

66 -- GLASS AND QUARTZ FILTERS SOL PR-NC-98-11809 POC Kelley Brown, Contract Specialist, (919)541-2125/Kathleen H. Moore, Contracting Officer, (919)541-2125 E-MAIL: Click here to contact the Contract Specialist via E-mail., brown.kelley@epa.gov. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a requirement for glass and quartz filters. The quartz filters are used with a size selective sampler (SSI) to collect PM-10 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 10 micrometers) samples. The glass fiber filters are used with a "Total Suspended Particulate" (TSP) sampler. This process assures filters with uniform characteristics and known quality assurance testing for the national particulate networks. The quartz and glass fiber filters for a specific year must be made from the same lot of raw materials for distribution. It is important that all filters of the same type from the same delivery contain a uniform level of impurities. Therefore, the contractor shall manufacture all filters for a delivery from the same sheet material using a single production line and one production run. EPA anticipates the award(s) of an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract(s) with a 60 month period of performance. The Government reserves the right to award multiple contracts under this solicitation; one (1) for each of the two filter types (glass and quartz) as a result of this single solicitation. Any one offeror may receive up to two (2) awards as a result of this solication -- one award for each filter type. The Government intends to issue one delivery order annually to cover the filter needs. The minimum amount of glass filters to be ordered over the entire contract is 10,000 and the maximum amount is 315,000. The minimum amount of quartz filters to be ordered over the entire contract is 30,000 and the maximum amount is 770,000. As part of the solicitation requirements, the Government intends to require offerors to submit 50 glass filters and 50 quartz filters with their proposal which will be tested to ensure the offerors capabilities to produce acceptable samples. NOTE: On January 23, 1998 a similar requirement was published in the CBD and a resulting solicitation (PR-NC-98-10059) was issued on February 18. However, that solicitation has been canceled due to revisions to the technical evaluation criteria. SIC No. 3829 applies; size standard of 500 employees. This requirement is a follow-on to Contract number 68D50035 with Whatman, Inc. which expired on March 31, 1998. It is estimated that the RFP will be issued approximately May 27, 1998 as full and open competition. Proposals will be due thirty (30) days after the RFP issuance date. The solicitation and amendments will be available via the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd. Firms are encouraged to access the solicitation and amendments via Internet. If you will be obtaining a copy of the solicitation via Internet, it will be your responsibility to frequently check the same site where the solicitation is posted for any amendments. Firms who do not have the capability to obtain the solicitation from Internet, may submit a written request for a diskette with the solicitation in WordPerfect 6.1 format from the contact point at the address above; however, only those firms who do NOT have the capability to obtain the solicitation from the Internet should request diskettes. Diskettes will not be sent to those firms who have Internet access. If you request a diskette of the solicitation, you will receive amendments by mail, unless you notify us otherwise. Telephone and fax requests will not be honored. Only one copy shall be sent to a corporate entity, regardless of the number of requests from one or more different geographic locations. A copy of the preliminary source list will be issued to all prospective offerors along with the solicitation. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the Agency. See Numbered Note 26.***** (0132)

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